Page 37 of Pretense

He led her back through Buckmore Cottage, then into one of the spare rooms. They managed to find a few trunks filled with discarded servants’ clothing. Edmund sorted through the clothing, setting aside one pile for her, one for himself. He left, and Jalissa quickly changed into the scratchy, Escarlish dress, though she kept her own boots with her dagger hidden in its sheath strapped to her ankle.

It took some doing, but she managed to twist her hair into a bun. She then tied a kerchief over her hair the way she had seen some Escarlish women wear it, covering her pointed ears.

When she stepped out of the small room, Edmund was waiting, leaning against the wall. He straightened and gave a nod. “Well done. No one will recognize you in that.”

Nor did he look anything like himself, in a slightly oversized shirt and worn trousers with stains at the knees.

Together, Jalissa and Edmund strolled out the gate by Buckmore Cottage. The guards did not even spare them a second glance, since they were likely less concerned about people leaving the palace than those entering. Especially after Essie had been shot.

Jalissa still glanced around warily. She would not think twice about strolling on her own back home in Estyra. But here in Aldon, she had never walked its streets without a squad of guards watching over her. The space around her felt strangely empty with only Edmund strolling at her side.

Edmund looked up, as if scanning the rooftops.

“What are you looking for?” Jalissa swept a glance over the rooftops of the nearby buildings.

“Not sure yet.” Edmund kept walking, heading in the direction of the main gate of the palace where Iyrinder had been shot. “I heard the second gunshot as we were racing back to the palace. The gunshots sounded similar, perhaps identical. It was hard to tell over the rattling carriage wheels.”

How had Edmund managed the presence of mind to observe all that? Jalissa had been too busy trying not to panic at the sight of Essie’s blood gushing between her and Edmund’s fingers.

But instead of saying that, Jalissa gave a little shrug. “A gunshot sounds like any other gunshot, does it not?”

“Yes and no.” Edmund halted and regarded something, though Jalissa could not tell what had captured his attention. “In this case, we’re dealing with a rifle, based on the wounds, the precision of the shots, and the way the sound of the gunshots had the sharp crack of a rifle rather than the boom of a shotgun or depth of a musket.”

“A rifle?” Jalissa frowned at Edmund. “Essie and Iyrinder were shot in two different locations. Would that not take two different rifles and, thus, two assassins?”

“Not necessarily.” Edmund pointed at a building that stood a story taller than the others around it. “There. That one. With a good rifle, I think it would be possible for someone to target both the market street and the main gate.”

Jalissa turned that over in her head. “That would indicate a level of planning. Are you suggesting this was a premeditated attack, rather than a crime of opportunity? Do you think Farrendel and I were the targets?”

She had to swallow several times at the bile rising in her throat. She had been a target during the war, but that had been in a more general way. Having someone target her specifically would be something unpleasant and new.

“Yes, I think this was meticulously planned. But I don’t think you were a target.” Edmund grimaced. “Word of the heart bond between Farrendel and Essie is no secret, not after it was discussed frequently during the war and now again thanks to the scandal. Farrendel has proven to be too indestructible thanks to his magic. The only way to distract Farrendel enough to shoot him would be to shoot Essie.”

“And therefore trigger the heart bond.” Jalissa hugged her arms across her stomach. “But, why? I thought the Escarlish people were coming to terms with having elves for allies? And why target Farrendel? He is a powerful ally to have on your side. Escarland is fortunate to have him.”

“All excellent questions.” Edmund set off walking once again. “But we don’t have enough information yet to answer any of them. Let’s see if we can talk our way into getting a tour of the upper floor of that building.”

Jalissa hurried to keep up with him. Even with her longer strides, he set a deceptively fast pace that had her trotting to keep up, even though he looked like he was merely ambling along the street.

When they reached the building, Jalissa glanced up at the name above the door. “This appears to be a boarding house.”

“Not too surprising. It’s in a safe neighborhood, close to the palace and close to the city center.” Edmund gestured farther down the street. “Hanford University isn’t that far away either.”

Before Jalissa had a chance to respond, Edmund lifted the brass knocker and rapped it sharply.

Only a few moments passed before the door swung open to show a thin woman with frizzy brown hair streaked with gray. “Can I help you?”

Edmund flashed that charming and innocent smile of his. “My sister and I are looking to rent a suite of rooms. Do you have any available?”

Jalissa barely kept from starting at the slick lies that poured from Edmund’s mouth so easily. Elves could lie. There was no magic preventing them from doing so. But it was not done. It just was not.

The woman’s gaze swept over the two of them. “I don’t think you can afford rooms here. I run a respectable establishment.”

Edmund didn’t so much as stiffen. He simply glanced down at himself, his smile turning wry. “Sorry about our appearance. We work at the palace, and just got off our shifts. The rooms aren’t for us. Our mother and younger siblings are moving here, and we need a place to rent while we look for a more permanent place for them to lease. We would not need the rooms for another week or so, if you don’t have an immediate vacancy.”

“Both of you will be pitching in your salaries?” The woman’s frank gaze raked over Jalissa.

Jalissa forced herself to nod. She could not make herself verbally affirm Edmund’s lies.

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