But Kestra immediately warmed it, lighting the cells enough for me to see Basil rush to the bars, pleading again for her forgiveness. “My love, please believe me. This wasn’t part of our agreement. They said nothing about locking us up.”
She leaned against the opposite bars, far out of his reach. “And you said nothing at all to me.”
Basil tossed a needy glance my way. I arched a brow, as if to say he was on his own for this one, and I hoped it all blew up in his face.
“You promised to trust me if yesterday evening didn’t go as planned,” he said.
“I thought you were worried about forgetting your vows or tripping on my gown. Not that you’d work with this filthy Corack to kidnap me!” She waved her hands angrily in my direction.
“We’re not working together,” Basil and I said at almost the same time.
“So you separately planned to kidnap me last night.” She sighed. “I’ve been kidnapped twice.”
I leaned forward. “Technically, princess, last night marks your third and fourth kidnappings, which has got to be some sort of record. Though the second was really more of a temporary detention, not a kidnapping.”
She paused, her eyes set in deep thought. She was trying to remember. But as soon as she caught me looking, she turned away.
“Please don’t upset her,” Basil said.
“Upset me?” Her cheeks reddened. “Do you really think anything he says could upset me more than your agreement already has?”
“Which agreement?” I asked Basil. “The one with the Coracks, or your agreement with Lord Endrick?”
Before he squirmed through that answer, I pulled my blanket higher, alone with my self-satisfaction to have stung Basil. Small compensation for the hurt he’d caused me, and not enough to overcome my exhaustion. I welcomed a decent night of sleep, even in a cell. At least here I wouldn’t have to worry about Kestra’s safety.
When I awoke, Basil and Kestra were both leaning against their shared bars, his hand over hers as they slept. It seemed they had made up again. A perfect start to my day.
Basil must have heard me stirring, because he looked up. He warmed the clearstone before standing, and despite my glare, he sat down at my side. My back was against the wall, with my knees up and hands resting upon them. It would have been easy to reach over and punch him; I’d gladly do it if the opportunity arose. But he quietly said, “I know how you feel about her, Simon, so I know how you feel about me too, but I’m not the villain here. I made this arrangement to protect Kestra—”
“This wasn’t for her. You bargained with Tenger to protect your country.”
“Yes, I have to protect my country! I won’t apologize for that. But I also had to get Kestra out of Highwyn.”
“In what way is she any safer with you?”
“She’s still alive because of me! Kestra tried to kill Endrick, but failed, and he took her captive. He did something to her afterward, twisting her memories or removing them entirely—I don’t know. For some reason, Endrick wants to keep her alive.”
I clicked my tongue. If that was true, then it was because he knew who she was. If he could not take the Infidante out of the girl, he would take the girl out of the Infidante.
Basil continued, “There are times when I think I see a flicker of recognition in her eyes, but it quickly disappears, and then a minute later, she’s professing loyalty to the Dominion and laughing with her attendants. It’s her, but it’s obvious this is not the same person she was several days ago. And she’s certainly no longer capable of killing Lord Endrick.”
That was my sense too. I asked, “How much of her memory did he take?”
“I can’t be sure. Whenever the conversation shifts to her past, she closes up. The Kestra we used to know is gone.”
“She’s not gone. We just have to restore the memories.”
“I tried, Simon, but nothing worked. That’s when I decided to contact Tenger.”
“Why him?” I asked. “Of all people, why would you go to the Coracks?”
Basil lowered his eyes. “Because we each have something the other wants.”
I was about to ask him to explain when Gabe reentered the room. He had changed clothes and brought some bread and cider for us, so I gathered it was morning.
“Sir Basil,” he said, “Captain Tenger is ready to see you. He’ll share breakfast with you in his office.”
Gabe’s entrance awoke Kestra, whose expression soured as it traveled from Basil to me. Gabe unlocked the door, giving me another sympathetic smile. With a farewell to Kestra, Basil disappeared, leaving the two of us alone.