It was the code they’d always used around me.
“Yes,” Father said.
“Radicals?”I said to prove I knew. “Grand.”
“Gregor.”Father was upset.
Elías replied, “I know.”
Then the King nodded. “Keep your ear to the ground; gather what you can while there.”
“As you wish it, Your Majesty,” he said.
“And take another Blade with you,” he ordered.
“What?” I asked.
“Of course. I’ll take Ser Willoughby.”
“SerWilloughby?”I cried. “I’d rather not. Pick another.”
They ignored my request.
“Ser Derek in your charge?” my father asked.
“Aye.”
“Fair. Yes. Yes. Fine.”
“Elías?”I said. “We do notneedanother escort. We can manage with you and Miss Jocelyn fine. The carriage will be so crowded, and Ser Willoughby is so big.”
“He’s thin,” Elías said.
“Yes, but he’s long,” I argued.
“Long?” he asked.
“Tall,” I stated.
“Aye, but–”
“He’ll have to hunch over the whole week,” I said. “You want him to hunch so long?”
Father said, “Go help locate your lighter clothes; stop arguing. I need to work.”
“Must I repackallmy things?” I asked.
“You decide. However, it’s nearly seventy this time of year,” he said.
“Seventy?”I gasped. “InMarch?”
“Warmer in a week,” he said. “Warmer the next.”
I shook my head. “I see. ...Then… Then I am on my way, though I’m notexcitedabout it. This will surely set us back, and I had hoped to stop by the marke— the modiste,” I lied.
“Mind the count of your words when you arrive,” Father said. “Chalke may be at our mercy, but they are inexperienced to a woman who speaks so freely or for so long. Remember that.”
I closed my mouth.
