Raina: Then we might be at war again.
Me: Welp. That sucks.
It more than sucks. I was being flippant because of the terror that shot through me. People will not send their few remaining men to fight for a couple of foreign women who came here seeking safety. Who barely speak the language. This is a crisis of my own making.
Raina: [crying emoji] Why can’t people leave us alone?
I have no response to that. Instead, I texted,We’ll be in Covari Village tomorrow evening, will Tovian be there?
Raina: Yes. Keryn, too.
Interesting. The leader of the Mountain Folk doesn’t usually come down to the lowlands. Politically, ties have been strained ever since word about Bashir’s betrayal got out. I should be doing more to manage the situation.
I should be doing more, period. Rest time is over. I’m as recovered as I’ll ever be.
Raina: I can arrange a charter plane for that family that wants to visit. Will the castle be in decent enough condition to house fancy rich outsiders by then?
“Fucking hell,” I whispered. “Where will we get the money for a charter plane?”
Of all the stupid things to spend our daels on, right now. Past me was writing cheques that present me can’t cash.
Me: Who knows? Maybe we’ll be at war again and I can put them off for another year.
Raina: Gallows humor, Zosh.
Me: Sorry. Gotta take the laughs where you can, you know? I’ll check with Ifran.
“Everything alright?” Lorcan asked, glancing at my phone, then at me, as he came inside carrying a basket.
“King Humayun wants Hallie and Laila back.” I set my phone aside, face down. “They’re threatening to attack if we don’t give them up willingly.”
Lorcan’s jaw tightened. “I was afraid of that.”
“Then why did you let them come with us?’
He shrugged. “You didn’t want to leave them behind, either.”
“True.” This will be my first major test as a leader. “I won’t risk any more lives. Not for this. Not for anything.” I sighed. “Assuming I can avoid it.”
Lorcan stroked my cheek. “I’ve been hanging onto something for you.”
“Oh?”
“Might come in handy.” Lorcan led me up to the loft. He withdrew a small metal chest from the locked lower drawer of his desk—an astonishing lack of security considering what was inside. Placing it on the scuffed wood surface, he opened it.
Inside were stacks of U.S. currency in fifty- and hundred-dollar denominations, alongside a large pile of euros. Scattered around are smaller denominations of other banknotes, some of which I didn’t recognize. Yuan, I think. I wasn’t allowed to handle money in China. There was also a fair amount of gold and gems in varying forms, from uncut rocks to finished jewelry. I gasped.
“Where did you get all this?”
“Pirates and Skía. Individuals usually didn’t carry much. Take out a few encampments, though, and it adds up.” Lorcan locked the unassuming metal container and handed it and the key to me. “For the Treasury.” A small smile. “It’s not fifty million dollars, but it will help ease immediate pressures.”
“I don’t know what to say. It’s yours. You should keep it.” The thought of how many lives Lorcan took in order to amass that much money over a few short months is sickening. We have always asked too much of him. “You more than earned it.”
“I have plenty of money.” He glanced around the tidy cottage. “I bought an entire house out of the proceeds, Princess. You have workers to pay, supplies to purchase, wounded fighters with families to support…”
You.Not, we. Nor does he mention the expenses of the wedding that won’t be happening. I inhaled. He seems to have accepted that I’m not going to marry him.
My relief came mixed with sorrow. No good can come of trying to build a future on foundations as crumbled as ours. I have to focus on the bigger picture and not get distracted by personal temptation. Do what’s right for my country, not chase empty promises of happiness.
