“I’ll send Salom.”
His suggestion doesn’t sit right with me. Possibly because the humans referred to Salom as ‘the Flesher.’ What if he reaps them with his iron blade?
“Why send your general when you’ve got me?”
“Because I don’t want to risk you flying the other way, toward another nest of king-haters.”
I suck in my teeth, annoyed by his disbelief. “You seriously think I’m planning on sneaking off to Lev’s house right now?”
I plant my feet wide, bringing us both to another standstill.
“That’s simply offensive.” I try to pry his fingers off my elbow.
He wends them tighter. “People I’ve known forever have betrayed me. My caution isn’t that farfetched.”
“What would I gain by stirring up shit in a kingdom that isn’t even mine?”
“You’re obviously embroiled in my kingdom if the Cauldron sees you killing someone on my land.”
I’m half tempted to deny that I’ll be killing anyone, but the king’s not a dolt. “Since we’re being so honest with one another, I have a question for you:ifit is your sister I end up unaliving, how will you react?”
“What do you mean?”
“Will you seek revenge?”
“On who?”
“Onme.”
“The only revenge I’ll seek will be against the person who resuscitated her. Why in the four realms did you jump to the conclusion that I’d harmyou?” His face must be turned toward mine, because his searing breaths clout my forehead.
“My parents are worried you might.”
His grip grows lax enough that, if I wanted to pull free, I could. “My father may not have been a perfect man or a perfect ruler, but he didn’t deserve to be killed in cold blood by his own daughter.” More brisk exhales warm my face. “Please reassure your parents. Or better yet, ask them to come back so I can make them the promise face-to-face.”
“You already swore an oath to my mother. She’s going to call it in soon.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Yes. Good. In case they doubt my word, at least they’ll have a magical reassurance of my sincerity.”
I suddenly wish I could see his face to gauge his genuineness. “Glad to hear you don’t want to slay me.”
“I may stillwantto slay you; I just won’t be capable of it.” If humor weren’t coloring his tone, I’d unhook our fingers and flock right back to Luce. But he is smiling.
…I think.
“How long will your listening sigil hold?”
“A week. Two, if we’re lucky. It’s only the blood applied to the skin that fades fast. Wood is denser, so it retains blood longer. Stone holds it forever.” Before he can deem me a fool, I add, “I looked for some in the tavern, but everything was made of either lumber or tiles.”
“What about glass?”
“It’s denser than wood, so unless another sorceress lifts my blood, or someone shatters the cup, our link to the tavern should last.”
“Clever.”
