Page 113 of Esperance

“No.”

A lie. She could feel it.

Ford continued without prompting. “I followed him here to protect him.”

That was at least partially true.

“I would really appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone about me,” Ford added. “The high cleric would kick me out, and after all that’s been happening, I think Carver—all of you—are in more danger than anyone guessed.”

All true.

Amryn shifted her weight. “What were you doing on Zawri? And don’t tell me you just chose today for a hike.”

Ford smiled, but his expression quickly grew serious. “I happened to stumble across some of those men creeping up the mountain. It was too late for me to warn anyone, so I followed them. Truthfully, I was looking to save Argent. But then I found your tracks, and I knew someone wandering out here alone wasn’t a good sign. You know the rest.”

Argent. NotPrinceArgent.

Another friend.

Ford became more of a puzzle by the minute.

Amryn crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you know who those men were?”

“Do you?” he asked, turning the question back on her.

“No.”

He searched her face as he said, “I think they were members of the Rising.”

Her stomach tightened. She fought to keep her sudden tension off her face. “Why do you think that?”

“It makes sense. If anyone would want Esperance to fail, it would be them.”

She’d known the rebels had a plan to destroy the empire. She’d also guessed that killing Argent, Jayveh, and Carver would possibly be in those plans. But this attack had been brutal, and done without telling her. Saints, they’d been huntingher, too. Maybe they hadn’t known who she was when they were tracking her, but they should have. Though, to be fair, that wasn’t even what concerned her most at the moment. She’d felt the darkness in them. The all-consuming hatred. Their desire to kill.

The Rising hadn’t felt entirely real to her until this moment. It had been hidden notes and quiet missions. It hadn’t beenthis.The thought that she might be helping men like that made her ill.

What had she expected from the Rising? They wanted to tear down the empire. She’d known that would mean death for many.

But she hadn’t known Argent and Jayveh then. She hadn’t known Carver.

Ford was still watching her.

Amryn tried to clamp down on her rioting thoughts. “The rebels would make sense.”

He nodded once, still gazing at her. “How did you get separated from Carver?”

She told him—leaving out the part where she’d sensed the attackers sneaking up on them—and Ford listened raptly. Shadows darkened his eyes by the time she finished. “Carver will have gone back to the road looking for you. When he doesn’t find you, he’ll probably recruit help at the camp. This storm will have slowed him, though.”

“I had the pack,” she said. “He won’t have food or water.”

“He’ll be fine.” There was no doubt in Ford’s voice, which she appreciated. She was also grateful that he didn’t point out that Carver might not have walked away from the attack.

Amryn peeked out at the rain. “I hate that we’re stuck here.”

“I’m notthatpoor of company, am I?”

“I really don’t know. You’re a stranger.”

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