Page 14 of Peril

He wore ivory breeches with brightly polished black boots. His white shirt set off the bright purple jacket while his neckcloth was a slightly lighter purple and edged in ivory lace. Hints of lace also edged his sleeves and his collar.

Definitely not something he would normally wear. But one glance at him dressed in this, and the Mongavarians were sure to dismiss him as an indolent, younger prince. From what he’d heard, bright colors and elaborate fabrics were all the rage in Mongavaria.

Not to mention, he wouldn’t be at all disappointed if he was forced to abandon this outfit in Mongavaria in the event that they had to make a quick getaway.

“But I look like a fop, right?” Edmund picked up the black bowler with its matching purple band.

“A foolish fop, yes.” Jalissa sighed and shook her head. “They are going to wonder why I would consent to marry you. I clearly could do better.”

“True. Funny what we will do for our kingdoms.” Edmund grinned and adjusted the angle of the bowler so that it sat slightly askew. “It’s a good thing I’m too brainless to notice the disdain in your voice. You can freely insult me in elvish since I’m too unintelligent to understand your language.”

Another of their precautions. As far as the Mongavarians were to know, Edmund didn’t know elvish. Not only would it fit the picture of a foolish fop that he was presenting, but he also couldn’t risk the Mongavarian king realizing that the spy who had threatened him six months ago was Edmund.

“Or perhaps there is no accounting for love.” Jalissa straightened her shoulders and faced him with her most icy expression, though Edmund could see the hint of humor lurking just below the mask. After a moment, the iciness gave way to a hint of pain. “I am not sure I can pretend I do not love you.”

Edmund reached for her, pulling her close. “I am still in wonder that you love me, even after everything I’ve done.” He swept a strand of hair from her face and longed to kiss her again. As themselves, one last time.

But he could feel the ship gliding to a halt, the magic-powered paddles sloshing to keep the ship as stationary as possible against the current of the Hydalla River.

After a moment, he stepped back and offered her an arm, making sure his own masked expression was suitably charming and empty. “Yes, perhaps icy but indulgent spouse would be the correct role to play.”

Jalissa rested her hand on his arm in the elven manner, and together they made their way back to the upper deck. There, the crews of the two ships were securing a rope-and-wood bridge across the space dividing the two ships. The water below the swaying rope bridge churned with the effort it took to keep the two ships in place in the middle of the river, a remarkable display on the part of the helmsmen of both ships.

Deep below the frothing river between the ships, Farrendel’s magic glowed blue, marking the border that neither ship had crossed.

At the far side of the bridge, a beautiful young woman, her blonde hair glowing in the late morning sunlight and set off to perfection against her cream complexion and her pale blue dress, stood waiting with two stoic guards at her back.

Edmund leaned in closer to Jalissa, keeping the placid expression on his face even as he whispered, “The others are going to have their hands full.”

“Yes.” Jalissa’s expression edged a touch colder, and she tilted her chin upward just enough to give off that elegant snootiness that the elves had perfected.

Even with all her perfection of human loveliness, the Mongavarian princess facing them couldn’t hold a candle to Jalissa’s silvery elven skin tone, ethereal features, and air of otherworldliness. Though, Edmund was biased in that regard.

For a moment, they simply stared across at the Mongavarian princess as she studied them in return. The swaying rope bridge wasn’t wide enough for them to cross at the same time. One party would have to go first, and he wasn’t about to step across the safety of the border without the surety of the other princess on this side of the border first.

The princess met his gaze, something cool and calculating and a hint knowing in her clear blue eyes. With a twist to her mouth that disappeared after a moment into a blandly pleasant expression, Princess Bella of Mongavaria gestured to one of the guards next to her.

The guard drew in a deep breath and raised his voice. “Permission to come aboard?”

“Granted,” the elven captain of the ship called back, his arms crossed as he eyed the visiting princess who would soon step foot on his ship.

A few yards away, a senior member of Escarland’s Parliament waited to greet the princess and convey the good wishes of the Escarlish people. He would be her government escort until they joined Averett and Weylind at the Tarenhieli border town. There, Princess Bella would spend a few hours greeting the elven nobility before the ship conveyed her and Averett across the river, where they would catch the royal train to Aldon.

With one guard leading the way and the other following, Princess Bella minced her way across the swaying rope bridge, though her face didn’t betray any fear.

As one actor to another, Edmund suspected the proper princess was just a façade. This princess was as cool a customer as he was.

And he didn’t have any way to warn Averett of that fact. Perhaps he could whisper it to the captain, but Princess Bella was watching. She’d notice if he suddenly ducked away for a hurried, whispered conversation.

No, Edmund would just have to trust his brother. Averett wasn’t a slouch when it came to judging someone’s character. Not to mention that their mother and Paige would also be able to tell the act from genuine sincerity.

They would have things well in hand at home. Right now, Edmund’s focus had to be on the mission ahead.

He kept a wary eye on the princess as she and her guards stepped across the border. In the water below, the blue of Farrendel’s magic flared a bit brighter, but it didn’t shoot up into a wall and incinerate the princess. As much as Edmund already distrusted her, he didn’t want to think about the ramifications if that had happened.

It must mean that the princess and her guards weren’t carrying any weapons. They’d been warned that weapons could cause an unpleasant reaction from the border protections.

Luckily Edmund and Jalissa didn’t have such restrictions—at least, not from Farrendel’s magic. They would be free to take any number of weapons across the border. Still, they didn’t wear any now, and Edmund’s sleeve felt oddly empty without his hidden derringer. It was safely tucked in one of the hidden compartments of their luggage, along with his knives and other items they might need for spying.

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