Page 71 of Poisoned Kingdom
‘Don’t you dare huff at me, drah’sa,’ he said, raising a finger and shaking it at me. ‘Trouble follows you like the stench after an army. I have good reason to be concerned.’
‘That’s a truly colourful comparison.’ I chuckled, stroking my dress. ‘It’s the autumnal equinox. I’m going to the Mabon feast at the Chapter House.’
Tova’s eyebrows drew together. I could see that he was counting the days in his head until, with a deep sigh and a much calmer expression, he placed a hand on his axe. ‘I forgot that was today. Alright, let’s go—but you owe me a beer on the way back.’
‘You can’t come,’ I said. ‘Not this time.’ Tova opened his mouth to protest, but I shook my head. ‘My arrival will cause a dangerous upheaval. If I bring an outsider with me, it will weaken my position, and the weak die in the Brotherhood.’
‘So what do you want me to do? Sit here twiddling my thumbs? At least let me escort you to the door.’ Tova resisted until Lily’s hand on his shoulder forced him to look at her.
‘Master Orenson, I need your assistance tonight. A dwarven caravan purchased an entire night here, and the money they paid was . . . well, obscene. You don’t get that much from honest trade,’ she said.
‘And what does that have to do with me?’ Tova asked, moving closer to Lily.
‘Well, I need a distraction. Someone they can focus on while my entertainers fish for their secrets,’ she answered with a mischievous grin, and ever so slightly, Tova’s posture relaxed. ‘I’m sure you have a story or two to tell, and so interesting that my girls will fall over themselves fighting for your attention. Men rarely appreciate such competition and like to boast about stories of their own, especially after being served dwarven spirits.’
Lily had built her business on coaxing men into submitting to her every whim, and Tova—bless his heart—wasn’t immune to her charms. He glanced between us, loyalty fighting with the desire to prove himself to the woman who was currently looking at him as if he were a hero of legend. I was so impressed that I wondered why no one had employed her as a spymaster yet.
‘Wonderful,’ I said. ‘You heard her, tinkerer. Only you can drink an entire tavern under the table. We need your very special talent to find out how these supposedly ordinary dwarven merchants can afford a night at Lily’s.’
Tova narrowed his eyes, looking between Lily and me again before shaking his head with a deep huff.
‘Why do I feel like this is just to keep me inside? Are you sure you’ll be alright alone, drah’sa? You’re the only family I have left; tell me the truth.’
‘The truth is I was raised there. I’m no innocent lamb waiting for slaughter. Trust me, I can manage,’ I said, tugging at the slit of my dress. ‘I can fight—you know this—and I’m not going there empty-handed.’
Tova nodded when my gesture revealed not just the dagger at my thigh but the pouches and vials I’d prepared. Each contained a potentially lethal substance, slightly altered by tinkering with my newly discovered abilities.
‘Fine, but if you’re not back by morning, I’m going there to bash in some heads. I mean it, Sana,’ Tova grumbled and turned to Lily, who, in the meantime, had been quietly conversing with one of her maids. ‘So, what exactly do you want me to do?’
The sway of Lily’s hips as she returned to Tova’s side had my poor friend utterly entranced.We all have our weaknesses,I thought as I stifled a laugh. Tova’s was that he loved beautiful women almost as much as he enjoyed creating his devices—and Lily was nothing short of a work of art.
She raised her hand, offering it for just a moment. Tova, ever the gentleman, wasted no time. He took it with surprising delicacy and kissed her fingers. When he looked up, Lily greeted him with a smile.
‘If you would be so kind as to escort me this evening,’ she said, ‘I’ll introduce you to the party. As for your stories, well, I’m sure you’ve led a most interesting life, Master Inventor. My girls will serve the liquor, and if a drinking competition starts, so much the better. Once they’re relaxed, my entertainers will ask for more stories, and we’ll let the merchants talk.’
She paused, a flicker of mischief lighting her expression. ‘If they are simply men who’ve had a lucky windfall, they’ll havethe time of their lives. But if they’re some of the ones smuggling srebrec . . . well, perhaps we’ll get some answers.’
Tova’s eyes lit up, and I was happy to see him so animated. He started preening his kaftan and brushing his beard. Lily noticed and added smoothly, ‘That’s all I ask. Though I do hope we can enjoy each other’s company as well.’
She laughed softly, and Tova, entirely captivated, kissed her hand once more.
‘I won’t need to pretend to enjoy the company of such an exquisite beauty,’ he said with a flourish. ‘You, my lady, are the rarest of gems, adorned by the finest setting. If I could capture your radiance in a jewel, it would brighten the entire kingdom.’
I bit my lip to keep my shit-eating grin at bay. Tova’s swaggering flattery had earned him many a maiden’s blushing smile, and by helping me, Lily had exposed herself to the full force of his dwarven charm.
I wrapped my cloak tighter around me as warmth blossomed in my chest. Tova still held Lily’s hand, and she looked genuinely pleased by his compliment. The feeling spread through my chest as I watched them together, easily picturing Irsha joining us. I thanked the gods for my strange, mismatched family and vowed to protect them, whatever it took.
Snapping out of my thoughts, I waved goodbye.
‘I’ll see you both later,’ I said, slipping away with a smile—and praying I came back in one piece.
Chapter 26
Roksana
Truso’s nightlife had only just begun to stir when I stepped out of Lily’s, the scent of roasted meats and spiced breads curling through the air from nearby street vendors. I hadn’t made it far before the crowd thickened; soon, I had to pause as richly dressed individuals pushed past in pursuit of their evening’s entertainment.
I stiffened as a group of masked strangers came too close for comfort. None of them were my confusing wolf or Jagon’s goons—just men chasing thrills they could indulge in without tarnishing their names. I huffed, half-amused, half-annoyed, and pressed on, silently scolding myself for the foolish flicker of hope that one of them might have been Reynard.
