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“Allow me to rephrase. Even with our hold on the bridge secure, it benefits us little with Valcotta stymying trade. One might argue that at this point, all it is doing iscostingus.”
It was costing Valcotta, too. Dozens of merchant ships were already lost to the Tempest Seas’ violent and unpredictable weather, but her aunt had declared she’d stop trade entirely before paying Silas Veliant a copper to use the bridge.
“What I propose,” Keris continued, “is that we offer General Anaphora up in exchange for a trade agreement between Maridrina and Valcotta, which would see gold in our pockets and their heir back,” he glanced her direction, “breathing and in one piece.”
Zarrah barely heard his words, her pulse roaring as Silas started to turn, exposing his back to her. This was her chance. She’d get her bound wrists around his neck, and it would be over.
You can do this. You can end this.
Then Silas paused and met her gaze, a smile rising to his lips. Heknew.Knew she wasn’t cowed, knew what she intended, and his eyes gleamed as he backed away from her, taking a seat at his desk. “Breathing and in one piece, so she can again cause us trouble.”
She wouldn’t get the jump on him. Not now, not like this. Which meant she needed to find a better opportunity, and that meant staying alive long enough to do so.
Which meant she needed to play along with Keris’s plan.
Keris slipped into the chair across from his father. “I didn’t say it was a perfect solution. But killing her would incense the Valcottans enough to move against us, which would not be ideal, given that much of our forces remain engaged with quelling the Ithicanians.”
“Why am I not surprised that you’d offer up a strategy that avoids war?”
“Not avoids war, Father. Just avoids us losing one.”
Silas was silent for a long time, wheels of thought turning in his eyes, then he lifted one shoulder. “There might be merit to this plan of yours, Keris. I’ll keep the girl here while I consider if what we might gain in exchanging her is worth more than the goodwill executing her would earn me with our people. But don’t bother unpacking your bags—I’ll forgive your decision to deliver her to Vencia, but youwillreturn to Nerastis with all haste.”
If the order surprised him, Keris didn’t show it. “I thought you might allow me the opportunity to negotiate the agreement, Your Grace.” He hesitated. “We both know that I’ve no head for military matters, but such is not the case when it comes to economics. Allow me the opportunity to prove my worth.” His jaw flexed. “Please.”
Using the word had cost him. She could see it, and judging from the thoughtful expression on his father’s face, he’d seen it, too.
“This is unlike you, Keris,” the king said after a long moment. “And that makes me mistrustful of your intentions, which are nearly always contrary to my own.”
Keris exhaled a soft breath, then nodded. “In that, this is no different. I wish to live, and to achieve that end, I must earn your favor in whatever way I can.”
The silence stretched, Zarrah’s heart racing as she watched the king consider Keris’s request. If he sent his son away, Zarrah knew she was a dead woman. Without Keris to argue otherwise, Silas would choose the path that protected his pride, and she’d likely never get the opportunity to try to kill him. But if Keris bought her time…
“You may remain for as long as I perceive your efforts yield some worth,” Silas finally answered. “But fail in this…”
“I won’t fail you, Father.”
Instead of answering, the king turned on Zarrah, running his tongue over his bottom lip. “And you,General. I will grant you my hospitality for now, but if you make any effort to escape, rest assured that I won’t hesitate to remove your head.” He smiled. “Much like I did your mother’s.”
Logic burned away, reason turning to ash. The world around Zarrah turned bright, blood roaring in her ears as a scream rose in her chest. As her hands balled into fists, every inch of her wanting to attack. Wanting to rip out his eyes and his tongue and then carve him apart piece by piece. But she was bound wrist and ankle, the guards outside only a dozen paces away.
You will only get one chance.
So she took a deep breath, digging for calm as Silas laughed at her. The same laugh that filled her nightmares.
The laugh that had brought her here.
He rose to his feet. “I cherish that particular kill. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have another prisoner requiring my attention.”
39
KERIS
Icherish that particular kill.
Anger simmered in Keris’s guts as he pulled Valcotta from the room, knowing that if she were subjected to any more of his father’s barbs, she’d try to kill him, consequences be damned.
Either that, or Keris would try to kill the sadistic prick himself.
