Page 19 of The King's Sword
The right side of his lips curled into a half smile. “Probably not.”
She stood and folded her arms.
“I have a few things left to pack then I’ll be ready,” he said. “I have to grab something from my room. If you go into the kitchen, donottouch anything.” He ran up the stairs.
Curious, Sabine went into the kitchen, wondering what he’d been cooking. She opened the door and froze. It was a disaster. Pots and pans were strewn all over the counters. On the table, there were half a dozen piles of crushed leaves and powders.
Evander returned, stepping around her. He placed several containers on the table and began packing the piles using spoons, being careful not to touch anything with his skin.
“Are those poisons?” she asked, remembering when her mother had taught her to identify the most basic of poisons. She thought she smelled one or two of them right now.
He paused what he was doing and glanced up at her. “Why are you asking me a question you already know the answer to?”
Seeing Evander like this—an assassin—terrified her. She shivered.
“Why don’t you go and pack,” Evander said. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes. Take enough clothes with you to last a week. I put a bag in your room to put everything in. Make sure you dress in pants and tie your hair back. I want you to try to look like a man.”
She nodded and backed out of the kitchen. Her sister had died from poison. She clasped her shaking hands together and ran upstairs. The more she learned about Evander, the more she realized she didn’t want to know him. This assassin-pirate-prince.
* * *
Sabine and Evander headed toward the town they’d arrived in. While she didn’t mind walking since the weather was pleasant, she would much prefer to be riding a horse. She hadn’t ridden in weeks and missed it.
“Everything okay?” Evander asked, walking at her side.
She nodded. “I was just thinking that I hope Rainer isn’t furious with me for leaving.” When she showed up alone with Evander, he’d at least be suspicious.
“I’ve been thinking,” Evander said. “It might be best if we arrive in Lynk with a handful of royal Avoni guards.”
She peered over at him, her eyes narrowing.
“What?” he asked. “You don’t like that?”
“No, I think that is a wise idea.” It unnerved her that she’d been thinking about that very thing.
“Then we’ll need to make a slight detour on our way there,” Evander said.
“That’s fine.” She was in no rush to return to Lynk. She still needed to come up with a plan on how to handle Rainer and what to do with all of the information she’d learned.
“Plus,” Evander said, “I have to take Lottie to Avoni with me. Having guards will make the engagement look more official.”
While Sabine knew she should keep her mouth shut since it wasn’t any of her concern, she couldn’t refrain from asking, “Why’d you agree to marry her?” Curiosity really could be difficult to overcome sometimes.
“Honestly?” He glanced sidelong at her.
She nodded.
“Two reasons. One, to save my own ass. I’m hoping Rainer won’t question why I left with you in the first place if I not only return you to the palace unharmed, but I also manage to solve a problem for him.”
She supposed that made sense. “And the second reason?”
“If Rainer declares war and raises his army against other kingdoms, I’m hoping he’ll leave mine alone since his sister will be residing within its border.”
Again, another reasonable answer. “Do you really think Rainer will be satisfied being king of all kingdoms except for yours?”
“That is a problem for another day.” As he walked, he kept his focus on his feet. After a moment, he looked at Sabine and said, “Who knows, maybe you’ll stop a war from happening.”
“Maybe.” While Sabine would do everything in her power to try to stop a war from breaking out, they both knew it was a long shot. Whatever plan Rainer had, he’d set in motion a long time ago. It would take more than Sabine, a mere woman, the sixth-born child, to stop Rainer.
