“The Midlands closed their borders,” Liam noted. He stayed guarding the door, but Will could see the way his body leaned in ever so slightly, as if he, too, wanted to force Dauphine to make her point.
“The Midlands,” Dauphine bit out, “called for aid, and that call wentignored.”
Will frowned at the mercenary. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes still bright, but now with anger. He hadn’t known Gianna had ignored their calls for aid. It shouldn’t surprise him.
“Gianna let Kakos march on her own people,” Will argued. “She alone is to blame.”
“Tell that to the families of the thousands who died in Sitya,” Dauphine hissed.
She had a point. The damage was already done. Tala had abandoned the Midlands, and it did not matter who had ordered it. And yet…
“Gianna let chaos unfold in the hopes that the Second Saint would open the veil and call down the gods to enact vengeance for her. She was pious to a fault. She turned her back on her own people, Dauphine,” Will pressed. “Innocent Talans should not be punished for it.”
“Innocent Midlandians shouldn’t have been either,” Dauphine retorted
“What do you care?” he asked, his frown deepening. “The only person you’re loyal to is the highest bidder.”
It was why he’d sought her out, after all. There was value in her lack of allegiance. She had the broadest pick of criminals and thieves and warriors, and no that dictated where where she sent them.
A muscle feathered in her narrow jaw, as if she were swallowing her ire. “True,” she admitted. “And it just so happens Nyra will pay more than you could afford.”
“How much is Nyra’s bounty?” Will asked.
Dauphine clucked her tongue. “A lady never kisses and tells.”
“I’ll double it.”
“You don’t even know the price.”
“I don’t care,” Will insisted. “My father has a fortune.” And he would steal every last copper of it if it meant getting the resources he needed to get to Aya. “Besides,” he added, nodding toward Aidon, “he’s a king.”
“She’s not getting a dime of Trahir’s money,” Aidon warned.
“A shame,” Dauphine sighed. “Your uncle never hesitated to offer his gold.”
Aidon’s hand curled into a fist on his thigh, but it was not enough to stop the fire that wreathed itself around his hand.
“Aidon,” Will warned.
Dauphine’s face lit with glee. “So the rumors are true,” she whistled. “Impressive, Incend King.”
“Enough,” Will cut in. “We don’t have time for this.”
“It’s rude to rush someone when you’re asking them for a favor, Enforcer,” she chided. “All that time under your queen’s skirts and you didn’t learn any manners?”
Aidon’s fire vanished as he stood and reached for his sword. “Careful, merc.” He kept his voice light, friendly even, as he delivered the threat.
“Did I offend your delicate sensibilities, Your Majesty? Does talk of pleasuring a woman bother you?”
“You demeaning my friend bothers me. Especially when it’s in regards to that treasonous bitch.”
There was something moving about Aidon’s fierce defense, but Will couldn’t examine it, not now. Besides, Aidon followed it with an arched brow as he added, “I prefer action over talk, anyway. Far less dull.”
Dauphine tossed a grin over her shoulder at Will. “I like him.”
“Lovely,” Will growled. “Then perhaps you’ll be inclined to save his life.”
The mercenary pursed her lips in consideration. “Whatis this crew for, exactly? You don’t need them to hide you. I could do that easily enough.”
