Chapter 43 --43
The fox knight spoke up from his spot by the door. "Your Highness, about getting to Port Crestfall. It’s four days by carriage, longer if we’re moving a whole household. And the roads go through territories controlled by noble families who might be friendly with your sisters."
"I know. That’s why we’re taking the river instead."
Everyone stared at her.
"The river?" Dimitri said.
"Merchant barges go from here to Port Crestfall all the time. Takes six days instead of four, but rivers are way harder to ambush than roads, easier to defend, and if we travel with a merchant convoy we get built-in security and witnesses." Elara pulled over a map. "Plus it shows the merchants I’m serious about working with them—traveling their way instead of demanding royal treatment."
"That’s actually smart," Mira said slowly. "The merchants will like that you’re trusting them. And attacking a merchant convoy has way worse consequences than attacking a royal carriage."
"Exactly. Dimitri, ask Verin if he’s got a barge heading to Port Crestfall soon. If we’re signing contracts tomorrow, maybe they’ve got space for us. We’ll pay regular rates—business deal, not royal favor."
"Got it." Dimitri was scribbling notes fast. "This is a lot to organize quickly."
"We move fast, accept that things won’t be perfect, and deal with problems as they come up."
They worked for three more hours. Writing messages to merchants, making lists of what they needed, figuring out which staff were essential, planning the river route and calculating costs. By the time Dimitri and Mira left, Elara had a clearer picture of what needed to happen.
It was going to be crazy. But it was possible.
After they left, Elara sat alone staring at all the papers covering her desk. Contract drafts. Travel plans. Names of people coming with her. Supply lists. Everything that added up to escape disguised as a business trip.