Page 84 of The Princess of Nothing
“There only needs to be one spy to ruin everything. Edgar has been alerted to you trying to bring people into the kingdom,” she explained quickly. “He has yet to take action.”
“He’ll amp up security around the border.”
“It’s a large area,” Morgana replied. “There are hunters in the forest, as well as anumi and wolves. They will not send many. They are afraid of the hunters.”
An idea crept into my mind. “He is bound to arm wherever he believes people may try to cross into Niferum.”
She attempted to untangle a puff of her brown hair. “Yes.”
I threw my arms in the air. “It’s clear. We send false information. Let us send a few almost-empty ships to small ports in Magaelor. He will leave the border almost unarmed to go to the ships, arming those areas if he thinks we’re coming. We leak the plan in advance, all around the castle, and allow news to travel back to court. We don’t say which ports. He’ll have to use most of his men to go to every one. Magaelor has what...” I counted in my head. “Fourteen, no, fifteen ports of entry. We must falsify we have pirates on our side who can navigate the waters.” I smiled broadly at my plan. “Make the arrangements,” I ordered. “Anyone wishing to get into Magaelor, only those we absolutely trust, whose loyalty is unquestionable, they can come through the mountains the day after tomorrow when Edgar’s attention will be diverted. Make sure only those who are trusted know.”
She placed the stallion and key cards onto the table. “Let it begin.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Adius’s sharp blueeyes found mine in the small crowd that had gathered. He was who Morgana was talking about when she said she needed to get word to an important person.
Dusk settled over the fae land. The sun disappeared behind the snowy peaks, shifting the sky from red to purple. “Adius.” My heart swelled. He hadn’t aged a day since I’d seen him. His brown hair was slicked back, blending into a well-groomed, short beard at the sides. “You came. No one told me you would be here. I had hoped.”
He dropped to one knee, bowing his head. “Your Majesty. I was relieved to hear of your survival. I came as soon as I was given word.” He looked up and nodded in Morgana’s direction as she approached us.
“Please, stand.” I exhaled slowly. “Tell me everything, Adius! I’m so glad to see you.”
His face blued. The winds picked up, gusting through the narrow walkway between the mountains where stragglers ventured through the snow. Spell shields kept the wolves at bay, and Blaise had ordered for all glamours nearby to temporarily be taken down. My hair swept back in the strong winds. I covered my eyes from the flurry of snowflakes.
“We need to move north,” Morgana stated, interrupting before Adius could respond. “A blizzard is coming.”
I sighed. I wished we had influence over the weather, but even magic had rules. “Yes. Let us move. Are the horses fed?”
She nodded. “We can stop at Enchante for shelter until the blizzard passes.”
Flashbacks of the gallows, where fresh nooses were hung by feral fae with empty stares and evil smiles, came back to me. “No way. The last time I was there, need I remind you, they tried to kill me.”
“There are no fae there anymore,” Morgana replied. “They were captured by Blaise’s men. Honestly, Winter, do you not ask questions at Lepidus?”
I scratched the back of my hand. I did need to be more on top of current news, know what was happening in all kingdoms, but I’d been preoccupied with everything. Thankfully, the herbs Morgana crushed and put inside capsules lessened my nerves, although I could feel my anxiety buzzing just beneath the surface, alerting me to it being almost time to take another.
