She blushes and lowers her eyes. “I know. I don’t know why I added ‘I think.’”

I soften my voice. “It’s okay. Never say you think when you know. Be confident in the intelligence you’ve gathered.” I smile gently at her, hoping to undo my harshness from before. She smiles back, and this time the smile is genuine.

“Restin is the leader of the rebellion here in Arberly,” she repeats with confidence in her voice. “We made the offer to break out the prisoners as a show of loyalty to their cause. Restin promised to introduce us to leadership once we deliver the prisoners to them. We’re meeting at the granary again in a week.”

“So…” I say with a smile, “I guess we should plan a prison break. We only have a week.” They look between one another, eyes betraying their concern.

“You plan for us to actually break them out?” Prince Hawthorne asks with a tone of lazy indifference.

“Of course. The rebels could have spies anywhere, not to mention if I simply handed over the prisoners to you, my Council would have questions. We must enact a plan for you to break them out, but for it to look like it was the rebels themselves to protect your positions here in Thayaria.” They look nervous, shoulders tight and unspoken words on their lips. Glances between them confirm what I already suspected: they don’t trust me, and I don’t blame them. We’re reluctant allies at best, from enemy kingdoms, and I’m putting them at risk. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little skirmish,” I tease, trying to lighten the mood. “My guards are well-trained, but I expected the famous Shining Prince and his powerful metal channeler to be capable of taking them on.” Fionn’s jaw clenches, and I can see that I’ve ruffled his feathers. I’ve made the situation worse by saying something that could be interpreted as a threat. I clear my throat. “What I meant was—”

“We’re perfectly capable of battling a few palace guards,” Fionn interrupts. Ah, I’ve hurt his ego, then. “We can do it with no one even seeing us or the rebels.”

“That is precisely what we do not want,” I say harshly. Silene winces, and I vow to tone it down. They need to trust me, even if I don’t trust them. “If the prisoners go missing with no witnesses, the three of you will be instantly suspected or believed to be working with the rebels. My Council—all of Thayaria, really—distrusts you, and are looking for any reason to insist I return you to Velmara at once. You need to break them out with a rebel or two with you and ensure only the rebels are seen.”