Lestara’s smile melted away, and her eyes burned with rising hatred. “Then I’ll leave you with a warning, Keris. William knows that I was cruelly used by Petra. He knows I didn’t plan for what happened in Vencia. He believes in my ability to do good, and he will put down anyone who stops me from doing so.” Her eyes moved to the bloodstains on his shirt. “Including you. I suggest you run home to your wife while you still can, but I’ve heard neither she nor her people miss your presence. I wonder what they must think knowing that you’re partially to blame for the loss of trade through the bridge. Yet another nation you can claim to have starved.”
With a swirl of skirts and gleaming jewels, the queen of Harendell strode from the room.
Saam came back in, Fiona’s leash in one hand. His expression was drawn, eyes grim. “There’s news from the spies in Riomar.”
“Well?”
“James Ashford’s body was found in the Blackreaches,” his friend said, shutting the door behind him. “They say Ahnna Kertell killed him.”
48
Ahnna
It had been no easything getting all the supplies they needed ready, but with James bitterly complaining to Carlo about foul smells, he’d secured vinegar to clean his cell, which Ahnna had used to separate the fats from their soap into oil that would burn. “The rope vine will serve as a wick,” she softly explained. “And we’ll have what amounts to an oil lamp, though it won’t last as long as we might like.”
Neither of them bothered mentioning that time was the one thing they were running out of. While pouring vinegar down on James, Carlo had gleefully told them that Aren had agreed to meet with Mother to discuss an alliance.
“I don’t know what he’s thinking,” Ahnna muttered, carefully setting her cup full of oil where it was out of sight from above, wrapping her shirt around it so there was no risk it would spill. “Katarina has attacked us so many times over the years. How can Aren possibly believe that she’s negotiating in good faith?”
“I doubt he does.” James sighed, the sound barely audible through the opening. “He’s banking on the old enmity between Harendell and Amarid forcing Katarina to play fair. This entire strategy hangs upon Harendell being the mutual enemy, and it sounds as though Alexandra is doing everything she can to convince Aren that Harendell is coming for blood.”
“It seems so obvious that it’s a trick.”
He gave a soft snort. “Harendellians and Amaridians hate each other the same way Maridrinians and Valcottans do. Or used to, at any rate. The idea that the queens are allied won’t even cross anyone’s minds.”
The sun began to fade overhead, and Ahnna looked up, watching as dusk settled over Riomar. “You ready?” she asked as she heard the wardens doing their rounds.
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Prisoner, approach!”
At the sound of the female warden, Ahnna scurried beneath the opening. “Help! We need help!”
The warden ignored her, and water rained down, soaking her.
Wiping it from her eyes, Ahnna shouted, “It’s James! He’s sick!”
The warden’s voice was amused as she said, “You aren’t the first to try this, prisoner. I’m sure you won’t be the last to fail.”
“It’s no trick!” Ahnna sobbed. “Someone came by last night and threw extra food into our cells. I told him not to eat it, but he was so hungry.”
“Waste!”
The thin lines of vine dropped down, but Ahnna didn’t fasten her bucket. “Please! He needs help.”
James groaned audibly from his cell, and knowing the warden could see her from above, Ahnna cast a panicked look in his direction. “I think he’s been poisoned.”
“Very convincing.” The warden dropped food on Ahnna’s head. “You missed your calling on the stage.”
“Please!” Ahnna shrieked. “You know she wants him alive!”
“And I know this is just a trick.”
The warden moved away, and Ahnna bit down on a curse and instead shouted, “What will Carlo do to you if you allow hisglorious fucking nemesisto die in a hole while you do nothing?”
The retreating shadow stopped moving for a moment.
“If this decision is above your rank, send for Carlo,” Ahnna called up. “But if you do nothing, I would not put it past him to wall you into one of your own cells, you stupid bitch!”
