“That’s not what Jax was doing.”
“It’s exactly what he was doing.”
I swallow. It’snot. Not really—but maybe we’re splitting hairs too finely. Jax wasn’t deliberately threatening Alek and Lady Karyl, but he was trying to get too much silver out of them. I remember worrying he was pushing too hard, that he was going to end up with a sword in his gut. He kept telling me he had nothing to lose.
And in his case, that was sadly true. I had my sister, but Jax had only a drunk, abusive father who probably would’ve put him in the ground if he could earn a coin for it.
“He wasn’t trying to threaten you,” I say to Alek, but my hands are shaking now. Everything is turned around. “He was just trying to help me. Me and Nora.”
Alek’s eyes are still frozen over, ice cold. “You think I live a life of callous privilege, with no regard for anyone else, despite the fact that I have tried to prove otherwise countless times.” His gaze darkens. “I paid what Jax demanded because I could afford it, and it was obvious that hewasdesperate. But I’ve told you before that I don’t like when people work for nothing more than silver. It makes them far too easy to be swayed by the highest bidder. Jax was playing both sides, and the risks were too great. I cut my losses as soon as I saw an opportunity.”
I freeze, remembering. “You mean the night you came to my bakery.” Alek barely knew me then. I remember how he showed up withbloodstained parchment. I drew a knife because I thought he was going to kill me—but he didn’t.
“Yes. It would have beensimplerto kill him. Easier. You certainly know I had the means, and I rather doubt anyone would’ve much cared. But I didn’t. Because Jax is no more to blame for his birthright and upbringing than I am for mine.”
I have to swallow. I hate how he takes everything I feel certain about, and he turns it on its head.
But he’s right. I didn’t think about it being life or death for him, too.
I inhale to tell him so, but then I consider everything else he did in Briarlock.
“But you fixed my barn,” I say. “That’s where you trapped the queen.”
“I didnothingto the queen,” he snaps.
I swallow. “Fine.They.Wheretheytrapped the queen.”
“As a matter of convenience, I’m sure. I didn’t need to turn your barn into a prison.”
Somehow we’ve gotten closer to the true reason for my visit, without my even intending it. This is why Queen Lia Mara sent me. To hear his warnings and learn what may be truths.
I just don’t know if I can trust him. Everything he said sounds so logical. Sopossible.
Maybe that makes me the biggest fool of all.
Alek sighs. “Let me give you a different story,” he says. “A different course of events.”
I look up. “All right.”
“Imagine if Lady Clarinas—forgive me,Lady Karyl—had arrived at Jax’s forge, and offered him ten silvers to hold a note for another traveler who would arrive later that day. And instead of being flippant and rude and demanding twice as much, Jax accepts thisverygenerous offer and holds the note. When I arrive hours later, instead of finding you both in conversationwith the King’s Courier”—his voice tightens—“Ifind Jax right where he’s supposed to be, right where he waspaidto be: waiting in the forge. He gives me the note, I give him the coins he’s due, and probably a little more, because I’m reassured by his commitment to his duty, and I want to show that loyalty will be rewarded. Imagine how the following weeks would have gone.”
I inhale sharply, and he holds up a finger.
“Imagine it,” he says. “Truly, before you debate with me.”
I let out that breath. “Lady Karyl was rude tohim,” I say.
“From my understanding, he was short and surly from the moment she appeared at the forge.” Alek gives me a look. “I’ve met Jax on several occasions and I have no reason to doubt her accounting.”
Oh, Jax.It doesn’t make her behavior acceptable, but he probablywasshort and surly.
“His entire life was miserable,” I say quietly. “His father—” I stop short, because this isn’t my story to tell, and I don’t want to talk about Jax behind his back. His father is dead anyway. “You don’t understand.”
“But Idounderstand. And it doesn’t matter if he had a reason for being rude. We all make choices for reasons that others don’t comprehend. My point is that you continue to paint me as cruel and vicious and call me aliar, when I’ve been honest with you since the first minute I met you.”
“And you truly had nothing to do with the attack on Queen Lia Mara and Princess Sinna?”
“Nothing at all.”
