Page 20 of Thorn Season
My stare hardened. People who didn’t intend to cause injury rarely ventured into kidnapping.
Straightening to my full height, I summoned the haughtiest look in my arsenal and asked, “Who are you?”
“Keil, my lady.” He sketched a perfect bow. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, though I regret the circumstances.”
“I doubt you regret them when you orchestrated them.”
His eyes flared—with surprise and a little amusement.
“Amarie,” I said. “And Garret. Are they—?”
“They’re back at your manor.” Keil leaned against the earthen wall and crossed his arms, the movement laced with easy confidence. “Your house manager is unharmed, but I hear the boy put up quite a fight for you.”
The boy.The others had called him that, too. Like the rest of Daradon’s citizens, my kidnappers didn’t know who the Capewells truly were.
Which meant they’d beaten Garret for sport.
My skin heated, my specter teeming near the surface. “Your cronies attacked him for trying to protect me. From what I heard, they enjoyed it.”
“Is that so?” Keil looked me over, contemplating. Then he said, with that infuriating smile, “I’ll tell mycroniesto be quieter when discussing their unsavory pastimes.”
I clenched my fists. Keil’s quick eyes tracked the movement, but he didn’t so much as tense. Judging from the nicks and scratches across his matte black armor, he was a fighter as well as a Wielder. AndIwas... a walking meringue. He didn’t see me as a threat. Yet.
I lifted my chin. “Do you know what you’ve done by bringing me here? My father is the ruling lord of the most affluent province in the kingdom.”
“Then, may I suggest he invest in guards?”
“Oh, he doesn’t have to. Do you know why? Because any fool knows that threatening a ruling family is the same as threatening the king. Andnobodyescapes the king’s wrath.” I dropped my voice, leaned closer. And though I hated myself a little for my next words, I said them without flinching. “It’ll be worse for you, because of what you are. The king will give you to his Hunters. They will poison you, and bleed you, and show you no mercy. So if you’re half as smart as you clearly think you are, you’ll return me to my home before they make you wish you’d stayed in whatever hidey-hole you crawled out from.”
A pause, to let his fear sink in. Then I stepped back. Waited.
Keil shouldered off the wall and unfolded his arms. “That’s quite a speech,” he said pleasantly. “I liked that last part especially, about the hidey-hole. Did you come up with it yourself, or does every noble learn to recite it for occasions such as these?”
I blinked. Though I wasn’t a fighter, I knew how to aim my words—where to strike for impact, where to make ithurt. The threat of the Hunters should’ve buckled any Wielder in Daradon. So why was he still standing?
“Is this a challenge to you?” I asked. “You want to see how much gold or land you can get from my father?”
“Ransoming nobles for their fathers’ lands...” Keil hummed. “I should have thought of that sooner. Now that you mention it, does it snow at your estate? I’m in the market for a winter home.”
I gawked up at him. The Capewells had slaughtered Marge for existing. I couldn’t imagine what they would do to a Wielder who’d committed kidnap and ransom. Keil was risking everything—his secret, his safety—and he was makingjokes?
“I hope a winter home is worth a punishment worse than death,” I said.
He chuckled. “I’d hardly call your companya punishment worse than death.” With that, he sidled past me, his body brushing my shoulder in the narrow space. “If you will, my lady.” He made a sweeping gesture, one powerful arm outstretched.
“Is that the way out?”
“If I told you it was, would you walk with me?”
“I’m not going anywhere with you.” I planted my feet. “I’m leaving. Now.”
“As you like.” Keil continued down the passage. “When your father arrives, I’ll be sure to tell him you popped out for some air.”
I wavered. Even if I found the exit, Father was on his way with whatever ransom Keil had demanded. What if I escaped, only to leave him at the mercy of my captors?
No. Running wasn’t an option. I could be trapped here with Keil, or trapped alone.
At the thought of encountering Goren, I swallowed my pride and rushed after the Wielder.
