Shalador's Lady
think of any other way to say it, so he said it straight out. “She thought you were going to fall in love with Kermilla.”
Gray’s eyes widened. “Why would she think that? Did I do something?”
Ranon shook his head. “Theran’s been making such an ass of himself, I guess Cassidy figured the rest of us were attracted to Kermilla too.”
Gray shuddered. Ranon shared the feeling.
“Come on,” Ranon said. “We’ve got to pack up and get out.”
“Ranon?” Gray did a nervous shuffle from one foot to the other.
“What?”
“You didn’t invite her to this meeting, so which one of us is going to tell Vae?”
“What’s on your mind, Powell?” Talon asked as soon as they were alone in the Steward’s office.
“Were you aware that Theran has been driving Kermilla all around town, introducing her to the aristo families here and . . .” Powell cleared his throat and suddenly got busy stacking account ledgers into neat piles before vanishing them.
“And . . . ?” Talon prodded. When Powell didn’t answer, anger began to simmer under a reluctance to understand. “He’s introduced her as the Queen?”
“Not directly,” Powell said. “I believe he’s introduced her as a Queen from Dharo and has not corrected people who made the wrong assumption.”
“What kind of game is he playing?” What kind of game did I allow him to play? Cassidy’s pain—and the fact that it ran so deep she’d been ready to run—was as much his fault as Theran’s.
Powell sighed. Calling in some small slips of paper, he handed them to Talon. “Kermilla wanted to do some shopping. Theran ordered the merchants to open accounts for her since she hadn’t brought sufficient marks with her to pay for extra expenses. So she said.”
“Which means Theran will end up paying those bills from the treasure Lia hid for the family.”
“No, Theran told the merchants all of Kermilla’s expenses would be covered by the town’s tithe to the Queen.”
“What?”
“Kermilla spent more in a day than Cassidy spent in all the weeks she’s been here.” Powell paused. “The merchants wanted confirmation that they could deduct Kermilla’s purchases from the tithe. I told them I would let them know as soon as I had a chance to discuss this with the Queen. The merchants who remained in Grayhaven are well aware of the dangers of dealing with a Queen. By not giving immediate confirmation, I’ve warned them to be wary of further transactions.”
Talon prowled the room for several minutes while Powell packed up the maps he’d been gathering for Cassidy.
“We’ll concede the town of Grayhaven,” Talon said. “Theran can have fifty percent of the tithe to use as he pleases. The other half goes to the treasury to pay the guards’ wages and maintain the town. I’ll clear it with Cassidy, but I’ll ask her to accept my decision and give up that much.”
“In exchange for what?” Powell asked.
Talon shook his head. In exchange for nothing. At least, nothing he was willing to discuss with Powell.
He felt a respectful tap on his first inner barrier. “Ranon is on his way down. The boy cleared out his room fast.”
“He wants to be gone.” Powell rubbed his left hand. “So do I.”
Talon sighed. “I raised Theran, taught him as best I could. Tried to hold on to the Old Ways even when I could feel them slipping away with each generation. I fought to keep him safe. I killed to keep him safe. You don’t know how much it hurts to see him giving himself to Kermilla. I can’t decide if protecting him from the twisted Queens all his life has made him blind to the kind of woman Kermilla is, or if he senses that something isn’t right but is defending her because he can’t admit he might be wrong about her. I can’t decide—but tonight I’m wondering if men wasted their lives by defending the Grayhaven bloodline.”
He shook his head and raised a hand, indicating he didn’t want a response.
A moment later, Ranon walked into the room—and Talon walked out.
CHAPTER 11
TERREILLE
*T alon,* Cayle said. *We’ve got the horses loaded in the livestock Coach. Haele and Burne are at the station. Everyone else is gone.*
*Then go,* Talon replied. *I’m last man out.*
*See you in Eyota.*
*Yes, you will. May the Darkness embrace you.*
Standing outside the Grayhaven mansion, Talon watched the sun rise—and felt the light begin to drain the power from his demon-dead flesh. Smarter to stay here until sundown, but
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