“Oh, but I am, and you will want to listen to this next part very carefully. I was asleep until a thief entered the crypt to steal my treasure. You would agree that stealing is a crime and deserves a punishment, no?”
“Bring me this thief and I will punish him myself!”
“Hm, besides the crime of stealing, this thief also woke me up.”
My uncle’s gaze flashed to me, and his eyebrows lifted. Wordlessly, he took in my cloak and the smudges of dirt on my clothing. Instead of dropping my gaze, I boldly stared back, defying him. Aware I’d pay for it later.
“As it turns out, your niece is the thief, and since she trespassed and stole from me, I shall decide her punishment. Because of her actions, in accordance with the treaty, I may make an additional request.”
What treaty, and why was Lord Faren listening to this instead of tossing him out? I wanted to interject, but a palpable tension hummed in the air. I’d already done enough tonight.
“The treaty stands,” Lord Faren said. “Make your request, so we might all be done with this interruption and go back to bed.”
I tried, once again and unsuccessfully, to pull away from the Piper. When he tightened his grip on my arm, the sinking sensation doubled. He’d mentioned punishment. Was this what he had in mind? To bring me back and embarrass me in front of everyone who lived in the palace?
“I hoped you might agree,” the Piper said with a hint of malice in his tone. “My request is that your sorcerers free the magic-thralls, and don’t pretend you know nothing about them. Lies will not appease me, and I smell the taint of magic that courses through your city like a river.”
Magic-thralls?
I studied my uncle, whose olive complexion had turned a shade of red. His thick brows lowered, and I half expected smoke to come out of his ears. I hadn’t heard of thralls in the two years I’d lived in Dowler, but I’d sensed the undercurrent of a dark secret.
Aunt Matzie stood stiffly. The only other glimpse of her discomfort were her lips parting slightly before she pressed them together again.
“Their lives don’t belong to you,” the Piper continued. A feral growl added a roughness to his menacing voice. “You will set them free. Or pay the consequences. As for Tanith, I’ve thought of a fair punishment.”
My chest went tight, and I shook my head as the Piper drew me in closer. His hand dropped from my elbow to my waist, yanking me against his hard body so quickly I had to lean on him for support. I could only imagine what everyone else was thinking. They saw me appear with a pointy-eared man in the middle of the night, a man who pulled me close as if midnight trysts were common.
“As the treaty states, anyone or anything who enters my lair is mine. So call your priest or whoever you use to perform ceremonies. As punishment, Tanith shall marry me.”
My mouth fell open, and suddenly it was hard to breathe. The pain in my chest increased and I swayed, dizzy. This could not be happening. He hadn’t just saidmarriage? Had he?
I’d been engaged before I’d left Solynn, but I had received no letters from my betrothed, George, in a year, adding to my desire to return to the city. He’d promised to write and find a place for us to live, especially because my aunt and uncle had persuaded me to grieve in Dowler and return to Solynn when I was ready. I’d broached the subject recently since they had taken control of my dowery and inheritance. It had only led to an argument with my uncle, and the realization that if I wanted to leave, I had to take control of my future.
Now, I glanced at my aunt and uncle, silently pleading for help. Lord Faren would never agree to it. There had to be a way out. But my uncle waved his hand. “Bring the priest.”
5Tanith
“I’m not marrying you,” I whispered as the hall buzzed with hushed voices.
The priest plodded in, his considerable girth bouncing as he moved, the remnants of his thinning hair sticking straight up as he caught his breath. He was dressed immaculately, as though he’d already been up, and even carried the golden rod which was always by his side.
I’d never liked the priest, and I liked him even less now that he was forcing me to make a vow I was in no way ready to make.
The Piper’s fingers dug into my side as he bent his head to my ear. “If you don’t marry me, your punishment will be much worse. Is that what you want?”
“If you force me to marry you, you’ll be sorry.”
“Quite the contrary, I hear marriage is delightful.”
“One doesn’t punish someone by marrying them,” I snapped, irritated by his gall.
“I think it’s a fitting punishment, considering how upset you are, but after the wedding, I propose to make you a deal.”
“You didn’t think to propose marriage, but you’ll propose a deal?”
“Patience, my love, details later. Just know it will annul the marriage should you choose to comply.”
The fight went out of me at those curious words. He’d force me to marry him and then allow me an out? I’d take the deal no matter what, although my mind swam with thoughts. Was it wise to trust the word of the Devil of Dowler? I’d need to make my own plan if I wished to secure my freedom from him. I’d learned to sneak in and out of the impenetrable palace. How hard could it be to escape from the Piper? There was still the issue of money to secure passage back to Solynn, but I was resourceful. I’d figure something out.
