Page 48 of Esperance

Argent wrapped an arm around his bride. “I wasn’t going to let you go alone. What if it was some sort of trap?”

“You think everything is a trap.” Jayveh shook her head. “At least he pretended to become very fascinated with a painting on the opposite wall. While he and the guards looked the other way, I was able to retrieve the note. If a rebel was somehow watching, they wouldn’t have thought anything amiss.”

Hopefully.

Carver unfolded the second note, which was cramped with small lettering.

Messages will be left with this painting. You will know a message is waiting for you if you see a blue flower petal in the partially closed palm of Grant’s statue of the emperor. Messages will be few, due to your unique situation. Your husband does seem thoroughly enamored, though. Use that to your advantage, and work to ensnare him completely.

Propose immediately to the high cleric that everyone should volunteer within Esperance, at a place of their choosing. You must work in the library. In the historical section, there are valuable archives. Gain access to them and locate maps of every military stronghold in the empire. Do not remove them. Memorize them. You have a year.

Together, We Will Rise.

“What do you think?” Argent asked, as soon as Carver looked up.

He frowned. “It’s proof the rebels are active here and going after information.” He pursed his lips. “They might have more violent plans that don’t involve Jayveh, so we can’t just assume this is all they’re doing in Esperance.”

“In other words,” Argent said dryly, “you think they might try to kill me this year?”

“It would be a perfect time to do so. You’re trapped here like the reast of us and . . .” His eyes dipped to the note. “Thoroughly enamored.”

The corner of the prince’s mouth lifted as he glanced at Jayveh. “Guilty.”

Her lips twitched, but worry hung in her eyes. “Perhaps we could position a guard near that statue. That way we’ll know who lingers around it, and maybe even catch them placing a petal.”

“I’m not sure that will work,” Argent said. “The statue is in the main gallery, but not in plain sight. A guard’s presence in that area would be suspicious, and possibly make them think you betrayed them.”

Of course Argent had already investigated the location of the statue as well. Carver barely bit back a sigh. “What did I tell you about leaving this investigation to me?”

“I’m not stepping back,” Argent said firmly. “Not when my wife’s involved.”

There was a beat of strained silence, then Jayveh said, “What if it isn’t a guard? Maybe Rivard can clear some of the clerics, and they could be positioned discretely around the gallery on some kind of rotation. They can take note of anyone who repeatedly visits the area of the statue.”

Argent was already nodding. “I’ll talk to Rivard. It may take some time to ascertain loyalties, but it’s a good idea.”

Carver handed the notes back to Jayveh. “In the meantime, I think you should begin doing as instructed. It’s obvious from the wording that they don’t expect you to have a lot of mobility, being married to Argent.” That was her,uniquesituation, he imagined.

Unless that was a coded message for her alone; the Rising’s way of stating that they knew messages would be tracked closely, because she was a double agent.

He kept that to himself.

“I can propose the volunteer work to the high cleric today,” Jayveh said.

“Good. We should all pay special attention to those who seem eager—especially those who have particular places in mind they’d like to volunteer. That might lead us to other rebels who received instructions similar to yours.”

“And I should search out the stronghold maps,” Jayveh said. “To fully play my part.”

“You’ll have me or a guard with you at all times,” Argent insisted. “I don’t want you alone in some remote corner of the library where you could be ambushed.”

Jayveh knocked her hip against his. “There you go again with your paranoia about everything being a trap.”

“If the Rising learns you’ve turned on them, or if they simply don’t have a use for you anymore, you could become as much of a target as Argent,” Carver pointed out. “As future empress, your death would be considered a terrible blow to the empire.”

Jayveh paled slightly, and Argent’s jaw hardened as he tucked her even closer to his side.

But even if his words frightened them, Carver wouldn’t take them back. Not when they were true.

Jayveh may be loyal to the empire, or she may be a rebel. Either way, she was a pawn. And in the end, pawns were nothing more than sacrificial pieces.