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Rian glances between the two of us. “I’ll await your decision, Your Highness,” he says. He gives me another smile. “Miss Cade, I certainly hope you make the cut.”

CHAPTER NINE

Corrick

By midnight, dinner is long gone, and the sky is very dark outside my brother’s window, clouds obscuring the stars. It’s too hot during the daytime for a fire, so the hearth sits cold, and a warm breeze eases through the room to ruffle the papers on Harristan’s desk.

I’m sprawled in his desk chair. We’ve received early reports from the docks at Artis that confirm ships departed for “exploratory journeys” over thirty years ago—that never returned. After dinner, Harristan sought out Roydan himself, asking more pointed questions that seemed to strain the old man’s memories. Roydan said he does remember many lively debates about the price of iron coming out of Steel City. He said that Barnard Montague, the former consul of Trader’s Landing, used to rant about not getting a cut of the profits when steel had to pass through his sector.

We can’t ask Barnard directly because he was implicated in the assassination that killed our parents—and he died in the attack.

I should be working through all of these details, trying to draw parallels. Trying to figure out all the points of risk and reward. I should be planning. Strategizing. Working through the risk of traveling to a relatively unknown country, and whether it’s worth the potential reward of bringing more medicine back to Kandala.

Instead, I keep replaying the moments when Captain Blakemore quite obviously captured Tessa’s attention. She’s so clever. So brave. So empathetic.

Unfortunately, he seems to be the same. I saw the way his crew looked at him when he referred to the war. There’s no way to fake that kind of loyalty.

We need steel. You need Moonflower petals. Since apparently your own countrymen are reluctant to provide them.

It’s a harsh contrast to the moment I was holding a dagger to that man’s throat in the candy shop. Or when I had to dash Tessa’s hopes about Laurel Pepperleaf’s interest in her findings.

Thanks, she said.I hate it here.

Me too.

Jealousy isn’t an emotion that lodges in my brain very often. I’m the brother to the king, so I rarely want for anything. I’ve spent years shoving away fear and anger and disappointment to where they can’t be seen. With jealousy, I have no practice.

The emotion isn’t about Captain Blakemore anyway. Not truly. I barely know him.

It’s about everything I can’t be for Tessa.

“Corrick,” says Harristan.

His voice calls me back, and I look over. “What?”

“I asked if youtrusthim.”

“I’m not sure. There’s a part of me thatwantsto.”

I think of the man who strode into the palace this afternoon. He’s charming. Appropriately deferential yet also unwavering in his commitment to his crew and his mission. His story is solid, right down to the flag from his ship and the ring on his finger. His people have caused no trouble, and Harristan was right: their loyaltyisimpressive. It does speak to Captain Blakemore’s character—especially when he’s asked for nothing more than a chance to establish trade between countries. No coins, no jewels, not even a better ship or a bigger crew—and he certainly could have asked for all of it.

“Are you truly unsure,” Harristan says, “or are you worried that he’s caught Tessa’s eye?”

That’s so on point that I frown and look over. “Do you really think he’s caught her eye?”

He sighs and runs a hand down his face. “Cory.”

I give an aggravated sigh myself. “Fine. I don’tdistrusthim.” I pause. “I’m sure it’s also occurred to you that ifhemade it here unscathed and unnoticed, this new king could have a whole naval force just waiting to see what we say.”

“Yes. I’ve considered it. I didn’t stop a revolution just to get embroiled in a war.”

A war we wouldn’t win. Not right now. Harristan doesn’t need me to tell him that.

“If you send me,” I say, “it will further complicate matters with the rebels. Tessa can remain here, I suppose, but they already don’t trust us. I’m sure they’ll believe that any Moonflower we receive from Ostriary will go right into the Royal Sector.”

“I considered that, too.” He’s watching me now, gauging my reaction. “Which is why I believe you should bring Tessa, seeing asshe’s willing to go.” My heart kicks, but then my brother adds, “Along with the rebel Lochlan.”

“What?” I demand. “Why?”