Bai Zhu deleted the text message, slipped the communicator back into his pocket, and said nothing.
The next morning, he leaned against the deck railing with a cup of hot tea. In the distance, a trail of dust rose from the road leading to the harbor as a convoy approached at a steady pace.
There were no royal emblems, but every vehicle was a black modified car, its windows so dark that no one inside could be seen. Even the spacing between the cars looked measured with a ruler.
Ging wandered over beside him, carrying half a loaf of bread from last night, and followed his gaze.
"People from the Second Prince?"
"Judging by how they're dressed, almost certainly." Bai Zhu blew on his tea.
"So what are you planning to do?" Ging asked vaguely through a huge mouthful of bread.
"First, let's see what they're selling."
"Do old friends meeting again really require this much caution?"
"People change." Bai Zhu set down his teacup. "Especially after she took that position. I'm not sure whether the one who came is Camilla or Ella."
Bai Zhu, who knew the plot well, knew exactly what Camilla would become eight years later. That only made him less certain whether Ella had changed.
The convoy stopped outside the harbor square and did not cross the security line. A man in black stepped out of the third car, walked straight toward the gangway, and raised a small white flag in his hand.
The signal was primitive, but its meaning was clear.
They were here to negotiate.
Morel was already waiting at the gangway and stopped him. The man in black said nothing, merely offering up a letter. Morel did not take it and instead looked back toward the deck.
Bai Zhu gestured to him.
The