?t a friend anymore. Not if he was here with Trina. Not if he had chosen sides against me.
I freed my arm and scowled at them both. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing?” Trina countered. “Before leaving the Hiplands, Tenger told you to let us handle this!”
“And you think I trust him anymore? That I trust you?” Any vow I’d made to the Coracks seemed irrelevant after Captain Tenger tried to kill me, and then Kestra.
“You trust me,” Gabe said with a half-smile.
“I don’t trust the Coracks. I don’t trust whatever orders Tenger gave you.” My glare shifted to Trina. “You thought you were the Infidante, but it’s not—”
“I don’t need that reminder,” she snapped. “But for now, all we care about is making sure Kestra still has the Olden Blade, and that she’s still prepared to use it against Lord Endrick. Neither of those questions are certain.”
By then, Kestra was climbing into her carriage. She waved at a few Loyalists, promising to see them again later that night, then giggled again with her ladies. Since when did Kestra giggle? And what was happening tonight?
“We’re fools to let her leave here,” I said.
“We have another plan in place already,” Trina said. “That’s what we’re trying to tell you; everything is arranged.”
“And it can’t involve you,” Gabe said. “Sorry, Simon, but you left the Coracks, and this is our mission. I understand why you want to be involved, you have feelings for Kestra—”
“This isn’t about that,” I said. “I’m as concerned about the Blade as both of you.”
“You came here for Kestra,” Trina said flatly. “You’re not objective, which means you’re not safe. But we will get her out of Highwyn tonight, I promise.”
I started to ask, to insist I be made part of the plot, when a cheer rose in the market behind us. I followed the applause to the sound of horses clopping up the cobblestone street, and there was Sir Basil, waving at the people and soaking in their affection like the thirsty rag he was.
Gabe pushed me off the street with him to make way for the horses. Basil never noticed us.
Why was he here, and so triumphantly? Kestra’s plan had been to reject marriage to Sir Basil, which would force a meeting with Lord Endrick. Basil should have been back in Reddengrad now, wringing his hands while his father arranged a wedding with some other pawn from a powerful family.
But he was here. Which meant Kestra’s plan had failed in some way.
Which meant there would still be a wedding. That was happening tonight.
Through gritted teeth, I asked, “Exactly when were you planning to get Kestra out of Highwyn? Before or after they’re married?”
Trina sighed. “Simon—”
“She’ll be with her attendants for the rest of the day,” Gabe said. “Our only choice is to wait until she’s alone … or mostly alone.”
My hand instinctively found my sword. That meant after the wedding, which was entirely unacceptable.
Trina started toward me until I raised the sword. “Do not interfere!”
Interfere? Of course I would interfere.
Gabe raised his hands, trying to calm me. “Look at yourself now, Simon. This is why you have to stay away tonight, for our safety and Kestra’s.”
“I’m coming with you.”
“How? Every guard in Highwyn is watching for you. If you’re caught, our plan falls apart and Kestra ends up dead.”
I took a deep breath. “Tell me the plan, then.”
Trina shook her head. “All you need to know is that we’re going to keep Kestra alive and make sure the Olden Blade is safe.”
“Are you stopping the wedding?”