one
George and Isahn visit Sorhaven.
“Doyouthinksomethingwill finally happen tonight?” Burke asked for the third time in as many minutes.
George readjusted her cloak against the evening chill, wondering how Gramenia was so frigid when home was so warm. They’d only traveled west, not south. “That’s what we’re here to find out.”
“If—”
“I swear to the gods, if you ask me one more question—”
“That was going to be an if/then statement.”
Pinching the bridge of her nose, George dodged an old woman with a handcart, trying to outpace her friend.
Sorhaven was in the middle of a shift change as the day came to a close. Farmworkers headed home, shopkeepers closed up, and pubs opened for dinner service, calling in customers with bold signage and busty barmaids. Despite being secure amidst the throng of pedestrians, George had thrown up the mildest ofdisguises as they neared town, her nose slightly elongated, her hair a little less curly. It was nothing that would tax her well of power, but enough that someone giving her a passing look wouldn’t recognize her. She didn’t expect anyone here to know what the Princess of Domos looked like—aside from her father’s spies—but those two could pop up at any time.
“I’m just making sure we’re doing this right.” Burke’s boots smacked the pavers as he matched her pace.
George’s irritation softened. “It’s taking a while, but we are.” Their tracking journey had everyone on an edge that grew ever sharper the longer they were away from the palace. But Gianis and Marinos had stayed put for three days, which was odd and a good sign. “They’re waiting for someone or something, and we need to know what.”
“To figure out what your father’s planning.”
“Obviously.” Her patience only extended so far. That wasessentiallya question, and one he knew the answer to.
Rounding a corner near the inn where Hildy stood watch, George tugged Burke’s arm, slowing his speed. “It’s not like we’re ready yet, anyway. Moving too early is how we do it wrong.”
Burke chuckled, elbowing her in the side. “You’re the queen of acting too early—the Princess of Impulsivity.”
She bit back a laugh and pulled him toward the shadowed alley across from the inn. There, set back from the street lights, Hildy’s curls poked up from behind a barrel, and Dunstan stood visible from the waist up. A wide smile lit his face as he laughed in silence, shielded by Hil’s sound magic, or George surely would’ve heard him booming.
“Why is he here? I thought he was getting food,” Burke grumbled.
Oh, here we go.George could practically hear the jealousy dripping from his words. This time last year, Hildy was sleepingwith Burke. Now she’d turned her attention to Dunstan. She’d swing back eventually. She always did.
“He’s here because I wanted company,” Hildy replied, popping the sound barrier she’d erected around their conversation.
“I thought we were doing watches alone?”
“For fuck’s sake.” Hildy’s tricep tightened as she pressed a thumb into her temple and turned to George. “There hasn’t been any action. I’m going to get food for the cottage. See you back there.”
“I can—” Dunstan started.
“No. I’ve got it. See you soon.”
As Hil disappeared into the crowd, George turned to find the men ignoring each other and Burke smirking at the dirt.
Wonderful.Whatever was happening between those three this week, she didn’t have the energy to sort it out. The lack of space in the cottage they’d co-opted was only driving tensions higher. The family who’d lived there was all too happy to hand over their home in exchange for the copious amount of gold she’d offered. George only meant it to be a rental and said they were welcome to return in a week’s time, but the family declined, already set on relocating to the coast.
Now she owned a home in Gramenia.Fun. Maybe she could leave her bickering friends behind.
Dunstan cleared his throat. “Gianis and Marinos are still in their inn. I’m going for a pint.” He swung his long arm out and gestured at a disheveled-looking establishment across the street and a few buildings down.
“I’ll come with you,” Burke announced jovially, apparently over his sour mood. “Georgie, you want one?”
“Please.”
Alone, George claimed Hildy’s old spot against the wall and rolled her neck, wishing Gianis and Marinos woulddosomething and make her journey worth the stress. Her fathersent them away for a reason. He didn’t waste those spies on meaningless errands.
