Aya knew being told to stand down didn’t sit well with her friend. She hadn’t said a word since they’d left Gianna’s chambers.
The queen had asked Will to stay behind, and Aya hadn’t missed the self-satisfied smirk on his face, nor the way Gianna’s own stare had lingered on her Second. Aya loathed to think the rumors surrounding them were true; to think Gianna would stoop so low. But …
It’s none of your business. Leave it alone.
‘Do you want to talk about it?’ she asked as she cut a glance at her friend.
Tova stared resolutely ahead. ‘No.’
‘You sure?’
Tova’s gaze was burning as it flicked to Aya. ‘Not so fun being kept out of people’s heads, is it?’
‘You don’t want to be in my head,’ Aya muttered. ‘Trust me. It’s not a pleasant place.’
Tova scoffed, irritation rolling off her in waves. But Aya knew better than to back down from her friend’s anger; knew better than to think it was directed at her. She could see the words steadily building in Tova, her round jaw shifting as sheworked through her frustration. ‘We shouldn’t be so dependent on Trahir,’ she finally bit out. ‘Every year it’s the same damn thing: more groveling to the foreign councils so we don’t fall behind.’
Aya wasn’t sure she’d call those meetings groveling. Tala did have weapons and wool to offer for leverage in negotiations. But she didn’t disagree with Tova either.
The air clouded in front of Aya as she blew out a steady breath. ‘The queen is right. Attacking the Trahir merchants could be catastrophic.’ Tova frowned, but Aya continued before her friend could object. ‘The fight is here, Tova. We stop the supplier, we stop any of this before it gets out of hand.’
She didn’t want to think about what might happen if Kakos did get its hands on weapons.
Tova didn’t say a word as they stepped onto the wooden planks of the docks of the Rouline.
‘Don’t expect a friendly welcome,’ Aya muttered, her eyes set on the faded brick of the Squal.
Tova snorted. ‘I rarely do with you.’
It was exactly why she had chosen Tova to accompany her. A formidable general she may be, but Tova was also naturally alluring. She knew how to be magnetic, and how to put people at ease. And while Aya had been trained to meld into any setting, this particular one didn’t need her feigned charm. It needed the Queen’s Eyes. Tova’s presence could soften the fear just enough to get them what they needed.
Aya shouldered the rotted wooden door open, her gaze sweeping the dark, seedy tavern once. She had done her job thoroughly. Shards of glass littered the floor, sparkling like diamonds in the soft glow of the sconces that lined the walls. Most of the tables were upturned, and it looked as though a few of the chair legs had been wielded as weapons.
‘We’re closed,’ a rough voice growled from the bar. An older man stood with his back to them, his body stooped as he cleaned up broken liquor bottles. He ran a hand through his gray hair as he stood upright, releasing a heavy sigh as he surveyed the damage in front of him.
Aya stepped over a brown puddle, her nose scrunching at the smell wafting through the room.
‘Not for us.’ Her voice was calm even as tension settled in the space between her shoulders. She’d lost her most important mark in this godsdamn bar last night.
The man turned, the color draining from his face as he registered his company. Tavern-owners made it a point to know Gianna’s Tría. It didn’t bode well to be caught unaware.
‘Apologies. How can I be of assistance?’ There was a slight tremor in his voice. Perhaps Aya wouldn’t need to persuade him after all.
‘Two tradesmen were caught fleeing your bar last night after making illegal trades outside of the Council.’ Aya leaned a hip against the bar, her hands sliding into her coat pockets. ‘The supplier is missing. And given you so generously hosted these meetings, we thought you might be willing to give us the information we need.’
The man’s hands trembled as he reached for the rag he’d slung over his shoulder. He twisted the cloth nervously. ‘I didn’t know they were doing anything illegal.’
Tova’s laugh tinkled through the space. She flipped her hair over her shoulder and gave the man a friendly wink. ‘Shall we take a look at your books, then? See how ethical this business really is?’
‘Are you checking other establishments?’
‘Other establishments aren’t playing host to a weapons supplier willing to sell to Kakos,’ Aya answered. The man blanched further. No one wanted to be caught with any sortof tie to the ostracized kingdom. Not if they wanted to live to see another day.
His eyes were pleading as he looked to Tova, as if she were the one he could reason with.
‘I never saw them,’ he stammered. ‘Only the tradesmen and their guards. Whoever they were meeting used the side entrance. I didn’t know they had anything to do with Kakos.’
Tova leaned forward, bracing her arms on the bar, her brows rising. ‘You never thought to investigate?’
