Alyssa continued grilling him, seemingly determined not to risk the slightest error.

“Tell me your name,” she said.

“Haern Gemcroft, third cousin by marriage.”

“And Zusa is?”

Haern rubbed his eyes.

“My wife. Zusa Gemcroft, originally of the Gandrem family line, having fallen for me at a ball celebrating the appointment of the new head of the Connington family.”

“And why are you here?”

Haern muttered through his answer, wondering for the hundredth time why he’d agreed to go. As nice as it felt to get away from the dark streets of Veldaren, he was completely out of his element amid the wealth and traditions of the Trifect.

“It’s our…honeymoon,” he said. “You agreed to take us so we might see the port and buy presents from afar.”

Alyssa sat down beside the fire, accepting a bowl of soup, and frowned at him as she sipped.

“I hope you can put on a better act when we’re inside the city.”

Haern accepted his own food and ate. Alyssa finished, and while Haern took seconds, she went off to their wagon to see how Zusa fared. She, too, had been unhappy with Alyssa’s scheme to get them into the city unnoticed. Wherever Alyssa went, they would be able to follow, yet at the same time, they had a readymade excuse for when they needed to search the city. Of course, come nightfall, the real work would begin, and he could don his cloaks while Zusa covered herself with her wrappings…

Alyssa stepped back into the light of the fire, Zusa trailing. Haern nearly choked on a piece of potato. The slender woman wore a loose dress with a wide V cut between her breasts that ran all the way to the belt at her navel. Her skirt was long and violet, swaying about her legs. Apparently lacking Haern’s discomfort, Zusa twirled once, then curtseyed as if she’d been raised in court her whole life.