“How could you say such cruel words?” Ysabel dabbed at her eyes. “The Blood Duchess took me hostage to force my husband to aid her crimes. If you don’t give up on Arahasnor’s debt, then she’ll destroy the guild.”
“I’m sure Dark Lord Kaine needed a lot of convincing,” Arrand said sarcastically. “Did you have a threesome with your husband and the Blood Duchess, you slut?”
Anger rose within me hot and fast. No one called my sister a slut. Standing behind Ysabel, I cleared my throat. I made a gesture as if removing someone’s hair and ramming it up their ass. It was a creative gesture, but Arrand got the meaning. His face paled. “How terrible that the wicked duchess took a holy maiden hostage. Very evil.”
“Isn’t it?” Ysabel beamed, then remembered to wipe the smile off her face. “Fortunately, I persuaded Duchess Hedri to release you, under the condition that you sign a paper forfeiting any debt owed by Arahasnor to the Guild of Indentured Servitude.”
Arrand growled, “This is an outrage. A contract under duress would never be enforceable.”
Ysabel arched an eyebrow. “Then it seems to me that a great many of your guild’s contracts wouldn’t be enforceable. We’ll let theConclave of Kings decide. Perhaps they’ll hear the case sometime in the next century. In the meantime, sign this.” She waved a paper.
Arrand looked over the document. “You’re not even going to offer us a single coin?”
“Arahasnor is broke.” Ysabel shrugged. “I could let you punch me instead.”
I wondered what Ysabel was doing, but then I remembered her request to be silent. I’d interfere if necessary—I’d never let anyone punch my pregnant sister in front of me.
Arrand growled, “Don’t tempt me, you little snake.”
Ysabel clasped her hands together. “I feel overcome with guilt to be assisting the vile Blood Duchess, even under duress. Yet the Sun God has illuminated my soul, teaching me that the answer to all sin is suffering. He has granted me a divine vision.” She raised her eyes to the ceiling as if staring straight up into the distant sun. “Through the power of your sacred fist, I will be cleansed of sin.”
Arrand looked wild-eyed. “You have no idea how badly I want to do it, you crazy bitch.”
“Better yet, stab me! My blood will purify me!” Ysabel cried.
“I’d do it in a heartbeat if I had a knife!”
“Here you go.” Ysabel handed Arrand a knife. Then she screamed, “Help! This man attacked me!”
Kaine burst through the door. “Ysabel!”
Alzira ran in close behind him, screaming, “Your Holiness!” Both of their eyes fell on Arrand. “How dare you, sinner!” Alzira shattered the knife to shards while it was still in his hand.
“But—” was all Arrand had time to say before Kaine and Alzira fell upon him.
Ysabel linked arms with me and strolled out of the cell, closing it behind her. Strangled cries of pain came from inside. As we headed down the chilly stone hallway, she said, “Don’t worry, I told them that he had to be in good enough shape to sign the paper afterward. Now we have an excuse to deny the guild’s debt. They just attacked the Holy Maiden.”
I blinked. “Will that work?”
“It’s the type of legal case that only the Conclave of Kings could decide, and it takes the Conclave a long time to do anything.” Ysabel shrugged. “We could drag this out for years. Decades, even. Mainly I just wanted an excuse to hit the slaver a few times before we throw him out.”
I could understand that. “Are we talking to the local nobles next?”
“Yes, we ought to.” Ysabel frowned. “That situation will be harder to handle. Some of them know me perhaps a little too well to be fooled by my acting. Others might enjoy my suffering too much. It might be better if you intimidate them alone. Do you think you’re up for it?”
I swallowed. A childish part of me didn’t want to let my big sister down. “Uh … can you tell me what to say?”
Ysabel grinned. “I already prepared a script.”
Ysabel had arranged for the guards to herd all the nobles we’d wrongfully abducted into the prison yard outside for my speech. Though it was a sunny day, the high stone walls cast long, dark shadows. Snow buried the grass. As soon as I stepped out, everyone’s heads shot up. Several immediately fastened their gazes on the replica of Jiang’s cane. Baleful glares hit me from all directions. I was close enough for them to attack me, if they had the nerve. I shivered, not just from the cold. This lot did not look as intimidated or remorseful as I’d hoped. I reminded myself that Kaine was lurking just inside, ready to come out if I shouted.
Standing in front of the prisoners, I cleared my throat. “Listen up, pigeon pluckers. I’ve come to dictate my terms.”
“You can’t dictate terms!” the lady in the yellow dress shouted. Countess Lealonie, if I remembered correctly. “You’re a duchess of Sherda, not even from our country.”
“Oh, so you remember that I’m the Blood Duchess?” I bared my teeth. “From the way you’ve been talking to me, I thought you had no idea.”
This won me a brief silence. “Since you refused to negotiate with me the first time, you’ve lost your chance. You’ll give me anything I ask for, or your lives and lands will be forfeit.”
