We reach the house, and I drop onto the porch steps again. “We still haven’t heard back from any of the consuls. We hardly have any weapons here. The rebels were only able to take the Royal Sector the first time because they had explosives—and now those are locked away in the palace, too.” I look at Quint, his hair rumpled from sleep. “Even your books and records that might help me prove my innocence arethere. Karri once said that Lochlan had anarmy here, and maybe there are enough people, but we certainly can’t march on the sector this way.”
Quint looks back at me, and I’m hoping for his usual optimism, that he’s seen this from some angle I haven’t. But he says, “No, Your Majesty. We can’t.”
I sigh and scoop Thorin’s cards into my hands, setting them straight between my fingers. Again, I wish I could go back to the days when the most complicated part of my life was escaping the palace as Sullivan.
I stop short on that thought, and my hands go still.
Escaping.
Corrick and I used to escape the palace all the time, using the old spy tunnels that have long since been forgotten. Most of them are collapsed or caved in—near impassable in many spots, really.
Aside from Quint, no one knew Corrick was doing it.
No one knewIwas doing it.
“What?” says Quint. “What have you thought of?”
“You definitely have notes in your rooms that would help prove my innocence?” I say. “And maybe more?”
“I believe so. Why?”
I wet my lips. “I’ve been planning this like a battle. Like awar.” I pause. “I’ve been thinking of everything like a king.”
“As you should.”
I shake my head. An idea is forming, and it might be crazy—but it might also be brilliant.
I also don’t know anyone else who might be able to accomplish it.
Quint’s eyes narrow. “What are you thinking?” he asks more carefully.
“I need to sneak into the palace,” I say. “To fetch the explosives, because we desperately need an advantage. And your records, too.”
Thorin’s eyes flare wide. “You want tosneakinto the palace? Alone? Your Majesty, this is simply—”
“No,” I say. “Not alone.” I look between them both. “Quint, do you know how to climb a rope?”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Corrick
By the time that ship returns from Fairde with an answer from Rian, I’m going to be ready to throw caution to the wind and swim there myself. I’ve spent days in Silvesse now, and while I no longer hate Lochlan, I’ve been forced to spend time with Oren Crane’s people, and they’re so much worse than he couldeverbe.
Honestly, they’re so much worse thanIcould ever be.
It’s obvious why Crane has such a stronghold on this island, why people whisper about him but don’t do anything to stand against him. Anywhere there’s a murmur of dissent, he sends his henchmen to take care of it. Now that Lochlan and I are relegated to waiting for a response, Crane keeps sending us along to watch.
I understand why. It’s not just so he can keep an eye on us.
It’s a lesson. A warning.
Cross me, and this is what I’ll do to you.
When I watch Lina goad Mouse into breaking a man’s fingers,one by one while he screams, I’m reminded of the time I stood outside a cell and told Rocco to do the exact same thing to Consul Sallister.
It was different.
But it also wasn’t.
