Page 100 of Thief of Hearts

“Many millennia ago, Eramis gave his god-weapon, his caduceus, to his son, a half mortal. Whoever wielded the caduceus was the undisputed king of Epirius. It is said that it contains great power but the secret of how to use it has been lost to the ages.”

The last time I was around god-weapons, it had nearly destroyed Troas.

Actos fondled another woman near him and then continued his story. “One of the early kings found that too many people coveted the caduceus and tried repeatedly to steal it. Worried that it might fall into the wrong hands, he went into the desert and hid it. He took a crystal dragon and bound it, forcing it to protect the caduceus. Everyone who goes looking for it never returns.”

He leaned forward. “I need you to go and talk to the dragon, convince it to let you through, and retrieve the caduceus for me.”

I was about to laugh and say no. “Why in the name of the goddess would I do that?”

“Goodwill between nations.”

It was getting harder and harder not to laugh.

“Or if that’s not enough of an incentive . . . I can tell your husband that you have taken a lover. How do you think the king of Ilion will react to that?”

Xander would chop off Actos’s head. Maybe I should let the Epirian king do it.

Zain yanked on my leg. I knocked another utensil off the table. “I am so clumsy tonight!”

When I bent down, he said, “You have to ask him for something. Tell him you’ll do it and get something in return. If you don’t push back, he’ll think you’re weak.”

“Can’t I just gut him right now and have this all be over?”

“Not if you want to live. I’ve already counted six assassins hidden in this room with their weapons trained on you.”

How had I not noticed that? I hadn’t even been looking for it. I was slipping. “Can I ask for the concubines?”

“He’ll never allow it—that would make him appear weak. He might give you just the Thracians.”

I straightened back up and put on my fake smile. “I certainly understand your dilemma, King Actos. But I’m afraid I’m going to need something more than just your silence if you want me to complete this task.”

Actos had obviously been expecting me to counter. Much as I still wanted to maim Zain, I was glad he was here to help with strategy. “And what is it you want?”

“My brother by law is a Thracian and he would be heartbroken if I left Thracian women here. I would like to be granted your Thracian concubines.”

The king laughed. “Your Thracian brother by law? Oh, that’s a rich excuse. You must have liked my girls more than you let on! Fine. If you bring me the caduceus, you may have as many of my Thracian whores as you’d like.”

I gripped my knife tightly, fighting the urge to throw it at his neck. Zain’s hand was on my leg, sending me a silent message to calm down.

“We will talk more about this tomorrow,” the king said, standing up. “As for now, I have had my dinner and now I am going to have my dessert.” He gestured and ten of the concubines went with him.

I was still certain that I could kill him before the assassins could stop me.

“It’s not worth it,” I heard Zain say. “And you can’t save those girls if you’re dead.”

I wanted to tell him to stop reading my mind. “I am going to save them, and then I’m going to come back here and free the rest.” I didn’t know how, but I would figure it out.

Dione showed up in the doorway and I stood, as did Zain. I followed after her and we walked in silence. I was still seething over Actos. I despised men like him.

Maybe I wouldn’t kill him. Maybe I’d just cut off his favorite body part.

Dione stopped in front of my bedroom door. “If there is anything else you need, please let me know.”

“I will. Thank you.”

There was something about her I liked. She didn’t seem like the other Epirians. But then everyone would seem wonderful in comparison to their king.

When Zain and I entered our room, I saw that Dione had been busy. In addition to new clothing for both of us, she had brought food and water for Dagger, along with a small bed he was currently sleeping in.