Page 82 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

“Welcome, council members. As is tradition, you will be able to evaluate this year’s nominees. I know many of you come with proposals, or challenges, that you need our regent to act on or resolve. While Loche will be making the final decisions as the current regent, all nominees will get the chance to respond to ensure you understand their stance on different matters. Nominees, as you all know, council members vote for all the people inhabiting their islands, so this is your chance to garner votes outside of the capital.”

Lessia’s brows snapped together.

She knew each council family led its own island, but she had no idea that they voted on behalf of their people.

While Asker was the largest island in Ellow, the smaller ones made up two-thirds of the population.

No wonder the nobles always won the election.

She couldn’t comprehend how Loche had convinced anyof them, especially considering the venomous glares he shot around the room from the chair next to her.

Her eyes left his scowling face when a man who introduced himself as Ludvak stepped forward to begin the debate. Lessia swept her gaze over his expensive navy robe and the intricate silver embroidery of his family crest decorating the chest of the dark shirt he wore beneath it—two half moons overlapping a rose.

Ardow had mentioned each noble family had their own crest, but apart from the few times nobles had ventured to her taverns, she’d had little to do with them and had no idea which family Ludvak hailed from.

Ludvak claimed that the cost of feeding his cattle, which apparently produced most of the milk in Ellow, had gone up so much that he couldn’t continue to pay his workers.

Loche snarkily responded that he could perhaps sell some of the family gold he hoarded in his basement if he was so worried, while Craven suggested the workers should work in exchange for free milk.

When Venko cautiously argued they couldn’t live off milk, Loche shot him a nod and proclaimed Ludvak needed to start paying them immediately and reimbursing them for what he’d withheld, or his men would come and raid the family treasures, selling them off one by one until he started giving his workers their due.

Remaining quiet, Lessia eyed the men, noting that Venko and Loche seemed to agree on many things, although Venko argued strongly for more soldiers to help protect the waters from pirates that kept attacking any ship they could.

Craven disagreed with every single point the other two men made, his face turning a shade darker every time Loche ruled in the opposite way he would.

Loche fascinated her the most.

He mostly responded to outrageous requests with boredom, but a vein strained on his neck as he glared at some of the people coming forward. He was quietly furious, and she made a mental note to learn how to control her emotions like he did.

“Lessia, what do you think?”

She shifted her gaze to Frayson, pink tinting her cheeks as he raised his brows.

Clearing her throat, she sat straighter in the chair. “I’m sorry, what was the question?”

A low growl behind her told her Merrick wasn’t impressed that she’d gotten lost in her thoughts, and so did Loche’s disappointed expression when she glanced his way.

Her stomach sank at the look in his eyes—as if he’d expected more of her—and the shame that settled on her chest made her cheeks burn brighter.

“Hawker”—Frayson gestured to a younger man with dark eyes who refused to meet Lessia’s—“is concerned about the trade slowing down because of the threat of pirates. Fewer merchants are willing to brave the sea, so prices are increasing, and it’s getting more difficult to acquire certain goods.”

Nodding, Lessia kept her eyes on the man, who still wouldn’t look at her.

She’d experienced the same thing with her taverns. For the past few months, they’d had to pay far more for the same goods so that the captains of the ships could employ mercenaries to protect them.

She laced her fingers together, forcing her voice to stay strong and ignoring the unfriendly faces before her.

“I have the same concerns for my business. But since we’re employing more soldiers, couldn’t we find a way for the warships to collaborate with the trade ships? Perhaps even have them join forces, reevaluate the trade routes so thatships could protect our borders while also transporting goods.”

It was quiet for a beat, and she dared steal a look at Loche. His face remained impassive, but something in his eyes made her continue.

“It would also allow more opportunities for the people. I know many are forced to become soldiers because there are so few other options, but perhaps they could be offered a choice after they’ve been trained—become either a soldier, a merchant, or even a ship captain.”

Hawker’s jaw clenched, his gaze still fixed somewhere above her head, but some of the other nobles glanced at each other and nodded.

“I like it.”

Her eyes widened when Loche spoke, and his features softened for a moment as their eyes locked.

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