I swallowed, looking down, then turned my eyes back to the soldier. The connection of an additional lady in the Eastoffe family and the direction we were coming from all came together for him in an instant. He squinted at me and then looked back to Etan for confirmation.

“My cousin Silas’s widow,” he explained.

The soldier shook his head. “Can’t believe Silas is gone . . . or that he married,” he added, looking back at me. In his head, he seemed to be amending his thoughts, tacking on that what he really couldn’t believe was that he’d married a Coroan.

Not many people could.

His eyes shifted from slightly judgmental to entertained. “Can’t blame you for wanting to get out of there,” he said to me, lifting his chin to the road behind us. “I don’t keep up with much going on in Coroa, but it’s impossible not to hear how your king has all but gone mad.”

“Really?” Etan asked. “It’s not as if he was that sane in the first place.”

The soldier laughed. “Agreed. But apparently some girl rejected him, and he’s been erratic ever since. Rumors are he’s taken an axe to one of his best boats, right there on the river where anyone could see. We’ve heard that he’s got someone new but isn’t faithful to her in any sense of the word. Heard he set his castle on fire a few weeks ago, too.”

“I’ve been to Keresken,” Etan said flatly. “A fire could only improve it.”

It took everything in me to bite my tongue. Not even at his worst would Jameson want to destroy the pinnacle of Coroan craftsmanship that was Keresken Castle.

The only rumor that might pain me if true was the thought of Jameson seeing other girls behind Delia Grace’s back. I hated the idea of her thinking she’d finally gotten what she wanted and being so very wrong.

The soldier barked a laugh at Etan’s quick wit, then became serious. “With how unpredictable he’s been, there’s talk of a possible invasion. That’s why we have to check the carriages, even with those we trust. Seems Crazy King Jameson could do anything at this point.”

I could feel myself blushing and hated it. None of this was true, of course. Jameson wasn’t crazy or planning an invasion or anything of the sort . . . but the look of suspicion on that man’s face told me to keep my thoughts to myself.

Mother placed a comforting hand on my knee and spoke out the window to the guard. “Well, we certainly understand and thank you again for your thoroughness. And I will make sure to say special prayers for all of you once we’re safely home.”

“It’s clear,” the other soldier called from the opposite side of the carriage.

“Of course it is,” he replied loudly. “It’s the Eastoffes, you nit.” He shook his head, then backed away from the carriage. “Move the barricades!” he called to the others. “Let them through. Stay safe out there, Northcott.”