“Your Majesty, you have visitors. They claim it is urgent.”
Slaide walked in before Hazel. He sketched a full bow, and Hazel followed his lead.
Magnus squinted at Slaide as though he could see his true intentions. He then looked at Hazel, who bowed far longer than she needed to.
“Well, is one of you going to start talking or are you just here to waste my time?” he grumbled.
“No, Your Majesty. We do not wish to waste your time.” The words choked out of Slaide. He rarely had it in him to address the King appropriately and with such decorum, but they needed Magnus to hear them out.
Even though he knew this was likely a futile effort, they had to try. Slaide knew Magnus was aware of how Slaide felt about enslaving people. Slaide also knew Magnus was well aware of what would happen to his kingdom if his subjects ever learned the truth.
“I hope,” King Magnus began, “you’ve come with good news about my prisoner, there. Need I remind you that the next trial is tonight? Wouldn’t want you to forget about our little deal.” The venom-coated words dripped from his tongue.
Slaide balked at the mention of the bargain.Now is not the time for this…
“On the contrary, I come to you with information that I—thatwe—feel is of the utmost importance. It is in regard to…” He looked over at Hazel, unsure what the King would think about her knowing he’s keeping slaves.This could end poorly…He cleared his throat before continuing. “There seems to be a lack of proper training and oversight at Blackrock.”
Magnus sat up straighter, eyebrow cocked in apparent curiosity.
Well, that piqued his interest.Here goes nothing,Slaide thought.
“And what, pray tell, seems to be the problem?” King Magnus leaned forward in his obsidian throne, resting his elbows upon his knees. He placed his hands together, aligning his fingertips in a way that suggested he was already thinking he knew where this conversation was going. Probably contemplating their demise.
“Your Majesty, with all due respect, the guardsmen, foremen, and overseers at Blackrock are running the workers into the ground. There isn’t enough for any of them to eat, their sleeping quarters are cramped, generating unsanitary conditions, and that’s assuming they get to sleep at all. They’re being workedto the bone, quite literally, and beaten when they take a break. While we were there, a man received ten lashes?—”
“Andwhywere the two of you there in the first place?” He glared.
Choose your words carefully, Slaide.“This one has been tough to crack,” Slaide responded, glancing at Hazel, hoping she would go along with it. He was walking such a dangerous line. “She’s… not giving me much to go on, and I thought I could scare her into submission by taking her there. But the conditions… Your Majesty… they are unacceptable. They are being treated worse than animals, let alone workers.”
“I think you’ll do well to remember that those areprisonworkers. No, they did not choose to work for me in my mines, but why should they? Each of them has been charged with a crime against this kingdom, be it treason or supporting a traitor in some way or another, amongst other crimes. They are criminals and will be treated as such, not given posh amenities with their every whim catered to.”
Slaide’s polite façade began to crack.“While I do understand your position, Majesty, Iinsistyou see it for yourself if my word is not enough. Consider what kind of message you’re trying to send.”
Slaide’s temper was rising. If word of this got out, the reign of Magnus Ragnaroth would come crashing down around him. And the man didn’t even pretend to care.
As expected, Magnus only shrugged and sipped from his goblet. He set it back down before speaking again. “You know as well as anyone, Slaide Elias, how hard I have worked to get this kingdom under control. To make it a more prosperous, habitable place where people can raise their families.”
He looked directly at Hazel, then back at Slaide. “Preventing and punishing magic usage is one of the ways we keep this land safe. You of all people should understand, considering itis you who does most of my bidding. Does your little pet know her knight in shining armor is really a bloodthirsty demon in disguise? Does she know she’s befriended a monster who will sell her secrets to the highest bidder?”
Slaide’s face flushed with anger and a touch of embarrassment, of uncertainty. Without saying anything at all, Slaide had effectively said too much.
“Oh, ho, ho,” he crooned. “Don’t tell me you’re falling for the magical little bitch? This is too good. Too good, indeed. Well, I hope she gives you a good lay before tonight. There’s a good chance she won’t even recognize you after the mirror is done with her. Don’t forget the Archmage expects to receive custody of her after the entertainment ends, whether that’s with her losing—or by some miracle she wins—per our agreement. He says the Prime Magus is most intrigued with her. And I have to admit, I am as well.” He smiled down at her, his wine-stained teeth stretched into a suggestive smirk.
Well, since it had been brought up, Slaide might as well set the record straight. “No, our agreement was that I was going to find out if she can truly access magic, and if so what kind, while preparing her to participate in the tournament. Only if I failed was she to be handed over to those bloodlusting basilisks. If I didn’t fail, and if she were to be successful, she’d have a shot at becoming your champion,” Slaide growled. He did not want to have this conversation in front of Hazel.
“And so, you mean to tell me youhaven’tfailed? You should have led with that.” Magnus scowled.
“I haven’t failed until the night of the ball comes to pass and I come up empty handed. So, no.”
Hazel looked from Slaide to Magnus and back to Slaide again, fiddling with that pendant around her neck.
His heart sank, but part of him wanted to scream at her for being so foolish. She shouldn’t have been surprised that Slaide had made a bet on her life. Used her as a bargaining chip.
He could see it on her face as clear as day, the betrayal. The broken trust. The realization that all of this actually meant nothing to him; he was every bit the monster he claimed to be.
“I wonder,” Magnus said with mischief gleaming in his eye. “How much does she know about you, Slaide? She seems far too comfortable with you to know the truth. Thewholetruth, that is. Does she know your past? Does she know how far back your history with herreallygoes? Oh, yes. So, you’ve pieced it together too, I take it? The Fates are fickle beings, aren’t they?”
Slaide took a step back as though he could back out of this mess. Yes, he had pieced some things together over the past few days he’d spent with Hazel. He couldn’t tell her, though. It would ruin the progress he’d made in getting her to let her walls down. He’d seen her magic multiple times and probably had enough information to make Magnus happy. But he’d also learned more about her.
