The Thief's Daughter by Jeff Wheeler

disguise. We have reason to believe this Urbick fellow is hiding in Atabyrion. Lady Mortimer discusses an alliance. You fetch the lad. We’ll tell Duke Horwath that you will go in disguise as added protection for his granddaughter. The king trusts you, my lord, to figure out what needs to be done in a place that he can’t go himself. That’s your mission, and my mission was to tell you. You will get more information at the palace. For now, you are both Horwath knights escorting her ladyship and her maid to Kingfountain,” he said, shaking his finger at Clark and Owen.

    It was strange for Owen to wear the tunic of the Duke of Horwath. He hadn’t realized how much of his own sense of self derived from his dukedom’s badge until now. He wore it still, hidden beneath his chain hauberk and tunic. It was exciting to be in disguise, though, and as a knight wearing a chain hood, he was nameless, faceless, and practically invisible.
    Of course, Evie was wild with eagerness to embark on her secret mission to Atabyrion. She had never left Ceredigion before. Justine was cautious and worried, as she tended to be, but it did little to douse her companion’s spirits. Evie gave instructions for what books she wanted packed, which gowns and jewels she would wear to the court of Iago Llewellyn. But those items would be sent by cart. She was determined to ride to Kingfountain on horseback rather than be trundled along with the baggage.
    There were no secrets between Evie and Owen, so he had shared the part of the message that he was supposed to keep to himself. The journey from Dundrennan to Kingfountain took five days, and though Evie attempted to convince the others to spend one of the nights camping, they stayed at comfortable inns along the way to ease the burden of the journey.
    They reached Kingfountain and found everything as chaotic as Owen had expected. His heart was churning with emotions and excitement. He had always wanted to take an adventure, and the idea of traveling with her , of being truly alone and away from court and their lives in Ceredigion, was sweeter than treacle. As they crossed the bridge leading to the palace, he saw the ships docked at the lower portion of the falls and wondered which vessel would be taking them across the sea.
    They arrived with pomp and fanfare and were ushered into the throne room to see the king, who was pacing, limping slightly, and brooding. Owen saw the king’s niece, Elyse, sitting on a nearby bench, her eyes puffy and swollen from crying. His heart panged to see her this upset, particularly since he had not seen her in many months, but she did not give him a second look as he entered. His disguise saw to that.
    “My lord,” Evie said with a gracious and formal curtsy. “I am here at your command to do your bidding.”
    Justine curtsied as well, not daring to look the king in the eye.
    Mancini was leaning against the fireplace. His pose was all easy relaxation, but Owen noticed he did not sip from the goblet in his hand.
    “Leave us,” the king ordered his servants, dismissing the cupbearers and butlers and hangers-on. Lady Elyse started to rise as well, but the king curtly shook his head, gesturing for her to stay.
    In a few moments, the hall had been cleared for the king, except for the new arrivals, Mancini, and Elyse. The king sighed deeply, then turned to Owen.
    “Take off the hood, lad,” he said with a chuckle. “Even I hardly recognize you with it. If I, who know you so well, am deceived . . .” He stopped, his lips quivering. He glanced at Elyse, his eyebrows knitting with worry, but a warm, welcoming smile had spread across her face at the sight of Owen’s face.
    “I will be honest with you all,” the king continued. “Things are difficult right now. The attack at Blackpool has the people talking. And thinking.” He continued to pace, looking down at the ground, tapping his lips with his black glove. “I haven’t been this vulnerable since before Ambion