Page 102 of The Twisted Throne

They stepped inside, and Ahnna’s heart stuttered at the long cabinets marked with labels indicating gemstone type and region, as well as the gold bars stacked floor-to-ceiling at the far end of the room. The irony that this was what Harendellians believed could be found in Ithicana was not lost on her.

A glass case ran down the center of the room with completed pieces. Tiaras and necklaces and rings, all incredible craftsmanship and bearing gems of such size that each must cost a king’s ransom.

Lionel gestured to the table sitting before the bullion, heavy oak and surrounded by upholstered chairs. Ahnna and Virginia sat, Georgie standing behind Virginia’s chair, expression impassive.

“As chance would have it, we have many pieces with Maridrinian rubies,” Lionel said. “A year or two past, Her Most Royal Majesty, Queen Alexandra, brought to us a selection of rubies that she desired to sell, for red is not her favored color.”

Ahnna blinked, surprised that the man was making no effort to hide the transaction, which she had to assume meant that Alexandra had not asked for discretion. Though it was not the reason for her being here, a flood of disappointment filled her—it seemed that her one piece of leverage might not be leverage at all. Or at least, not this part of it. C.F. remained a mystery.

“Nor mine,” Virginia said, accepting a glass of sparkling winethat had been brought by a servant. “I’ve always believed red to be a masculine color.”

“Lara favors many pursuits that others might deem masculine,” Ahnna answered, feeling an idiot for saying so. But Virginia smiled and nodded, so she added, “And of course, she’s a Veliant. Rubies are their stone.”

“Blood-red ones, I’m sure.” Virginia sipped at her wine. “Show us what you have, then, Lionel.”

The jeweler unlocked a case, then brought a pair of earrings made of rubies and diamonds that would reach down to the wearer’s shoulders. Before Ahnna could pick them up, Virginia gestured to be handed them, her fingers running over the gems, eyes fixed beyond Ahnna’s shoulder. “No,” she declared. “These are jewels a man buys his mistress. Put them away and bring something else.”

Next came a delicate tiara of gold and ruby, formed to look like flowers.

“No,” Virginia said sourly after running her fingertips over it. “Lionel, truly. Think of Lara’s reputation and choose something fitting.”

The man hesitated, then went back not to the case but to one of the cabinets. Unlocking it, he removed a velvet-wrapped object, then brought it back to the table. “Intended to be shown to the Veliant harem,” he said. “But then…”

Ahnna’s breath caught as he unwrapped the velvet, revealing a choker of close-set rubies nearly an inch thick. Virginia ran her fingers over it and then said, “Georgie, what exact hue are they?”

“Crimson,” he answered. “As fresh blood.”

“Perfect.”

“If I may, my lady?” Lionel asked. At Ahnna’s nod, he fastened the choker around her throat. Retrieving a mirror, he held it up,and her stomach clenched, for it looked for all the world as though her throat had just been slit.

“I can tell from the silence that it’s perfect,” Virginia said. “She’ll take it, of course.”

“How much is it?” Ahnna fumbled with the clasp, wanting the choker off, though it took Lionel’s nimble fingers to unfasten the catch. Setting it on the velvet, he went to a side table and wrote down a number, folded the paper, then handed it to her.

Ahnna glanced at the amount and almost gagged. “Perhaps something—”

“This is the one, Ahnna,” Virginia interrupted. “Of course, if you find yourself short, I could lend you the coin.”

This was afucking test.

Anger filled Ahnna’s chest, but she smiled. “No need. My accounts will cover it.”

The choker would drain the account Aren had set up for her entirely, but that was of no matter. He could sell the piece and recoup the cost, and the real value was in the message it sent. A message,a warning,that she trusted no one but Lara to understand. Smiling at Lionel, Ahnna said, “I trust you can arrange for it to be sent to Northwatch?” When he nodded, she added, “If you could do me one small favor, and be sure to include a bottle of Maridrinian wine with it. It absolutely must be Maridrinian.”

“That’s no small favor,” Virginia said. “No one of quality will have anything of the sort. Their vintages are awful.”

“I know,” Ahnna said, signing a piece of paper that Lionel’s clerk handed her. “But Lara is very familiar with that particular taste.”

“Three of you with me,”James said to his men, having warned the city guards that someone had followed the party. “The rest of you on watch outside the jeweler’s. Tell Lord Cavendish that he is not to allow either woman to leave the town until I return.”

“Yes, sir.”

Nodding once at those who would remain, James urged Maven into a trot and left through the city gates, his soldiers following.

The air was thick and cloying, and James gave the darkening skies a wary glance before focusing his attention on the forest around them. The weather was turning, and potential assassins aside, it would be wise to remain in Abertford until the storm had passed, even if it meant staying overnight.

They spread out, moving through the trees, searching for motion. For signs of anyone in the woods who shouldn’t be.

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