George and Isahn shared their initial plans, which extended as far as knowing he’d be leaving within the next two days to make it back ahead of Peros. In a note Isahn sent ahead to his sister, he let her know he’d return in two weeks and to watch for their uncle—just in case.
“He’ll need a token.” Dunstan narrowed his eyes at Isahn across the table, sizing up the earl’s ability to trail the king’s spy. “Should one of us go with him?”
“Obviously we’ll take him out with a token, but what do you think we need to do beyond that?” George surveyed the group, sliding over Hildy’s sharp gaze.
“I could accompany him to Selwas?” Wynnie offered halfheartedly.
“Nope.”
“No,” George backed up Hildy’s initial denial. “I need you here.”
Wynnie pursed her lips, accepting defeat with a shrug and a sip of wine.
Why she wanted to go along, George wasn’t sure. She must’ve wanted a change of pace.
“Best if I travel alone. I’ve trailed Peros before without issue.”
Hildy lifted a brow dramatically, and George giggled at her friend’s silent dig.
“Fine,mainlywithout issue.Peroshas never caught on before.”
Dunstan, Burke, and Hildy, with their legionary hats on, nodded in approval. Though Hil didn’t appear entirely sold on the matter.
“I agree that we need to send him through the veil with a token, can’t have him forgetting everything. But we all know how the guards at the walls of Nowosmont can be.” Hildy looked around at her Domossan friends.
Eanraig shrugged. “Wouldnae ken.”
“Howcan they be?” Isahn checked, looking concerned.
“Harsh.” Burke’s voice was uncharacteristically flat. “They won’t hesitate to torture anyone leaving the city who isn’t authorized to be in the know.”
Isahn nodded. “I can handle that.”
“You can’t.” Hildy popped an olive in her mouth and caught George’s eye.
“They would torture you in earnest once they realized their magic wasn’t working.” Georgie sighed as she reached for Isahn. Her fingers curled lightly around the corded muscle of his forearm. She knew what had to be done. She hated it, but it didn’t change the fact it was the best way forward. Maybe she’d known the whole time, and that’s why she was so resistant to say he had to leave. “You could also be captured anywhere along the way. We... we have to be inordinately careful.” Tears pricked the backs of her eyes. “It’s not worth the risk of the king finding out.”
“What’s not worth the risk?”
“Your knowledge,” Hildy answered, and George’s heart shattered hearing it said aloud for the first time.
Yanking his arm from George’s grasp, Isahn argued, “I thought you said I’d use a token?”
“You will.” George paused for a shaky breath, hoping to the gods he didn’t hate her. He wouldn’t un-love her so quickly. It wasn’t reasonable. “For your safety, I think we also need to overwrite your memories.”
“What?” Arms crossed tight, he shook his head. “No. No. Absolutely not.”
“Temporarily,” she tacked on.
Though obviously unhappy with this newest development, his temper remained tightly controlled; not even a muscle in his jaw ticked. Her friends were all frozen, even Ean stilled his incessantly beating wings. Theyallknew how much George despised uncontrolled anger, and this was the first opportunity her chosen family had ever had to see him become unhinged.
He wouldn’t. Of that she was certain.
“We can bring you out using a token and meet up at Wynnie’s?” George flicked her gaze to her friend, who nodded in agreement. “You can drink the tea, and we’ll revisesomeof your memories.”
“Only some?” Isahn’s voice was flat and unreadable, but George studied his practically impassive expression, searching for clues.
“Only some. You need to remember your mission. But you can’t remember Ean, the veil itself, the fae. It wouldn’t be wise.”
