Page 23 of The Queens and the Kings
Britt managed an astonished, “The Lordlady?” before words failed her. Speaking to the powerful leader of the mainland was thelaststipulation Britt may have ever expected. General Helsing straightened up from the desk. Her eyes revealed no agitation, but the stiffness through her neck gave her away.
“A mainland wyvern flew around Kapurnick last night. I want to know why.”
“You think the Lordlady lost control?”
“Or brought it.”
Britt’s stomach clenched; such was the fears she harbored last night. Fears Pedr did nothing to soothe.
“I don’t want you to say anything to the Lordlady about the wyvern,” General Helsing said. “As far as the islands are concerned, nothing has changed. I want you to speak to the Lordlady as if nothing happened. You’ll meet with him as a general maintenance of the relationship, as my official agent, then go outside of him to figure out why the wyvern flew over Kapurnick.”
“You think they’re staging a war.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You’re thinking it.”
General Helsing stared, flat and unaffected.
“If I’m to be your emissary,” Britt retorted, “you owe me a full picture of the truth.”
“You are not an emissary, Britt, as I have no message for you to deliver. You are myagent. Your intention is cordial and well-wishing as you casually stop by the mainland in search of the soldat’s lost parent.” General Helsing’s gaze drifted to Henrik and back.
“The soldat’sname is Henrik,” Britt ground out.
General Helsing said nothing. The challenge turned Britt’s heart into a fist. General Helsing kidded, surely. This sort of a mission was an opportunity to instigate a war, not just research the possibility of one. Her aunt wanted Britt to spy on wyverns while pretending to be friends with the most powerful leader in Elestra.
“Start your information seeking by meeting with Alma and Carina,” General Helsing advised. “Afteryou’ve spoken with the Lordlady. That will give you a chance to feel the situation out with the mainland leader and then understand better what’s happening. Alma has always been willing to take you into the Lordlady’s household and feed you, and you haven’t played withCarina in a year or two. Surely, there will be something to discuss.”
“Alma is his assistant! She won’t betray his confidence. Certainly not for a woman she only sees once a year, if that.”
“You have known Alma and Carina since you first came into my care. Alma sees you like a daughter.”
“You might be willing to exploit relationships, but I won’t.”
“I never suggest you use Alma’s relationship as a means of spying,” she said coldly. “Merely that you have another avenue in which to . . . take the temperature . . . of the mainland.”
Gaunt, she whispered, “General Helsing, I cannot?—“
“You can.”
“But—“
“If I send anyone exceptyou, under the guise of your current motivation with Henrik,” General Helsing slid her heavy glance to Henrik with a slight nod, “then they might see it as a potential problem. You and Henrik, attempting to find his mother, will not trigger much concern.”
“I’m spying for you.”
“Yes.”
General Helsing’s bland conclusion took several seconds for Britt to register before her fury caught up with her.
“Last night, you accused me of being willing to make a vow with a mussel to serve myflippant desire for freedom.Yet, you ask me to do this?”
“It is freedom,” General Helsing stated coldly, “that I offer.”
Britt’s mouth bobbed uselessly several times before she managed to close it. She didn’t dare look at Henrik, afraid of what she’d see.
What choice did she have?
