On the bed, Kai murmured, his head falling to the side.He made a questioning noise, tilted his face towards River.“River?”
River blinked, the hard edge to his expression softening a fraction.“Welcome back.”
One hand lifted, before falling again, lifeless.“You look tired.”Kai grappled for the edge of the bed, shuffled a little to the side.“Come, take a wee nap.”
River glanced past Kai, sending Lina a look that saidKill me.“I am tired, Kai, I’ve been following your dumb ass around all day, watching you stand there and block a punch with your face.”
Kai scoffed.“Don’t follow, then.”His voice quieted, became sleepier.“Walk beside me next time.”
After a beat, River held out his hands, somewhat helplessly, and said in the gods’ tongue, “Are you even awake enough to deal with this?”
Lina played with her sleeves, hoping to hell it looked like she couldn’t understand him.
Kai didn’t speak at first.“With what?”
“This!You told me to bring her here.I’ve never done an interrogation before.Am I supposed to hurt her?I don’t want to.”
Well, that was good.
With difficulty, Kai shifted onto his elbows, his head bobbing.Slowly he looked around, frowning as he took in his own room; when his eyes landed on Lina he jerked back, startled.
“Oh, yeah,” he whispered, still to River.“My prisoner.”
“Good, you’re all caught up,” River said, impatient.“Do something about her.”
Bit by bit, Kai pushed himself up until he was sitting cross-legged.He rubbed circles in his temples, his eyes falling shut.“We should bring her to Saros,” he said gradually, still in the gods’ tongue.“But then…” Cursing, he looked to River.“How much d’you think Ineen’ll hate me if I get this one killed?”
Lina felt the blood drain from her face, imagining public drownings, ice blades skewering her, hundreds of eyes watching, jeering.She fought the urge to jump up, to say, frantic,She’ll despise you, of course!Menon above, you can’t give me to the Archpriest!
“A lot, probably?”Kai prompted.
Immeasurably!
Crossing his arms, River leaned against the wall, looking sour.“Oh, yes,” he deadpanned.“We can’t have her hating you.”
Lina felt herself nodding and stopped.Yes!You don’t want that, do you?
Finally Kai let his hands fall and looked imploringly to Lina.“Give me a reason,” he said in the common tongue, “You want to live?Convince me.”
Lina’s heart thumped, caught in her throat.“I – I didn’t – I didn’t want your brother to kill you, so I – ”
He waved a hand.“I don’t give a shit about what you’ve already done.What can you offer menow?”
Lina stared, the weight of his words sinking in.“Information.”
Kai nodded, but River released a harried breath.“We can’t expect her information to be any good,” he hissed.“She’ll say anything to get herself out of this.”
Kai smiled, unfazed.“And she’s alone here, surrounded by countless spellcasters who would gladly strike her down if she gave herself away.”He held up a hand, which shockingly stopped River from interrupting.“And one warden who knows a couple of tricks to keep her docile.”
Lina held his gaze, wringing her hands together so he couldn’t see how they shook.“I’ll live, then,” she whispered.“Cast a ward, silence my magic, anything – but I’ll live in peace.”
“And with your secret kept.”His smile turned mean, flinty.“So long as you have something interesting for me.”
Dread skittered across her skin.There was one thing she could give, one thing she’d never have the chance to unless she was exposed.She hoped it was enough.
She hoped she wouldn’t regret it later.
“Then let me tell you,” she said, summoning Ione’s holy countenance, her ice-cold flame.“about Castor and Rigel.”
