Page 70 of A Crown of Tears and Treason
Why Zandyr wanted to marry me despite not liking me.
Why he’d risk upsetting the Serpents to uphold the contract.
Why he didn’t talk too kindly about his parents.
Both of our parents had made mistakes, but in completely different ways. Perhaps they had all told themselves it was the only way to protect us.
“That’s why he came for me,” I whispered.
“And why he’s taken extra precautions to protect all Blood Brotherhood civilians along our borders and not make his parents’ mistakes,” Leesa went on. “The caravans are still coming and there’s so much to do. But Goose promised me we’ll go down to the docks and help tomorrow.”
Leesa sent such a dazzling smile Goose’s way, I was afraid he might pass out from the way the blood rushed into his cheeks. I’d have to ask him about that later. Nobody got so smitten with just one look and a few smiles.
“Caravans?” I asked.
“Yes, for the evacuees. The prince ordered all the border towns and villages to be evacuated until tensions with theSerpent Clan end. You know, in case of an attack. A lot of people need help right now.”
I pushed down my anger at Zandyr for keeping so many secrets. We’dbothupset the Serpent Clan. This was my burden to bear as well.
He was doing the same thing my parents had. Shielding me from reality.
But this time I could do something about it.
“So you’re going down to help tomorrow, huh, Goose?” I asked.
All the color Leesa had brought into his cheeks vanished as Goose blanched. Ah, so he’d been instructed not to tell me. He gave a jittery nod.
“Wonderful,” I said, a plan already forming.
It was time I tested my limits once more.
Chapter
Twenty-One
EVIE
“Zandyr is going to kill me,” Kaya said. She’d been a blend of nerves and eagerness all morning. The shivers in her shoulders–elegantly put on display by her red, ethereal dress, precisely torn on one side–only got more obvious as we neared the main gates toward the Capital. “I can’t believe we’re doing this.”
“We have to keep calm if we actually hopetodo this,” I whispered, holding onto my heavy basket. I hoped Goose’s clothes would camouflage me more than they had the first time.
Kaya and Vexa were the only ones not disguised as Blood Brotherhood civilians in our little group. To my right, Goose gave up on trying to grab my basket to carry it himself, and now cast furtive glances at Leesa, who’d had a confused frown on her face since we’d left the house.
“We should be able to pass through easily. Why do we need disguises?” she kept asking.
“The advisors have changed some rules since you’ve left for the Fair Isles,” Goose whispered.
“Too many of them,” Adara rumbled, carrying a large crate as if it weighed no more than an apple. She’d been offended when I’d suggested she carry the same basket as the rest of us; a mercenary had to show their strength even when nobody was looking, she’d said.
I’d also suggested we give the gifts I’d received. Goose had told me that would be a supreme insult if anyone found out.
Not a great start to this day, but I was hopeful.
I could give away all the food in my house, though. The rules were lax–I hadn’t gathered the berries or fished the pike myself, but I hadn’t been officiallygiftedthem.
This Clan and its rules, honestly.
Kaya was the only one not weighed down by anything. Still, she struggled the most to keep walking.
