“Bow and arrow.” The man lifted his hand to scratch his head, revealing large sweat stains on his shirt. “Who can say what else was beneath her coat?”
She’d had some weapons on her when she’d fled him, most notably a sword, and James could only imagine that she’d added to her arsenal. “And she headed west toward the Blackreaches?”
“Yes, my lord. I hope the honor of her death goes to you.”
“I hope for this as well.” Knowing that the men had likely been as motivated by reward as they were by desire to avenge their king, James withdrew a small pouch of coins from his pocket and handedit to the man. “In honor of your service to Harendell. I’ll also see to it that the crown pays for your grandson’s care.”
The boy, Johnny, chose that moment to stir, and all eyes went to him.
“Don’t hurt me,” he whimpered. “Please don’t hurt me.”
His eyes opened, and he slowly focused on his father and grandfather. “Da?” Twin tears ran down his cheeks. “What happened?”
Ahnna happened.
James’s anger, ever simmering, flared hot and bright, because she hadn’t needed to hurt this child. These three were guilty of nothing more than greed for a bit of gold and cockiness that they could hold their own in a fight, which meant they hadn’t deserved her violence. It made him wonder if he had ever known her, whether the kindness had been nothing but an act, because what she’d done to his father, to Alexandra, and to this boy was nothing like the woman that he’d—
James clamped down on the thought, shoving it away before his traitorous mind could voice exactly what he’d felt for Ahnna. In the silence, the specter of Lestara whispered,You chose Ahnna over William, and he believes her continued freedom is proof you still love her more than you do your own family.
He would prove to his family otherwise.
The boy was staring at him, and James gave him a sharp salute. “The crown thanks you for your bravery and loyalty. God speed your return to good health.”
Turning on his heels, James motioned for Arthur to follow him. Once in the corridor, he said, “Your hounds are tracking her?”
“Yes, sir. Their best guess is she’s headed toward the Skypass Trail.”
It was a merchant road, narrow and difficult, but also the straightest shot across the border. “Choose five reliable men and strong horses, and get us all the supplies we need to go into the mountains.”
He hesitated then, his focus drawn back in the direction of Sableton as he remembered Alexandra’s request that he remain to temperWilliam’s impulses. Except what weight would his words have with his brother if he went back and left soldiers to chase Ahnna into the mountains? Catching her was the only way he could prove to his brother where his loyalties resided. In a matter of days, he’d return with her corpse and war would be averted. William wouldn’t do anything rash in such a short period of time.
He hoped.
“We move out in an hour,” James said, realizing the lieutenant was still waiting for him to finish his orders. “Get me my horse.”
They left the inn, and James paused to examine the distant mountains, snowcapped year-round and cold as death.I’m coming for you Ahnna. And there is nowhere you can run where I won’t find you.
8
Lara
The merchant captain shifted uncomfortably,unable to meet Lara’s eyes as he set a letter sealed with the crest of Harendell on the table before her. “The Harendellians asked that this be delivered to Northwatch, Your Grace,” he said. “Every ship flying their colors is forbidden to trade with Ithicana, but they’ve not yet moved to blockades. Flying Maridrinian colors as we are, we aim to run the route between Sableton and Northwatch for as long as the Harendellians allow it. Or until the Harendellians begin directing trade to Cardiff, at which time we’ll make the run north into the bay.”
Aren made an aggrieved noise, then snatched up the letter and cracked the wax. Lara watched his eyes skim the contents, his jaw, shadowed with several days’ stubble, hardening. He handed it to her without comment, then resumed pacing the room. Lara glanced at the looping cursive, which was a request from the newly crowned King William to meet at Emesmere Island so they might hand over Ahnna and negotiate reparations. Lara set it face down on the table, then turned her eyes on her countryman. “What else can you tell me, Captain?”
The man rocked on his heels, and Bronwyn moved from where she’d been lingering next to the window. Pouring a glass of wine, shegave it to the captain and then rested her hand on his shoulder. “Speak true, friend, else you’ll never see Maridrina’s golden shores again.”
The man’s face blanched, and Lara fought the urge to roll her eyes at her sister’s less-than-subtle threat.
“I only know what everyone else knows, my lady,” he said after taking a gulp of the wine. “King Edward hosted a ball in the Sky Palace, but rather than announcing a date for nuptials between Prince William and Princess Ahnna, he declared that he’d formed an alliance with King Ronan of Cardiff, which included terms allowing for free trade between the nations. To cement the alliance, he had secretly wed Prince William to the witch Lestara of Cardiff.” He spat on the floor. “Murderous bitch. Prince Keris ought to have taken her head for what she did. This might never have happened.”
Lara didn’t disagree that Keris’s creativity in punishment had unleashed a problem that a beheading might have prevented, but she strongly suspected that the alliance with Cardiff had been a lifetime in the making. James’s lifetime, to be specific. The marriage to Lestara was likely nothing more than the frosting on the cake of profit. “Continue. And please refrain from spitting on my floor.”
“Apologies, Your Grace.” The man knelt and wiped the mess up with his sleeve, his eyes jumping from her, to Bronwyn, to Aren, seemingly uncertain who was the greatest threat. “There was more to King Edward’s speech. He went on about some history with Prince James’s mother—apparently, she was also a Cardiffian witch, King Ronan’s sister, no less, and Queen Katarina was the one who murdered her. Edward and Ronan intended to march through the Lowlands to raze Amarid as vengeance for their mutual suffering. At any rate, the Princess Ahnna took great issue with being jilted and offered threats to Edward before storming out. Late that night, he was discovered brutally stabbed to death in his bed, and when the alarm was sounded, Prince James and his men discovered Princess Ahnna in the act of trying to kill Queen Alexandra. She escaped the Sky Palace and fled into the countryside on horseback, evading all attempts atcapture. She was spotted in Sableton trying to reach the harbor but fled, and she had not yet been apprehended when we set sail.” The captain hesitated, then added, “Prince James heads the search himself, but the entirety of Harendell is in arms hunting the princess, all desiring vengeance for the murder of Good King Eddie.”
“Ahnna didn’t murder Edward,” Aren growled. “This is the scheme of some power-hungry Harendellian, and my sister is nothing but a scapegoat.”
The captain shifted uneasily. “As you say, Your Grace. I’m only repeating the beliefs of the common Harendellians. Tavern gossip, if you get my meaning.”
