the Tryfynian soldier shouted, and Vyrn cursed aloud in the morning sunlight. The squat, incensed moron who was leading this search party of eight— four Tryfynians and four Columbyanan sentinels—had led them in circles. If Prince Alixandyr reached the palace and was protected, and perhaps even pardoned, by his brother, one part of the plan would’ve failed. No, failure was the wrong word. Perhaps he wouldn’t get his bonus, but Princess Edlyn was dead and that had been his primary assignment. Even if Prince Alixandyr escaped “justice” for a while, in the end the result would be the same. If the emperor and the prince led the country into war over the death of a woman, they would both fall, and the bitter woman who had once been married to their father would have what she wanted. Still, the prince’s immediate death would be both neater and faster. And the extra pay would be very nice. One could never have too much money. “He will go to his brother for help, but not directly, I imagine,”
