“Thalvar and Valneth are in an alliance,” Hans replies, filling in the last piece of the puzzle I need.
“Thank you. Let me know if you need anything else.” I walk away.
Gliding effortlessly between tables, I plant seeds of doubt in the hearts of Khalessor’s people. Every smile I’ve offered and every favor I’ve granted has laid the groundwork for me to unravel the kingdom at my fingertips. It will already be too late when they realize the roots of mistrust have taken hold.
“I heard Horatio is unfaithful to his wife,” I tell the soldiers from Corovya. “I saw him pinning a servant girl against the wall at the castle.”
Horatio’s reputation is already in shambles after Noctalis, but I can’t help myself; it’s too fun. I feel a sudden rush course through me, a thirst for more power. For the first time in my life, I am the warlord dominating the realm.
The soldiers let out a collective gasp, muttering words of disapproval under their breath. “The nerve after he lost all that money,” one soldier comments. “Why bother with this job?”
Moving to the following table, I find my next target. There’s a table of young men all playing a game of Mysticrunes. “Have any of you heard about the rebellion?” I ask quietly.
One of the young boys nods. “They wear bronze armor and the colors blue and gold. Their banners fly a wolf.”
“Thank you.” I pat him on the shoulder as I walk away, empty cups in tow.
Moving to the back of the tavern, I make bets with the thieves who frequently throw knives at the makeshift targets on the wall. “If you make this, I’ll tell you how the Duke of Thalvar cheats his taxes,” I say, causing the men to sneer in excitement. The knives both sink into the bullseye, hitting the mark perfectly.
“Pay up.” The rugged Elvarran demands.
I lean in close. “He’s got blackmail on several collectors. The treasury is probably overflowing with gold. Sounds like an easy target for looting if you ask me.”
The two men eye each other deviously, the wheels turning in their minds as they consider my words. I watch as they flick the knives between their fingertips, itching for the next strike.
“Have fun,” I muse, walking away.
The air hums with quiet resentment, every conversation edged like a blade. All of it is my doing. My plotting. My plans. I am the hand that topples kings and brings ruin to courts. The banquet tomorrow will be the final piece; the Scorpion’s Haze will end my adversary.
The grandfather clock strikes, signaling the end of my shift. As I leave the tavern, I notice the number of people in the street. Many are wrapped in scraps of long cloth and various blankets to keep warm in the snow, their palms outstretched as they beg for a coin.
“You there, halfling girl!” I hear someone call out.
Turning, I see Renwick hobbling over to me. His wrinkled hands wrap around the front of my cloak as he yanks meforward. Renwick’s one eye looks weary and desperate as it meets mine.
“You have to help me,” he begs. “I’m starvin’.”
Sighing. I pull out two silver coins from my satchel and give them to him. “Here.” I place it in his calloused palm.
“T-thank yew.” He closes his fingers around the coins. “I haven’t eaten in days.”
“Are all these people starving?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
Renwick nods, not saying another word before he scurries away. I glance around at all the people on the street as I pass, wondering how they are going to sleep in the snow. The weather is getting severe, and the snow is piling up thickly on the roofs.
I did this.
A pit forms in my gut, but I push it quickly away. I have to bury this remorse temporarily, because if I falter now, all of this will be for naught. We are at war. There are always blades sharpening on the sidelines, ready to strike and claim power for themselves.
I ascend the castle steps, moving quickly through the entryway. I turn down the corridor that leads to my room, tired from the lack of sleep I got the night before. My body is beckoning for rest with every step, my eyelids heavy.
There’s an echo of voices carrying down the hall, and as I round the corner, I see Casimir and Gilead walking towards me. I slow my steps, turning subtly in the other direction to avoid the King. We haven’t spoken since our tryst, mostly because I’ve been battling with my conflicting feelings of lust and deceit.
“Raelys, wait one moment,” Casimir calls out to me, causing me to freeze in place. He speaks in a hushed tone toGilead, who nods and walks away, leaving us alone. “Where are you headed?”
“Back to my room,” I reply, still feeling slightly tense in his presence.
“Then let me walk with you.” Casimir closes the distance between us, stopping at my side.
