Bazine Netal leaned back in her seat and blinked. “That’s some story.”

“And a story is what you paid me for,” the woman said, standing with a smile. “And now, if you don’t mind, I will be on my way.”

“Wait, I have more questions,” Bazine said. She wanted to know more about the capabilities of the ship, which modifications were there when the woman was on the Millennium Falcon. Not just some woman. Princess Rinetta of Hynestia—the Lost Princess as she was sometimes known throughout the galaxy. Bazine had heard the stories. Everyone had. When Queen Forsythia lost her planet to the Empire, she hadn’t gone quietly, fighting to the bitter end. But by the time the Empire claimed the planet, there was little left: a few burned-out domes where gherlian fur had once grown, an underground city overrun with feral reptiles that could swallow a man with a single bite, and a hologram of the queen telling the Empire exactly what she thought of it. But not a single Hynestian had been found. They’d all disappeared.

The queen had ended up on Neral’s moon, where she died an old woman, completely anonymous until after her death, when a maid recognized her.

Warships searched that sector of space for months, looking for the royal family and any Hynestians. But not a single one could be found. It was thought that maybe only Queen Forsythia had survived. She was, after all, known for being an assassin. It was how she’d gained her throne.

But looking at the old woman across from her, Bazine thought she knew what had happened to the Hynestians. They’d fled to Livno III, wherever that was, and Bazine wanted to know more about that rich, undiscovered planet filled with kakaorzum. It wasn’t the intelligence she had been looking for, but all information was valuable.

“I’m sorry. That’s all I have for you,” Rinetta said. The pendant around her neck had come loose from her cloak, and the pretty purple rock swung back and forth alluringly.

“Perhaps you could tell me how to get to Livno III?” Bazine asked, wondering what she could use to make the old woman talk. What kinds of powders did she have at her disposal? She could slip a little into the woman’s drink, make the taking of the information easier. “Perhaps I can get you another glass of juice?”

“I don’t think so. And surely you must know, my dear, that Livno III isn’t the planet’s real name? The name of the place we went has been lost to history, and that is exactly how the Lynna like it.”

“I just need to know what the ship contained. Weapons, engines—” A loud slam distracted Bazine. Just a moment, a glance at the door, and when Bazine turned back to where the old woman had been, she was gone.

“No,” Bazine breathed. She was the best. And she was the best because she was careful.

But for some reason, that woman had made her feel comfortable. Safe.

Comfort was deadly.

Bazine ran out the front entrance. The deserted street gave her no clues, only muddy boots, and running back into the cantina revealed only the same scene she’d left. The old woman was gone. There wasn’t even a speck of dirt on the stone floor to reveal her passing.

“Very well played, Princess,” Bazine murmured, crossing her arms.

Still, she had more information about the Millennium Falcon than she’d had when she began.

Bazine would find out all she could about this Corellian freighter. Because she was the best.

Beeping came across Bazine’s private comlink channel. “Yes,” she said.

“You’re looking for a ship,” came a raspy voice.

“I am. You have information?”

“I do,” the unidentified caller said. “For a price. Two hundred credits.”

“Done,” Bazine said. The voice gave her an account number, and she sent the money.

“Excellent. Your ship. I heard that some Weequay pirate who’s always prattling on about besting a Jedi has that ship. You can find him on Batuu. Black Spire Outpost.”

The connection dropped, and Bazine tapped a Rishi ink–stained fingertip against the side of her head as she thought. Batuu was a long way from Vixnix, and it would take a while to get there. But after hearing Rinetta’s story, Bazine was even more determined to find the Millennium Falcon. Nothing would stop her.

The ship couldn’t hide forever.