Page 102 of Unrivaled
I grinned at the thought.I’d chased Big Red off for her no few times, but if she’d truly hated the animal, it wouldn’t be allowed to linger by her feet.“You’re soft, Bern.”I took another pull of the pipe as she cut me off a slice of cheese.“You know who’s in the keep right now, don’t you?”
“I do,” she said.“Kael doesn’t.”
I nodded, understanding what she didn’t say.If Kaelson knew Luca of Raa’shi was present against the Duke’s express orders, he’d have to report his presence.Easier for us to hold that information back a little longer.
“I don’t like it,” I admitted, then blew out the smoke in a steady stream.The feeling of lightness lingered, along with a pleasant warmth that held back the chill of the cellar air.“Why would he poison the steward?”
“Because he’s madly in love with our lady, and wants to protect her at all costs,” Bernadette said, sarcasm dripping from the words.“I don’t know, Is.Nobles don’t make sense.You and me, we make sense.”
I arched my brows, giving a quick shake of my head to show my disapproval of the whole business.
If he thought he could control La’Angi through Audrey, itwouldmake sense.But he was a scholar, not a spy.“Did anyone see him going into Dickface Daniel’s quarters?”I asked her, using her nickname for the steward to see her grin.
“No,” she said.“But who elsecouldit be?”
“Me,” I said lightly, offering the pipe back.
She snorted.“You wouldn’t waste the powder.You’d just have cut his throat.”
By the time I’d realized that was the best course of action, I’d been hamstrung by the orders the Duke had given Audrey.The poisoner, whoever they were, had done anexcellentjob of taking him out in public.If it hadn’t been for Bernadette’s quick thinking, we’d all be wondering if his suspiciously timed demise was simply luck.
“We’re not telling Kael about this, right?”she asked me, then took a deep pull.
I considered it.The battleworn soldier was a good ally.He asked excellent questions, and made swift connections.But he got under my feet, and unlike Bernadette, my happiness didn’t require I throw a bone to a mutt.“We don’t know anything,” I reminded her.“Not yet.When we figure out who did it,thenwe can figure out if we’re bringing Kael into it.”
She grunted.“Or if anyone else dies conveniently.”
The thought made unease climb up my spine.“Has anyone else been sick?”
“Nothing that made my belly ache like this did,” she said, shaking her head.“Eat, Is.Your girl’s tucked up for the night.We should crack a jug.”
She was right; Audrey was abed, and Luca was, too.There was no more good I could do tonight.I sighed, enjoying the herbally-induced lightness in my limbs, and reached for some cheese.“I’m going to have to dig into this, aren’t I?”I asked her, already knowing the answer.
“Yep,” she said.“Good thing you’re a crafty old bitch, isn’t it?”
Enjoying the praise despite having fished for it, I popped the cheese in my mouth.“Helps that I’ve got crafty old friends.”
* * *
From my peripheral I watched Audrey was swirl the contents of her cup absently.In my hands, the needle gleamed as it dipped through the fabric, then returned.
“The city needs the boost that the tourney brings,” Audrey said, unaware that I’d watered the drink while she was sighing over Luca’s gift of another old, forbidden tome.
Why couldn’t his gifts beusefulforbidden items?Mage-tonics to help her menstrual cramps, some good arrows, or a new war-belt?Failing that, coin was always useful.I shook out the fabric, looking at the leaves embroidered across the edge.Doubtful anyone would notice they were the foliage of a plant with lethal berries.I would, though.
Might this pathetic man?As I listened to their conversation, I turned the idea over in my mind.
“And, much as I can’t admit it openly, Daniel’s deathwillsimplify things.But, honestly, Luca, I feel totally out of my depth.Last week I negotiated—badly—with Bertrand Von Limms.Of the Von Limms merchant family.”
“I know the Von Limms,” Luca said, surprised, swinging one leg idly from his position atop her desk, where he sat like he owned the place.I glanced up from my sewing, sending him a quelling look.He didn’t look toward me, but his leg stilled all the same.Satisfied, I turned back to my stitches.“And Bertrand.He looked after you, I’m sure.”But there was a slight rise at the end of the wordsure, as if it were a question.
Audrey made a frustrated noise, which, given how long she’d ranted about that specific deal, was quite a restrained response.Luca would never know, though.Just another thing on a very long list of things he remained ignorant of.
But waspoisonon that list?
“He offered me a lower rate for knappchs than we’ve had in over a decade, because he knew I couldn’t refuse—and he probably didn’t know that I knew he was short-changing me,” she added, irritated, grabbing said scroll and tossing it on the desk.It landed beside Luca’s hip.
He took the scroll then flicked it open.His eyes narrowed.“How much less?”he asked, the words calm.
