Leesha realized she was holding her breath, and forced herself to blow it out. It was ridiculous for her to be upset. She had long since tired of waiting for Arlen and begun looking for other prospects. Night, the sickness that came on her each morning confirmed how she had moved on. Yet she’d wanted him. If he’d wanted her in return, she would have given herself to him without reservation.
But he hadn’t wanted her. He claimed it was his curse. That he could not create a family with his blood tainted by demon magic. Somehow, that only made her love him more, his sacrifice so noble, so proud. She felt weak for having sought the arms of others in the light of it.
But had it been honest word? Now, a scant few months later, he had gone from swearing off love to promising himself to another. Had all his claims just been an act? The thought filled her with anger. How dare he? Did he think her so weak, so desperate for his love, that she couldn’t handle the truth? That she required a lie to sugar the medicine as he rebuffed her? Coward.
All this went through her head, but she had learned her lessons from the dama’ting, and her face showed none of it. ‘That’s well,’ she managed at last. ‘He deserves to be happy, and a good woman will help keep his feet on the ground.’
‘Not this one,’ Darsy muttered. Leesha looked at her curiously, but the big woman rubbed at her throat and did not elaborate further.
To Leesha’s surprise, they did not head for the Corelings’ Graveyard, turning instead to another area of the greatward. She was wondering at the destination when Thamos’ keep came into view.
The fort was still under construction, but already a huge palisade wall had been erected, tarred logs lashed tightly together, thick and high enough for soldiers to patrol the ramparts with crank bows, and crenellated to give them cover while firing.
The palisade gate swung open, showing a courtyard more than large enough to accommodate their entire caravan. As the soldiers waved for them to enter, it became clear Thamos intended just that, taking everyone inside the walls and shutting the gates behind them. Leesha worried that once inside, the Krasians might never emerge. She had always known they were hostages and spies both, freely given by Ahmann as a show of good faith, but her intent had been to treat them as any other folk, letting them see the goodness of her people up close.
She doubted Count Thamos would do the same. He had made a show of benevolence thus far, but his mission had always been clear: get control of the Hollow, learn the secrets of demon killing, and draw Angiers’ line in the sand against the Krasians. The attitude at court had been one of loathing for the desert people. It was not undeserved after their attack on Rizon, but escalation was the last thing they needed right now. Ahmann could crush the Hollow – and likely Angiers itself – if given cause.
‘Stop the carriage,’ she told Darsy, and the woman complied immediately. The rest of the caravan stopped with them, and Leesha got down and opened the door to the carriage.
Elona looked out, taking in the count’s keep. She let out a low whistle. ‘Prince has been busy these last months. Is he married?’
Leesha sighed. Even now, she could not bear to look at her mother. ‘I hope not. Court gossip has him bedding every young thing bats a lash at him.’
‘Just needs the right one to spin his head a bit,’ Elona said.
‘I said young, Mother,’ Leesha said. ‘I don’t think you’re his type.’
‘Ay, don’t talk to your mother that way!’ Erny said. Leesha looked at him and wanted to scream. Even now, he defended her. It would likely be the same even if he knew about Gared. Night, he probably did. Erny wasn’t half the fool people thought he was when it came to his wife, but Elona had been right about his courage.
Leesha pretended her father had not spoken. ‘I am going in for an audience with His Highness now. I’ll have some of the Cutters escort you back home. When you’re there and no one is looking, take the Krasian spears and hide them in the paper shop. Somewhere no one will find them.’
Erny seemed nonplussed at both Leesha’s and Elona’s lack of response, and nodded after a moment. ‘Ay, I know just the place. I’ve a slurry vat with a false bottom.’
‘Oh, really?’ Leesha asked. ‘And what, might I ask, did you need that for?’
Erny smiled. ‘To keep inquisitive young girls poking around my papermaking chemicals from getting themselves hurt.’
‘I’ve been mixing worse for fifteen years,’ Leesha said.
‘Ay,’ Erny agreed. ‘But I haven’t had reason to bring up since.’ He raised a finger. ‘And you’ll know my secrets when I decide it, young lady, and not before. You mind your tone if you ever want to know where the gold’s hid.’
‘He ent bluffing,’ Elona muttered. ‘Been with him near thirty years, and still ent got a clue.’
Captain Gamon rode back to where they stood. ‘The count is waiting,’ he said impatiently. ‘What is the delay?’ With the count’s seat of power – and crank bowmen – at his back, he seemed to regain something of the haughtiness he had first shown on the road.
‘I am sending my parents home while I meet with His Highness,’ Leesha said. ‘And the rest of the caravan could use a bit of ease.’
‘They can have that inside the count’s keep,’ Gamon said. ‘Accommodations have been made. They will be safer inside.’
‘Safer from whom?’ Leesha asked.
‘Many of His Highness’s new subjects come from the south, and remember what these people did to their homes,’ Gamon reminded her.
‘I am aware of that,’ Leesha said, ‘but these are guests and not prisoners.’
She turned to Gared and the Cutters, who had come to stand beside her. ‘I think the Cutters can keep peace with a group of unarmed Krasians, don’t you?’
‘Don’t you worry none, girlie,’ Yon Gray said, slapping his axe handle against his palm. ‘Anyone woodbrained enough to start trouble’ll soon regret it.’ It was eerie, hearing the old man’s voice come from a man now in his prime. She had been documenting Yon’s slow shedding of years for some time, but the sudden change after months apart was still a little jarring. Most of the grey had fled his hair, and he looked a man of forty rather than one in his seventies.
‘Ay,’ Dug said. ‘We’ll see to it.’
Gamon shook his head. ‘The royal summons mentions you and your wife by name, Mr Butcher, along with Captain Cutter, Master Inn, and Miss Cutter.’ He indicated Wonda.
‘Me?’ Wonda asked. ‘What’s the count want to see me for?’
‘I’m sure I don’t know.’ Gamon’s tone was derisive. Angierians gave their women more rights than Krasians, but not by much. They didn’t approve of women involving themselves in politics or military matters. Leesha opened her mouth to fire off an acid response, but Gared beat her to it.
‘Mind yur manners,’ Gared growled. ‘She’s got more coreling corpses to her name than yur whole runty company combined.’
Gamon’s eyebrow became a hard V. Here beside the keep the Wooden Soldiers were more numerous, but more and more Cutters arrived by the moment. He pursed his lips, saying nothing.