Page 41 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘You know I’ll check this story,’ he said finally.
I nodded. ‘I expect no less. The grand master has a record of it. Just ask him to send you a copy from the archives. As for the contract, I burned it when I bought my freedom,’ I said, turning my attention to the food.
I didn’t want to look at Reynard, not right now. I didn’t need his pity or his understanding or his disbelief, just . . . his absence.
He got the message.
I waited until the door closed behind him before I sat to eat my breakfast. Sun, sweet pastries, and herbal tea slowly erased the traces of sadness, allowing me to focus on my surroundings.
What am I caught up in now?I wondered, falling back onto the bed, pleasantly sated after my meal.
Well, whatever it is, at least it has gilded bars.
I allowed myself a small smile, testing the deliciously soft mattress while stroking the finest silk bedding.
Reynard was an enigma I couldn’t decipher. His rage at seeing me made perfect sense, but his kindness? The bath, this room, and the strange apology felt like a trap or some twisted game. Ididn’t like the uncertainty or gratitude I felt because of it, and I certainly shouldn’t like the broody, brutal bastard himself.
My bones creaked as I stretched out, yawning so hard my jaw popped. I fought my exhaustion, knowing I should find a means of escape. A valiant hero would rip up the bedding and sneak away through the window, but I was no hero. The window overlooked a massive drop that ended in jumbled, sharp rocks, and I was too bloody tired to swing on the end of a makeshift rope like some deranged squirrel.
Half asleep, my thoughts again drifted to Reynard. It was no surprise I hadn’t recognised him in the forest. On Dagome’s coins, his profile looked chiselled and unforgiving, but up close, he was handsome, with an intriguing softness to his lips, especially when he kissed.
I moaned, pushing my face into a pillow, annoyed and embarrassed by my reaction to him. But gods, did the man know how to kiss.
If we weren’t enemies . . .I thought, trailing a finger over my lips.
His harshness matched the defined lines and sculpted muscles beneath his tanned skin. His short black beard and eyepatch that now covered his scar only added to the illusion, making him look more like a villain or an ancient warlord from tales of old, the kind whispered to blushing daughters to warn them of the world’s dangers. And unfortunately, as much as I wished to deny it, I’d really liked that kiss.
‘Get those stupid thoughts out of your head, Sana,’ I muttered. ‘It’ll never happen again.’
It didn’t matter if he had his moments.
Reynard was still the king. And I was still his prisoner.
‘Sana. Wake up, troublemaker, we need to go,’ a gentle voice whispered next to my ear.
When I opened my eyes, shadows danced in the fading light of twilight, and a large, looming shape knelt next to my bed. The scent of burnt caramel, the signature of Irsha’s favourite mead, instantly calmed my senses.
‘What are you doing here?’ I whispered, reaching up to stroke his face.
‘I came to rescue my princess from her ivory tower,’ he said, and I rolled my eyes when I felt his smile widen. ‘Now come on, we don’t have much time.’
He tried to pull me out of bed, but I shook my head. ‘No, wait. Let me think.’
‘We don’t have time. The guards are about to change, so we need to go,’ he urged. ‘Sana, Jagon’s back, and the Brotherhood’s in uproar. Boyan issued your invitation, but Jagon challenged him, claiming it was just a cover-up and that Boyan no longer had control over the city. I need to take you to a safe house before he learns where you are.’
‘He already knows, and he threatened Lily to keep me in check,’ I said.
Irsha cursed, standing up. ‘I’ll kill that motherfucker. What did he say? Is she in danger now?’
‘No, you know the rules. If you kill him now, the rest of the Brotherhood will hunt you down as a traitor. The only way to kill Jagon and stay alive is to challenge him during the grand master’s trial when Boyan dies.’
Irsha muttered another curse. ‘I hate to see you in danger . . . or Lily, for that matter. She’s so delicate,’ he said, his last remarksurprising me. Lily might look like a porcelain doll, but beneath her fragile exterior lay a core of steel and a will that often scared me.
‘I know, but Jagon is only part of the problem. There was a man with him—’ I paused, wondering how to voice my concerns. ‘The way he spoke . . . he’s bad news, Irsha. I fear something much bigger than your, my, or even the Brotherhood’s plans is in play.’
‘Alright, but that changes nothing in the moment. We need to get you out of here, and our time is running out. Get dressed.Now,’ he said.
‘No. Trust me. I need to stay,’ I responded, expecting Irsha’s pained groan. ‘But please do something for me. Remember that lip rouge I made? It’s somewhere in Jagon’s workshop, and there are probably some letters incriminating Lily there as well. We need them. Without that evidence, Jagon has nothing to submit to the court.’ I paused. ‘And should Tivala find out and try to circumnavigate the court by hiring a Blade to end her . . . Well, the request must go through you.’
