“I have decided.” He leaned forward and tented his brown, slender-fingered hands on the desk. “I will allow the rebels to enter Myrr. And I will ally with you against Magnus and the Shadow King.”
My heart leapt.
“With conditions,” Lord Balik added.
I shoved down my excitement, ready to do business. After all, I’d been prepared to negotiate. After learning we’d be coming south, Thyra and I had created a list of things the Warden of the South might want and discussed what we’d be willing to give. Now we learned what motivated the honorable Tadgh Balik.
“Which are?” my sister drawled, as if the idea of negotiating bored her. A good act.
“The rebels must remain in a guarded portion of the city during their stay in Myrr.”
“What?!”
“Did you expect them all to stay in my home? Hundreds of people whom I do not know?”
“No, but I didn’t expect them to be treated like animals either. Caged and kept away from others.”
“They won’t be caged. I didn’t say that, nor did I intend to insinuate such a thing,” Lord Balik corrected. “They will stay in a specific neighborhood where they will have all the comforts they’re used to. More actually, considering I doubt there has been a bakery in the town of Valrun for a good long while.”
“We have money from trading. We can rent homes.”
“Rebels have attacked my people before, Princess Thyra. They have made their lives difficult because of my loyalties to King Magnus. My people paid a price that was not theirs to pay. I won’t fault the rebels for past deeds but nor will I allow rebels into my city and put my subjects in a state of fear.” He stared my sister down, and she glowered back. Both fae cared deeply about those they’d made promises to. “The rebels will be contained andcared for like my people, but they will not have free rein in the city. Not until I am sure they are trustworthy. I will not budge on this. Do you understand?”
Thyra continued to glare at Lord Balik. I feared she’d deny him. Then where would we be? I couldn’t risk it and as he’d said, the rebels would be safe, I didn’t see a reason to.
“That’s acceptable,” I said. “We would, of course, like to see where they’ll be living. And have those in our court be able to visit them to check on them.”
“Granted.”
“Those already in the castle will stay too, right? All of us?” Most of those who had come with us to Myrr were my friends. Bac and Aleksander, however, were rebels through and through.
“Yes.”
“And my other advisor and our last three Valkyrja.” Thyra’s chin jutted out.
Lord Balik gave her a small smile. “I would not dream of separating two princesses from their advisors and guards. Are the rest of your Valkyrja vampires as well?”
Last night, after he’d gotten over the shock of seeing their kind, the vampire sisters had intrigued the Warden of the South.
“A faerie, a dwarf, and a half-orc.”
“Very well, I was merely curious.” He hadn’t balked at the mention of a half-orc, which was more than I could say for myself. Tonna might find other fae like herself in the southernmost city of Winter’s Realm.
“And on the matter of an alliance?” I wanted to move things along. “What stipulations do you have there?”
“You came with a great house and a kingdom long-thought dead already on your side. I do not know what you promised them for their part in your war efforts, but I require a betrothal.”
My throat dried up. “I’m wed to Prince Vale?—”
“Not from you.” His attention swept over Thyra. “I recognize that you are mates with Thantrel Riis. I learned that you have chosen not to acknowledge that bond.”
Lord Riis must have told him. Annoyance rose at the spymaster.
“That’s true,” Thyra said.
“If you still have not accepted your bond by the time the war is over, you will wed my eldest son, Sian.”
I cringed.
