Page 79 of The Traitor Queen (The Bridge Kingdom 2)

“Be wary,” Zarrah said. “Word I was bringing you here might have raced ahead of us on good horses or faster sails. The Magpie might well be waiting for you.”

Aren instinctively touched the weapons at his waist, keeping his eyes on the shore for any signs of motion in the moonlight.

But there was nothing.

“I’ll remain here in Nerastis until the last possible hour so the Maridrinians don’t suspect,” Zarrah said. “Then I’ll sail north and anchor my fleet off your coast, as we agreed. As soon as we receive your signal, we’ll move on Southwatch Island.”

“You’re sure,” he asked for the dozenth time, “that they’ll follow your orders?”

Zarrah nodded. “I’m the Empress’s chosen heir. None will believe I’d jeopardize my position by going against her wishes. They’ll follow me unquestioningly.”

“Beach,” Jor muttered. “Stay quiet.”

The surf pushed them up on shore, Jor and Aren hopping out to pull it farther from the water.

“I’ll keep watch,” Lara whispered, then pulled a knife and scampered up the beach into the darkness. Aren watched her go, afraid it would be the last time he saw her. That instead of saying good-bye, she’d slip away into the night.

Zarrah handed him a bag of supplies. “Good luck, Your Grace. I look forward to fighting alongside Ithicana.”

He watched as Jor pushed the boat deeper into the water. Zarrah put her back into the oars, and the vessel faded into the darkness. Then they walked up the beach to the base of the steep, brush-covered hill.

Lara materialized out of the darkness, and the three of them stood together in the silence. Jor cleared his throat. “There’s a village just north of here. I’ll go scout it for a vessel that will serve our purposes.”

Aren nodded, but before Jor could move, Lara reached out a hand, catching hold of the old soldier’s arm. “Goodbye, Jor.”

“Goodbye, Lara.” Jor inclined his head. “Thank you for getting him back for us.” Then he took off at a run down the beach.

They stood in silence, the only sound the roar of the surf and the wind rustling in the bushes. Finally, he asked, “Will you tell me where you plan to go?”

“Likely I’ll lay low for a time. Stay close to the coast so I can be the first to hear how the battle goes. Hopefully I won’t have cause to regret leaving you to your own devices.”

Ignoring the jest, Aren closed the distance between them. “Don’t lie to me. Not now.”

She was quiet, the moonlight turning her hair and skin silver. “He needs to die.”

“I know, but it doesn’t need to be you who does it. Let Keris earn that crown he wants so badly—it’s about time he got his hands dirty.” Aren lifted a hand, cupping the side of her face. “I have enough to worry about without you attempting to assassinate Silas. It’s bad enough that I have to—”

He broke off, leaving the last unsaid.Bad enough that I have to let you go.

“If I can kill my father, this might well end without a fight. If Keris is so keen on peace, he’ll pull out of Ithicana and turn his head toward his grander ambitions with Zarrah and Valcotta.”

“Or you might be captured and killed.”

“It’s worth the risk.”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t use you as an assassin before, Lara. And I refuse to do it now. Promise me you’ll let this go.”

“No.” She was adamant. And in that moment, he knew that there was no point in arguing: She’d never concede. It was what he loved about her.

And what he hated.

Kicking at the sand, he glared at the moonlight. Then something caught his eye. The flash of light against a weapon. Diving forward, he knocked Lara over, rolling with her behind a boulder. “Run!”

Staggering to their feet, they dived into the bushes, arrows shooting past them.

“You go, I’ll cover you!” Lara shoved at Aren, but he caught hold of her wrist, yanking her along with him.

“Not a chance.”

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