The men who’d tried to kill Reid and Dexter had looked like the miners from Bridger. They had the same build, hair, and accent. As they trekked through the forest, Reid told Dexter about her previous encounters with the men, starting with the assassination attempt when she was with Ackley and Gordon and they’d been ambushed in the middle of the night. She thought it strange two dozen men had been sent to kill two princes, yet they’d failed. Which led her to believe that maybe they weren’t trained assassins. She explained how she spied on the men staying at the inn in the City of Buckley, telling Dexter how she found the journal indicating they planned to kill Ackley, Gordon, and Idina. Then, she finished with how she’d seen men resembling the assassins working in the mines in Bridger.

At first, she’d assumed Eldon must be working with Duke Bridger, employing the miners as assassins. However, some things didn’t add up. The men had a distinctive look, accent, and skin color. In all her studies about Marsden, she’d never learned about any county having such differences. “Do you think the men could be from another kingdom?” Reid asked.

“Colbert has been gathering information,” Dexter replied. “We believe Eldon may be forging an alliance with a kingdom to the east of here, across the ocean.”

“Melenia?” she asked, remembering Dexter’s conversation with the sailor.

“Yes.” They continued in silence for several minutes. The river to their right made a soothing sound as water rolled over rocks. “I must admit, I’m surprised they tried to kill you, too. I assumed the king would want you alive.”

“I know Eldon’s secret—that he is not the legitimate king. And since my father gave me his ring, the king can’t harm me. That’s why he is using assassins from outside Marsden. No one can know about his involvement.” If she could prove the king sent those men, Reid could rally the dukes to overthrow him. However, did she want to do that? Henrick had no intention of accepting the throne, so who would Marsden’s leader be? If Eldon died, Gordon would ascend to the throne. She had a hard time imagining the commander ruling Marsden.

“What are you thinking about?” Dexter asked.

Beads of sweat coated his forehead even though it wasn’t hot out. His wound didn’t appear to be bleeding anymore. Regardless, Reid would have to watch for signs of an infection.

“I’m considering who should be king.”

“So am I.”

“What are you thinking?” Reid asked.

“I’m tired of my father bending over backward for Eldon. I get he’s his son. But it’s not fair to my mother, Colbert, or even to me. We’ve stood by his side and supported him all these years.”

“What do you want your father to do?”