“Maybe.”

“Not the most confident answer, is it? And if you’re wrong?”

“Then we’ll find out soon enough and can return to our original mission, staunch allies once more.”

She sighed, hating the logic of his plan and yet wanting to cling to it for some reason. She set her jaw. “And what about your role as the Ghost? Do I need to remind you you’re on the king’s payroll?”

“Not anymore.”

“Meaning…”

“The king is dead.”

“This is the wrong time for a jest.”

“I’m not kidding. Word is spreading like wildfire. King Vedran was assassinated several days ago, just days after Queen Vedran-Echevaria was murdered. The two kingdoms are at war. Edward has claimed the Kinkallian throne while Tomas rules in Finfalla.”

“That’s…madness.”

Ludo snorted and adjusted his eyepatch. “Pretty much.”

Bryony eyed him. “I hate to break it to you, but you were never employed by Artemus himself. As Royal Assassin, your allegiance is to the Finfallian throne regardless of who happens to be sitting in it.”

“I am aware.”

“Then how can you eschew your duty and not expect any consequences?”

“First, I am called ‘The Ghost’ for a reason. No one really knows who I am except Artemus—dead, remember?—and Tomas, who’s got his hands rather full with the war effort. Any interactions I had with other of the king’s men were done in disguise, and as far as they know, I’m just the royal woodsman I pretended to be during our first meeting.”

“You said, ‘first’,” Bryony pointed out. “What is ‘second’?”

Ludo smiled. “I’m so glad you asked! Second, I’ve already fulfilled the duty I was charged with. The king never said I had to kill the Fire Eater. It was a ‘capture or kill’ situation. And, last I checked, the Fire Eater was captured. By me.”

Bryony scoffed and blew a lock of hair away from her face. “Okay, then I guess you should hand him over to the Knightguard, right? They’ll need to give him a soldierly escort back to Marchessault, where he’ll be tried for his many crimes. I’m guessing the new King Vedran won’t be very merciful, but that’s just a hunch.”

“I won’t hand him over, obviously. But I will allow you your revenge if it turns out his story about my brother was a lie. Void, if it turns out his story was true and he returns Gado to me, I’ll still hand him over to you to do with him what you will. Call it a minor delay. Can you work with that?”

“Fine.”

“Fine?”

“Take it before I change my mind.”

“Okay. I’ll take it, though I must admit that was easier than I expected. Thank you.” He reached for her hand, but she drew it back, just out of reach. “Too soon?” he said.

“Too soon.”

“I’m a patient man. It’s one of my many desirable qualities.”

“Ah, there he is. The annoying man I met in the woods.”