“I mean what I said,” he replies evenly. “I don’t want your gold.”
I’m at a loss, and I have a creeping suspicion that he’s steered this whole conversation from the very start.
“What do you want then.” It’s my turn to demand now, my tone unable to pretend otherwise. He’s frayed my countenance like splitting hairs.
“I want Deadwell.”
My brows pull together a second later as my mind creates a map in my head. “Deadwell? The strip of land at the edge of Fifth?”
He tips his chin. “The very one.”
I look at him suspiciously. “Why?”
“As you said, there have been rumors that I have...encroached on territories outside of my own,” he says, shoulders back and proud, tone unwavering. “To appease such rumors and to pay restitution for Fifth’s unprovoked attack on my border, I will nowtakethat border, which, as acting ruler, you will give me asyoursign of good faith.”
A pause.
Ravinger leans in, and an ominous feeling leans with him, like a brittle tree being blown by the wind. “Otherwise, my army attacks by nightfall.”
I regard him. He regards me.
Thoughts and questions come up one after another.
He wants Deadwell.
Butwhydoes he want Deadwell? I rack my mind, trying to recollect what’s there, but I’m not as familiar with Fifth Kingdom as I am Sixth. Still...I’m fairly certain that it’s just a strip of land between his kingdom and this one, with nothing there except ice.
He’d rather havethatthan his weight in gold? I can’t make heads or tails of it, because I know there’s a catch. There must be.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask him why he wants it, but that’s not how these games are played. We say what we want, without saying what weactuallywant.
“Deadwell,” I repeat, an edge of question in my tone.
Ravinger inclines his head again. “Sign Deadwell over to me, King Midas, and my army leaves.”
I narrow my eyes. “Just like that?”
He gives me a benign look. “My army has been traveling for weeks. Surely, you’ll extend an invitation to me and my soldiers in your newly acquired city so that they may rest and celebrate the avoidance of a war.”
My mouth presses into a firm line. Like hell do I want them in Ranhold. “I do not think—”
He cuts me off. “Of course, you’ll already be hosting another kingdom in a few weeks’ time, won’t you? I’m sure you can see the advantages of having not just one kingdom, but two, to join in your celebrations.”
I go still.
Behind me, I feel my advisors tense, no further scratch of quill against paper.
How thehelldid he find out about Third Kingdom’s traveling party?
I grin through gritted teeth. “Of course. You and your army are more than welcome to rest and replenish yourselves.”
Ravinger grins, the polished teeth of an animal used to chewing on those he defeats.
The chill down my spine is all the confirmation I need. I may have prevented his army from attacking Ranhold, but while I bent to his whim to get them to stayout, I think I may have invited the true threatin.
Chapter 40
AUREN
