The Veil of Trust

by S. Usher Evans

  But all of that seemed to ebb away when I opened the door to my suite of rooms and found my love waiting for me.

  Beata grinned when she saw me, popping up from the settee and rushing over to greet me formally. A Forcadelian beauty, her dark hair had already been let down from the tight braid she kept it in, and her eyes, the color of dark pools, were framed by the longest lashes I'd ever seen on a woman. Although I was a head taller than her, I fell into her arms, pressing my face into her neck and inhaling her sweet scent. Everything I'd been holding back came rushing to the forefront, then disappeared in her embrace like mist in the sun.

  "It will get better," Beata whispered, unpinning my hair and letting it tumble down my back.

  "It's just so absurd," I said, straightening. "I speak about Brynna and August as if Ilara wasn't the one who'd killed them."

  It pained me not to tell Beata that Brynna was alive, but Felix had made me promise. And although I trusted her with my life, we had trusted others. And Brynna's secret was too precious to gamble.

  Beata brushed the hair from my forehead. "I've made some tea. You haven't been sleeping, and if you aren't at your best, you may…" She bit her pink lip.

  "I will try to relax tonight," I said, resting my head on her shoulder. My eyes grew heavy and my pulse slowed. I slid my hand on her knee and she covered it with hers. "I promise—"

  A knock at the door jarred us both from our stupor. Beata gave me a panicked look, but I patted her knee and rose. "It's probably a servant."

  I gathered my hair into a makeshift braid and opened the large door.

  "I don't…" The words died on my tongue. Felix stood before me—no, not Felix. His younger cousin, Jorad, a man who'd been assigned to Neveri with Riya. My heart raced in my chest as a thousand scenarios dashed through my mind.

  "Your Ladyship," he said, bowing. "Miss Beata."

  "What are you doing here?" Beata asked, joining us at the door.

  Jorad pressed his finger to his lips and stepped inside. "I'm here to take you two out of the castle."

  "I'm sorry, what?" Beata said beside me. "On whose authority?"

  He grinned and flashed the Forcadelian seal under his hand. "Princess Brynna."

  My knees grew weak as I braced myself on the door. Brynna was not only alive, but she'd made contact with the soldiers in Neveri. My hopes, which had been so far in the darkness, lifted slightly.

  "That's a terrible joke," Beata said beside me, mistaking my relief for horror. "Jorad Llobrega, your cousin would have you flogged within an inch of your life if he heard you carrying on this way."

  "Bea," I said, giving her a look. "It's the truth. Brynna's alive."

  Just like that, she turned her formidable ire on me, her cheeks growing ruddy. "Excuse me? You knew? And you didn't tell me?"

  "We can discuss this later," Jorad said. "I only have a few minutes before the next shift and—"

  "I'm not going."

  The words tumbled from my mouth as the thought echoed through my brain. Brynna still needed my help. I could still gather intelligence about Ilara's weaknesses and plans. And I couldn't even dream about leaving Felix behind.

  "You go," I said to Beata. "Go to Brynna and help her."

  She spun on her heel. "I'm not going without you."

  I took her hands in mine as Jorad turned away to give us privacy. "Bea, I have some measure of immunity from Ilara right now. But you? She could use you against me if she had a mind to. It's better that you get far away from her."

  "She could use you against Brynna, as well," Beata replied pointedly.

  "No, not if you go," I said softly. "If Ilara is to trust me, she has to believe I've been forsaken by all whom I love. Felix is in the dungeon, and my love has run to Brynna's side." A tear leaked down my face. "She has to believe I'm without allies and at her mercy."

  "And you will be," Beata said. "She's unpredictable, Kat."

  "She doesn't always make the most obvious decisions, but I know her." I brushed the hair off her cheek. "I can make her believe me, I swear to you. And whatever new information I can glean from Ilara, I will bring to you when…when I find a way to get Felix out."

  "And what if you don't?" Beata asked, a tear leaking down her cheek. "What if Ilara doesn't believe you and you end up down there with him? Kat, I don't know what I'd do if—"

  "Do you trust me?" I asked her.

  She opened her mouth, her soft lips opening in surprise. "Of course I do, but I don't trust her."

  "Trust me when I say this is the best place for me. As I trust that you'll help Brynna as well as you can." I cupped her face. "Please, I'm begging you. Go."

  Beata covered my hands with hers, sending warmth from my fingertips to my toes. She closed her dark brown eyes, allowing a few tears to leak out. But when she opened them again, there was determination in her gaze.

  "If you don't return to me, Katarine, I will be most cross with you," she said.

  "And if you don't leave right now, Beata, I will be most cross with you," I replied with a watery laugh. "I love you with everything I have."

  She stood on her tiptoes to capture my lips. "I will see you very soon."

  "I'm counting the days," I said.

  Jorad cleared his throat loudly. "I hate to break this up, but we really must get moving."

  I helped Beata quickly gather her most personal effects—her mother's silk petticoat, her father's compass—and pack them in a bag. All the while, her eyes were wet and her lip trembled. I couldn't look at her, in danger of falling to pieces myself. But I needed to be strong for her, or she wouldn't leave.

  She disappeared into the back and Jorad came up beside me.

  "Her Highness won't be happy that you stayed. She was counting on your strategic help, now that your brother has returned to Niemen."

  As much as I wanted to know every detail of Brynna's journey, I held up my hand. "Tell me nothing more. It's hard enough to keep my tongue." I paused, chewing my lip. "But do pass along my love for her. And please…just tell her to trust me. This is the best place for me right now."

  "I will." Jorad nodded. "And I swear that Beata will arrive safely and remain out of harm's way until you two are reunited." His eyes flashed as he turned away. "I only hope you'll be able to keep Ilara from hurting my cousin too much."

  "He was proud to be led to the dungeons," I replied with a half-smile. "It was the least he could do for his country."

  When the coast was clear, Beata led Jorad to the hidden servant's door across the hall. She paused, only briefly, to give me a final look, then she was gone. I shut my door and leaned against it, holding my aching chest as tears leaked down my face.

  Then, with a deep breath, I steadied myself. There was no time for tears. I had work to do.

  Chapter 3

  Jax paid for a room on the first floor, and I was able to climb in through the window to avoid being seen. Jax took one of the two beds in the room, and I gave Elisha the other, knowing I was too jittery to fall asleep. After sitting there for a few minutes, I couldn't take the silence. Carefully, I opened the window and crawled out onto the streets again, then used a nearby stack of crates to climb to the top of the inn. The city of Forcadel was a dark mountain in the distance, but even without light, I knew it intimately.

  Thick, high walls surrounded the capital and two rivers flanked it on either side, depositing into a large bay that was heavily protected to the south. It was the perfect capital for trade, and nearly impenetrable. For centuries, kings and queens had tried, and Forcadel had always been victorious.

  Until one dumb idiot decided to let Ilara in the front door. I doubted she'd offer me the same courtesy.

  But that seemed to be my only move. If we tried a full-frontal assault on the city, we would most assuredly fail—and all the soldiers who'd given up everything to follow me would be slaughtered.

  I ran my hands across my face, allowing the perfect storm of worry to batter my consciousness. Felix was in the dungeons, Katarine per
haps not too far behind him. The city was being destroyed by someone with ond, perhaps. Ilara had done nothing except make matters worse by closing the borders to trade. And I, the only person who could solve all these problems, was sitting on a rooftop, unsure what to do next.

  Conquering Neveri had been a confluence of dumb luck and Luard's brilliance, both of which I no longer had. Katarine's mischievous brother, who'd always been around to kick me back on track, had returned to Niemen with his soldiers, and I wasn't sure when or if I'd see him again. I could've guessed what he'd say—get back to my troops and be a queen. But it was easier to hide out on rooftops, especially when I had no idea how to tackle the mountain at hand.

  Movement on the road below caught my eye. My heart fluttered to my throat as I scrambled over rooftops, catching the three figures as they came into the stables behind the inn.

  "Psst!" I called, walking through the hall. "Jorad?"

  The figures appeared in the moonlight, but the smaller one broke free, rushing toward me with wet cheeks.

  "Brynna!"

  A second before she slammed into me, I recognized Beata's face in the scant light. I hadn't seen her since before Ilara had invaded—and based on her reaction, she hadn't known I was alive.

  "You're really here," she said, gripping my face so tightly it was painful.

  "I am," I said, unable to keep from smiling. "It's so wonderful to see you and…" My gaze slid behind her, but there was no one else. "Jorad…"

  "She wouldn't come," he said, taking a step forward. "I'm sorry."

  My arms slackened around Beata. "W-what? You told her that I needed her out of the city, didn't you?"

  "He did, and she still… She wouldn't… She said she wasn't going," Beata whispered. "She said it was better if she stayed behind to keep an eye on Felix. And…well…" She dropped her voice. "To keep tabs on the queen."

  "That wasn't the plan," I said, throwing a dirty look at Jorad.

  "The plan had to change," Aline said, appearing by his side. "When we got there, we found out that Captain Llobrega had been arrested for treason. Nearly all the soldiers in the castle are Severian. Jorad was only just able to get inside the castle by claiming he'd left something in his barracks."

  I rolled my eyes. Amateurs. "There are other ways inside the castle."

  "But not to the dungeons," Jorad said. "I know it's hard to admit, but Captain Llobrega…he's a lost cause."

  "And Kat told you to trust her," Beata said.

  I scowled at all three of them, unwilling to admit they were right.

  "Your Majesty, if I may," Aline said. "Perhaps it's time to return to the rest of the soldiers. You left them with nothing but vague direction. We should plan for our strike against Ilara, especially since she doesn't know you're alive, nor does she know that you have an army."

  "I'm not ready to make a move against her yet," I said, buying myself some time. "Besides that, I need the Kulkan and Niemenian armies ready to assist. I'm sure Luard's just now arrived in Linden."

  Jorad nodded. "Then we should get out of the city. Return to the camp and prepare. We can send riders to Skorsa and Neveri to make contact and open lines of communication."

  "Yes, do all that," I said. "Take Beata with you to the northern camp. She'll be safe there. Perhaps even see if you can get her passage to Linden. Ariadna would be glad to have her until this is all over." I straightened my spine. "And I'm staying here."

  Jorad and Aline shared a look. "But Your Majesty—"

  "Someone is blowing holes in my city," I said. "They framed Felix for it, but I'm going to find out who it really is. And along the way, I'll get a good look at Forcadel's defenses and where Ilara's putting her soldiers. We'll need all of that."

  "We can find that out for you," Jorad said.

  "You won't even know what you're looking for," I said. "You are soldiers. I'm a vigilante. This is what I do."

  "This idea is unimaginably risky," Jorad said. "You need to return with us to the camp. It's safer there, and we can come up with a strategy to defeat Ilara. If you stay here, Ilara could catch you. If that happens, it's all over." He licked his lips. "I know you care for Felix, but I'm not sure you're thinking with your right mind."

  "I said nothing about Felix," I snapped, grateful the night hid my blushing. "You're right, he's a lost cause. And Katarine said to trust her. So that's what I'm doing. But I also know this city better than any of you. So give me a few weeks."

  "You can't go in there alone," Jorad said.

  "I'll have Jax and Elisha with me."

  "With all due respect," Jorad said, "he's a criminal."

  "And with all due respect," I said, turning on him, "so am I."

  Aline and Jorad looked behind them to where Beata stood, as if asking for her help. She just shrugged. "I thought she was dead until about two hours ago. You're on your own."

  "Jorad," Aline said, after a moment. "I'm sure Her Majesty knows her limits. We can take Beata to the camp and be back within a few days. Jax and Elisha have proven to be excellent guides. I feel confident that Her Majesty is in good hands."

  Jorad made a face that was too similar to Felix's, but he nodded. "Fine. Just please…be careful."

  I turned to Beata and took her hands in mine. "I wish we had more time to catch up," I said. "But I'll be back up to the camp soon."

  "I'm sure I'll find some way to keep myself busy until then," she said, kissing my hands. "I'm so glad you're alive, Brynna. You don't know how much hope you've given me."

  And when I delivered Felix and Katarine to her, I would give her so much more.

  I walked them to the edge of the small city then gave Beata a long, firm hug before sending them off. Jorad kept his objections to a silent scowl, and Aline promised they would return soon. They disappeared over the pink horizon, and I headed back toward the village.

  Obviously, I wasn't giving up on Felix and Katarine. Jorad might've thought his cousin was a lost cause, but I had made my name getting in and out of tricky situations. Besides that, I knew more about the castle than anyone. And what I didn't know, I could find out quickly.

  I climbed through the window of our rented room then made a beeline for my pile of things on the floor.

  "Where are you going?" Jax said, watching me with one eye open.

  "To Forcadel," I said. "Clearly, I'm the only one who can get anything done around here." I tossed his still-full bag onto the bed. "You're coming, too. Help me get inside."

  He kicked the bag onto the floor. "Didn't you manage it before?"

  No, I'd fallen into the river and nearly drowned before swimming to the docks. But I wasn't going to tell him that. "Cut the crap. You're still here, which means you still work for me. So tell me how Celia gets in and out of the city."

  "I know!" Elisha said, sitting up.

  "Shaddup," Jax snapped. "You don't know nothing."

  "I hear things," Elisha said with a sneer. "There's a grate on the eastern side of the city that's big enough for a few people to get through. Not enough for product, but people. That's what Locke said when he came back from the city a few weeks ago."

  "Well, at least one of you is useful," I said, eyeing Jax. "Can you show me the way?"

  "I can try." She beamed.

  "I know the way," Jax said, kicking the covers off and reaching for his boots. "At least if I go, we won't get caught trying to get in."

  Elisha melted a little, clearly afraid she was going to be left behind. "But—"

  "When we get there," I said to her, and she perked right back up, "I need you to listen very carefully and do exactly as I say, understand?"

  "Yes, ma'am," she said with a nod. "But will I get to do any fighting this time?"

  "If I can help it, none of us will," I said.

  Jax snorted. "I'll believe that when I see it."

  Chapter 4

  With the high city walls and dark castle, Forcadel was almost invisible against the cloudy sky. Jax, Elisha, and I kept close to the Vanhoja river rushi
ng from Neveri toward the bay. The last time I'd attempted to break into the city, I'd fallen into that river and nearly drowned. I hoped Jax had a better way.

  "Are you sure you know where you're going?" I asked as the space between the city wall and the river narrowed.

  "No, I don't," he said, stopping in front of a large boulder. "I'm just fumbling through the dark and hoping I find something."

  Elisha cackled, but quieted with a look from me.

  Jax leaned down and tugged at the rock, which was smoother than I'd thought previously. "See?" He pulled the grate from the rock, revealing a thin opening I'd have to crouch to walk through.

  "How does Celia get stuff into the city through here?" I said, peering into the hole.

  "Very slowly." He gestured to the gate. "Are we going to stand around here all day or are we going inside?"

  "And you're sure nobody will be on the other side?" I asked. "They aren't guarding this?"

  "Not yet, but you know, every day's a surprise," he said, his teeth glinting in the low light.

  For his smart remark, I made him go first, and when he motioned that the coast was clear, Elisha and I filed out. From the buildings, I recognized Merchant's Row, the middle-class section of Forcadel.

  "The Severian patrols do a tight round in this section of the city, so we need to get moving," Jax said.

  "To the roofs?" I asked.

  He sighed heavily. "Why? Why can't we just walk on the streets like normal people?"

  "It's efficient for keeping out of sight," I snapped back, walking past him and finding a stack of crates. I pulled myself up, showing Elisha where to set her feet. After some loud grunting, Jax joined us and we kept toward the city center.

  I moved with ease, reacclimatizing to the feeling of being in the city I'd once called home. Climbing the snow-capped mountains of Niemen and walking through never-ending fields in Kulka had made me realize just how much I loved the salty, muggy air, the roads, the buildings, the people.