She knew from her life in Alyssium that those in power, whether nobles or military, overlooked ordinary people. Librarians and shopkeepers were virtually invisible to them, just tools to complete a task. She could guarantee that, unlike Radane, no one on that ship was going to recognize her.I left so little mark on anyone in Alyssium after years. Yet here, after only a few days . . .Kiela looked at Larran and, despite everything, she felt like smiling. He was by her side, despite the risk and uncertainty.
Together they strolled past the mermaid fountain. It flowed with a cheerful burble, as if nothing was wrong. On the rooftops, the winged cats lounged in patches of sun. She kept reminding herself to look relaxed, casual, innocent, and she couldn’t help but critique every step: Was it casual enough? Was her expression bland enough? Were her shoulders relaxed? What in the world was she supposed to do with her arms? Swing them or keep them still? She couldn’t seem to remember how she normally walked. And what about her expression? Was her smile normal? Should she pretend to laugh at whatever Larran had just said that she completely hadn’t heard because she was too focused on her own feet, hands, and face?
Larran squeezed her fingers as they approached. They’d taken too long at the cottage—the imperials were clustered around the bakery. The boy Tobin was scurrying between them, serving up muffins as quickly as Bryn could put platters on the counter.
If I can’t claim I work at the bakery . . .
Plan B?Or were they up to Plan C? D?
Bryn waved cheerfully. “Hello, Kiela! Larran, we were just talking about you!” She bustled between the tables, distributing mugs to several imperials. They were dressed in military uniform, stiff tunics as red as the sails on their boat, with leather-armor-like pants and swords strapped to their waists. She counted three men and five women, but she didn’t doubt there were others in the town. A ship that size typically carried a crew of at least two dozen.
One man with hair twisted in a spiral had gold stripes on his tunic—he had to be the captain, Radane’s would-be fiancé. He was seated next to Eadie. “Ah, yes, there’s Larran!” Eadie said. “He’s the one who pulled that red-haired girl from the ocean.”
“You said she was calling herself Radane?” the captain asked. “Can you describe her for me, as well as the boat she arrived in?” He stood, and Kiela noted that he was quite a bit taller than Larran, though skeleton-thin. He had thin, long fingers that he moved as he spoke.
“Of course. You are?”
He bowed slightly. “Captain Varrik of theAlyssium Rover.”
“I’m Larran of Caltrey. And this is my wife, Kiela.” He lifted Kiela’s hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.
Kiela managed, barely, not to react. She knew it was just what Larran said to keep her safe, but she couldn’t help a little birdlike trill that echoed in her head. Summoning a smile, she said to the captain, “Pleasure to meet you.” She didnotlook at Bryn or Eadie to catch their reactions. She did hear Tobin let out a little gasp, then a yelp, as if someone had kicked him in the shin.
“We spotted the boat mid-storm,” Larran said. “It was getting tossed around on the waves. Midsize, designed for one to four passengers. But with all the chaos of the storm, I couldn’t get a good look at it. Did you, dear?” he asked Kiela.
“It had a mast,” Kiela said helpfully.
“What color sail?” the captain asked.
Kiela frowned as if trying to remember. She felt as if the moment was seared into her memory—the scream of the wind, the fury of the waves, and how fragile the boat had looked. Of course she remembered every detail. “I didn’t see a sail. I think the wind had ripped it away?”
“It was already half-capsized,” Larran explained. “I rode one of my merhorses out to the wreck. Barely got there when the woman went under, but I made it in time. Got her inside and warm fast, and she recovered quickly. She wasn’t in the water long enough for hypothermia to set in.”
Fenerer lurched to his feet. “Go get her, Larran. She’s staying at your house. Or is it in your bed? Tell us, Larran’swife,do you share your bed with Larran and the investigator, or do you clear out when the two of them are together?”
“She’s not at Larran’s,” Bryn said. “She was staying in the empty room above my bakery, until she decided to leave Caltrey.”
Eadie jumped in. “And just because you weren’t invited to their wedding doesn’t mean you can disrespect Kiela. You better watch your tone or Bryn won’t give you any more of those biscuits you like.”
Fenerer snorted.
Before he could speak again, Larran cut him off. “At first, she didn’t identify herself, but after she recovered, she claimed to be an imperial investigator.”
“Made a mess of my bakery, until things were sorted out,” Bryn complained.
Captain Varrik said, “Sorted out?”
He’s good.He hadn’t said much. Just let people talk. Luckily, with the exception of Fenerer, Kiela’s friends had stayed on script, which was remarkable given how little time they’d had to prepare. It helped that they were mostly telling the truth. She tried not to fidget.
“She found nothing suspicious,” Bryn said. “In fact, she wanted to make amends, so she helped me clean up the bakery, and in return I offered her a place to stay.”
Fenerer jabbed his thumb toward the bakery. “Nothing suspicious? Ha! I’d like to hear that from her own mouth. Bring her out! Why isn’t she here briefing these fine soldiers? She should be reporting her finds.”
“I would indeed like to speak to the investigator,” Captain Varrik said, much more politely than Fenerer. Kiela wished there was a way to eject everyone’s grumpiest neighbor from the conversation. With Fenerer here, everything was much more likely to go awry. She hoped no one got too extravagant with their lies.
Bryn shrugged. “She moved on, once she finished here.”
“To where?” Captain Varrik asked.
