To Love a Prince (Knights of Valor Book 1)(48)

“Yes, but I didn’t mean to betray his confidence. I’m surprised you didn’t know that.”

Leopold fell into a thoughtful silence, and Auburn focused on the sand-strewn streets until their coach pulled up in front of the docks.

She gazed up at the huge ship that waved Tamryn’s flag, and her heart fluttered at the large gold dragon symbol.

“Not that one,” Leopold said as he led her towards a much smaller smuggler’s ship.

Auburn froze on the pier, panic sealing her throat. This was the ship from her visions, the one she’d seen sink a dozen times.

Leopold tugged her arm, but she stayed rooted. “You coming?”

She licked her dry lips and fought for words. “We can’t get on that ship.”

“We must,” Ndrek said. “The flagship is here for Prince Eli. It will wait to take him back.”

“That ship,” she said and pointed to the commandeered pirate vessel, “will sink before we can set sail.”

“What in the seven hells are you talking about?” Leopold said.

Ndrek’s eyes narrowed as he glanced from Auburn to Leopold. “She may have information of which we are unaware.”

“Unless I’m as old and senile as Eli wants me to be, Auburn’s on the up and up. Only one she was conspiring with was herself, and that was to get the hell outta Qumaref.”

“It is possible whoever gave the king misinformation has an accomplice in Qumaref. If that accomplice knows only two Tamarians arrived, but three left the palace under the shadow of secrecy, the accomplice may presume the third person is Prince Eli.”

“So?”

“If the first assassination attempt did not work, sinking the ship Prince Eli is returning to Tamryn on would be a viable second option.”

“I’m not buying it,” Leopold said as he glared at Ndrek. “How much did Eli pay you to get me to bring the girl back to him?”

“He was wise enough not to try, and caution would be prudent. How often does a slave resist her master? Or try to delay her trip to freedom?”

Leopold cursed under his breath. “Keep her safe. I’m holding you responsible for her, and you won’t like what happens if you disappoint me.”

“Please don’t go on the ship.” Auburn caught Leopold’s arm. “I’m not sure when it will sink.”

“I can’t leave the crew aboard if the ship is gonna sink.”

“We will follow Sir Leopold but stay on the docks. Whoever is after Prince Eli won’t strike until the prince, as played by you in Sir Leopold’s cloak, is aboard.”

Leopold cursed as he stomped down the docks and onto the ship. Auburn followed Ndrek and waited beside the ruddy-skinned man as Leopold boarded the smuggler’s ship.

Standing quietly as they waited, the smell of dead fish and brine assaulted her, and Auburn dipped her head to hide her nose in the voluminous cloak. The heat of the sun pounded down on them, and the screaming gulls mixed with the blur of voices into a cacophony that made her head ache.

Auburn moved closer to Ndrek.

“It will get better,” Ndrek said. “The strange will become familiar.”

“I don’t miss my comfortable prison in the seraglio. At least not yet.”

“You may from time to time, but you have something you are running toward. That is very powerful.”

“You’re from Qumaref?” Auburn asked.

“Once, perhaps, but Tamryn is my home now.”

She motioned to his robes. “Are you a wizard?”

“I studied magic in Qumaref, but when my master learned of it...” Ndrek smiled, showing his perfect white teeth. “I found my way to Tamryn.”

Auburn nodded her understanding. “Do you like it there?”

“Better than Qumaref, certainly.”

“Will you tell me more about Tamryn?”

Ndrek tried to allay her nervousness with tales of his deeds and misdeeds in Tamryn, and his various run-ins with the Knights of Valor.

Auburn hid her smile behind her hand. “It sounds as if there are many differences between Qumaref and Tamryn.”

“So there are, but both have much they can learn from each other. Neither country is willing to admit that, however.” Ndrek glanced at the ship. “It would not take so long if there was nothing to find.”

Auburn peered at the ship, and her eyes clouded. “The ship will still sink. When it sets sail, there will be three ships waiting. Two of them will go down, but the third will prevail.”

“Do you know where the ships will attack?”

She shook her head. “I can only see the ocean, and it all looks the same.”

Ndrek’s voice dropped to less than a whisper. “What if you look up? Can you see the stars at the site of the attack?”

Auburn tipped her head upward, her eyes focusing on nothing. “The stars look the same as they do over Qumaref.”

“So the attack would not be far from these shores. Makes sense if they are uncertain about our route home.”

She turned her attention back to the docks. “We shouldn’t get aboard that ship.”

“What about the flagship?”

Auburn glanced at the enormous ship and its heavily armed escort, but her eyes stayed clear. “I’ve seen nothing that makes me believe it won’t return to Tamryn without incident.”