Page 7 of These Violent Delights

The steward cleared his throat.

“Speaking of illegitimate kin, what are these large payments for?No wonder you don't have anything in the treasury.”

“Um...your father had debts.He was extravagant.Very generous with his friends and allies.”

“Let's take a look at that, then.Debt can drag us down faster than anything.”

She ought to know; her mother had also been extravagant.It had taken years after her death to get out of debt.

Zelda was annoyed to see that the debts were substantial, but...“Thankfully, I've trained as a merchant.We’ll be able to get some businesses up and running soon, but that all takes time.Meanwhile...”

She was about to mention selling off some of the closet full of clothes her ancestors had left behind, when the castle came up with another solution.

Gold, silver, and copper coins rose out of the table.They blinked.

“Your father's hidden treasure,” the steward whispered.

Zelda was impressed, but also annoyed.“If he had all that, why didn't he pay his debts?This should cover most of it.”

The steward looked at her as if she had two heads.It was as if practicality were foreign to him.It probably was, in his boss, at least.

“That is going to be a problem,” her uncle said.“It's going to draw people, once you start paying out gold.The defenses will be urgent.Where are the gargoyles?”

The steward looked pained.“They left after the Lord died.I expect they will come back now.”

Zelda tapped her nails on the table.“I need to make a list.Staff, supplies...”

“More soldiers,” Uncle Tank put in.“Weapons, battle rams...”

Zelda nodded.It was going to be a very long list.

A knock sounded on the door.Before anyone could get up, it was rudely flung open.A young woman flounced in.Possibly sixteen, with black hair and a beauty mark beside her nose.She had goblin features, but her skin was human brown.

“You!”she said dramatically, her gaze fixed on Zelda.She looked ready to spit cobras.

Zelda was distracted by the girl's blue and purple dress.It had ruffles and oodles of beads.It also rattled when she walked, like a black mountain rattlesnake.Was the poor girl blind?

“Lady Divine,” the steward said calmly.“I see you've come to greet the lady of the castle.Lady Zelda, may I present your half-sister, Lady Divine?”

The ladies sized each other up.They both had black hair, and Zelda's beauty mark was beside her mouth, at the corner of her lips.Zelda had paler brown skin, but they shared little features other than that.Zelda took after her mother, and it seemed as if her sister looked like her own mother as well.

Two girls.Her father must have been so disappointed.

“What are you doing in my castle?”the girl demanded.

“Are you kidding me?”Uncle Tank said in disgust, and in more vulgar terms.The girl's audacity was pure goblin, but on an unprecedented level.

Zelda's uncle was known for his iron-fisted approach, and those who dared to challenge him often found themselves swiftly dealt with.However, today was different.He was allowing Zelda to take the reins and assert her authority.It wouldn't do to undermine her on her first day in charge.He was considerate like that.

Zelda raised an eyebrow at the girl's audacity.“Your castle?Were you living in the barracks?Because I didn't see your room.”

The girl bristled at the insinuation that she had been sleeping with soldiers, but she chose to ignore the question.“I have as much right to it as you do.I am my father's daughter!”

The steward, who had been silently observing, coughed.“You are his mistress's daughter, you mean.There's some question about...”

“How dare you!I have the family birthmark,” she hissed, as if that settled the matter.

“It's drawn on,” he said flatly.

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