The prince came out from around the table to stand next to the king. “You are scaring them, Hinnom. They are not used to your dramatics.”
“Dramatic, am I?” asked the king, demonstrating his brother’s words. “I asked the best of my men, the slickest thieves, the fastest runners, the hardest riders, best in bow, sword, fists, best in all, to bring me the Council of Ten and slaughter any Ecclestonian governors alongside their fellow troops, but, no, they bring me these useless women!”
Now he seemed angry and my heart fell in my chest. We could not persuade mercy from this man.
“Sire. They’re in hiding,” interjected the general. “They have gone underground in recent weeks. They feared an invasion. Alric did his best to look for them and I sent out some of my men to help. They were not to be found anywhere in that city.”
“So, why bring me these women?” asked the king.
The prince tried again. “Brother, an explanation will present itself if you—”
“Shut your fucking mouth, Peregrine!” Hinnom hollered.
21. Brass
“My king,” said a new voice, this time from the table on the left. The slender man with white blond hair and a refined face of perhaps forty winters was standing. He was wearing the black cotton and leather of the military men, but over it was that rich, embroidered robe of mossy greens and browns. “My king,” he repeated, his words and expression warm. “May I approach you and the lady, so as to offer my counsel?”
“Cian, Cian, Cian,” sighed Hinnom. “If you must, priest. Quickly!” He sort of sang out the last word.
The blond man stepped out from behind his table and approached, but his steps led towards me, not his ruler. He approached me with caution and a friendly face. “Madam,” he began, addressing me. “May I hold your hand? Your left hand?” He held out both of his.
Awkwardly, I extended my tattooed hand.
He took it in his own dry, slim-fingered hands, one caressing my hand from beneath and one from above. “Madam, be at peace. I will not harm you.”
“Mad priest, what are you about?” said Hinnom.
“Let Cian do what he needs,” said the prince.
The blond man rubbed his hands over my hand, lifting the one on top and inspecting the tattoo the way Hinnom had. Then he smiled at me. “Lady Edie, I believe you’ve earth magic in you.”
Around me, a ripple of interest fluttered through the other people in this chamber of horrors. Behind me, I heard Mischa’s and Maureen’s intakes of breath.
“Oh, does she now!” said Hinnom. “Marvelous! And it be earth magic! Very nice, very lucky! Alright, keep her and kill the rest.”
“No!” I shouted.
The chamber went deathly still.
Cian dropped my hand in surprise.
I thought I heard Alric inhale.
What had I done? What in the name of every god ever worshipped had I just done? I was surely dead now.
Hinnom turned to me, his mouth curling upward. “My, my. You are a bold one, madam. Bold as brass, as your countrymen say.”
“I apologize,” I gasped out. “I am sorry, sire. I am not used to royalty.”
He took me in, pulling away from his brother, stepping past where Cian stood so that he was right up against me, his face peering down at mine. “I know that you are from a kingless, as well as a godless, place. But, beautiful priestess,” and he paused to run an icy hand over my braid crown. “I have killed men for breathing the wrong way in my presence. Know this. For there will not be a second mistake. Not for you, Lady Edie. Not now.”
“You are most merciful, your highness,” I whispered up into his face, searching the depths of those eyes for any sign of lenience.
Hinnom stepped back from me and turned towards his brother and the blond man called Cian. “Very well, then, she can yet live. But the rest are quite useless to me.” He directed his last words to Alric. “You know I cannot use them for ransom. Eccleston doesn’t have priestesses for their old saint. They will not renegotiate a trade agreement for nine common women.”
“One of us is a Tigon,” I blurted out. I ignored all the gazes on me, looking to the king, who was livid. “One of us is a Tigon,sire.”
Hinnom waved his hand towards me. “Well, she can obviously live! Perhaps she can be of use to our cause. That is no name to be sneered at. Which one is she?” He looked past me to the other women and I prayed none of them looked at Catrin.
