Chapter 6

"That Blaze the King sent is a pigheaded idiot," Father said. "He's so hungry for glory, if he gets this map, he'll send his whole army charging in for a sneak attack.

"And when that happens, his fifty thousand men will get wrapped up and slaughtered by the Northern Tribes like sitting ducks."

I couldn't help but suck in a cold breath.

It was insane—bold to the point of madness, and vicious enough to send chills down my spine.

It was all just to use the lives of fifty thousand soldiers from our own kingdom as proof of how wrong the King was and to carve out a chance for the Gibson family to seize back command of the army.

"Dad, this is way too risky," I said. "What if..."

Dad cut me off. "There is no 'what if'. You can't lead an army with mercy.

"We're sacrificing fifty thousand now to keep hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions, from dying in the future.

"Michelle, remember this: the road to power is never paved with anything but blood and bones."

I fell silent.

Father was right.

Being soft-hearted would only mess things up.

I tucked the map away, making sure it was safe.

"Don't worry, Dad. I know exactly what needs to be done," I said. "I'll make sure Jamie gets his hands on this map—like it just happened by chance.

"With the way Jamie is, he'll do whatever it takes to get it to the front lines."

Father nodded, a look of relief and satisfaction in his eyes.

"Good," he said. "Now, the next step is to have Jamie come to us, asking for help himself."

I clenched the half of the Command Seal hidden in my sleeve.

The cold bit into my palm, sending a chill straight to my heart.

This was an all-or-nothing gamble, and it was about to kick off.

The stakes were the very destiny of our kingdom, the Gibson family's future, and whatever was left between Jamie and me.

*****

By the time I got back to the Prince's Palace, night had already fallen.

I looked up at the pale moon hanging over the Lunarae Palace, feeling strangely at peace.

Was Jamie ready for the big surprise I was about to send his way?

Now it was my turn to play my hand in this game.

I needed the perfect timing to get this map into Jamie's hands, a moment when he'd be absolutely convinced it was pure chance, never suspecting I had anything to do with it.

If I handed it to him directly, he'd immediately think it was some Gibson family scheme.

If I had someone else pass it on, it would leave too obvious a trail. He'd trace it right back to me.

The best way was to let him "find" it himself.

I carefully hid the leather map inside an old book about the sights and customs of the Northlands.

This was a book I brought from the Prince's Palace, and it still had my childhood scribbles and notes in the margins.

It was seamless. No one would suspect a thing.

Next, I had to make sure Jamie stumbled across me—and the map—like it was pure coincidence.

I knew that even though Jamie never came to the Lunarae Palace, he always spent his nights in the study at the Prince's Palace, working late into the night.

And there was only one route he had to take from his chambers to the study.

That path would be through a small grove of plum trees.

It was early winter, and the red plum blossoms were just about to burst into bloom.

Late at night, I carried a small lantern, told Presley to stay inside, and made my way alone to the plum grove.

The bleak winter wind swept through, making my dress billow around me.

I hadn't brought a hand stove, so my fingertips quickly grew icy cold.

I stood alone beneath an ancient plum tree, deep in the grove, quietly waiting in the cold.

I had no clue when Jamie would come by.

Maybe I'd be standing here for an hour, maybe two—or even longer.

But that was beside the point.

Patience was the sharpest blade I got.

After waiting for what felt like forever, I finally heard footsteps echoing from the distance.

I quickly flipped open the book, acting like I was totally engrossed in its pages under the soft glow of my lantern.

The footsteps drew closer and closer.

I could feel the person stop nearby.

A curious, scrutinizing look was fixed on me.

I acted like I didn't notice a thing, keeping my head down, not even letting my lashes flutter.

"What are you doing out here so late?" Jamie's voice cut through the night, colder than the winter wind.

I jumped, startled, and the book dropped from my hands with a sharp smack onto the ground.

The leather map slipped out from between the pages, half-unfurled, landing among the dry leaves.

I hurried to grab it, but before I could, a foot in black boots pinned down the corner of the map.

My heart skipped a beat.

But on the surface, I wore a perfectly-timed look of startled confusion.

"Your Highness," I whispered.

I lifted my gaze, eyes flickering with just the right touch of fear and uncertainty.

"I... I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk," I said.

Jamie didn't even look at me. His eyes were glued to the leather map lying at his feet.

He crouched down with deliberate care and picked it up.

My breath froze completely in that moment.