Page 73 of Untempered
Interesting that he could acknowledge both facts. Most La’Angi men only saw the information that best suited them.
“We have our best working on developing cures,” he said. “Please, don’t be alarmed.”
Audrey’s brows rose fractionally.
“But youdoneed to take this seriously.” He took a folded piece of paper magically from somewhere and offered it to her. I wished I’d been able to see that move. Paper was easier to hide than knives, but if it were actually a slight of hand trick with some skill, he’d bear watching closer than I thought.
“This is a list of symptoms, as closely as we can identify them. I knew you’d want to know them. And my lady…it may just save you if you do.”
Audrey took the paper and set it before her. “What is your current strategy?”
“We’re pouring as much support into the harvest as we can,” he told her, and that sickly-sweet patronization faded. “Captain Xavier is setting up a field hospital in the lower marketplace.”
“Why not the more central marketplace?” she asked, frowning.
His smile was paternalistic. “Because, my lady, the poor have a harder time carrying their sick than the rich do.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but before she could question him, he was resting a hand on her desk. “I need to ask something of you, my lady. Something that will help.”
Unease crept up my spine at the urgency in his tone. I saw Chay shift slightly. Thomas may as well have been hewn of wood.
“Ask,” Audrey said. And I hated that her eyes were no longer narrowed.
“I need to quarantine you, my lady.” She opened her mouth to object, and I watched with no surprise as he held up a hand to silence her. “You are the bastion of hope for our people. If they know you are still well, they will continue to work.”
“How—”
“The plague may take some of us, or many of us, my lady, but the winter will take us all without provisions.” The patronization was gone and his second hand was on her desk, the aged, ink-stained fingers laced together. “I need you to be safe so you can continue to encourage the people. I know you’ve a soft heart. The Duke, may the One smile on him, disapproves of that, but it’s your strength.”
She was looking at me, now, fury and hunger in her gaze, in the thin line of her lips and the razor set of her shoulders. “For how long?” she asked.
“I’ve no way of knowing?—”
“Draw your battle line, Master Steward,” she said, and the words were so cold I felt a chill wash over me, encasing the heat of pride in my chest. “I will not agree to indefinite terms on such an arrangement.”
He sighed with regret, as if he actually cared, and I didn’t even laugh. “Would you give us until the end of winter, my lady? For La’Angi?”
She scoffed, and I admired the derision she managed in that one small, ladylike sound. “Over a season of being cooped up inside?”
“As we often are anyway,” he agreed. “We face hard times in the city, but ’tis the perfect season to be securely inside, if there must be such a time. Please, my lady. Remain where it is safe. For the good of your people.”
Whatever argument she’d been having with him paused instantly. “I’ll do it,” she told him. “If I see you write my father asking for aid.”
I resisted the urge to laugh at the myriad of emotions that flickered over Steward Daniel’s face at this simple but effective way to ensure the his honesty.
“The trip out of the tower might put you at risk.”
“Then allow me to witness,” I offered, and Audrey nodded firmly.
He shook his head. “With respect, mistress, your movements put the lady at risk every bit as much as her own movements do. If you are to catch sick, surely she will follow.”
He was right, and that irritated me.
Audrey turned and looked at her guards. Chay stood stony-faced. Thomas glanced hesitantly between us all.
Somehow, I managed to keep the glee from my tone as I requested, “May Thomas be the lady’s representative in the castle?”
The Master Steward, when pressed, had no real right to refuse. He had to be the one to ask for aid, but Audrey would stay out from under his feet. He didn’t realize how excellent a deal he’d made. She could do alotof damage if left unattended.
