Page 109 of Royal Rebel

“Well, I think the biggest concern right now is Salvation.”

“The refugee camp.”

James dipped his chin, and the false beard touched his chest. “Exactly. It explains much of how our people have been disappearing—both the refugees, and our fellow rebels. Grandeur has been busy with the Hunt.”

“Venn and Vera just returned from the camp. They said the Hunt is no longer in control, and Desfan has sent aid.”

“That’s good, but I’m afraid there are still issues. Many in our network are being slaughtered or arrested, because those who were tortured in Salvation gave up names.”

Clare’s stomach turned. “What can be done to protect them?”

“I’m going to travel to Salvation and make contact with any of the rebels there, and learn the extent of the damage to our network. Meanwhile, I’ll send word to our people in Devendra to be extremely careful. We can’t have them all abandon their posts, but they need to be prepared. I hope to make contact with a man named David Holm. He was coming to Mortise, so he might have gone to Salvation. If I find him, I’ll probably send him here to be your main contact in Duvan. If I can’t find him, I’ll send someone else . . .” His words faded as he stared at her wide eyes. “What?”

“David Holm was at Salvation,” she told him, unable to keep the excitement from her voice. “Venn and Vera met him—and his children.” Vera had told her much about the Holm children, and there had been true love in Vera’s voice, as well as longing. It was clear she missed them. Clare hoped David Holm came to Duvan. It would be wonderful for Venn, Vera, and the children to be reunited.

James looked relieved. “Was David all right?”

“I think so. Vera mentioned that he’d been detained by the Hunt and tortured, but he was recovering at Salvation and helping a man named Lord Zander Fellnor to keep Salvation safe.”

James’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank the fates he’s alive. I must hurry to him and get a full report. Once I take care of things in Salvation, I’ll either follow Serene to Zennor, or return to Devendra. But whoever I send to Duvan, I’ll have them get a message to Bridget, so you’ll know who to contact if you have need.”

“Is there anything else I can do?” Clare asked.

“Continue as you are,” James said. “Be Serene. It will help keep her safe in her travels, and further solidify the alliance with Mortise.” He paused, then muttered a low curse. “Carrigan is going to be upset.”

A frown tugged at her mouth. “Ivar Carrigan?” He was infamous in Devendra. Years ago, he’d risen up against King Newlan—his cousin—and he’d started a civil war. The uprising had only been quelled after many deaths on both sides. Clare’s own father had been executed for siding with Carrigan.

Just before everything had crumbled, Carrigan had escaped Devendra, and he’d been a fugitive ever since. Serene had mentioned Carrigan before, when she’d told Clare about her family’s history. When a marriage was negotiated between Newlan and Aren—a Zennorian princess—Newlan had sent Carrigan to Zennor to escort his future bride to Devendra. Carrigan had done so, but he’d fallen in love with Aren on the journey—and she him, though she’d still married Newlan.

According to Serene, Queen Aren had been the one to help Carrigan escape after the failed civil war. Newlan had found out, and in retribution for her betrayal, he had slowly poisoned his wife until she died. Grandeur had known and done nothing to save his mother.

Serene’s family was a tangled mess.

“Yes,” James said, and it took Clare a moment to realize he wasn’t agreeing with her thoughts, but confirming her earlier question.

“How is Carrigan a concern?” Clare asked. She’d never met the man, but she hated him. He’d spoken the words that inspired her father to rise up against Newlan, and he’d run away as soon as the uprising collapsed, leaving men like Duncan Ellington to be killed in the street. She thought of Carrigan as a coward, and she’d grown up resenting him just as much as she resented Newlan for giving the execution order. Both men were responsible for her father’s death, as far as she was concerned.

“Not many know this,” James said slowly, “but I feel you should know. Carrigan is an ally of Serene’s.”

Her eyes widened. “He’s a rebel?”

“Yes. When Serene first formed the rebellion, she relied heavily on Carrigan’s old contacts. That’s how I was brought on, actually. Carrigan was friends with my father.”

Clare frowned. She wondered why Serene had never told her that—in fact, hadn’t she once claimed to barely know the man at all? In the next breath, she realized there were probably many things Serene kept secret in order to protect herself and her rebels.

The thought of being part of the same rebellion as Carrigan made Clare’s stomach knot. She had to remind herself this was Serene’s rebellion, not his. Still, she knew her feelings would remain complicated. Ivar Carrigan had led her father to his death—and he’d run away while his men were slaughtered. That was not something Clare could easily forget.

Wrapped up in processing the revelation about Carrigan, it took a moment for James’s words to sink in. “Wait. If Carrigan is an ally of Serene’s, why would he be upset with her?”

James sighed. “The alliance with Mortise . . . Well, Carrigan was the one who helped Serene see the necessity of it. He was part of a failed rebellion once, so he knows what we need to do differently in order to win now. He wouldn’t want Serene to take the risk of traveling to Zennor.” He snorted. “Then again, Carrigan isinZennor, so they’ll probably see each other soon enough.”

“Maybe that’s one of the reasons she wanted to go to Zennor,” Clare said. “To speak with him.”

“Maybe.” James’s eyes flicked over her shoulder—presumably to check on Bennick and Venn. “I think I’ve pushed them as far as they can bear. We’ll both stand, and when I fumble my bow and bump into you, I’ll grab the letter. Which pocket is it in?”

“My right.”

“Thank you, Clare,” James said, deep sincerity in his tone. “For everything you’ve done for Serene, and all of us. Be safe.”

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