I wanted to tell them I wasn’t. I wanted to scream out that I hadn’t been the one butchering their kin or raiding their sacred celebrations. I wanted to beg them to believe me when I told them I wasn't their enemy. But wasn’t I? I hadn’t been welcomed into their camp. I hadn’t been legitimized by the humans. What was I if not still a soldier ofPavos? I stared down at my own bloody hands. Had I killed my own then?
That should bother me more.
“Rainier,” someone called out.
I looked up to see a brown-skinned woman in shining armor approach. Her thick black hair was braided down her shoulder in a simple but practical plait and her face was painted with some ghoulish crimson that looked like blood but wasn’t. It flowed from her eyes down her neck where it met with real blood spattered upon her by her enemies. Her eyes were blazing as she took me in, mouth set in a sneer at the sight of my chains.
“Put him with the others.” She jerked her chin to two warriors who stepped forward to do as she commanded.
“No,Prima,” Rainier said, stepping in front of them. “He wasn’t part of the assault on the cave.”
“I don’t care who he is. He’s one of them. He belongs with them.”
“He’s not our Captive to take.”
She stopped at that, eyes snapping up to mine as Rainier and his men stepped aside. When her gaze fell to Roman andKseniabefore me, her tension only increased.
“I see,” she said slowly, then nodded to each of them in greeting. “Captain. Spy.”
“Prima,” they both intoned, bowing respectfully.
The action only made her lips curl in disgust.
I decided right then I liked my ancestor. Even if she had just been trying to send me to whatever passed for a dungeon in this place.
“This is Dante of House Viper,”Kseniaannounced. “I presume you’ve heard of him?”
Her gaze narrowed.
“The newest Victor,” she said, appraising. “I suppose congratulations are in order.”
She raised a brow as she eyed the chains around my wrists.
“Or maybe not,” she muttered.
“Is she here?” Roman spat suddenly. “Is she with him?”
Kseniashot him a look of warning. Obviously, the captain wasn’t gifted in the art of diplomacy.Prima’seyes narrowed as she turned to Roman.
“She's mourning,” she snapped. “Much like the rest of my camp. A fact which I would advise you to remember for as long as you remain here, Captain. My people have suffered a great many losses on one of our most sacred occasions. We're not in the mood to be condescended to byWall-hiderssuch as yourself.”
I checked the urge to laugh at that.Wall-hiders. That alone told me everything I needed to know about what these people thought of Prince Leo and his court.Kseniaclosed her eyes, clearly wishing this had turned out a bit better than it had, but I was hardly focusing on any of them at all. Adrian was mourning,Primasaid. Was that true? Who had she lost? And what right did I have to even ask?
“I'll arrange a tent for the two of you,”Primasaid, already striding away, clearly busy leading during a time of crisis for her people. “Mydescendentwill stay with me. We don’t need word of his presence getting out now. They'll rip him apart before you properly have time to barter him away.”
“I would prefer if he stayed where I could keep an eye on him,” Roman called out to her.
“You're here to treat with us on behalf of your kingdom, are you not?” she asked in return, brow raised in challenge. “The first step toward peace is trust, Captain.”
***
Sometime later, I found myself sitting alone inPrima’stent. It was no bigger than any other. Nothing lavish. No adornments save for the emerald snake banner flapping on a pole staked just outside the entrance. The only luxury the leader of these people seemed to claim for herself was the luxury of privacy as she seemed to share her tent with no one.
Correspondences were left out in the open, spread on the wooden surface that seemed to function as both her dining table and writing desk. Records of soldiers in her command, letters from what seemed to be other leaders, notes about supplies and weapons. I didn’t bother reading any of them. It was a clear message, leaving them out like that. They weren’t concerned about me surviving long enough to tell anyone what I might learn.
“Comfortable?”Primaasked as she entered her tent.
I didn’t have to look at her to hear the amusement in her tone. Something told me she liked seeing a Victor in chains. That didn’t make my position here any easier. So I didn't offer a response as she strode toward her desk before turning to face me.
