“The madam.Itain’t’er.’E wantsit thought it’s ’er.But she’s scared as piss.”He turned to Cora and thequeens.“Sorry,miladies.”Back to Marlow.“’E’sscared the knickers off ’er, ’e ’as.She don’t want no more trouble from ’im.”He then jerked his head to Loren.
“And so these kill orders came from…?”Marlow demanded.
“From ’is lordship.Derryman.”
A charge shot through the room, this coming fromSatrine.
“My father ordered my mother killed?”she asked.
Buttersnatchturned to her andnodded.“And you.And your lord.And ’is da.”
“Darling,” Loren said quietly asSatrine,unsurprisingly appearing struck, stared at the man on his knees.
“He ordered my mother and me killed,” she pressed.
“Yes, milady,”Buttersnatchconfirmed.
“He brought us here, used and imprisoned us, we had to learnto fend for ourselves,” she stated.
“Tor,” Loren heard Cora whisper.
“I know, my love.Later,” Tor whispered back.
“And now he wants us dead, taking with us the two men whomade us safe here.Made us a family,”Satrinefinished.
Buttersnatchwatched her closely,then nodded.
She turned to Loren.“Can you take me home, honey?”
He looked to his king.
Tor nodded.
Satrinelooked to Tor and Cora.“It’s been my honor, but—”
Cora cut her off.“Go, we’ll see you later.”
Loren went toSatrine, took herhand and curled it around his elbow.
He didn’t break stride as he led her out of the room, whenhe asked Marlow, “You’ll continue hunting?”
“Middy and Holt arrive this eve.The job will be done by theend of the week.”
It was Wednesday, so that seemed about right.
Loren nodded.
Then he set about getting his bride home.
Tor
They were all lounging on the couches.
They had wine.
Their company had all just left.
And Cora started it, eyes to thedahksahna.
