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I’ve hardly been able to think past this moment, but that’s not a suitable answer. “We’ll hide here for the time being,” I say. “It’s not safe to be on the streets if the palace guard is searching for me. But I can’t stay hidden for too long. Once rumor spreads, my absence will build an implication of guilt. I can’t allow Captain Huxley and Consul Cherry to control the narrative.”

I wish I knew whatproofthey claimed to have.

Karri shifts closer, putting her hand against my jaw to hold me in place. She’s so close that the warmth of her breath touches my skin, and she smells like apples and honey. This should feel awkward, but she’s so clinical that it’s not. If anything, it reminds me of my childhood, when physicians and nurses would poke and prod as if I were a stuffed doll for their study.

“If you reveal yourself,” she says, “how will you keep them from capturing you?”

“I’m not sure,” I admit. “How did the Benefactors get the people to organize so quickly?”

“They promised money and medicine.” She swipes with the rag. “Do you know how many people in the palace are working against you?”

“A lot, if they have control of the palace guard,” I say. “Which means they control the night patrol. They might not have been able to spread word of my guilt very far yet—but it won’t take long. When night falls, I may have Saeth and Thorin try to contact others, but it may not be worth the risk. I don’t want to lose them, too.”

“If the medicine isn’t faulty,” she says, “then why are they doing this?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “But I suspect Allisander is trying to force things back to the status quo. He never wanted to provide more medicine.”

“So he can keep charging exorbitant prices that only the elites can afford.”

“Yes.”

“So more people will die.”

“Yes. It’s very likely the reason they chose to act now. If Corrick returns with a supply of Moonflower, we won’t need Allisander.”

That ship is a farce. It’ll never reach Ostriary.

I force Arella’s words out of my mind. There’s no way they could know.

Unless they sent ships to follow.

The thought nearly steals my breath. There aren’t many who could afford to do it, but Laurel’s father is one of Allisander’s richest landowners.

And there’s nothing I could do about it.

“I need a way to reclaim the palace,” I say. “But I’m not entirely sure how to do that if the consuls have turned the guards and soldiers against me.”

“If I may,” Quint says, “I don’t believe they haveallof them. Rightnow, they may be following orders simply because you aren’t there to contradict them.”

“You heard the guards at the gate,” I say. “They haveenoughof them.”

“I think your ear will manage without stitching,” Karri says. “But I’ll add some ointment.”

“I can’t trust the elites,” I say, “and I’m worried the people would turn me in just to claim the reward.”

Karri snorts and dabs some medicine onto her finger. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. But you think the people are going to trust Consul Sallister?”

“Well.” I hesitate. “Maybe?”

“I think you might be surprised. You’re taking up space in my kitchen.”

“If I survive this, I’ll ensure you’re rewarded, Karri.”

She smiles, but it flickers with sadness. “I’m not helping you for a reward. I’m doing it because it’s the right thing to do.” She pauses. “It’s the same reason Lochlan was helping the rebels. We didn’t want silver, Your Majesty. We wanted medicine.”

“I know,” I say. “I swear to you. I know.”

She sits back. “I know you do. Even when Prince Corrick was terrifying, I could tell that you wanted to help the people. I could hear it in your voice when we held the Circle.”