Though it was a reasonable assumption for most individuals on the run, James made a noise of disgust, because it was off the mark forAhnna. “She’ll not abandon her horse unless forced. She’s either on a ship or on that gelding’s back. If sheison a ship, she’ll have found her horse a home before departing. Check the neighboring farms and offer a reward for information. If we find that horse, we’ll find answers.”
“Yes, sir.” The captain saluted, then turned to set his men to the task.
“You think she managed to board a ship?” Georgie asked. “We’ve stopped traffic to Northwatch for Harendellian vessels, but there are merchant vessels from every nation, north and south, in Sableton’s harbor. Preventing them from traveling to Northwatch would require a proper blockade.”
Blockades demanded significant resources, and given the rising conflict with Amarid in the Lowlands, it wasn’t a step James was ready to recommend to William. Harendell was the most powerful nation in the north, but a double-sided war was no jest. Especially because he had no certainty over the state of the alliance with Cardiff. That agreement was between his uncle and his father, and for all Will had married Lestara, his brother’s sentiment toward Cardiff was unclear. If Will wanted to, he could cast aside everything James had fought to achieve and there wouldn’t be a damned thing he could do about it. All he could do was pray that Lestara would sway him in the right direction.
It was not lost on James that he was counting on the support of a traitor and a murderess.
Georgie was staring at him expectantly, so James said, “A blockade would have to come by order of the king, and William’s focus is by necessity on Amarid.” Before James had left in pursuit of Ahnna, his brother had voiced his intent to march with Ronan and their united army to retake the Lowlands, but he’d had no recent update on William’s plans. “Our mandate is not to escalate with Ithicana past the point of no return but to capture…the perpetrator.”
Why is saying her name so hard?
James cleared his throat. “Ithicana isn’t going anywhere,” he continued, “and they are incapable of going on the offensive. Let them suffer the loss of trade with Harendell for a time and see how that changes their tune.”
“Given their supposed alliance with Amarid, they may not feel the pinch as much as we might like.” Georgie frowned at the gulf, which was still overcast and gusty from the last storm. “Katarina is no doubt taking advantage of openings at Northwatch to increase exports to the south.”
James shook his head. “We are not certain what Katarina and Aren agreed to, but if Harendell and Amarid go to war over the Lowlands, exports will be the last thing on her mind. Katarina will need every resource she has.”
James rubbed at his temples, something seeming to scratch at the back of his mind. As if he’d forgotten a detail. Or was missing a critical piece of a puzzle. Nothing he could pin down, only the sense that something wasn’t quite right, and it had his hackles up.
“You need to get some sleep.” Georgie clasped his shoulder. “The dogs will be out in force soon enough, and I’ll ensure not a ship leaves the harbor without a full search. You head to Fernleigh House. Have a drink and get a night’s sleep. If we find her while you’re abed, you’ll be the first to know.”
James’s stomach twisted at the idea of anyone but him being the one to find Ahnna. “I’m fine. You ensure the harbor searches are thorough. I’m going to take a fresh horse and join the search of the surrounding farms—I’ll recognize Dippy more easily than others.”
Instead of answering, Georgie furrowed his brow as he caught sight of something over James’s shoulder. James turned, a band of tension tightening around his chest at the sight of a gilded coach flanked by soldiers, of horses pulling it into the market square frothing and exhausted.
“That’s Alexandra’s carriage,” Georgie muttered. “Why is she here?”
Whatever the reason, it won’t be good.James approached the carriage as a footman moved to put a stool beneath the door. It swung open, nearly striking the footman in the forehead.
And William stepped out.
James stopped in his tracks at the sight of his brother. “Will…What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be on your way to the Lowlands.”
Will yawned, then stretched. “Yes, about that. It seems the situation in the Lowlands was greatly exaggerated—perhaps by Father himself to manipulate sentiment in support of his desire for personal vengeance against Katarina, although who can say for sure. What I do know is that the Amaridians havenotinvaded the Lowlands. Quite the opposite, in fact. It seems they have withdrawn entirely.”
That couldn’t be right. Surely their father had not fabricated an invasion in order to bolster support for his plans to wage war on Katarina? To falsify it for one night would be one thing, but it was not a deception that could be maintained. His father had been a politician through and through, which meant he’d been a liar and a manipulator of the first order, but everything he did was fueled by logic.
Are you sure about that?
James’s doubt whispered the question even as his heart reminded him that everything,everything,that his father had done had been motivated by a desire to avenge the murder of James’s mother. Strategies a lifetime in the making all driven by emotion, not logic. “Are you certain they withdrew? It’s possible they’ve just hidden their camp—”
“They were never there,” Will interrupted. “Some have suggested that Ithicana is behind this as well. That they disguised themselves as Amaridians in order to distract us in the Lowlands while they made their move. It’s not the first time they’ve done so, after all.”
James’s lips parted to argue that Ithicana hadn’t been behind the attack at Northwatch, but the words didn’t come. He no longer knew for certain what was truth and what was deception. All his life, he’d been wading through the endless twist of schemes that governedHarendell, but this was a knot he could not easily untangle. If he’d learned anything from his father, it was to always say less until one knew more.
Silence stretched, and Will crossed his arms. “You haven’t found her yet, I take it?”
“She was spotted in Sableton trying to reach the harbor. We are hunting for her as we speak.”
Will’s mouth thinned, his eyes cold. “You said you’d catch her. You said we’d have vengeance for what the Ithicanian bitch did to our father and king, yet Ahnna Kertell is still free. It makes me question whether your lingering fondness for the woman has influenced your efforts.”
“Will, come on now—” Georgie started.
Will held up a hand. “Reconsider your familiarity, Lord Cavendish.”
Georgie’s jaw tightened, but James barely noticed his friend’s reaction. Shock at his brother’s accusation made his words sound stilted as he said, “Rest assured, Your Grace, whateverfondnessI might have once had for Ithicana’s princess has been burned to ash. I swore that I would bring her to justice, and I will do so. Your presence here is not required—she’s not worth your time.”
