Page 177 of Prize for the King
I can’t trust myself, and therefore, I can’t trust him, either.
What if he hurts my daughter?
It’s dark, only a few candles lighting the room. Magnar shifts, bringing me closer, and heaves a deep, heavy sigh.
“Let me sing it to you just once,” he whispers. “Sleep, beloved. Let it come to you in dreams.”
I frown. He seems so sad, and his words sound wrong, like a goodbye. Magnar begins singing a soft, plaintive song, his voice low, verging on a whisper. It breaks a few times, turning hoarse. I don’t understand the words. His back shakes under my arm thrown around him, and he stops, clears his throat, and sings again.
When the last note rings out, he murmurs soothing, comforting words while he pulls out of me. I don’t react, because pretending to be asleep is the only way I know how to cope right now. If I look at his face, I will burst into tears, and I won’t be able to hide it anymore. I don’t know what to do.
Magnar presses his lips to my temple.
“Goodbye, my love.”
LIII Rain
I listen to the rustling of sheets as he extricates himself. My mind is overwhelmed with my discovery, my body cold and numb, but I can’t ignore the oppressive, aching sense that something is profoundly wrong.
When the door closes with a click, I shove all my hurting mess deep down and roll out of bed. Magnar’s cum trickles down my thighs, and I ignore it, creeping closer to the door. The line of flickering light underneath it tells me our sitting room is well lit. I press my ear to the keyhole.
“This is suicide,” Raduna says, his voice calm but firm. “I cannot let you do this.”
“He’ll be fine,” Khay says dismissively, voice feverish. ”And I’m coming with. We’ll get it done in under an hour, and be back in bed by dawn.”
“No.” Magnar’s voice is heavy with authority. “I’ll go alone, Khay. This is my condition. You must stay and watch over Caliane. I’ll take ten soldiers, leaving twenty for you. If anything happens, it must be clear I acted alone. Do you understand? Caliane is innocent. She’ll be queen of Farneer even without me. She’ll be untouchable. Promise me.”
“I still say we should wait,” Raduna says stubbornly, but I thinkI’ve heard enough.
I go over to the bed, wrap a sheet around myself, and walk out of the room, feigning a yawn. My men freeze. Magnar, who was speaking, snaps his mouth shut. They watch me with wide, almost fearful eyes. I would laugh if I wasn’t so livid.
I yawn again. Magnar steps closer, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. “What’s wrong, love? Can’t sleep?”
I nod and drop my pretense, letting my emotions show on my face.
“No, I can’t sleep. I had a nightmare that my husband was plotting a stupid, suicidal mission without my knowledge. You must come to bed and comfort me. I’m sure I won’t be able to sleep a wink.”
He stares at me, confused. I see the exact moment when he understands my words are ironic. His face hardens, lips pressing into a line.
“I have to do this. It will be fine.”
“Sure. It will be perfectlyfine. Until someone sees what you’re doing and shoots you with an arrow. Those women are seen as wares, and what you’re trying to do will be considered stealing. The merchants in the Citadel have the right to shoot thieves on sight. I forget, are the Agnidari arrow-proof? Oh, right, you arenot.How many women and children are kept there?”
I turn to Arvi, who watches me with a small smile. “Over fifty, my queen.”
I whip back to Magnar.“Fifty.Oh, I am sure no one will notice fifty people being smuggled out in the middle of the night in the seediest part of town where someone is always awake! Are you a fool?”
Khay stands between me and Magnar, his eyes burning with febrile energy. “Then what do you suggest we do? They are suffering!”
“I suggest we wait!” I grit out through clenched teeth, mindful of making too much noise. No one will need a spyhole to eavesdrop if we’re shouting. “You’re going to get Magnar killed and your familydone for. If this fails, and it will, they will be stuck here with no help coming. Your sisters, your nieces and nephews, and thentheirchildren will be slaves in this brothel forever. Are you ready to risk it?”
“No more waiting! We’ve waited ten years,” Khay hisses, his jaw working, muscles tense. “If Magnar won’t go, I will! I will fucking free them alone if you won’t keep your word!”
He turns to Magnar, whose eyes go from Khay to me and back again, undecided, grim. Finally, he shakes his head.
“We can’t wait. They lied to me, Caliane. The brothel is owned by the Table of Kings. There is no owner to take it up with, only the people who will never let me have it. We must free them some other way, and this is our best bet.”
“You’ll play right into their hands,” I say, despair flooding my belly.
