We had a brief moment of worry when two of the guards from out frontdidcome to investigate Penny’s scream. Ford urged us to hide in a storage closet, so Lochlan and I tucked ourselves into the space, leaving the door only slightly ajar so we could hear.
“We might have just trapped ourselves,” Lochlan breathed at me. “You’d better hope he believes you.”
“I’m not killing an innocent man just to get home,” I whispered back.
But then I stood stock-still while sweat gathered in the small ofmy back, and I wondered if I’d made the biggest mistake of all. If Ford and Penny turned us over to the guards, there would’ve been no telling where we’d end up.
But we stood and listened as Penny told them she’d only screamed because a mouse had burst out of the closet. The guards had rolled their eyes and left.
Penny went to untie Edward, who’s joined us in the office. Now the three of them are at one end of the table, staring at me and Lochlan a little warily.
Ford glances at his companions in a way that tells me there must have been private conversations during the time Lochlan and I were hiding in the closet. Then he clears his throat.
“If you wouldn’t be opposed, Your Highness, before we get to your request, I would like to attempt to verify your identity.”
“How are you going to do that?” demands Lochlan, and they all pull back a little.
Honestly. He’s sobrusque. If anyone needs a governess with a switch, it’s him. I shoot him a glare, then lift a hand, placating. “It’s fine. I understand their caution.”
“Thank you,” says Ford. “My report that said you were . . . ?ah,dead, also claimed that warships from Kandala followed theDawn Chaserand attacked on the open sea. So we’re a bit wary of a trick. After your rather violent entrance.”
“Those brigantines sank,” I say. “But again, I’ll answer what questions you have.”
Edward moves to the bookcase and puts a finger against his lips, surveying the contents. After a moment, he stoops to withdraw a slim volume from a low shelf. He flips it open and scans a page, then moves close to Penny. He’s got quite a bruise on his jaw,and I refrain from wincing. He and Penny engage in a rushed whispered conversation, hastily flipping pages.
Lochlan leans close. “What are they going to do, quiz you on Kandalan history?”
I have no idea. I surely hope not. Would they have books on Kandalan history here? Would they be accurate?
Penny finally looks up. “What was your maternal grandmother’s middle name?”
Well, that takes me by surprise. I blink, then think about it. “Ah . . . Annabel.”
“Excellent!” says Edward, as if I’m a prize pupil and didn’t knock him flat twenty minutes ago. He really does remind me of a much older Quint. “Your paternal great-grandfather. What was his fourth name?”
I honestly can’t believethisis my quiz, but I’ll take it. I mentally work backward through the family tree.
“Are you counting on your fingers?” Lochlan mutters.
“What’syourpaternal great-grandfather’s fourth name?” I say under my breath. I look at the others. “Druvil.”
Penny takes the book. “Ooh! Your great-great-grandmother had asister, and she actually had six names, which is quite a lot, even for royalty—”
“I think that’s enough,” says Ford, and he gives his daughter a bit of a withering glance. He moves to the bookcase and selects an even larger book, and I wonder if I’m going to be forced to list the pets of my uncles or something—but Ford then reachesbehindit. He must press a latch or turn a lever, because we all hear aclick.
After a moment, he withdraws a folded slip of paper, and he unfolds it carefully. He glances at it, then back at me. “Name theindividuals you brought on the ship with you—and what happened to them.”
“Myself, Tessa Cade, and Lochlan Cresswell.” I gesture at Lochlan. “In addition to three guards from Kandala: Erik Rocco, Liam Kilbourne, and Matthew Silas.” I pause, and my voice turns grave. “Matthew Silas was lost at sea when the brigantines attacked. Liam Kilbourne was killed by the crew. Erik Rocco was injured in the fight. I don’t know if he survived.” I hesitate. “Tessa . . .” My voice trails off, and I frown. My heart is suddenly pounding, because until this moment, I hadn’t considered that Ford Cheeke might be a source of information that might benefitusas well.
Tessa.
I glance at the letter, which I’m assuming came from Rian himself. My voice goes very quiet. “If you know this much about our journey, I’m very hopeful you have word of where she ended up.”
Ford considers this, then glances at the others. “Put the book away, Penny.” He slips the letter back into its hiding place, then gestures to the chairs. “Please. Sit.”
We do.
Ford wastes no time. “Tessa Cade and Erik Rocco are both alive. They safely made it to Fairde.”
