Page 94 of The Twisted Throne

Rather than erasing the misery from her face, the news only seemed to deepen the shadows in her eyes.

“And here I thought the tedium was part of your plan,” she said. “To use boredom to drive me to beg Aren to bring me back to Ithicana so your brother won’t have to marry the wild Ithicanian woman who wears all the wrong things, says all the wrong things, does all the wrong things.”

“Ahnna—”

“Don’t.” She lifted her chin. “A stolen kiss in a garden doesn’t change the very real fact that you’d rather have better trade terms than have me. What exactly am I worth, James? A five percent reduction in tolls? Ten? Or will something as simple as better seats at Northwatch’s auction yards be all it takes? Articulate my value. Since you are so very Harendellian, that should be no challenge to you.”

Her voice was harsh with bitterness, and James hated that she’d been made to feel this way. That he’d made her feel this way. Like an animal at auction to be poked and prodded and then stamped with a price. It didn’t matter if his motivations to send her away were good—his methods had harmed her, and James hated himself for that. But the truth was worse. “Ahnna—”

“You don’t want me here,” she interrupted. “You’ve made that abundantly clear, because your every action demonstrates a belief that I’ll soon be gone. Now if you’d excuse me, William will be wondering where I am.” Then she strode back into the common room, leaving him standing alone.

Prudence demanded that he let Aren Kertell’s presence go. That he give the king at least the opportunity to leave Verwyrd before escalating the situation.

But James was too angry for prudence.

Going back into the common room of the alehouse, he watched Ahnna sit next to William, only her red eyes betraying the distress she felt. Approaching Alfred, he said, “You don’t let her out of your sight, understood? If she goes to the privy, you follow and stand right outside the door.”

“Yes, sir,” the guardsman said, cheeks coloring in shame at having let her wander the first time.

Catching Georgie’s eye where he stood against the bar, James gave his friend a tight nod and left the building.

“Please tell me that was not the king of Ithicana who just stormed out,” his friend said once he joined James outside.

James didn’t answer, and Georgie winced. “What is he doing here?”

“That’s a good question,” James replied. “And I intend to find out.”

Approaching a pair of prostitutes loitering on the corner, he said, “You see a big man in the company of a handful of others?”

“Yes, Your Highness,” one of them answered, giving James a slow smile. “Went that way.”

He tossed her a coin, then started toward the quay.

“What precisely is the plan here?” Georgie asked. “Because you look like you’re going to pick a fight, and if it’s a fight withthe king of Ithicana and a group of his warriors, we might need more men.”

“I have you.”

His friend gave a soft laugh. “I’m flattered, Jamie, but I’m not sure that my prowess with a blade will be sufficient. The Ithicanians fight to kill.”

“So do I.”

Georgie cursed softly, then caught at James’s arm. “What did he do that pissed you off?” When James didn’t answer, Georgie said, “Is this something to do with Ahnna? She looked upset when she emerged. What happened? What was said?”

“She wouldn’t say,” James finally answered. “But it looked to me as though he threatened her.”

“Why?” Georgie demanded. “What possible reason could he have to threaten his own sister?”

“That’s what we’re going to find out.”

“Shit.” Georgie gave a sharp shake of his head. “James, I know you’re fond of Ahnna, but you cannot pick a fight with the king of Ithicana over a few tears. They are our allies, and if they want to bar us from the bridge because you decided to take justice into your own hands, it will not go well for you. Hell, he might decide to kill us and toss both of us into the river, no one the wiser!”

“That’s a risk we’ll take for the sake of answers.”

“I don’t want to take this risk.” Georgie stepped in front of him, pushing James to a stop. “Speak to your father on the matter and see what he says about Ithicana’s king free-ranging around Harendell. Find out if this is an altercation he wishes to pick, because if it is, you’ll have his backing with whatever comes from it.”

“Aren will be long gone by then.”

“Good!” Georgie’s grip on his shoulders tightened. “Ask yourself the real reason why you’re pursuing this. Is it because of aquarrel between siblings or an unnegotiated royal visit, or is it because you’re pissed off Ahnna is out with William?”

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