Page 66 of Rise of the Vicious Princess

“Can’t be any worse than Ferris Everly,” Holland said.

Tal laughed, but there was a tinge of misery to it. “I apologize, Your Highness. That was disrespectful.”

Holland grinned. “I see you’ve accurately assessed Ferris’s charms.”

“At any rate, we can’t worry about what kind of person the prince is. First we have to hope Alaric accepts our terms and begins negotiations so that we can stop the fighting, both on land and at sea,” Charis said.

Outside the window, her guards were finishing their search of the center, inside and out, to make sure no assassins were lying in wait. A large man with dark brown skin, callused hands the size of bread loaves, and a shiny bald head with a tattoo of a sea hawk on the back of his neck stood at the center’s door, his watchful eyes studying the warehouses across the street as though also hunting for any threat to his princess. When he caught Charis looking out the window, he flashed her a quick grin, deepening the creases in his sun-weathered face.

Orayn was another friend of Father’s who’d followed his new king from the far north to the capital city so many years ago. Unlike the others, who’d become Father’s personal guards and assistants, Orayn had never been one who could stand being indoors for long. Instead, he’d taken a job on a merchant’s frigate and become Father’s eyes and ears at the docks. When Father became too ill to care any longer about the comings and goings of those at port, Orayn had reported to Charis instead.

“What are we going to do if Alaric turns down your offer?” Nalani asked.

“He’d be kind of stupid to pass up a chance to put his son so near the throne,” Holland said as the guards made their way back to the carriage.

“Unless he wants the throne all to himself,” Nalani shot back. “My point is that we need an alternate plan. And figuring out who keeps attacking us on the open sea seems like an important place to start.”

Charis’s thoughts raced.

They needed an alternate plan in case Alaric refused to stop the attacks.

The navy couldn’t risk sending out more ships to be sunk.

Orayn knew the waters. Knew his way around a boat. And knew plenty of sailors who were now temporarily out of a job while their ships were docked until the threat was over.

The only boats who sailed unscathed were small fishing vessels and smugglers.

Charis smiled grimly. Maybe she couldn’t stop the bloodshed up north right away. Maybe she didn’t yet know how to uncover the network of spies. But this? This she could manage.

Turning away from the window, she said quietly, “I have a plan.”

“Excellent.” Holland popped his knuckles. “Let’s hear it.”

“We’re going to search the sea for the attacking fleet by pretending to be smugglers.”

Twenty-Five

MOTHER WAS WAITING in her office when Charis arrived five days after the trade delegate ships had gone down. The queen was wearing a bold dress the color of sea emeralds and there was a dagger strapped to her waist.

The glint in her eyes looked just as dangerous.

She waited until Tal closed the door and took up his position against the wall before saying, “We’re in real trouble, Charis.” She began pacing. “Fifteen naval vessels lost. Twice as many merchant ships. I closed the harbor yesterday when it became clear that no matter which direction our ships take, somehow the enemy ship finds them and sinks them.”

“A closed harbor?” Charis’s stomach sank. “But that means we can’t accept trade from other kingdoms who hadn’t yet severed relations with us. Some of that trade is essential to our survival.”

“I know.” The queen’s voice was grim. “I’ve quietly asked the city’s top physicians, alchemists, herbalists, and blacksmiths to take stock of supplies so we can begin rationing medicine and metal, since we won’t be receiving any for the time being. I don’t have the entire count in yet, but I can already tell we’re going to run into serious shortages within a month, maybe less.”

“We need to find and sink those enemy ships,” Charis said.

“Agreed. How soon can your smuggler operation start the search?”

Charis risked a quick glance at Tal, but of course he was simply staring at the wall. He’d been distant since the night she’d announced her plan to marry a prince of Montevallo.

“Tonight,” she said. “Orayn has a small crew and a boat. We’ll go out as often as we can at night until we find who’s behind this.”

“I don’t like you going out to sea. We should let Orayn handle it.”

“Not a single smuggler’s ship has been sunk, Mother. We’ll be cautious and safe.”

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