I’m desperately curious about the ship that arrived in Artis, but anyone I can ask about it is busy dealing with it. One of the hardest things about knowing Corrick as the prince— instead of Weston Lark, the outlaw—is that he’s surrounded by obligations and duties and constraints, just by virtue of his position. There’s no secret workshop in the dark hours of the morning anymore. There’s the palace, which is full of guards and servants and courtiers, all listening for a bit of gossip about the King’s Justice.
So I have to wait. At least I don’t have any more obligations, so I can get out of this dress.
To my surprise, a message is waiting for me when I return to my quarters. It’s been delivered by one of the stewards at the front gates. No seal, just a familiar scrawl.
Tessa,
I wish that had gone better. I don’t know if you’re allowed to leave the palace, but I was hoping maybe we could meet up as friends again. I’ll head for Woolfrey’s Confectioners on the chance you have time to come join me. It’s been a long time since we could share a chocolate cream. I miss you.
xo, K
Oh, Karri. I have to press a hand to my chest.
She’s right. I wish that had gone better, too.
Woolfrey’s Confectioners is a candy shop in Artis near Mistress Solomon’s, where Karri and I worked together grinding herbs to create potions and remedies. We used to giggle over a chocolate cream at least once a month, whispering about the frivolous patrons who’d visit Mistress Solomon’s shop.
The memories tug at my heart.
Maybe this is a sign. Maybe Karri and I can figure out a way to convince Prince Corrick and Lochlan to find some common ground.
I need to call for a servant to help unlace me from this gown. But if Karri left this message at the front gate, it would have already taken a bit of time to get to me. I don’t want her to think I have no intention of showing.
I look down at the silk dress I’m wearing. I can suffer in a corset for a few more hours.
I smooth my skirts, then head for the palace steps, where I ask one of the footmen to call me a carriage.
He gives a slight bow. “Yes, of course, Miss Tessa.”
Heat rushes to my cheeks. Weeks ago, I’d never even been inside a carriage, and now I can summon one at my whim. “Thank you,” I say, but he’s already gone, off to attend to the needs of the next courtier.
Since I’m alone, I don’t expect anything grand, but I’m still surprised to be escorted to a two-seater open-air buggy with dark purple panels and gold trim. The horse is a large dapple gray in patent leather harness, every buckle and strap shining in the sunlight. The driver tips his hat to me and lowers a wooden step for my convenience.
“To the town square in Artis, miss?”
For an instant, I hesitate. I know how a carriage like this
—even a small carriage—will be seen in Artis. I know how a young woman in a fancy dress will be seen.
I remember how I would have looked at someone like that.
The driver is peering at me. “Miss?”
“I … yes.” I hesitate, then climb up. The driver clucks to the horse, and we’re off, bouncing along the cobblestones.
In the Royal Sector, no one pays me any mind, because carriages like this are common. It’s not until we pass through the main gates into the poverty-stricken villages of the Wilds that I become aware of the people who stop to stare. Most of the looks are curious, attention drawn by something shiny and fast.
But some of the looks are hostile. A few heads shake disgustedly. A mother pinches her daughter on the arm for staring, then turns her own glare on me while she shakes out her laundry.
No, no, I want to call. I’m not one of them. I’m one of you.
But of course I can’t.
The driver misunderstands my silence. “Don’t worry, miss,” he calls over the sound of the horse’s hooves clopping along the path. “No one will trouble you.”
“I’m not worried,” I say back, but my voice is lost in the wind and the sound of the horse.
Once we make it through the dense forests of the Wilds, the streets of Artis are more crowded, and the buggy has to slow to a walk. There are more horse-drawn vehicles here, hauling wagons of cargo from the docks. It’s a warm day, so many children are gathered by the fountain in the center of the town square, splashing each other with water while they shriek with laughter. I garner stares here, too, but nothing quite as hostile as in the Wilds.
We pull up along the front of Woolfrey’s, and for the first time, I notice the chips in the pink paint surrounding the doorframe, or the broken bricks forming the walkway. The
wood around the window is weathered and aged, and the window is cracked in the corner. Little imperfections I’ve never noticed before, but suddenly seem glaringly obvious when compared with the brilliant perfection of the Royal Sector.
The driver leaps down to offer me his hand, and I feel a bit foolish taking it. I used to climb the wall surrounding the Royal Sector, and I never gave it a second thought. Now I’m taking a hand to step down from a buggy. Everything from the Royal Sector always seems to be an illusion.
“Shall I tether the horse and wait, miss?” the driver says to me.
“Oh! I—” I break off. I can see Karri’s silhouette inside the confectioner’s shop. A man nearby sighs heavily, trying to navigate his fully loaded wagon around the buggy that’s stopped, obtrusively, quite in the middle of the road. “No,” I say. “I’ll be fine.”
The driver looks dubious. “Are you certain?”
“Yes,” I say firmly. I’m capable of walking back. Now that I feel everyone’s eyes on me, I almost wish I’d walked here.
Karri appears in the doorway of the confectioner’s. “Tessa!” she cries, and there’s no mistaking the delight in her voice. “You came!”
She strides forward, and I gratefully accept the hug she offers. She’s warm and familiar and she smells like the vanilla and brown sugar wafting from the candy shop.
“Of course I came,” I say.
She stands back, holding me by the shoulders. “You look so fine. I hardly recognized you in the palace.”
I flush, more embarrassed than pleased. “I should have changed. I just didn’t want to make you wait.”
“No! You look beautiful! I just got here anyway.” Oh. I’m an idiot. Because she had to walk.
I tug at the bodice of my dress, more uncomfortable now. “I’m just trying to fit in. The palace physicians hardly take me seriously as it is.”
Karri hesitates, and for a moment, I think it’s going to be uncomfortable between us. But she nods decisively. “That’s their loss, then. Come inside. The chocolate is fresh.” She hooks her arm through mine. “I’m so glad you came. I was …” Her voice trails off a bit. “I was so worried.”
“I’m still your friend,” I say quietly.
“And I’m still yours.” She gives my arm a squeeze. I squeeze back and smile.
Some of the tightness in my chest eases. I was right. We can figure out a way to make this work. She and I. Together. We don’t need these arrogant men to get in the way of truly helping people.
Then she leads me to a table, and Lochlan is sitting there.
I give a small jolt, then drop her arm.
He doesn’t look any happier to see me. “You came,” he says flatly. “I suppose I’ll be buying your drinks, then.”
“I—what?”
“He didn’t think you would come,” Karri says quietly. “He made a wager on it.”
Oh. Lovely. I’ve run face-first into his attitude. “You don’t need to pay for me,” I say tightly. “Or any of us. I can buy the chocolate creams.”
“I’m sure you can.”
“Are you going to drive away anyone who offers you something?” I say. “It seemed to be working so well in the palace.”
He holds my gaze boldly. “I was just telling Karri that it’s all well and good for you two to be friends, but you’ve changed sides.”
“What does that mean?”
He gives me a cool up-and-down glance. “Not much outlaw left, is there?” He gives a pointed look at the doorway leading to the street. “Nice carriage. Too good to walk now?”
“I’m not too good to walk. It took some time for the message to reach me. I didn’t want Karri to wait.”
He inhales, his eyes darkening, but Karri gives him a solid shove in the shoulder. “Don’t argue,” she says. “She might not be an outlaw anymore, but Tessa is my friend.”
“So you’ve said.” He rises from the table and offers me a mocking bow. “Do forgive me, Miss Tessa. Allow me to fetch your confections, ladies.”
I open my mouth to protest, but Karri catches my hand. “No,” she says. “Let him do it. Maybe a little sugar will change his mood.”
I sigh, but I sit while Lochlan heads for the counter.
To my surprise, an awkward silence falls between me and Karri. It’s so foreign. We used to sit and chat for hours on end. I still remember the day she realized I was mooning over the outlaw Weston Lark—back before I knew he was Prince Corrick. The memory makes me smile.
Tell me about his hands, she said, and I blushed like a schoolgirl.
“I’m really glad you sent me a note,” I say.
That seems to break the tension, because she smiles, too. “Me too.” She pauses and flicks her eyes at Lochlan, where he stands by the counter. “He doesn’t trust them at all, Tessa. That consul was terrible. It’s obvious he doesn’t care.” She hesitates, and I can hear the fear in her voice. “This morning, Lochlan was worried the meeting was a trap. That you were luring us to the palace. The whole time we were there, he kept waiting for them to drag us to the Hold.”
“It’s not a trap,” I say. “Karri, I would never lure you.”
“I know. But there are still people who believe that ‘Weston Lark’ was only a spy to find more criminals to hang.”
I frown. “No. He cares. We care. The king really does want to figure out a way to make sure there’s enough medicine for all of Kandala. But everyone has to agree. Not just the elites, and not just the people in the Wilds. Everyone. We all have a stake here.”
“I know.” She hesitates. “Lochlan didn’t even think the rumors of the ship from Ostriary were real. He thought it was a ploy to end the meeting until he heard the talk in the streets here.”
“It’s not a ploy either, Karri! Harristan and Corrick wouldn’t do that.”
She stares back at me, and her voice has cooled a bit. “It wasn’t too long ago that you stood with me in front of the sector gates declaring how much you hate them.”
The words hit me like a slap. She’s right. I did. She was the one to chastise me for speaking words of treason.
But that was before I knew who Weston was. That was before I knew everything the king and his brother had at stake.
That was before Corrick and I were captured by the rebels. Before he was tortured by them.
Before the rebels set the whole sector on fire as a means to show Harristan how desperate they were.
And here we are.
“You’re right.” I reach out and put a hand over hers. “This isn’t easy for anyone.”
For a moment, she’s frozen in place, and I worry that we’ve moved too far apart.
But then she turns her hand to clasp mine. “We’ll make it work,” she whispers.
I nod fiercely, pressing my fingers into hers.
Lochlan reappears beside the table. “Your chocolate cream, Miss Karri.” His bellicose eyes flash my way. “And yours, Miss Tessa.”
He’s mocking me, baiting me to snap at him. I don’t play. “Thank you for your kindness, Master Lochlan.”
I could say it primly, but I don’t. I say it honestly. Surprise registers in his expression, and he eases into the seat beside Karri. His jaw is tight, but he doesn’t say anything else.
“You’re suspicious,” I say quietly. “I know. I was, too.
They have a lot to make up for.”
He studies me. “You trust them.”
I can’t tell if this is an accusation or a question, but I nod. “I do.”
“Why?” he says. “Why? You know what they’ve done.” He glances at Karri. “You were both in the crowd when he was set to execute the eight of us.”
“You saw Consul Sallister,” I say. “You see how much power he has. He kept threatening to withhold Moonflower if Prince Corrick didn’t do as he said—”
“And that’s supposed to be reassuring?” he says. “That the king doesn’t have control of his consuls? He’s still threatening to withhold it. I heard what he said about supply issues and laborers. The king can make him work the fields, but he’s still one man.”
“You don’t understand. They won’t—it’s not—”
“No.” He half rises from his seat, leaning in against the table. “You don’t understand. This is life or death for us.” His eyes glare down at me. “They act like it’s a game. The elites think they can convince the fools in the Wilds to take even less medicine than they were getting before.”
He’s looming over me, and I swallow. I don’t want to look away from him while he looks so threatening, but
we’ve garnered more than a little attention. Whispers have erupted all around us. The pretty young lady in the fine clothing being dressed down by someone who’s probably never had more than a handful of coins in his life.
I’m sure most of them heard what he said, too.
“Lochlan,” Karri says quietly. “She’s my friend. Leave her alone.”
But she doesn’t contradict what he said.
Lochlan doesn’t move. His eyes don’t leave mine. “She might have been your friend before,” he says, “but you need to be careful now, Kar.”
I know they’re worried, but it’s hard to find any empathy when he’s standing over me like this. I don’t want to be afraid of him. If we were back in the palace, I wouldn’t be. But we’re here in a little confectioner’s shop, and I’m thinking of the moment he surged across the table at Consul Sallister.
“Why did you ask me to come here?” I say evenly. “If you didn’t want to talk?”
“Karri invited you,” he says. “I didn’t.”
“Then maybe you should let her talk to me,” I say, and my voice goes breathy. I can’t help it.
I see the moment my fear registers in his eyes, because he jerks back, his eyes wide. “You’re afraid of me?” he says. “You’re sharing a bed with the King’s Justice, and you’re afraid of me?”
Karri grabs his wrist. “Lochlan.”
My cheeks are surely flaming now. “I’m not sharing anything,” I growl.
“This is why I can’t trust you,” he says, his voice very low. “Because I don’t trust him. The prince is no fool. He convinced you that he was a rebel outlaw in the Wilds because it served his needs as the King’s Justice. And now,
he’s figured out a way to give the people even less, and he’s convinced you that it’s for the benefit of everyone.”
His eyes fill my vision, but I refuse to look away. “My medicine works,” I say. “It’s not a trick, Lochlan. You can watch me measure the elixirs yourself. I can show you.”
“Maybe he’s just tricked you into believing that. Maybe all those people are taking double doses when you aren’t looking, just to give you your proof.” He studies me. “He certainly tricked you into believing you were helping. The poor, tortured prince who just couldn’t help himself. And you lapped it up, didn’t you?”
My chest is tight, and I’m dangerously afraid I might cry.
“I’m telling you to keep your eyes open,” he says. “I’m telling you what it looks like from here. If you’re not sharing his bed, someone is. He’s the brother to the king. As soon as you don’t suit his needs, you’ll be at the end of the rope, too.”
“You’re wrong,” I whisper, but there’s a part of his words that are pricking at my thoughts, sowing doubt in a way I wish I could shove aside.
He must see it in my expression. “Don’t you realize,” he says dangerously, “that you could disappear tonight and literally everything would go right back to the way it was?”
Fear seems to pierce my heart from both directions. “Is that supposed to be a warning or a threat?”
Lochlan smirks. “Maybe you shouldn’t have walked out of the palace without guards,” he says.
“Maybe she shouldn’t have,” says a voice behind me, “but I brought more than enough.”
My heart kicks to hear Corrick’s voice. Lochlan snaps back. I’m suddenly aware of the tense silence in the shop, how we are all the center of attention. I wonder how much everyone heard. I wonder how much Corrick heard.
If you’re not sharing his bed, someone is. He’s the brother to the king.
He must not have heard that part. If he did, I can’t imagine Lochlan would still be on his feet.
The people behind the counter are peering between towers of wrapped candies and tiny trinkets, and there’s an older woman a few tables over who’s openly gawking at the prince—who truly does have half a dozen guards behind him.
Lochlan’s eyes have darkened with hatred, but he takes in the guards who have filled the space behind the prince. “The girls were just having fun together,” Lochlan says. He pauses, then grinds out, “Your Highness.”
Corrick’s eyes shift to me. I watch his gaze sweep over my form, taking stock of me. “Exceptional.” His voice is rather cordial, almost warm, but I know better. “Are you having fun, Tessa?”
No. Definitely not.
But I can’t say that, because no matter what I think of Lochlan, I really don’t want to stoke the tension between them. “Karri sent me a note after our meeting,” I say. “We were just having a sweet drink.” I force a smile onto my face. “Like old times.”
Karri looks hesitant again, the way she was in the palace. She glances between me and Corrick and has to clear her throat. “Yes. I did. We were. Your Highness.”
Corrick’s eyes return to mine, and I give him a tiny nod. “Very well,” he says. “I’ll leave you to your friendly chat.
Please forgive the interruption.” His eyes cool as he looks to Lochlan again, but his voice is just as cordial. “Thank you for the wise recommendation. I’ll have the guards remain.” He glances at the table. “Perhaps I’ll have a drink while I wait.”
Karri looks to me, and her hands flutter. She abruptly stands, her chair scraping harshly along the tile floor. “No need, Your Highness. We were just about to leave. You—you can have mine. I haven’t even taken a sip.”
I stand to stop her. “Karri,” I say softly.
She hesitates, then leans over to kiss me on the cheek. “He’s still terrifying,” she whispers in my ear before drawing back. “And—for what it’s worth, I agree with Lochlan.”
I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t have time, anyway. She grabs Lochlan’s hand, and they’re gone.
