War of the Princes 02: Dragoon by A. R. Ivanovich Read Free Book Online

need is another enemy.”
    My mouth fell open. Was he nuts? “I'm no one's enemy!” I promised.
    He eyed me shrewdly. “Would you say that to the charred corpse of Commander Stakes?”
    “He tried to kill me,” I whispered, absently raising a hand to the circle of scars below my collarbones.
    “I don't trust you. But I'll give you a chance. Your first visit was an accident, according to you. Why have you returned?”
    Oh no.
    What could I say? Keeping my mouth shut may have saved my life last year, but Lord Brendon was giving me an honest chance. If I lied now, what kind of ambassador would I be? Whether I liked it or not, I was Haven's representative. Between board games and debate class, I learned that a show of good faith was necessary for a foundation strong enough to prevent future back-stabbings.
    “I'm looking for something,” I said.
    “Vague.”
    I shook my head and took half a step back. “You'll turn me in to the Prince.”
    Lord Brendon folded his arms together atop his desk. “Fair enough. I'll give way. The fire that you were examining consumed an entire quarter of Breakwater, killing thirty Dragoons and three hundred forty-two citizens, leaving roughly seven hundred injured. There were ninety-eight surviving orphans, but they didn't need to wait long.
    “Our previous governing Margrave was drained for having promoted Stakes to Commander. The new Margrave, Hest, formally accepted her station, took a ship directly to us, and exacted Penalty.”
    The new Margrave is a girl?
    Unsatisfied with my reaction , he elaborated. “She came to Breakwater, and, as punishment for a civil battle, she took the children.”
    “ All of them?” I asked in disbelief.
    He nodded , his expression grave.
    “ It's why you're wearing black, isn't it?” I whispered, feeling my heart sink. “All of them? Even, the, the kids from the stable? Lina Thayer?”
    His frown was deep with sorrow and his head bowed ever so slightly. “All.”
    No. Not Lina.
    She was such a sweet girl. Lina had even tried to rescue me when I was taken away to the installment fortress. She was brave and good, and now she would be forced into the same horrific life that tortured her brother and countless others in this place.
    After everything Rune did to protect her.
    “What happened to the Dragoons?”
    “Gone. Taken to the front lines. Six months ago, the war pressed to the enemy's gates, but now they're pushing back. Our Prince Raserion is under siege, as close to the capital as the Northern forces have reached in fifty years.”
    I felt sick, but I should have known. This place was volatile at the best of times. What hope was there that I would ever see him again?
    “We've been left to protect ourselves,” Brendon said, sitting up straighter. “I am not pleased with my Prince. If I uttered those words to any of Raserion's men, it would be enough to promise my execution. Using you as a bargaining piece will not bring the children home, or the dead back to life. Now you understand my motives. Safety for my people, what's left of them. I want nothing else. Keep my secrets, and I'll keep yours.”
    I shuffled uncomfortably, and then gave in. From what I'd seen of him, Lord Brendon was both direct and honest. If I didn't gamble on an ally now, I wouldn't have a leg to stand on. “I'm looking for a small group of people, led by one in particular. We're from the same place. They were crazy for coming.”
    “Genius, you mean,” Lord Brendon said, gracing me with a rare smile.
    I smiled back. “Each and every one. They didn't know what they were getting into. I want to get them and leave.”
    “Brave,” he noted.
    “Stupid,” I said looking down and feeling like the biggest idiot in the world.
    “Perhaps a little of both, but don’t lose faith. You have The Pull. You, of anyone, should be able to find them. Do you have any idea where to look?”
    “ I feel like I need to go out on the water,” I told him. The idea frightened me. I was a