Page 253 of Kneel Before Me

What the hell did that mean? His kingdom?

“Any basilisk who ventures within the wall is in violation of the truce,” Maximus said cautiously. “They are not protected here. You cannot hold us responsible for how we react to a breach of—”

“There is no need to explain the truce to me,” Bastian snapped. “I know very well what is a violation and what is not.”

Maximus fell silent again. Any buzz he’d felt from the wine was long gone.

“I am not here to punish you,” Bastian continued. “I am here with a proposition.”

The implication that Bastian could punish him was not one Maximus was in the mood to entertain. Negotiation was certainly preferable. “In that case… What do you propose?”

For the first time since he’d arrived, Bastian paused. He looked into the fire, and Maximus watched as his sharp jaw clenched. “I will provide you with basilisks for the bloodletting.”

Silence fell. Maximus did not know how to respond. He was not yet king himself, but he knew enough about royal duties to know that giving up your own people for torture was probably frowned upon, even in basilisk culture.

“Why would you want to provide me with your own kind? How does that benefit you?”

“They are not my own kind,” Bastian said darkly.

He didn’t answer the second question.

“But… What do you want in exchange?”

Bastian merely looked at Maximus as if he were very stupid. “I want your discretion in exchange. My people cannot know I did this.”

Maximus nodded. The only person he would have told was no longer speaking to him.

“As far as you and I are concerned, this meeting never happened,” Bastian continued. “Do not expect the next Serpent King to do something similar. My son is not willing to take the same steps I am.”

His son? That piqued Maximus’s interest. For the first time, he realized there was something bigger at play here. Bastian was not here just to settle some personal vendetta. This was somehow tied to the succession of the crown. Perhaps things were not going smoothly under the mountain. The thought brought Maximus immense joy.

“When would you like to provide them?” he asked.

“Tonight.”

Maximus nodded. “Very well.”

“They will be left just inside the wall. You need only collect them.” Bastian turned to leave.

“Wait,” Maximus said.

The Serpent King paused, his eyebrow raised. Maximus couldn’t believe the words that were about to come out of his mouth. But they came anyway. “In exchange for my discretion, I want a certain basilisk.”

Bastian raised his eyebrows. “Who?”

“His name is Kronos.”

The Serpent King froze. He looked like he had just realized something. Then his expression smoothed over, and he said, “Very well. You shall have him.”

“Good.”

Bastian turned once more. Just before he reached the door, he looked back at Maximus. “I have told no one I came here. If anyone from my quiver finds out I did this, I will know you were the one who leaked it. If that happens, there will be consequences for you and for your family. Do you understand?”

Again, Maximus nodded. He thought of Lilly upstairs, knowing he would never breathe a word of this to anyone.

“Good.” Bastian regarded him thoughtfully. Maximus shivered beneath his gaze. Almost as an afterthought, he said, “You will make a good king.”

Then he was gone.