Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“What about Barnaby? He suspects that I’m not Victor. He’s got to be halfway to Gushan by now to whisper in the king’s ear.”
For the first time, a slow, sly grin spread across Samuel’s face. “Barnaby would be the first to recognize you for a fraud. He’s served as your personal attendant for over a decade. You can’t hide shit from that little weasel.”
“Fuck,” I groaned. I’d suspected I’d blown it with him, but everything had happened so fast yesterday. There hadn’t been enough time for me to work out a sensible plan.
“However, after meeting up with you, he came running to me with his doubts. I’ve kept him locked up so I could safely sort this nonsense out.” Samuel’s smirk grew into something more sinister. “Accidents happen on the road all the time. If ogres killed Victor and no one has heard from the rest of his battalion, does it make sense that the coward survived? I think not.”
I bit my tongue to hold in the argument that he didn’t need to die over this, but deep down, I knew he did. If Barnaby was sure I wasn’t the real Prince Victor, there was no way in hell he was going to keep that a secret until the end of his days. The fewer people who knew, the better—and right now, Samuel had a pretty big incentive to keep my secret. He had a comfortable life that would carry him through his golden years. Why fuck with that?
“Got it. I’ll try to stay away from Gushan so I don’t stir up suspicion. Keep a low profile.” It was for the best. Besides, there was a good chance I wouldn’t come out of this adventure with Nylian alive. If I were lucky and I survived, maybe I could disappear in a small town somewhere as a bookshop owner.
“Though…” Samuel paused and tapped on his lips with one finger. His thoughtful expression scared me more than his sly one.
“What?”
“If you are so close to Prince Xeran and he is reinstated to his rightful place, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the two kingdoms to form an alliance. It would be a good marriage for both countries.”
I choked on the air. It was time to get out of here. The governor had lost his mind.
Chapter 13
Unexpected Guests
The tavern Nylian had chosen to meet at in the early evening reminded me a lot of the place where I’d made my infamous distraction in Misty Pass. The lighting was low and loud burly men crowded the tables, drinking ale and shouting at each other. Barmaids carried enormous tankards and shouted at the patrons who dared to make grabs at their rear ends. One even received a swift kick to the head without her spilling a drop of alcohol. The scents of cooked meat, body odor, ale, and old smoke mixed to create a smell that was both repulsive and familiar. Wow, I had been in this world for too long.
After some searching, I spotted Nylian at a table in a shadowy corner at the back of the giant room. It was kind of surprising that he always got these dark spots. It was as if they were always reserved for that one secretive elf who was on the run and trying to hide from the world.
Snorting at my thoughts, I wove my way through the crowd, careful not to bump into anyone. I didn’t possess the ample bosom and rounded ass that would let me get away with kicking someone in the head.
As I reached the table, I found that my partner in crime wasn’t alone. Jasper and Adeline grinned up at me as I reached them.
“We’ve been making bets about whether the City Watch chucked you into prison,” Adeline teased as I dropped into the empty chair between her and Nylian on my left.
“No, I’ve kept my nose clean. Can you say the same?”
The woman’s mouth popped open with a loud laugh. “Fuck, no! The key difference between you and me is that I don’t get caught.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” I muttered. Before I could continue, a hand wrapped around my wrist and squeezed. My eyes met a pair of brilliant emerald eyes filled with concern.
“Everything went okay?” The light tone did not match the worry in Nylian’s gaze.
“Yep, all good. Nothing to worry about,” I replied with an extra-wide smile that was full of teeth, trying to hint that we’d talk more when we didn’t have Adeline and Jasper hanging on our every word.
“So, the governor bought your bullshit that you’re really Prince Victor?” Adeline blurted out.
My brain screeched to a halt, and my mouth dropped open. “What?” I gasped.
“They recognized you at the ogre camp,” Nylian stated.
“But—”
Adeline snorted. “Yeah, ’cause names like Adam and Nylian sound sooo real.”
“What?” This was more of a shriek.