“If his grandfather hesitates, tell him that you never cared for the number seven.”
“Thank you.”
A moment passed. Another.
“And what of Selva’s wishes?” Digi asked.
Behind her, her bodyguard clenched her spear.
Everard’s posture was relaxed and his voice calm and measured. “As long as all of the blood stays on your side of the border, Selva will not cross it.”
Oh, how clever. The way he put it could mean that he expected all of the fighting to stay on their side of the border or all of their people, because the Okula referred to their clanspeople asthe blood.
“For how long?” Digi asked.
The Harzi clan territory directly bordered Selva. She wanted to make sure he wouldn’t stab her in the back while she secured her position.
“My quarrel is with the husband of your mother,” Everard said. “Should the Harzi find themselves a newtair, thattaircan count on lasting peace and a calm border.”
“May such atairhave that in writing?” Digi asked.
And she had just questioned his integrity.
A thin curl of black smoke slipped out from Everard, circled around his forearm, and melted into nothing. The bodyguard looked like she might faint at any minute.
“Treaties and accords are made between rulers,” he said. “Become your people’s ruler. Until then, my word must suffice.”
“The Sleepless Duke has never broken a promise to me,” I said. “His word is carved in stone.”Take the hint. You’re pushing too far.
“And if I did go back on my word, she would never let it pass,” he said. What?
Digi looked at me.
“It’s getting late.”Go while you can.
“So it is. Should you wish to have tea without any trade, Lady Maggie, you know where to find me.”
“I would like that.”
Digi pulled the hood over her head. The poor bodyguard woman almost collapsed in relief.
“Kaiden!” I called.
He popped out of thin air in the doorway.
“Please escort our honored guests to the door.”
The two Harzi women departed.
Everard turned to me.
“So the smoke. Do you control it or does it happen on its own . . .”
The dark swirled around him like tongues of some cosmic flame and vanished again. “It’s the start of the Fatefire. The same as Arvel’s radiance just before he shapes his barrier. I find letting it loose at the right time makes an effective statement.”
No shit.
“You made it seem as if I have much more influence over you than I do.”
