Page 24 of The Queens and the Kings
They didn’t have supplies to make it as far as Narpurra, nor means to gain supplies without time to work or trade. Trading for a ship full of their requirements on Narpurra could takeweeks. Pedr’s arcane use didn’t extend to conjuring victuals out of nowhere—that she knew of. Though it once brought her an empty seashell.
Besides, Kapurnick needed more information about the wyvern, didn’t they?
She protected her draguls only by leaving them, it seemed. General Helsing knew Britt’s tenuous position. Her shrewd side emerged to make efficiency and productivity collide again. This side of General Helsing reminded Britt of Pedr in female form. General Helsing in her strategic power was glorious, an emerging butterfly from a chrysalis. Other times, horrifying. A sea monster with vengeance in her eyes.
Such power to wield.
“What is the desired end state?” Britt rasped.
“I want to know what’s happening with the wyverns, and if we need to anticipate hostilities. If the mainland has lost control of the wyverns, the Lordlady may not know it flew this far. If they brought the wyvern to our island, we can expect war. The Lordlady certainly won’t reveal anything true, I would imagine. Hence, my command for you to find the answer elsewhere.”
“What if I can’t?”
“You will.”
“He knows I’m your niece! So do his military leaders. We’ve been to the mainland too many times together to hide it.”
General Helsing gazed beyond Britt’s shoulder, right to Henrik.
“This mission is not for you alone.”
Fury filled Britt, then dread. General Helsing was also using Henrik. The sneaky cur.
The swap of emotion made nausea rise. She swallowed it back and spun. Henrik regarded her aunt with curiosity and an unreadable twitch of his jaw. Only when Britt turned did Henrikgive her his full attention. The irritation she saw there gave her a boost of courage.
“I won’t agree without you,” she whispered. Her hand twitched at her side. She met his gaze, chin high, but it cost her no small amount of pride. Her aunt had tricked them into this dangerous position, and it galled her.
Henrik lifted his hand, put his bent knuckle under her chin, and whispered, “I go where you go.”
She shivered at his contact, the rumbly promise, and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
His gaze hardened.
She spun on her heels. The removal of his touch left her feeling cold. “We’re in agreement, General Helsing. In exchange for sufficient provisions, I’ll act as Kapurnick’s agent.”
Rowboats surrounded Pedr’s ship, laden with goods. Boxed supplies lifted from their interior and onto his deck without ropes or pulleys. It was one of the only truly functional arcane powers he had—cargo loading and unloading, rowboats included. Pedr silently coordinated each box with an off-putting glare. The sailors, wide-eyed and wordless, sat back as supplies elevated and lowered by seemingly invisible means.
Pedr only had to keep his right big toe tapping in a synchronized rhythm that controlled the speed and longevity. When he stopped, so did the work. Thankfully, he coordinatedfrom behind the railing, which negated anyone speaking to him.
A familiar visage drew Britt from her thoughts. Malcolm walked at a fast clip, a paper in one hand. The determined look on his face spoke to trouble.
“You survived?” he asked.
“She did, too.” Britt added, “Though, it was close.”
Malcolm grinned, and it dispelled the building angst. She loathed confrontations with General Helsing, but the cobwebs cleared with Malcolm nearby and the promise of returning to Pedr’s ship.
Malcolm gestured to the supplies with a wave of his hand.
“Obviously, you agreed?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry, Britt. I tried to convince her it was a bad idea, having you spy, but you sealed it yourself. You made it all the way to Stenberg and back, saved me, saved Tess, kept Denerfen and yourself alive, and returned to tell the tale. Regardless of the drama between,” he added lightly. “Whether it seems that way or not, she sees you as capable.”
Britt ignored his carefully-spoken statement of drama to say, “She didn’t leave us much choice.”
“You could have refused.”
