Page 59 of Pretense

Edmund nodded and leaned back in his chair. That would explain how they had gotten away with it. They had started the money off in places where there was less oversight. By the time the money worked its way to a bigger city, its source would be hard to locate.

“How many of those towns were near places where that group of Escarlish traitors operated? What about towns near Lord Bletchly’s holdings?” Edmund almost wished the man was still alive. He still had a lot to answer for.

But only almost. There was a poetic justice to the fact the man had been killed while betraying Farrendel and Essie to what he thought would be their deaths.

“I’m not sure. I’d have to look at the reports again.” Averett shook his head before he met Edmund’s gaze. “Are you telling me the Sentinel is really a counterfeiting operation?”

“Yes. They are operating a press in the basement.” Edmund closed his eyes, seeing again the stacks and stacks of Escarlish bills just sitting in that room. “But I think they have printed far more than they have circulated so far. As if they are waiting for something.”

“But what does this have to do with an assassination attempt on Farrendel?” Jalissa’s voice was sharp, almost as if the question burst out of her despite her decorum.

Edmund opened his eyes and gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, though he really wanted to take her hand and hold it. “I’m not entirely sure. But this does seem to point toward our anarchist or, at the very least, anti-monarchist theory.”

Averett nodded, leaning his elbows on his desk wearily. “Flooding the market with a whole bunch of counterfeit money all at once would cause distrust of Escarlish currency at best, inflation and a recession to our economy at worst. That by itself would put us in a bad position with neighboring kingdoms. But assassinating Farrendel on top of it…”

Jalissa caught her breath, eyes widening. “I see. It would disrupt the treaty between your kingdom and mine.”

“Weylind and I have become friends. But I’m not sure that friendship could survive Farrendel getting assassinated on my watch. Especially not when this is the second time he has been hurt while in Escarland.” Averett sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “I’ve already gotten a few stern messages from him. Only the fact that both Farrendel and Essie came out of this as unscathed as possible salvaged matters.”

Edmund grimaced. He, Julien, and Averett had all but promised Weylind that they would never let an attack on Farrendel happen again on Escarlish soil. But here it was, less than a year later, and Essie and Iyrinder had been shot in an attempt to kill Farrendel.

Averett raised his head and speared first Jalissa, then Edmund with a look. “And I haven’t even dared tell Weylind what you two have been up to. That’s going to be your problem to face, if he finds out.”

Edmund shifted, glancing at Jalissa.

She straightened her spine. “I can handle Weylind.”

“That’s what I was afraid of.” Averett rubbed his temples again. “Just leave me out of it when you do, all right? I didn’t find out until the morning after you’d left that first time. Do you think that gives me enough plausible deniability?”

Somehow, Edmund doubted it. Not when Weylind could out-do Averett when it came to big brother overprotectiveness. And that was saying something, considering Averett had sent Edmund to go spy on Essie and Farrendel. Granted, Edmund had volunteered, so he wasn’t immune to big brother impulses.

“Do you think ending the treaty is their goal?” Jalissa’s tone turned formal as she eyed the two of them, as if hoping they would go along with her bringing the subject back to the matter at hand. “The anniversary of the treaty is a little over a week away. Not to mention that you, Weylind, and Rharreth are planning for that new bridge over the Hydalla River.”

“The bridge isn’t well publicized, and I don’t know if anyone besides the engineers knows about the meeting with Rharreth and his stoneworkers that Weylind is hosting in Tarenhiel a few weeks from now.” Lines creased Averett’s face, as if he were far older than his late twenties. “But it is a distinct possibility, especially since the Sentinel has ties to the Escarlish traitors who betrayed Farrendel to King Charvod last year. The treaties we have with Tarenhiel and Kostaria have given Escarland power, and by extension, given the monarchy more power. There are many people who would like to see us sever such close ties with Tarenhiel and Kostaria.”

Edmund nodded, but something still felt off. This was where things didn’t add up. The Sentinel had started operations two and a half years ago. Before the treaty with Tarenhiel. Whatever their plan and motives, it had begun long before the treaty.

Had the treaty merely stepped up their plan? Were these anti-monarchist Escarlish citizens who were angry enough to kill an Escarlish princess right along with the elven prince?

Lord Bletchly and Mark Hadley had been willing to kill Essie since marrying an elf had tainted her in their eyes. Was this more of the same motivation, especially now that those at the Sentinel knew Farrendel was illegitimate? Maybe the assassination had been added to the plan after finding out that tidbit while filching information from the Aldon Times.

It still didn’t sit right. Escarland’s current economic boom was because of the trade with Tarenhiel and Kostaria, a trade that would only increase when the bridge over the Hydalla River was built. Escarland was the only source of troll and elven goods for the other human kingdoms.

Sure, there were those who didn’t like Tarenhiel and Kostaria and advocated instead for closer ties with human kingdoms like Mongavaria with its booming seaports and rich overseas trade. The merchants who had gotten rich from trade with Mongavaria weren’t happy with the change, though many of them had proved adaptable and switched their trade routes quickly.

On top of the trade, the defense treaty with the elves substantially increased the military might that Escarland could draw on. With Farrendel’s magic fighting on their side, Escarland’s army would be nearly invincible.

Months ago, the true benefits of the treaty with Tarenhiel hadn’t been as apparent as they were now. Even many of its detractors had changed their tune since then, if only to associate with the popular side right now.

Killing Farrendel now along with flooding the market with counterfeit money would only weaken Escarland. Those were the actions of someone who hated Escarland—or was so blinded by thinking that their cause was right that they were willing to burn down the entire kingdom in the process.

“How do you want to handle it?” Edmund gestured to the door.

“Report to General Bloam and tell him I’ve authorized keeping an even tighter watch on the Sentinel and all of its employees.” Averett drummed his fingers on his desk, staring at the wall past Edmund’s shoulder for a long moment, eyes unfocused. “We only have your word to go on right now. Not enough for arrests, but probably enough for a raid. The head editor and top reporters will all be here at Winstead Palace for the press conference in a few days. I would think that would be the best time to raid their building.”

Edmund nodded. “I’ll report to General Bloam. I’m sure he will brief you personally on any questions or concerns.”

Even though it hadn’t been by his choice, he had thought he was done with life in the shadows. But it turned out he had one more battle to fight, one more conspiracy to uproot. He wouldn’t be forced to set aside the spy forever just yet.

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