Everything was as it used to be, down to Renwell’s intense gaze as he watched me sit down on the other side of the desk.
“Eat or play first?” he asked, but the gleam in his eyes told me he already knew the answer.
I grabbed a piece of toast and spread apple jam on it with a knife that wouldn’t pierce even the most tender of flesh. “Why didn’t you take Father’s study? It’s bigger. More regal.”
Renwell poured us both tea and put sugar and milk in mine the way I liked. “I have no need for a bigger office. Despite what your father thought, ruling is not all about appearances. It’s about action.”
“Like stealing a stolen throne?”
Renwell leaned back in his imposing chair. “I am more equipped to rule this kingdom than your greedy father or your traitorous lover.”
The toast was too dry in my mouth, even with the sweet jam. I downed my tea. “The Falcryns were chosen by the Four before they left this world.”
“And everything the gods have done is for the best?” Renwell shook his head. “Do you not weary of obeying orders from dead gods? Did you not shed the role of princess to take on High Enforcer—the very first royal in Rellmiran history to do so? You tire of the same irrelevant rules that I do. So, yes, I believe we’re both better suited to power than those that came before.”
My appetite suddenly deserted me. There was a time I wanted power—more than what I had as a princess destined to be auctioned off to another man. I wanted to be High Enforcer and bring justice to a world that had killed my mother.
Now? I still wanted power. But I didn’t want it from Renwell. Power wasn’t true if it was simply a token meant to mollify and control. I had no desire to walk from one cage to another.
I brushed the toast crumbs from my lap. “If I win this game, I want to visit Melaena at her club tonight. Alone.”
Renwell studied me as he drank the rest of his tea and set it aside. Probably calculating all the reasons I’d want that instead of freeing my siblings.
“Done,” he said.
“How can I trust that you’ll honor our wager?” I’d never forget that he’d told Korvin to punish me after swearing he wouldn’t allow it again.
Renwell reached down, then laid my knife atop the smooth black Death and Four tiles. “Kill me if I lie.”
I snatched the knife before he could take it back. Instead of tucking it into my boot, I rested it across my lap. Just in case.
“Then let’s play,” I said.
We picked our tiles. After swapping a few, I held Terraum’s bearded head, two sevens, and a six.
Renwell placed a tile facedown. “Mynastra.” He smirked as if he were still laughing at me for what I said about the fall of Calimber.
I selected my six. “You lie.”
He flipped over his tile. Mynastra’s fierce face stared back at me, outlined in gold. Gods damn it. Three Duels left.
“Nine,” I said evenly, shoving my Terraum tile forward.
“Liar.” Renwell tossed Viridana’s sad face onto the desk.
Fucking Four. I had to win or draw the next two Duels.
Renwell laid down another tile and tapped it with one pale finger. “Seven.”
I studied his face. It’d always been hard to read him. If it hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t be in this mess.
But there could only be one other seven since I had two. Which also meant it didn’t matter what I played.
“Truth.”
He nodded and showed me his matching seven.
I could still win if his last tile was less than seven. My fingers trembled as I revealed it.
