A short knock.The door opened and the hearth boy shuffled in with a load of wood.
“Right there,” Satia groaned, glancing over her shoulder at Mira.“Don’t stop.”
“Of course, your majesty,” Mira murmured.
Caris glanced at the boy as he approached to fill the wood box; he knelt, waiting for her to move aside.As he met her gaze, his servile manner changed and he gave her a saucy look.
Caris tensed.He seemed different, older—
“And how’s Your Majesty doing with my master’s little gift?”A gold tooth shone in a wide smile.“He survive the lack of the bottle?”
Caris threw the contents of the teacup at the invader’s face, but he dodged.He rolled clear, but then she was on him, pinning him on his back, her knives at his neck and—
“Hold,” Satia commanded, still lying amidst her pillows.
Caris stilled, her blades digging into the man’s flesh.She had her full weight on one knee; the other rested in his crotch, waiting.One dagger at his neck, the other poised over his belly.
“Avice?”Satia asked.Avice rose and took a few steps closer.
The man held out his empty hands and lifted his chin as if Caris’s knives caused him no concern.
She pressed deeper, wanting to erase that smug look.
“It’s him,” Avice said flatly.“The man from the alley.”
“You dare much,” Satia’s words were crisp and cool.“To try to creep into the Royal Bedchamber and my presence without invite or announcement.”She paused.“Why, except to impress?To frighten?To intimidate?”
“To inform.To negotiate.”The man said with a calm half-smile.
Caris wanted to carve his lips off, watch him smile through his own blood, but the command didn’t come.
Instead, Satia studied him through narrow eyes.“Speak.”
“That’s what my master likes about you, Mighty Queen.”His voice held no fear, just a hint of amusement.“You think before you take an action.”He paused.“If I might rise?”he asked.
“No,” Satia said.
“Ah,” he said.“Then Lady Caris, if I might ask that you shift your knee just a tad?”
Satia chuckled, but Caris didn’t see the humor.She did move her knee away from his crotch, but her blade never left his throat.
The man sighed and she felt him relax under her.“I am Panz of Edenrich,” he announced.“My master bid me check in, inquire as to your health and happiness, see if his gift was well received.Perhaps even discuss future arrangements, if you were so inclined.”
“Who is your master, then?”Satia demanded.
“I am afraid we have not yet reached that level of trust,” Panz said politely.
Satia tilted her head.“Are you with the Thieves Guild?”
“Ah, Majesty, no.”The man eased his hands behind his head, giving every appearance of confidence.Caris grit her teeth as he tilted his groin against hers and smiled.“We’ve no interest in theft ofthings.Information, now that’s our trade.”
“Explain,” Satia demanded.
“People talk.Some people talk just to pass the time, some to fill the silence, some out of spite, or to relish another’s pain.We just…listens.”Panz gave the Queen a sly smile.“We hears and we reports and the Guildmaster puts it all together, like a puzzle only he can solve.”
“Hmm.”Satia considered him.“And how does that benefit me?”
“Whispers go both ways, great Queen.To your benefit or detriment.A word here of your displeasure and a fearful lord becomes obedient of a sudden.A word there, and you’ve knowledge of the markets that aid your purse.”
