Page 104 of Given to the Black King

“Can you catch him?”

“I did.”

Of course she did.

“Where is he?”

“Somewhere private. He is considering his answers.” Her slit pupils narrow. “The sergeant does not know the courier is gone.”

“So we let him move.”

“We let him show us everyone he bought.”

Torgan comes through the treaty-room door behind me.

Vess straightens.

“The envoy remains inside after dark,” he says.

“No,” I say.

He looks at me.

Vess’s mouth bends. She enjoys this far too much.

“You remain guarded,” he says.

“Yes.”

“You do not walk the night garden.”

“No.”

His claws emerge.

Vess studies the ceiling.

“I am not going into the garden for pleasure,” I say. “But if the sergeant believes I am frightened into my rooms, he may wait. We need him to move before Osk does.”

“We can arrest him now.”

“And learn nothing beyond one paid guard.”

“He reached for you once already by taking silver.”

“He has not reached for me yet.”

Torgan steps closer.

“He will not.”

“That is not a plan.”

“It is the result.”

I take his hand before he can put it through the wall.

His claws remain out. I fit my fingers between them.