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My heart is pounding again. This is also a risk. I don’t know her well.

But Karri would recognize Quint. She’d be willing to listen.

She wanted to make things better. Just like Tessa.

“What do you recommend?” says Quint, pulling my thoughts back around.

“Take Thorin,” I say. “See if you can find her.”

“Your Majesty—”

“No,” I snap. “And this time you will obey, or I will have Thorin drag you by force. Leave the horses so I have a means to escape, if necessary. But find Karri as quickly as possible. Stay out of sight.”

“What shall we tell her?” says Thorin.

I shift my weight and wince. “Tell her that the king needs her help.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Tessa

Once we have a plan in mind, I want to execute it immediately. I meant what I said to Corrick: I’d make a terrible spy. I don’t mind stealth and danger, but I’m not a good liar.

But Corrick steps out of the room to talk to Rocco, and when he returns, he tells me to wait.

“The crew is too anxious,” he says. “Rocco believes he had someone watching our rooms all night. We need to find out if those ships have drawn closer. We need Blakemore to lower his guard again.”

“How are we going to accomplish that?” I say.

While I button my vest, the prince glances at the porthole, which is just beginning to reveal the faint hint of a pink sky. “Why don’t you go offer to climb the rigging with him.”

There’s enough of an edge to the suggestion that I study him.

“You were jealous,” I say.

“I was.”

“Are you still?”

His blue eyes are dark in the dim light from the lantern. “It’s more than jealousy now.”

I shiver at the warning in his voice. “Do you trust me?”

“Trustingyouhas never been a problem. I told Rocco to make sure one of the guards is nearby the entire time.”

That’s probably intended to make me feel better. It doesn’t. I fasten the last button, then give my vest a tug to straighten it. I finger-comb my hair and rebraid it loosely.

I peer at Corrick as he buckles his own jacket into place. “Does it ever bother you that the guards see everything?”

A line appears between his eyebrows. “How do you mean?”

I gesture at the door. “They saw me come in here. They know I never came out.”

“Tessa, I’ve had guards outside my door from the moment I first drew breath.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly. “Moments of true privacy are rare and precious.”

I suppose there’s something to that, but I can’t keep the blush off my cheeks. “We … ah, we probably shouldn’t go up together. If you want Captain Blakemore to trust me.”

“I agree. Go ahead.” He lets go of my face, and I turn for the door.