The Thief's Daughter (Kingfountain #2)

Owen could tell he was probing for weakness, and he didn’t want to give himself away with an impulsive response. “If you’re expecting me to be happy about it already, Mancini, then you’ve misjudged how I feel about the girl.”

Mancini shook his head. “No, I’m not expecting you to be happy. Marriage isn’t about happiness. It’s about politics. Name me one happy marriage between nobles that didn’t end in disaster. Marriage is power. It either increases, or it withers.”

Owen pursed his lips, thinking on that for a moment. “By your same argument, Mancini, maybe it’s because most marriages are political that they fare so badly. If you poison the well water, everyone who drinks from it gets sick.”

The head of the Espion gave Owen an exasperated look. “Remind me next time that arguing with you is tantamount to playing Wizr. I always lose.”

“If you need the reminder,” Owen said with a mocking smile.

“Your quarters are over here,” the spy continued, escorting Owen to the room next to Evie’s. “A knight should be guarding his lady. You and Clark will take turns walking this corridor while she is in the chamber. Take shifts sleeping. At night, Etayne will watch from inside the girls’ room, so don’t get any romantic ideas. The poisoner’s ability with the Atabyrion language is such that she can pass for a native quite deceptively, if needed, through one of her many disguises, and she’s also been studying the Espion maps. She’ll help you locate and apprehend the pretender.”

Owen nodded, rubbing his lip with his finger. “So you believe he truly is a pretender, Mancini?”

The spy shrugged with cynicism. “It’s highly suspicious that this young man should suddenly appear in the major courts of the continent. A man grown, instead of a boy. I’ve heard many say he looks like Eredur, but let’s be honest. Eredur wasn’t as faithful to his queen as Severn is to the mere memory of his.” He wiggled his fingers together playfully. “I’m still trying to find a suitable wife for him. It’s been ten years. Perhaps that is a lucky number after all.”

Through the doorway, Owen saw Etayne walking down the aisle toward them, her skirts swishing as she moved. She was dressed as a lady-in-waiting, her gown showing her station to be lower than Evie’s. Her wig was brown now, like chestnuts. The necklaces and jewels she had appropriated from Ankarette were gone, replaced by simpler fare. But there was no hiding her beauty.

“Is all well here?” she asked.

“Owen and I were just talking about you,” Mancini said enigmatically.

She dimpled but said nothing in reply.

“Look at you,” Mancini said, reaching out and touching her chin. He lifted it and angled her head to one side and then another, as if she were an animal being inspected. Owen saw her eyes glitter with disdain, but she did not resist him. “You are one of my finest accomplishments,” he whispered in a low voice. “You will be one of the best poisoners in any kingdom. Even better than your predecessor. I’ve spared no expense in her training,” he added as an aside to Owen. Then, fixing his gaze with hers, he continued, “And you look almost as innocent as the earl’s daughter. Almost.” He patted her cheek, his gaze openly admiring his handiwork. He shivered. “Do us proud, girl. The pretender must perish.”

“If he’s lying,” Etayne reminded him, giving Owen a quick look. “If he’s only pretending to be a prince.”

Mancini smiled sardonically. “You and Owen are too alike. He is an imposter. I have no doubt of that. You could pass yourself off as an earl’s daughter. Or a shepherdess. I’ve trained you to be anyone. This Urbick fellow could be anyone too—even a trained poisoner like you are. Be on your guard.”

“I always am,” she replied deferentially, but Owen could see shades of contempt in her eyes. Mancini thought this girl was tame, but she had a mind of her own.

A loud voice rang out from the deck. It was the captain calling attention to the arrival of Elysabeth Victoria Mortimer, the earl’s daughter.

“Our lady has arrived,” Mancini said. “I’d best start back for the palace.” He turned back to Owen again. “Evie is in charge of the negotiations. But you are in charge of defending her and our forces. The king trusts you, lad. If you need to start a war with Atabyrion, you have the authority to do so. Severn wants this to be a display of his power, and he’s authorized the girl to make quite a nuisance of herself. Make sure it is memorable enough for word to spread to the other courts.”

“I will,” Owen said, looking deep into Mancini’s eyes. He had hoped the man would confide in him without being bidden, perhaps as a nod to the fact that he’d sabotaged Owen’s life. But he had said nothing about Ankarette’s letter, and Owen did not want to reveal that he knew about it. Not yet.

Mancini patted Etayne’s cheek one more time and then sauntered back down the aisle so he could leave by the gangway. Owen watched him for a moment before turning his gaze back to Etayne. Her eyes were raw with disgust and contempt as she stared after the Espion.

“You don’t like him very much,” Owen said softly.

She gave him her haughty look again. It slipped on like a mask. “Would you like to be treated as if you were only a weapon, not a person?” Then she smoothed her gown, and a pretty smile tipped up the corners of her mouth. “I have to prove myself on this mission, my lord. I cannot fail. At anything, it seems,” she added in a deceptively cheery tone. Her palm stroked her stomach. “I will enjoy working with you, I think. We are not so very different in age. You look a little older than twelve.” She winked at him to let him know she was teasing.

He didn’t believe her banter for a moment. Was she a dangerous serpent to be avoided and feared? Or was she someone who could be trusted? She had kept their encounter in the tower secret. He thought he could see glimpses of her beneath the mask, but he would need to know more about her before he decided if he could trust her.

There was a commotion on deck as Evie made her way to the staterooms, the sailors cheering in welcome. She walked confidently, waving back at them, and her beautiful gown shimmered in the sunlight as the light caught the gems and silver thread.

Etayne was watching him watch her, a sly smile on her mouth. He knew it, but he still had a hard time taking his eyes off the girl who had carved a part of his heart away from him.

The poisoner put a hand on Owen’s shoulder, and when she spoke, her voice was just a whisper. “I think it’s harsh what they’re doing to you both. For what it’s worth.” She patted his shoulder and then slipped into Evie’s room quietly, letting Owen be the one to greet her first.