Page 47 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“We wouldn’t need as many weapons if we didn’t work with them, Lejonskold. If you didn’t call for so many of our men to become soldiers so we can keep braving the Eiatis Sea, we could cease the trade altogether. That’s what I am here to stop. We need our men at home, where they can work the lands. It’s becoming too expensive to hire people now, too few to choose from, and we have to keep raising prices of our crops.” Red hues flared on Craven’s neck as he leaned over the table.

Lessia couldn’t stop her feet from bringing her closer to the men, heat flushing her own cheeks. “So you’re here to ensure you can continue with your slave work? Line your own pockets but not those of your people? You’re truly every bit of the crook I’ve been told.”

All eyes sliced her way, but she glared right back. “We’ve refused to purchase your goods for years because of the way you treat your workers. It’s vile, and so are you.”

A frown formed over Loche’s brow while Craven shot upright, his finger pointed her way. “You don’t know what you speak of, girl. How old are you? Twenty? Managing a few taverns in the slums makes you no businesswoman. I have thousands—thousands!—of workers, and they’d have nowhere else to work if not on my lands.”

She hissed between her teeth, “That’s because you won’t give up parts of your lands, as you should have under Loche’s rule. You cling to your wealth because it’s all you have in thatlonely, big house of yours, when you should have shared it to ensure everyone in Ellow can live better. And if you must know, I am twenty-five, and while that might be young to you,old man, every single one of my workers can pay their taxes, care for their families, and live comfortably.”

When Craven took a step toward her, Venko raised his hands. “Folks, we’re not supposed to kill each other. How about we follow Frayson’s advice and keep this to the debates? There will surely be enough time to rip into each other then. I, for one, would be happy to drink in silence until I pass out, so this time goes quickly.”

A red haze tinted the corners of her eyes, and it wasn’t the darkness that made it difficult to breathe. But as she glared at Craven in the dimly lit room, she realized Venko was right.

She had more important things to worry about than arguing with an old noble. Craven wouldn’t listen to a word she said anyway, and Loche would likely win the election again. At least, he would if she could figure out how to obey King Rioner’s orders without learning something about him that would start another war.

Lessia forced her stiff shoulders to shrug. “You’re not worth my time, anyway.”

As the rage lifted, she realized the room had darkened further, and a prickle of anxiety ran through her, the familiar feeling of panic clawing at her chest.

With a final glare at the men, she made to stalk out of the house but froze mid-step when she caught Loche’s eyes.

His usual hostile gaze was nowhere to be found.

Instead, a flicker of something she’d yet to see sparked in them.

Lessia thought it might be curiosity but dismissed it when he drawled, “And where are you going? You’re not allowed to meet with that guard of yours.”

Rolling her eyes, she spun toward the door again. “I’m going to find firewood.”

“There’s no point. I already told you,” Loche called out behind her.

Ignoring him, she slammed open the door and stepped into the freezing wind.

She wouldn’t make it one day here if she couldn’t find firewood.

She had no choice.

Chapter

Twenty-Two

She’d never been so grateful for the moon as she was now, walking through the dark forest.

Even if the light was dim, the moon reflected onto the bright snow, and Lessia could clearly make out the trees, although she stayed away from the areas where consuming darkness loomed due to the dense copses.

Thickness clogged her throat when she realized Loche was right. Not a single dry branch, not even a small twig, lay on top of the white drifts, and the branches on the trees, even the lower ones, were weighed down by heavy snow.

Drawing deep breaths, Lessia unclasped her cloak and laid it out on the powdered ground. Her fingers were already stiff as she slipped the dagger Merrick had given her from her waistband, but she gripped it tight and began sawing at a branch from one of the pine trees.

Snow from the tree fell as she worked, seeping into her clothing and causing her entire body to shiver, but she ignored it and continued until her cloak couldn’t fit any more wood.

Sinking into a crouch, she carefully wrapped the cloak around the wet branches, her movements jerky, as she could no longer feel her limbs from the cold. Lessia exhaled warm air into her uncooperative hands before trying to lift the bundle, the snow covering the branches already drenching the cloak. All the while, she begged the moonlight to remain as dark clouds yet again rolled in over the starry sky.

When Lessia finally got the firewood into her arms, she began rising but stilled when snow crunched between the trees. Tilting her head, she listened to the woods around her, but the only sound was the trees softly rustling in the evening breeze.

Cautiously straightening her stiff legs, she turned her head in all directions, the sense of being watched running down her spine. Lessia sniffed the chill wind brushing her cheeks, her pulse pounding in her ears when the crisp scent of pine and snow was laced with something wild.

There were wolves and bears in this forest, amongst other vicious creatures that kept the people of Ellow out of these woods.

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