Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(114)

“A lot, if they have control of the palace guard,” I say. “Which means they control the night patrol. They might not have been able to spread word of my guilt very far yet—but it won’t take long. When night falls, I may have Saeth and Thorin try to contact others, but it may not be worth the risk. I don’t want to lose them, too.”

“If the medicine isn’t faulty,” she says, “then why are they doing this?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “But I suspect Allisander is trying to force things back to the status quo. He never wanted to provide more medicine.”

“So he can keep charging exorbitant prices that only the elites can afford.”

“Yes.”

“So more people will die.”

“Yes. It’s very likely the reason they chose to act now. If Corrick returns with a supply of Moonflower, we won’t need Allisander.”

That ship is a farce. It’ll never reach Ostriary.

I force Arella’s words out of my mind. There’s no way they could know.

Unless they sent ships to follow.

The thought nearly steals my breath. There aren’t many who could afford to do it, but Laurel’s father is one of Allisander’s richest landowners.

And there’s nothing I could do about it.

“I need a way to reclaim the palace,” I say. “But I’m not entirely sure how to do that if the consuls have turned the guards and soldiers against me.”

“If I may,” Quint says, “I don’t believe they have all of them. Right now, they may be following orders simply because you aren’t there to contradict them.”

“You heard the guards at the gate,” I say. “They have enough of them.”

“I think your ear will manage without stitching,” Karri says. “But I’ll add some ointment.”

“I can’t trust the elites,” I say, “and I’m worried the people would turn me in just to claim the reward.”

Karri snorts and dabs some medicine onto her finger. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. But you think the people are going to trust Consul Sallister?”

“Well.” I hesitate. “Maybe?”

“I think you might be surprised. You’re taking up space in my kitchen.”

“If I survive this, I’ll ensure you’re rewarded, Karri.”

She smiles, but it flickers with sadness. “I’m not helping you for a reward. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do.” She pauses. “It’s the same reason Lochlan was helping the rebels. We didn’t want silver, Your Majesty. We wanted medicine.”

“I know,” I say. “I swear to you. I know.”

She sits back. “I know you do. Even when Prince Corrick was terrifying, I could tell that you wanted to help the people. I could hear it in your voice when we held the Circle.”

When they tried to take over the Royal Sector. The night they almost succeeded.

“Violet knew it, too,” says Quint. “As I said, she sang all night.”

I laugh without humor. “It’s a shame Violet doesn’t have an army.”

“Who’s Violet?” says Karri.

“A girl,” I say. “She offered me shelter after I was shot, then risked herself to find Master Quint.”

Karri’s eyes go wide. “Did she know you were the king?”

“In the end I had to tell her. But before then, she called me Fox, because I would—”

“Wait.” Karri drops her rag. “That was you?” she demands. “You were Fox? Did Tessa know?”

“No,” I say quietly. “Not even Corrick knew.”

She blows a breath out through her teeth. “So all that time we were bickering around the table, you were secretly going out and giving people silver.”

I hesitate, then nod.

“Well,” she says. “I’ll see if I can gather the people in the commons tonight. You’ll have to hide here for the time being.” She glances at the window. “I’ll need to get back soon, or Mistress Solomon will grow suspicious.” Karri stands and begins arranging her things.

“Wait,” I say. “Gather the people for what?”

She stops and looks at me. “To take the Royal Sector again.” She smiles, and a dark light glints in her eyes. “Your Majesty, Violet might not have an army, but don’t you remember? Lochlan does.”





CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Tessa

I’m such an idiot.

I spent so much time trying to convince Corrick that Rian was good, that this wasn’t a trick or a trap.

And now Kilbourne is dead. Rocco might be close. We’re all tied on the deck, sweating in the midday sun as those brigantines get closer. A half-starved woman is claiming Rian is the king of Ostriary—and he’s not denying it.

I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised at myself. I spent years thinking Weston Lark was a friendly outlaw. Look at how that turned out.

A hand appears in my vision, holding a slice of fruit. It’s so unexpected that I almost flinch.

“Eat,” Rian says, and his voice is quiet. “I know you didn’t have breakfast.”

Wind whips at my hair, and I clamp my mouth shut and keep my eyes on the deck. I remember Corrick feeding me berries, how it felt like a peace treaty.