Page 24 of Lhora
“How are you doing?” The sound of that well-modulated voice made parts of her melt.
Rather than answer, she asked a question of her own. “What are you doing here, Duren?”
“I heard the sentence handed down to you and the others.”
“It was a farce trial!” she hissed at him. “You know it! And you know your father lied!”
“He didn’t lie,” Duren objected. “What he said was true. Lon collaborated with you on going after the Tra’Mell. That was the truth.”
“But not to overthrow the Sarpi! We saved your asses, and you rewarded him by giving him the death penalty! You plugging stobbi!” She threw the bowl at him and derived some satisfaction to see it hit him on the shoulder. Bits of her meal splattered across his pristine, pale blue shirt.
Amazingly, the Sarpen didn’t appear fazed by the mess. Instead, he ignored the food dripping off his shirt and continued to gaze at her. “I came here to offer you a proposition.”
Lhora didn’t attempt to hide her disbelief. However, her curiosity was burning. “What is it, and what is it going to cost me?”
He smirked. “Come with me.”
“Not until you tell me what you want and what it’s going to cost me.”
He gave her a surprised look. “You’re in no position to try to bargain with me.”
“At this point, I figure I have nothing to lose.”
“You’re that certain the Esstika will accept my father’s terms for your release?”
“No, but I hope she will. Eventually.”
“You do realize that if she turns down the Sarpi’s offer, your life is forfeit.”
Lhora managed a shrug. “I had pretty much drawn that conclusion when you first kidnapped me.” That remark earned her a snicker. “If it’ll make you feel any better, go ahead and tell me why you’re here.”
“Come with me.”
“You’ve already said that.”
“Let me take you to the manse. Spend the night with me.”
Although she’d suspected as much, hearing him say it still made her jaw drop. “You’re out of your mind.”
“I’m not going to repeat this offer.”
“You want to plug me.”
“I want to…” He sighed and briefly hung his head. “Yes.”
“And then what?”
“I’ve made arrangements to have you taken tomorrow morning to a small coastal town called Kotill. Have you heard of it?”
“Yes. It’s directly across from Vikalda. Those two seaports are the two closest points where the Parravi Seas separate Coltross and Beinight.”
“A small schooner will be waiting for you at the docks to take you back to Beinight.”
She made sure he saw her look of disbelief. “That’s it? That’s all? I spend the night with you, and in the morning you’re going to help me escape?”
“Simply put, yes.”
“And you expect me to believe you?”
