Page 82 of Crown of Briars
Again, he nodded vigorously.
“I will remove your gag. But if you scream, I will slit your throat with my claws. Do you understand?”
Another nod.
“Very good.”
Slowly, I slid the gag out of his mouth, and he coughed, then sucked in a ragged breath.
“Now, talk.”
I sat back on my rear, arms still resting on my knees, and waited. My insides churned restlessly with rage and violence, but I held my body perfectly still.
“There is little I can s-say,” Murvo sputtered, blinking more tears from his eyes. “Because of the b-bargain.”
“Then, tell me what youcansay. When was this bargain struck?”
“T-Two years ago.”
“And you cannot say with whom?”
“N-No, Your Highness.”
“Can you tell me the terms of your bargain?”
He shook his head.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “Whatcanyou tell me? Does it involve another court?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me which court?”
“No.”
I mentally ran through my list of enemies. The Earthen Court was high on that list, but they had no associations with the fae. Could it be the Sun Court? They had been quiet for the past decade or so, but Father had had strained relationswith them once. Perhaps old grudges had been brought to light.
But with our shadows, who would seek us out? Who would target us? Most courts assumed the shadows belonged to me, and their fear kept them from invading. Anyone else believed a plague or blight to be upon our land and wanted nothing to do with us.
They weren’t far from the truth.
“Do you know anything about the curse?” I asked quietly.
Murvo met my gaze, his lip trembling. “I know… that there is more to it… than you think.” He gritted his teeth, and a vein flared in his temple. He shook, his face flushing as an anguished cry burst from his throat.
I had seen the effects of breaking fae bargains before. He was close to violating the terms of the agreement.
If the bargain killed him, he would be useless to me.
I gripped his chin with my hand, silencing him. “Don’t,” I warned.
He shook his head, his breaths coming in sharp wheezes. “He will kill me anyway. After this. It does not matter.”
“Murvo,” I said. “Do not do this. I can protect you.”
He barked a humorless laugh. “No, you can’t.”
My grip on his face tightened. “Tellme what you can. I beg of you. If it can save my people, then…”
