Page 72 of The Turncoat King

He nodded. “What could you get him to do?”

She looked away. Lifted her shoulders. “I think almost anything.”

She was afraid her admission would frighten him. Would drive more of a wedge between them.

But he would not allow it.

“I’ll come along, you shouldn’t go in alone.” Only he could accompany her. Otherwise her secret would be out.

“How about you wait outside, and only intervene if there’s a problem?”

He nodded reluctantly. “Is there some way you can find out who he is before everyone leaves?”

“Yes. I came with a trader, Carys, and I’m sure she will know who everyone is by now.” She turned in his lap, and he lifted her down.

When she looked up at him, her eyes were searching, as if waiting for him to flinch. “You sure you want to do this with me?”

He nodded, and then watched her walk the short distance to where the Rising Wave and Venyatux traders were gathered.

He had made her doubt him. And he would do what he had to do to win back her trust.

* * *

“I see you got your cloak.”Carys fingered the fabric and gave an approving nod.

“I did. Thank you for letting me come as your helper.” She took the bundles Carys had set at her feet and tied them to her mount. “Someone mentioned a trader called Karl. Do you know which one he is, and what he sells?”

“Ask Gregor.” Carys sent her an evil grin. “He’s already deep into his wares.”

Ava turned, and saw one of the traders groaning, hand to his stomach. Wine flasks sat around him.

“A wine merchant?” She frowned. “We haven’t been here long enough for someone to get that drunk, have we?”

Carys shrugged. “Probably went straight there and has been sampling the wares since.”

Ava had a bad feeling about that.

She looked over at Luc, but he had been joined by Massi and Rafe, and wasn’t looking her way.

She made her way to the captain who had escorted them over, and gestured to him to dismount from his horse.

He narrowed his eyes at her, but he knew who she was, and he reluctantly slid down.

She leaned in close to him. “The Commander has cause to be suspicious of the wine merchant in this caravan. And given how sick the trader who has bought from him is, I’m worried that he isn’t drunk, but perhaps poisoned, or has been deliberately given something that is off.”

The captain drew in a sharp breath, and then looked over at where Gregor was heaving up the contents of his stomach.

“Take the traders back, and get Gregor to a healer. Make sure no one touches the wine he’s bought.”

“I don’t take orders from you.” The captain glanced over at Luc.

“Then go confirm your orders with the Commander.” She turned and walked toward Luc herself. She hadn’t got two steps before the captain’s hand came down on her shoulder.

“What you say makes sense. I’ll speak to the Commander later.”

She nodded and kept going.

Luc had managed to rid himself of his companions by the time she reached him, and she thought he would have done it on purpose, to keep what they planned between them.

---