Page 167 of Esperance

“How wouldsheknow Tam’s plans?” the high cleric asked.

Trevill’s eyes rounded as the only real answer manifested. “She was a rebel,” he breathed. “Like Samuel obviously was.”

“What?” Zacharias hissed. “They shouldbothbe arrested at once!”

Carver’s back straightened. “Amryn came forward to warn us about the Rising’s plan. Argent gave her a full pardon.”

“One I have in writing,” Jayveh added. She glanced to Carver. “He was going to give it to you, he just hadn’t had the chance yet.”

The high cleric’s eyes narrowed. “You both have a lot of explaining to do.Now.”

“We’ll tell you everything,” Jayveh promised. “But first, I need to make things clear. The search for Argent will continue. I want men crawling over this jungle, searching for him and Tam. Meanwhile, the rest of us are going to the capital to make our report to the emperor, and determine our next steps. We leave tomorrow.”

Trevill nodded once. “A good plan.”

The high cleric gritted his teeth. “I’m not sure that—”

“Nothing more can be accomplished here,” Jayveh said firmly. “Argent needs our help. So, we’re going to the capital, and we will wage war against the Rising. We will find him, and we will save him.”

The high cleric bristled, but there was little he could do in the face of Jayveh asserting her authority, and he knew it. Esperance was his domain, but it was in shambles. “Very well,” he said stiffly. “But my report will clearly outline how Trevill failed as well.”

The chancellor frowned. “What do you mean?”

“If you’d been able to lead a successful investigation into the deaths of Cora and Rivard, you would have found Tam before all of this happened.” Zacharias straightened, speaking to the room at large as he said, “I won’t carry all the blame for this.”

Trevill scowled.

“Blame should be the least of your worries,” Carver said, disgusted by the miserable excuse for a man in front of him. He’d never respected the high cleric, but now . . . “People died here,” he continued. “You would think you would be more concerned about the loss of their lives.”

The high cleric’s mouth thinned. “Of course I care. But clearly it’s not my fault all of you were not properly vetted. Someone like Tam should never have been allowed here.”

Carver felt a stab of guilt at that.Heshould have done a better job. He should have realized something was wrong with her. Saints, she’d more than likely been the imposter. If he could have found her sooner, he could have prevented all of this.

“We can sit here debating the past, or we can actuallydosomething,” Jayveh said, folding her arms over her chest. She looked every inch the empirical princess as she asked, “What preparations are needed so we can leave at dawn?”

Chapter 43

Amryn

“Someone is here to see you,”Ahmi said, walking back into the bedroom after responding to the rap on the suite’s outer door.

“Jayveh?” Amryn asked.

Ahmi shook her head. “Cleric Felinus. He said he works in the library.”

Amryn was surprised by his visit, but it was actually quite timely. She had questions, and he might be able to answer some of them.

Ahmi helped her change quickly into a simple blue dress and they walked out together to find Felinus standing near the balcony. His wariness and tension as he met her gaze lifted the hairs on the back of her neck.

“Can I fetch you both some tea?” Ahmi offered.

“That would be lovely,” Felinus said.

Ahmi left before Amryn could decide if she should protest. She didn’t really want to be alone with Felinus when his emotions were so odd. He’d never felt like this before. He was anxious. Almost . . . afraid.

She felt an echo of that fear in her own chest.

She knew two guards were posted in the hall, but Amryn felt alone as she faced the bald cleric in the otherwise empty sitting room.

---