Defend the Dawn (Defy the Night #2)(36)

The captain is so principled. His people are so loyal.

Kandala’s people are terrified of Prince Corrick. In the candy shop, for a spare moment, I was terrified of Prince Corrick. I wonder what that says about his character.

And my own.

I often wonder what my parents would think of where I am now. I know they would have supported the way I was stealing medicine to distribute among the Wilds. They were doing it first, after all. But then I ended up in the palace. I ended up working for the prince, and sometimes I wonder if I’m helping anyone at all.

I don’t like the direction of these thoughts. They always seem to travel in directions I don’t want to explore.

But I do think my parents would be proud of what I’m doing now. I’m going to Ostriary. To help negotiate for medicine. I once stood in the shadows with Corrick and told him we should start a revolution—and later, I helped the king stop one. But since then, I’ve been stuck in stuffy rooms, working with physicians or trying to negotiate with Lochlan. Everything is so … so slow. So ineffective. I’ve missed my nightly runs with Wes so much that I sometimes wake in the middle of the night and worry that I’m going to be late to the workshop, before remembering that I’m in the palace—and Wes doesn’t exist.

A knock sounds at my door, and my heart leaps. Maybe he’s finally found some time to see me. As usual, my future feels so uncertain. I need to look into Corrick’s blue eyes and hear the warmth in his voice. I need to erase the memory of the man on the floor of the candy shop, Corrick’s dagger stealing blood from his throat. I need to remember why we’re doing this together—why I trust him at all.

But a guard calls out, “His Royal Majesty, King Harristan.”

WHAT.

I have to slap a hand over my mouth to keep from saying it out loud. The king never visits me personally. If he wants to see me, he sends a summons.

I all but choke on my breath and call out, “Come—come in!” I barely have a chance to get to my feet before the door swings wide, and then the king is in my room.

“Your Majesty,” I say, offering a curtsy.

The door swings shut behind him, and I can’t help but stare. We’ve always had a bit of an odd relationship. Even though we hiked through the Wilds together and faced down the rebels side by side, I sometimes forget all of that when he’s here in the palace being … the king. He’s Corrick’s brother, but he’s still the most imposing man I know. I don’t think I’ve been alone with Harristan since … well, ever.

Harristan doesn’t seem to notice—or care—because he wastes absolutely no time. “The winds have turned,” he says without preamble. “Captain Blakemore worries that a storm is brewing, and at this time of year, it could last for days. My advisers concur.” He pauses. “Rather than waiting to see how the storm manifests, you will be leaving this evening.”

I stare at him. This evening. I wish I could read something in his voice. I twist my hands together. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will expect you to ensure everyone from Kandala continues to receive the correct measure of Moonflower elixir each day,” he says. “Quint is arranging for your apothecary tools to be on board the ship, along with a supply of Moonflower from the palace stores.” He pauses, and a new weight enters his voice. “I am entrusting you with this, Tessa.”

I take a deep breath, but nod. “Yes, of course.”

“We are all hopeful that Captain Blakemore has access to medicine that works equally as well, but we’ve been tricked before.”

“I understand.”

“The materials will be kept locked in your room. You will not allow anyone else to prepare the medicine. Is this understood?”

There. I hear it in his voice. The fear.

I nod quickly. “Yes. I understand.”

“I will have four weeks of medicine provided. You will attend with Prince Corrick, of course, along with Lochlan Cresswell.”

My eyebrows shoot straight up. “You’re sending Lochlan?”

“Yes. If we are sending a contingent from Kandala to determine a better source for the Moonflower, I felt it could be beneficial to send representatives of all my people.”

Wow. I don’t know what to say. I’m staring at him like he told me the sky is green.

“Do you disagree with my choice?” he says.

“No. I … I’m surprised.”

“I’m hopeful that it will go far to gain trust with the rebels. Three guards will be joining you. Rocco and Kilbourne, of my personal guard, as well as Silas of the palace guard.” He hesitates. “If you have any concerns about the medicine, about the captain, about anything at all, you are to bring them to Corrick himself, or to Rocco. No one else. Not even the other guards. Am I understood?”

I study him, trying to figure this out. There’s more to all of this than he’s saying.

He’s not offering more information, so I swallow and nod. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Harristan studies me back, and his scrutiny is intimidating. Sometimes, when I’m in his presence, I simultaneously want to yell at him to do something, while I also just want to give him a hug.

Because he’s the king, I can’t do either.

Harristan’s voice drops, just a bit, until there’s no danger of him being overheard outside this door.