I took her silence as confirmation. She was one of the flax farmers.
“His Highness is planning to limit witch weavers to their specialty fabrics and convince them to source from Vandil farmers. The textile merchants will have to go back to human-made linen and you will get additional business from the witches, if you wish it,” I said, closing my eyes briefly as my head pounded. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Don’t think you can lie your way out of this.” Her voice was hesitant now, but her grip on me tightened.
Pounding boots sounded from the way I came. Members of the Royal Guard appeared, some on horseback, but most on foot. I had taken their horses. Lord Frederick and the crown prince led them, their faces grave.
Why was Bennett here? He was terrified of fire.
My assailant tried to pull me back into an alleyway, but we had already been spotted.
“Stop right there!” Lord Frederick shouted.
The dagger bit into my skin. I flinched as blood trickled down my throat. “Stay back!” the farmer shouted, fully panicked. “Stay back or I’ll kill her!”
“Don’t do anything stupid,” I muttered.
Bennett dismounted from an unfamiliar stallion, face tight. “Release Lady Narcissa at once.”
The farmer’s legs were shaking like a newborn fawn, no doubt unused to the role of assassin.
“Do as they say,” I said quietly. “They won’t hurt you.”
She dropped me and fled. The blade nicked the back of my neck and clattered to the ground beside my knees, stained red. A slip of paper fell beside it. Almost on instinct, I stuffed it into my pocket.
Shouts came from the guards as they pursued the farmer. I only hoped she hid somewhere sensible.
Someone hauled me up by my upper arms. The scent of cedar and spices identified him well enough, but I didn’t have the strength to stand myself. I fell against his chest.
“You’re bleeding,” Bennett said, attempting to hold me upright. His face swam in my vision, speckled with growing black spots. His brows were knit, hazel eyes dark despite the glow from the gas lamps.
Heavens, he was beautiful. I could stare at him forever.
Bennett’s hand cupped the back of my head. “Narcissa? Say something.Please.” I detected a note of panic, but I couldn’t be sure from the blood rushing to my ears.
“Make sure...make sure the horses get their sugar cubes,” I managed to say before darkness overtook me.
