Page 84 of The Prince's Sacrifice

“I was rather hoping the rumors were exaggerated.”

Tor’s eyes popped open to find that Nawila was regarding him through the bars, arms crossed over her chest. Her warm brown skin was cast into shadow, but he could just barely see an expression that would normally be a hilarious mixture of amused, concerned, and judgmental.

She had every right to that expression, unfortunately, because only one of them wasbehind barsand about to be investigated for treason.

She was in charge of his troop of guards when he and Rin were unavailable. He felt a surge of gratitude for his past self. Sneaking away on his own hopefully ensured that the rest of his troop wouldn’t be touched by this.

He sighed. “Unfortunately, the rumors are probably pretty accurate. How are you?”

A dark eyebrow rose. “Better than you, apparently.”

“How’s Rin?” Tor asked anxiously. “I didn’t think Terila would take itthatbadly.”

Nawila hesitated for a moment, and then she said, “I think Rin will be able to fix it.”

Tor sighed again. He had a feeling there were a lot of sighs in his future. “I hope so. It’s pretty clear thatI’m not going to be able to fix anything.”

She regarded him for a long moment. “You want me to bust you out of here?”

Tor trusted she wouldn’t be asking the question if anyone could overhear. And like if Rin had asked, Tor knew she was altogether serious.

For a brief moment, he contemplated being free, tracking down Pel, flinging himself on his mercy, and… what? Going intoexile with him? Leaving his troop to face the consequences if they were caught?

Tor shook his head but smiled at her. “The very last thing I want is for anyone else to be hurt by this. I’ll see it through with Varex.”

He looked exactly like the High King. His brother couldn’t leave him running around as a potential dissident. Tor would be dooming anyone with him, and he’d already hurt too many people thanks to his behavior.

He wouldn’t do it again.

Nawila nodded. “All right. Do let me know if you change your mind.”

“At this rate, you’re going to be accused of committing treason just by talking to me. Don’t push your luck.”

She shot him a completely unimpressed look. “If a member of the High King’s guard can’t guard someone in the dungeon, what can she do?”

That wasn’t what she’d be accused of, and they both knew it.

“Please be careful and make sure that none of this impacts you or the troop,” Tor told her, because the world had gone awry, and he couldn’t rely on any of the things he’d thought of as constants. “If they actually think I could commit treason, who’s to say what they think the rest of you might be involved in.”

She scoffed. “Everyone will calm down. You’re the least likely person to ever commit treason, and your brother knows that.”

He made himself smile at her, even though that howling pit in his stomach made him terribly certain that just this once, she was wrong.

“Thanks,” he said, because she’d taken the time to come down here and threaten to break him out, and belief in him was in short supply these days. “Take care of yourself.”

She eyed him for a long moment. “I think that’s my line. You need anything? Food? A blanket? Asaw?”

His smile ticked up into something a little more genuine.

“I’m fine,” he assured her. “Honestly, for dungeons, these are remarkably clean.”

He would have expected more cobwebs and disrepair. Criminals were usually housed in the city jail these days. Maybe the dungeons were cleaned regularly by the palace staff, just like any other room?

For a moment, it looked as though Nawila was going to say something, but then she just smiled at him.

“See you around.”

She was gone before he could tell her that she should probablynotplan to see him any time soon.