Page 57 of The Rebel's Prize

"Who said anything about love?"

"You don't need to. The two of you look completely besotted. Which, for Lucien, is nothing new. I had faith he would calm down once he found you. But you look at him like...well, I'm not sure I've ever seen you look that way."

Not even with Charl, being the implication. "I never expected to wind up a marquesse. All that responsibility," Chloe protested feebly.

Imogene made a small hum of sympathy. "No more than I expected to marry a duq," she said. "But we make the best of these things when the man is right."

"I thought I chose the right man the first time."

"Charl." Imogene hesitated. "Well, he did love you at first. I know that much. And how were you to know that he would do something so idiotic?" She nodded back down toward the ladder that led below deck. "At least you know Lucien will never betray you. He'd rather cut off both his hands than dishonor you."

"That's true," Chloe muttered. "But no, that's not what I'm afraid of."

"You lost Charl. It's natural to be afraid of losing another husband. But Lucien is healthy. And too smart to get himself killed in a stupid way. You have to learn to live with it. It's normal to be scared. If I think of Jean-Paul dying, I can't bear it either."

"So how do you?"

Imogene shrugged. "I don't think about it. There's no point. No one knows what the future brings. And I can either ruin what I have now by letting worry in, or I can live." She nudged Chloe again. "I think you should choose to live, dearest. You've wasted enough time."

As Chloe was about to reply, Imogene stood. "There's your Corporal Chartres. I expect he's been sent to fetch us." She gave Chloe a quick once-over as though considering her outfit. "Though you may have time to change. I brought some of your uniforms with me. I thought you might want them."

Chloe hesitated. "I'm not sure I still have the right to wear them."

Imogene shrugged. "No one said anything to me to indicate otherwise. I spoke to Colonel Ferritine several times before I left, and he just told me to tell you good luck." She raised an eyebrow, lifting her chin in challenge. "As I said, time to stop worrying and live."

* * *

It didn't take Chloe long to change her clothes and get back to the wardroom, but the seats around the long table were already nearly full when she returned. There was a spare beside Lucien, and she slipped into that as Imogene found a place lower down the table's length next to Silya.

At the head sat Captain Bertrand, who commanded the navire, and to his right was Captain Ilveut, who oversaw the squad of soldiers sent to assist in Deandra's capture. Her hair was as black as her uniform and braided off her face, which only emphasized her golden-brown eyes as they met Chloe's. Lieutenant Envier and the other guards who'd traveled with them from Miseneia sat farther down near Imogene. There were three men who hadn't been present at breakfast, but the introductions went quickly. Lieutenant James and Lieutenant Mirrea, both illusioners judging by their collar tabs. The third man was Corporal Gheligne, a young water mage who, somewhat unusually for his rank, had a sanctii.

Had he bonded a sanctii in unusual circumstances, too? She made a mental note to try to talk to him later.

Captain Bertrand looked across at Lucien and waved briskly at the table. "Major de Roche, I will hand this briefing over to you shortly. Everyone here—my crew and Captain Ilveut’s squad—know the basics of the situation. So I was hoping you could tell us more about the illusion magic we might be facing.”

“Yes,” Captain Ilveut agreed. “We hope that Lieutenant James's and Lieutenant Mirrea's talents will be of assistance. Mamsille Bastiogne taught them a little of how she works the facial illusions for the opera before we departed, but they have not had time to fully master those skills. The rest of the squad have other magics, but it would be useful if they know what to look for if you can find a way to teach them."

Lucien nodded. "I’ll do my best. Captain Bertrand, was there anything else you wanted to add?”

Bertrand shook his head.

Lucien started to speak, explaining the illusion magic, what exactly had happened in the parliament, and what else they had discovered.

"Do you think we'll be able to master the facial illusion?" Lieutenant James asked when Lucien finally wound down his speech.

Lucien spread his hands. "I hope so. It's not a simple magic. It took me some time to learn to use it reliably."

Lieutenant James looked a little daunted at that, but Chloe wasn't sure he should be. Lucien was a powerful illusioner, but he had spent far more of his time using his truth seeking than perfecting the other aspects of his magic. The mages in the Imperial army practiced all sorts of illusions for all sorts of situations, along with other magics.

"The real skill, of course," Imogene said, "is spotting those who may be wearing the illusions in the first place. If Deandra Noirene or any of those who assisted her in the city are accompanying the troupe, I think it's safe to assume that they won't want to be recognized."

"No," Lucien agreed. "And how easy that will be depends on the skill of the illusioner casting them. We have to assume that whoever devised the illusions is very strong, so that may complicate matters if they're with the troupe."

"Then what's the plan?" Imogene asked.

Captain Ilveut said, "I have my orders to assist you, Major de Roche, and then, of course, to escort any prisoners back to Lumia." She lifted one eyebrow. "Our orders were clear on that. We are to try to take these people alive so they can be interrogated."

Lucien nodded. "Yes, but that is the other difficulty we face—the memory magics. Hiding their faces is one thing, but the memory magic is another kettle of fish altogether. That's why it's important we capture the illusioner behind this. We believe the facial illusions are of his doing, and if he's clever enough to do that, it's possible that he's behind the memory charms as well. Or he may be our best chance at finding out who created them. Keeping him alive is the main priority."

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