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."
