But Jax blinks, and the dark look is gone. “Make it so he’s not,” he says softly. He gives my arm a gentle nudge. “You’re good at that.”
I consider that, then turn back toward Bailey, holding his gaze. “When I freed the scraver . . . did you really keep it a secret?”
He nods vigorously. “I did! I swear to you, I did! I thought Master Journ was going to turn me out when I wouldn’t say anything, but he didn’t.”
That sounds so earnest that I almost smile. “Good.” I hesitate, hoping I’m not making the wrong choice here. “Can you keep another one?”
He inhales sharply, but before he says a word, I dip a hand in the pouch at my waist and withdraw five silvers.
Bailey’s eyes go wide as dinner plates. “Y- yes. Yes, my lord.”
“I’m not a Truthbringer,” I say quietly. My eyes flick toward Jax. “He’s not either.”
“But . . . you’re here for their meeting.” Bailey’s face twists as he processes this information. Realization dawns. “If you’re not a Truthbringer, then who do you spy for?” he says, his voice lit with sudden intrigue. “The king?” His eyes skip down to my black armor. “Or . . . the queen?”
“That depends on what we find out,” I say, and his eyes shoot wide again.
A roar goes up from the tourney crowd, which means too much time has passed since we dragged him back here. The first matches must be starting. Bailey looks worriedly toward the end of the narrow tunnel, and I’m sure he’s very late for his duties now.
Jax automatically shifts, prepared to block his path, and the boy clenches his jaw. I wonder if he’s going to aim a kick at Jax’s knee next.
“Bailey,” I say urgently. “It’s important that no one knows I’ve been here before. If you’re asked what happened, don’t tell anyone you saw me. Just say some Syssal soldiers roughed you up and let you go when the tourney started. That’s it.” I jingle the coins. “Can I trust you?”
That gets his attention. He nods vigorously again, so I hold out my hand, dropping two silvers into his palm.
He frowns, closing his fingers around the coins. “What about the rest?”
I hesitate, weighing my options, wondering how much I can trust a kid— and realizing that even if I do, it’s still not the most reckless part of our plan.
“If you want the other three,” I say, “you have to earn it.”
His eyes finally narrow. Maybe there’s a little savvy practicality in there after all. “How?”
“You need to show us how to find the meeting.”
He glances between us again. This must not be what he was expecting, because his mouth twists worriedly, and again he looks toward the end of the tunnel. Whatever Truthbringers have assembled here must be very intimidating.
Then again, I consider the way I first met him. I consider the way he fought to escape us.
Maybe everyone is.
His eyes are still tight with concern, but he says, “All right. I’ll show you.”
I let out a breath. “Good.”
He puts out his empty hand, his expression shifting into determination. “But it’s going to cost you six.”
I almost choke on my breath, but Jax grins, then laughs softly. “I like this kid.”
“Six,” I mutter. “Honestly.” I scowl and fish more coins out of my pouch.
Bailey still has a hand outstretched, but before I let go of the coins, Jax reaches out, closing his fingers around mine. He looks at Bailey and loses the smile. “Two first,” he says in Emberish. “The rest when we get tomeeting.”
Bailey blinks at him in surprise, but then his expression sharpens. “Four first.”
“Three.” Jax takes a step closer, until standing turns to looming. His voice drops, that dark look returning to his eye. “And if you lie, we take back.”
Bailey blanches again, and for a moment, he looks like he wants to throw all the coins back at us and be done with this altogether. But he gathers his mettle and gives a sharp nod. “D- done.”
