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Father's jaw clenches. He points at the ground, indicating that I should come and stand in front of him, like a naughty child.
For a moment, I'm that cowering young girl. I'm the maiden who wants to sink into the shadows and hide when her father yells, because I know he'll be horrid to live with for the next several days. And I hate myself for it, but I slide off the back of my horse and step forward, ready to do just that.
Red moves in front of me and shakes his head. "Agakor wouldn't like it."
I take a deep breath, and it's like I'm myself again. Right. I don't answer to my father anymore. I have a husband. I can't even say that I answer to him, because truthfully, Agakor gives me my way on everything. So I lift my chin and take a defiant step toward my father, and go no closer. "Don't you want to hug your daughter? Your daughter that you were afraid had been stolen away?"
He scowls at me, holding his ground. "What are you doing here, Iolanthe? Why are you stirring up trouble?"
Me, stirring up trouble? That's rich, coming from him. "I wanted to show you that I'm well. That there's no reason for the army you're mounting to attack my husband. Because that is the plan, isn't it? You're going to attack Agakor under the pretense of my name. I'm here because that's wrong."
Father's lip curls. "He shouldn't be allowed to hold land. He's a bastard half-orc."
"You knew he was a half-orc when you sold me to him in marriage," I point out, ignoring the bastard part. "It seemed to be all right with you then."
"Come inside," Father demands. "I'll put you up in your old room and we'll forget about all of this. You're safe here."
Does he think I'm crawling back to him? My temper flares, and for a moment I'm furiously angry at Father's nerve. He acts as if the truth doesn't exist, and that just infuriates me. "I'm not going anywhere with you," I say, as loud as I can. "You break your word to everyone. You gave me to Agakor in marriage and drove off with his gold before the wedding. You don't get a say in my life any longer."
Father's face contorts with rage. "Iolanthe—"
I talk over him, continuing. "You don't have enough coin to pay all these men. That's why you're having to go to distant towns to find mercenaries—because the ones from here won't work for you. They know you won't pay them. They know your reputation for being stingy and cheap. That's why all the soldiers have left Rockmourn Keep, Father. They abandoned you because you didn't pay them."
"Lies!"
"I wish they were." I put my hands on my horse's saddle and accept Red's hand as he helps me mount again. My skirts get bunched up around my legs and my backside aches, but I ignore all of it. "I've known you longer than anyone, Father. I wish I could say you had my loyalty, but you tricked me and sold me out just like you're going to sell out these men. Unluckily for you, Agakor is a good, strong leader and he's going to crush you if you try anything." I take the reins of my mount and turn her, facing the encampments clustered along the side of the road. "Unlike my father, my husband is very wealthy. He is also looking for mercenaries. You can ask anywhere—Agakor of Broketusk Clan has an excellent reputation for fair payment. And if you tell him that you left my father's army to join his, I'll ensure that you get paid double what my father has promised."
"Iolanthe!"
I ignore his angry shout. I'm too far in at this point. "Too bad Father's promises are worth nothing," I call out, turning my horse away. "Goodbye, Father. I shall tell my husband you said hello."
There's an angry sputtering behind me as my horse picks up her feet and begins to head back down the road. I can feel all eyes on me. I don't know if my bluff will work, but I think it will. All they have to do is ask questions. I ignore the ache in my heart, because I know Father will hate me now. My sisters might, too. But I've chosen who I side with, and it's the half-orc that treats me like I'm not just a tall, ungainly spinster. He treats me like I'm a goddess.
"Seize her," my father cries out. "Someone grab her! Bring her into the keep!"
My shoulders stiffen. My father isn't really going to try this, is he? I urge my mare onward, tense and waiting for someone to attack. Instead, I hear someone call out, "Is what she said true?"
Another demands, "I want my coin up front!"
