Page 64 of Esperance

“Murdon Savin, I would guess,” she said, gesturing to the name written on the crate.

“Really?” Surprise twisted through the air and lifted his tone. “He was a legend among the Order. Became a bit of a recluse before he died, though.” He took a step back, the velvet ring box held in one fist. “I’ll take this to Cleric Jane. She’ll make sure it’s held safely until it can be returned to the Knights.”

Amryn didn’t give a verbal answer. As she watched him turn and walk away, she knew she should just be relieved he was going.

Instead, she stood and called out, “Rivard?”

He stopped and twisted back to face her. “Yes, Amryn?”

Saints, she didn’t like her name on his lips. Or the way his eyes grew colder the longer she looked at him. Clearly, he wasn’t a knight. But knowing that he came from a family of knights made him even more vile to her, regardless of the other things she knew about him—or had been hinted about him.

She cleared her throat. “Tam has seemed especially quiet the past few days.”

Confusion wafted from him. “Your point?”

“I hope you haven’t done anything to distress her.”

His expression tightened, and she felt a wall of defensiveness hit her. “Are you insinuating that I’ve done something to hurt my wife?”

“I’m only saying I hope you haven’t.”

“Cora was murdered,” Rivard said bluntly. “That, if anything, is what’s causing Tam’s distress.”

“If you hurt her, I’ll find out. And you will regret it.”

The air turned icy. Rivard’s upper lip curled slightly. “You know, you and Carver make a good match. You’re both insufferably arrogant, and you think you’re morally superior to everyone else. Tam ismywife, which means she’smyconcern—not yours.”

“She’s my friend. And even if she wasn’t, I’d still look out for her.”

Rivard took a step toward her, but Amryn only steeled her spine.

His voice was low and dark. “Whatever she’s told you is a lie. I haven’t hurt her.”

“She hasn’t told me anything specific, but I have eyes.”

A malicious edge joined his defensiveness. “Keep your nose out of my business.”

“If you want to avoid another broken nose, take care not to hurt her in any way.”

Rivard bristled, but before he could offer a retort, Cleric Jane walked in. “Ah, Rivard. I was told you were looking for me?”

Amryn took advantage of the interruption and returned to the table, letting their conversation drift over her as they walked away. Strange, how much better she felt once Rivard was gone—the gruesome bone ring along with him. Her chest felt warmer after standing up for Tam and, for a moment, she forgot the heaviness of the stolen journal in her pocket.

Chapter 18

Carver

Carver stood on the balconyin his shared apartment with Amryn and studied the list Argent, Rivard, Jayveh and the emperor had helped him make after discovering those scorched bones. He hoped staring at the list yet again would spark some new thought.

There were two columns of names; the first listed the people they knew personally before coming to Esperance: Argent, Jayveh, Carver, Rivard, Marriset, Samuel, and poor Cora.

The second column were those they didnotknow personally: Darrin, Ivan, Sadia, Tam, and Amryn.

If Carver’s suspicions were right, one of the names on that list had been taken on by an imposter. Ford’s count of the skulls supported the idea that an entire delegation—including one of the Empire’s Chosen—had walked into Esperance without anyone suspecting the lie.

Carver knew his instincts were right. Now he just needed to figure outwhowas lying about their identity.

For the most part, Carver trusted the names in the first column; Jayveh had vouched for Cora, who she’d met once years ago. Carver, Argent, and Rivard had all met Samuel years ago, and the emperor was certain Samuel’s father had not been an imposter when he’d spoken briefly to him at the wedding feast. Argent had been a child when he last saw Marriset, and the emperor hadn’t seen her any more recently, so Carver was also hesitant to eliminate her as a suspect just yet. Looks could be emulated. Personalities, pretended.

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