“Some. Wex was the one who took it hard.”
“We—Giss and I—both took it very hard when our dad died. It was the hardest thing,” she said, her eyes tearing up. “It was the three of us, always together, for years. He was so charming and so good to us. Indulgent really, but we were well behaved. We always wanted him to be proud of us, so we learned anything that was fashionable and held to that. And Gissandre just sparkled. We loved watching her at parties. She was so, so beautiful, but it wasn’t just that. She had a way about her that made people want to be around her. At parties, she was always surrounded. We never dreamed it would be her downfall.”
“Her downfall how?”
“Everyone wanted her. She thought she’d marry one of her boyfriends from school. But Urcolin is obsessed with her. He’s almost twice her age and he’s used his power to force everyone she could’ve married happily to turn away. In the beginning, I didn’t know what he was doing. I thought it was just that she’d been withdrawn. After our dad died, we stopped going out for a while. But I should’ve known that they would’ve waited for her. Any of them. Probably all of them. But they started marrying other people. The last one, who was her close friend, confided that there had been threats and actions against any man who expressed an intent to ask her to marry him. The day of the storm—” She shook her head. “She said she would marry the magistrate because there was no one left and then at least she would be able to protect me and the property. She could never stand the idea of losing the estate because of the memories of Daddy.” Tears filled her eyes. “But Urcolin’s vile. He’s so vicious. It would kill her to live with him. He’s beaten slaves so badly. The stories made me ill. I told her—told her that it would be better if we sold the property and left. I told her there was no way I would ever want her to be under his power. I wouldn’t be able to stand it if he hurt her and I thought she’d married him for my sake. She said something about it being too late. I guess she’d said something to someone about intending to accept an offer from him. But I told her she’d just have to say she’d been misunderstood. She was so sad. I put her to bed myself. She drank a spiced cocoa with some liquor. I thought she was asleep.” She shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I should’ve slept in the bed with her. I should have stayed right next to her. I knew something was wrong.”
Tok sat up and grabbed her, pulling her up against him. “Enough. She’s all right.”
“She’s not though. I had to send her into hiding.” The crying turned to sobs. “And I’m afraid they’ll find her. Urcolin. Larsinc. Even Quicknon might try to get to her to use her as leverage. And she’ll have to face it alone. She’s never been alone. What if she walks into the sea again and there’s no one there to try to stop her?”
He held her, and it did make her feel better to have his strong arms hug her as she wept. Finally she wiped the tears away.
“I know our suffering hasn’t been what yours has. I know Wex was taken as a slave. I can’t imagine how bad that was for him. But—it’s just—”
“You said she might walk into the sea again. Is she in a school on Junistar?”
Her head snapped up.
“I told him to start there.”
She stared at him, horrified.
“No, listen. It’s better if Linc finds her first. If the magistrate is looking, you want Larsinc to beat him there. He’s angry at her, but he won’t let her die, and he won’t let the magistrate have her.”
“He won’t have a choice. Urcolin travels with a lot of hired guards. If Larsinc doesn’t take her somewhere else, they will kill him and take my sister. Besides, I don’t think she can withstand a warrior’s wrath right now. She’s too fragile. Can we go and get her? I’ll do anything you want. I’ll accept any punishment. You can double the length of my imprisonment. Or triple it even. Just help me put her somewhere safe. I’ll do anything.”
He was silent, thinking.
“Please?”
He stood. “I’ll go. I’ll tell Linc the things you told me. And I’ll make sure the magistrate hasn’t gotten to her ahead of him.”
“Bring her back with you. Let me—”
“No. If you want her safe, she shouldn’t be here either, watching her sister get used as a handmaiden. If I get to her first, I’ll move her.”
She reached out and touched his arm. “Thank you.”
He nodded.
* * *
Wex leaned againstthe wall, studying the girl.
“What?” she demanded, tucking her body deeper into a spread that was coiled around her.
“Explain it again.”
She huffed out a sigh. “It’s perfectly understandable. I’ve already told you everything.”
“Did he actually say he’d be hiding the other girl from Linc? Did he actually say he’d oppose him if he tried to acquire the girl who falsely accused him of abducting her?”
“I mean—I don’t remember his exact words, but yes. He said he’d put her someplace safe where she couldn’t be found.”
“Couldn’t be found by the prick magistrate? Or couldn’t be found by any man?”
“Anyone. That was understood. He was going to explain to Larsinc that she had to be spared an ordeal. Then he’s going to put her somewhere safe.”
