Page 173 of Prize for the King
Magnar bares his teeth, turning away from the wall so fast, his hair billows in his wake. “I should have found a way to plant spies in the Citadel long ago! I should have known!”
Arvi throws a knife up and catches it deftly, only to throw it again, higher and higher. “We’ve been over this. You don’t have trustworthy human spies, and an Agnidari would never blend in. None of this is your fault.”
Magnar’s shoulders slump, and he turns to me with a sigh. “I was tempted to agree, even to the eighty percent. But you knew it was a trap, didn’t you? My smart wife.”
I push my palms under my thighs, unnerved by all their attention turning to me. My hands keep shaking, and I don’t want to worry my men now that they have more important matters to discuss.
“I had a hunch. The way Sidonius tried to say something—heknew. I read about a similar situation in my father’s journals. There was this king who was convinced he had a right to another’s crown jewels, I don’t remember why. Anyway, they agreed during the Gathering that he would give over a third of his annual tax revenue in return for everything in the other king’s royal vault. Except when he arrived to claim the jewels, the royal vault was empty. He was tricked. Richard’s wording reminded me of that.”
“So he agreed to give over all Agnidari, knowing there were none in their kingdoms,” Raduna sums up, shaking his head. “I think I prefer war to this. Swords and guts are honest, at least.”
“Right.” Magnar hides his face in his hands, takes a big breath, and emerges more controlled, his focus sharp. “What do we do, Caliane?”
I shake my head and try to ignore the ache in my tense stomach, the pounding in my temples.
“Well, the Citadel belongs to all kings equally, and any decisions concerning it must be unanimous. Normally, the Master of Peace could override them in special cases, so you could talk to Sidonius, but I got the impression he’s not free to act without their say so. You can still negotiate. Maybe they will agree for the sake of your mines. But… I think they want to see you humiliated. And having Agnidari women used like that, and you knowing it, is a great humiliation.”
“So we free them,” Khay speaks for the first time, his eyes glinting, cold and determined. “They are here. Arvi said he heard someone call Viriel’s name. We have to take them back!”
Magnar shakes his head. “No. We don’t have an army here, Khay, and if we break any laws, we’ll be at their mercy. Be patient. I’ll figure it out.”
But the Gathering the next day goes even worse than the first one. The kings had plenty of time to devise a strategy to stump us. After Magnar carefully lays out his demand, he’s met with superior smirks and haughty looks from the other kings.
“Oh, I was not aware there was such an establishment in the Citadel,” Richard says with a cool smile that makes it clear hedoesknow. “How quaint. It might be a private lupanar for all we know. We host an industrious environment, and many businesses thrive in the city.”
“It is our city, is it not?” Magnar asks through clenched teeth, his control wearing thin.
Xander gives him an insolent look, not even pretending to be helpful. “I am afraid our hands are tied. We cannot tell a private owner what to do with their wares.”
Their wares.Even Magnar’s supreme self-control skills aren’t enough to ignore that slap of a word. He pushes away form the table, his teeth gritting together so hard, I hear the sound.
“Good luck shipping iron from overseas,” he spits through gritted teeth and leaves, dragging me by my hand.
This time, nobody stops us when we leave. The second Gathering lasted no more than five minutes. The upside is, I only had to sit in Magnar’s lap for so long. It was grueling. Richard’s eyes, so cold and cruel, reminding me of my father whenever his gaze slithered over my face.
“What do we do now?” Magnar asks when we’re in our apartment, the windows closed. Raduna sits in a corner, sharpening his sword.
“Pretend we’re not affected to throw them off, and figure out our next step.” I rub my arms, doing my best to contain my shivers
“Are you all right?” Magnar drops to his knees in front of me, his palm on my cheek. “You’re cold. What’s happening, love?”
I hesitate, but the door opens, and Arvi comes in with a report on the goings on in the brothel. Our knights have found a good observation point in a boarded-up building that used to be a tavern. They take turns watching the brothel to estimate how many Agnidari are held there, and who goes in to visit.
“I saw Prince David of Amber Port,” he says, twirling his knife. “No other royal guests, but a few people from the other kings’ retinues, and quite a few sailors. But that’s during theday.It’s even busier at night. The place officially closes at four a.m., and they have a few hours of peace.”
“Find out who’s the owner,” Magnar says. “Maybe we can talk to them.”
When he turns back to me, I’m composed enough to smile and tug him in for a kiss.
“Why don’t we take a walk through the city?” I offer, craving a distraction from the oppressive energy in the palace. “Let’s shop, watch some street performers, pretend we do not have a care in the world.”
Magnar nods. “Yes. I did promise you shopping, after all. I just need to send a few missives. Give me an hour, hm?”
I nod and leave with Raduna, searching for Molly. A valet informs me she’s in the ladies’ sitting room, taking tea. I find her speaking with Susan in hushed voices, and they both brighten when they see me.
“Caliane! Come join us,” Susan says with an imperious wave of her hand. “I hear you’ve sat in on two Gatherings now. My, you are audacious, aren’t you? I’ve always wondered what they get up to in there, though I suspect you can’t tell me much. They have been the two shortest Gatherings in history, according to Richard. He loathes your husband deeply, but you must know that already. Richard isn’t subtle.”
I laugh weakly, taking a sip of tea. “No, indeed, I fear my presence disrupted their usual routine. Magnar finds the Gatherings tedious, so he leaves at the earliest opportunity.”
