Etri showed me his teeth. “I am aware of the stakes, wizard. You would not be our first foe. Nor our last.”
“Do not misunderstand me,” I said. “I point this out only because it benefits us all to find a way forward without such conflict.”
“Agreed,” King Etri said. “But I did not initiate these events. In the absence of this proof you claim exists, Thomas Raith’s life is forfeit. If you wish peace, that is the only way forward.”
I had to work to keep from clenching my hands and jaw in frustration.
Etri studied my face for a moment and then relaxed back into his seat. “Understand, wizard, that I know that you swept Raith from custody. I have no evidence to bring before an Accorded judge, of course, but do not think me blind or foolish. I can see how I was manipulated by Lara Raith so that you could free her brother. That became obvious the moment the alliance between Winter and the White Court was made known.”
I stared at him and said nothing.
“We have looked for Thomas Raith, of course,” Etri said. “There are comparatively few places and beings who might be able to successfully hide him from our agents and our spells. I did not initially think you skilled enough to be one of them. I have since altered that supposition.”
The crystal that contained Thomas’s physical body was the closest thing to truly impervious I had ever seen, both magically and physically. When Demonreach buttoned something up, it stayed buttoned.
I tilted my head to one side and said nothing.
“Out of respect for Mab, I have reserved my judgment of you, thus far,” Etri said. “And wizards meddle. It is what they do.”
“Meaning?” I asked.
“Many things are not what they seem. Your conduct in this matterwill show me who you are,” he said. “If you prove false, you will find yourself my enemy and the enemy of my people. Believe that we will make your life an affliction for the world to see.”
I wanted to swallow very, very badly.
“Resolve it with honor,” Etri continued, “and you may yet retain our respect. Do you understand?”
“Yeah,” I said. “Either I bring you proof that a damned near untraceable and undetectable entity was manipulating events, I hand over Raith to be executed—”
“Tortured and executed,” Etri interjected. “We do not take treachery lightly.”
“Tortured and executed,” I corrected, “or you declare war on me personally. Which Mab is likely to let me handle on my own.”
“You have until one year from the day you took Thomas Raith from us. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” I said.
Etri’s tone gentled. “I take no pleasure in this,” he said. “My people are craftsmen. We are content to create, to live, and to let live. But a life was taken from us. It will be answered for. There are no other options.” He rose from the table.
I rose to match him and inclined my head.
For a second, Etri looked tired. “We all love. This is understandable. But death is death. I like you, wizard. I would prefer it if you did not make yourself my enemy.”
“I would prefer that as well.”
Etri nodded firmly. “We cannot control all things. What will be will be.” He turned to nod respectfully to McAnally, beckoned his bodyguard, and left. They both took their bottles with them.
Mac watched them go and then nodded approvingly to me. He bent over and came up with a wooden box full of bottles. He grunted and set it down on the bar in front of Bear.
Bear beamed at him, finished her bottle in a long pull, and rose. She took up the box and we walked toward the door.
“You’re not going to make my job easy, are you?” she asked.
“That’s why you get paid the big bucks.” I sighed.
“King Etri,” she said, “and his people.”
“Yeah?”
