‘No knife this morning?’ Will asked lightly.
‘It’s strapped beneath the shirt. Will a strip search be part of your requirements too?’
Will’s laugh was low, his brows rising as he lounged back in his chair. ‘Don’t be a sore loser, Aya. It’s not my fault you behaved rashly.’
Aya leaned forward, her jaw flexing. ‘Don’t speak to me like a child.’
‘Then stop acting like one,’ he snapped, his frustration unusually close to the surface. ‘You let your hatred cloud your judgement. We can’t afford that in Rinnia.’
Will reached for the scrolls on the table. ‘The trade agreements,’ he explained, unfurling the first one. ‘And everything I know about the Trahir court,’ he said as he handed her the next. ‘Burn that after you read it.’
Aya’s brows rose as she peeked at the paper. ‘This is … thorough.’
‘It should be, I’ve been working on it for the better part of a fortnight.’
That and avoiding that glorious look of hatred on your face.
Will folded his arms as he leaned back in his chair, the wood creaking beneath him. ‘We can’t bully Dominic into lending us support in the coming war, especially with the trade agreements on the line. But his nephew, Aidon, may be amenable.’
Aidon was the King’s General of Trahir’s armies. The perfect way in.
Aya scanned the papers again, her brow creasing as she studied the ink. ‘You want me to mark him.’
It wasn’t a question, but Will dipped his chin in confirmation anyway.
‘Why?’
‘Because his relationship with his uncle is fraught with tension, and I have a feeling we can use that to our advantage. Aidon lacks his uncle’s callousness. Perhaps we can play on his tender sympathies.’
‘I thought you said bullying wouldn’t be effective.’
‘And I thought you were a spy. Don’t tell me you suddenly have a moral compass.’
She leveled him a look as she rolled up the scroll, the meaning behind it evident – he wasn’t one to be questioning morals.
‘What of the Saj?’
He cocked a brow. ‘Come around, have you?’
Aya didn’t bother to respond. He rubbed his jaw as he dragged his gaze back to the porthole. The Saj of the Maraciana knew far more of the affinities than anyone did – but there was one that rose above the others.
Natali was the brightest of them all and the most discreet. He had known them for years, which meant he also knew that they could be difficult to work with, especially if they felt one was unworthy of their knowledge.
‘I have a contact there. I’ll send word once we dock thatwe’d like to meet with them. It may take some time. We’ll review the Maraciana customs tomorrow.’
Will was certain that once they sensed Aya’s power, Natali would be more than accommodating, regardless of Aya’s reluctance. Not from any deep devotion to the gods – no, the Saj of the Maraciana were far more interested in the laws of power than those of religion. But to study an affinity like Aya’s?
Any Saj of the Maraciana would be delighted.
At least, that’s what he was counting on. If not … he wasn’t sure what he’d do.
‘You don’t honestly believe I’m a saint.’ It wasn’t a question, but Aya’s voice had that probing note that made him raise a brow.
‘Since when do you care what I believe?’ His evasion did nothing to soften her piercing gaze. ‘Clearlyyoudon’t want to be a saint, so what does it even matter?’
A probing of his own, he supposed. Because he had no idea what thoughts were circling in that head of hers.
‘Do you even believe in the gods?’ she asked.
