Chapter 18 · The Second Page

"—harboring and abetting a fugitive of the Crown." The messenger snapped the second parchment open. Ivy's face stared back from the page, her name stamped beneath it in red wax.

Ryan caught her sleeve before she could move. "Read the rest. Out loud. Or fold it up and walk."

"You don't give me orders, Ashe." The messenger glanced at the crowd, then at Matthias's stone-hard expression. His confidence slipped. "She's carrying stolen archive records. Royal search logs. I have it on report."

Ivy gave a short, humorless laugh. "Search me, then."

"I intend to."

"Try it, and I'll scream assault in front of forty witnesses. Then you can explain that to the Crown."

The crowd stirred. Someone snorted.

The messenger's face reddened. "Produce what you're hiding, or I'll take you to the capital in chains tonight."

Ryan kept his eyes on Ivy's hands. "What's in your coat?"

"Nothing you want to know about."

"That isn't an answer."

"It's the only one you're getting."

Her fingers slid toward the inside pocket of her coat. Ryan saw the movement and held his tongue. He'd counted coins for a living.