Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(31)

Rocco looks to my brother. “I would have sent a message through the guard captain, but I thought it best if I spoke with you directly.”

“Go ahead, Erik.”

I blink, startled. “Is that your first name?”

“It is.”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever heard it.” I don’t know why this is startling, whether it’s Harristan’s casual use of it, or the fact that I never considered it. Maybe both. The man saved my life. I feel like I should have known.

Maybe I look poleaxed, because the guardsman gives me an ironic nod and adds, “A pleasure to meet you, Your Highness.”

His tone is so dry that it almost makes me smile. I don’t know any of Harristan’s guards well, but I’ve liked Rocco since the day the palace was attacked. I should probably like him best for saving my life, but that’s not it. It’s that he was willing to obey my order to break Allisander’s fingers to prevent the consul from overthrowing Harristan.

Then again, maybe that says more about me than the guardsman.

Harristan gives me a withering glance. “Go ahead, Rocco,” he says.

“I understand you will be selecting guards to sail to Ostriary,” he says. “Captain Huxley presumes you will not choose from among your personal guard, but I would like to volunteer.”

“Why?” says Harristan.

“Captain Blakemore is not allowing any sailors from Kandala on board his ship.” Rocco glances at me. “But I believe the risk to the King’s Justice is rather great.”

“So you believe members from the king’s personal guard should go?” I say. “Right now, the risk to Harristan is far greater.”

“I don’t disagree. But a sailor loyal to Kandala should be on board. Someone with the experience to know the route followed, the way the ship is sailed.” He hesitates. “Someone who could bring the ship back if something were to happen to Captain Blakemore.”

“I can’t simply dress up a sailor as a guardsman,” Harristan says.

“No, Your Majesty,” Rocco agrees. “But … you could send a guardsman who knows his way around a ship. I grew up around the docks in Sunkeep. My brother and his wife still sail the trade route along the coast of Sunkeep and Steel City. I joined them when I took a week’s leave last spring.”

Interesting. Harristan and I exchange a glance.

“So you’ll be a sailor and a spy,” I say.

“A guard,” he says, a bit ruefully. “I’ll keep you alive, Your Highness—and I’ll be able to ensure your safe passage, regardless of what happens to Captain Blakemore.” The weight of those words sink in as he looks to Harristan. “I wanted to make this offer before you made any announcements so there would be no later changes that might invite questions.”

I watch my brother turn this around in his head, examining it from all angles, looking for points of weakness. When he settles on one, it’s not something I considered.

“This is a good suggestion,” Harristan says. “You didn’t want to discuss this with the guard captain?”

The guardsman hesitates. “Captain Huxley still has not determined how the rebels were able to gain access to the palace during the initial revolt. I’ve already seen how quickly Rian Blakemore and his crew have heard rumors around the Royal Sector—rather specific rumors about you, Your Highness, and Miss Tessa, as well. If I made my skills known to Captain Huxley, I worried that there would be no way to keep them secret.”

He has my full attention now. “Are you saying you think the guard captain is a security risk?”

Rocco glances between me and my brother. He might be in the king’s personal guard, which carries some benefits, but he’s not an officer. Making an unfounded claim against the guard captain could put him out of a job, and he looks like he’s just realized he’s cornered himself.

“Go ahead,” says Harristan. “Answer freely.”

Rocco hesitates again, but then he nods, and I realize that he might not trust the guard captain, but he must trust my brother. “Captain Huxley has been known to accept a bit of coin for gossip about the royal family. If someone started asking questions, I think he’s likely to look the other way if a bit of silver crossed his palm.”

“Are there any other guards with your skills?” says Harristan.

“Not that I know of—but again, I didn’t want to inquire and invite questions.”

Harristan nods. “Very well. I’ll accept your offer. I’ll be sending three guards. Choose the two who you feel would make the best match for this assignment, and bring me their names when you’re on duty tomorrow. Anyone but Thorin. Don’t go through the guard captain. I’ll tell him I made the selection myself.”

Rocco’s eyes widen in surprise. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You’re dismissed,” Harristan says.

Once he’s gone, I say, “The guard captain will choke when you don’t involve him in the decision.”

“Rocco has earned the chance to choose his own team.” He pauses. “And I trust him to bring guards who will be loyal.”

I study him. “I don’t like that he doesn’t trust Captain Huxley.” It makes me not want to leave, but I don’t say that. “Why did you tell him not to choose Thorin? He probably would have been his first choice.”