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“Don’t say anything about Ava to the traders,” he called to Massi as he came up alongside her.

She nodded in understanding.

Because there was no way the Kassian wouldn’t have at least one spy in this caravan.

They would all have to be careful about everything they said amongst the traders, but now he knew her value to the Queen’s Herald, Luc would not let a single word about his heart’s choice be spoken.

Chapter 21

“It’s because the weather started to turn cold nearly a month ago.” The third trader she’d approached said the same thing as the first two who had no cloaks to sell. “Our journey hasn’t come near a town in a long time. On purpose. So there’s been no way to stock up.” The merchant lifted her worn, wrinkled hands.

Ava nodded and turned away.

“You could look over at the trade caravan they intercepted early this morning.”

Ava turned back at that.

The woman gestured up ahead, her braid of gray hair swinging across thin shoulders. “They’re allowing some of us to go out there later, to see what we can buy. Stock up. That’s why the column isn’t moving yet. We need supplies, and this might be the quickest way to get some.”

Ava hadn’t been on duty today, and while she knew something urgent had come up for Luc to be roused from her bed so early, she hadn’t heard what it was. She had wondered why, even though they had all packed up, they weren’t moving.

“A trade caravan?”

“From Grimwalt, or northeastern Kassia, I heard.”

“Can anyone go?” She had seen for herself that the Grimwalt border was closed, but she knew of at least one caravan of traders who had planned to slip out of the country on a backroad to journey to Kassia’s capital, Fernwell. She had entrusted her revenge plan to them, so perhaps she should take heart that this group had gotten through. It meant it was likely the one that was set to leave two days after she had was also on its way.

“You have a horse, don’t you?” the trader asked.

She nodded.

“Well, I’m Carys, and I could use a horse in case I buy more than my allocated limit on the cart they’re taking us over on. If the General and the Commander say it’s safe to go over and trade, we’re to meet at midday and be escorted across. If you want to ride beside the cart as my helper, you can come along and look for a cloak, and carry whatever I can’t fit in the cart back with you.”

Ava bowed her head in thanks.

“Mind, they won’t take your letter of credit over there, though. So you’ll need to get your hands on actual coins.”

She hadn’t thought of that. “Thank you. I’ll go see what I can do, and I’ll meet you at midday.”

Money had never played a big role in Ava’s life. When she’d traveled with her parents, everything had been provided for her. Then she’d been held prisoner for years, and again, had no use for money.

That was no longer the case.

She hadn’t worried about it up until now, and that was a mistake. One she wouldn’t make again.

She walked through the camp, looking for Deni, but when she couldn’t find him she guessed he might be with the General or the lieutenants, looking over the trade caravan for security risks.

Of course, the likelihood of there being a Kassian spy amongst the traders was high, so she would have to keep strictly in character as a Venyatux junior soldier.

She shivered as a chill wind picked up, and fingered the cuff of her shirt. Underneath, on the inside where no one could see it, she had embroidered some protections before leaving her tent this morning. Also on the inside of her collar, and on the cuffs of her trousers.

It wasn’t close to what she’d created with her cloak, but it eased her fears a little and made her feel more secure.

She wandered past the carts. The yakkuna bellowed to each other and ripped out the last of the summer grasses while they waited for their drivers to give the signal to walk.

Deni was nowhere to be found, and in the end, she decided to go and help Carys anyway. Perhaps she would find Deni on guard at the caravan, but even if she did, there was no reason to think he’d have enough coins on him to lend her.

They set out at midday, a cart full of excited traders, surrounded by soldiers from both columns, and a few off-duty soldiers like herself, who had been pressed into helping provide extra carrying capacity.