Total pages in book: 222
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 210715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1054(@200wpm)___ 843(@250wpm)___ 702(@300wpm)
“You seek to accuse the tair of Blood-burning. The tair who betrays the clan in the name of self-interest burns the blood of their people and isn’t worthy to rule.”
Digi nodded. “You know our ways.”
“You need three crimes to prove his guilt. The poisoning of your father is one.”
“The corruption of trade is the other. The tair has put his sister, Tarak’s mother, in charge of the silk trade. She has embezzled funds and distributed them through the family with the tair’s knowledge. She has been clever about it, but she shared her scheme with my cousin. Tarak is a soft man, unaccustomed to any discomfort.”
Oh, there had been a hell of a lot of discomfort, I was sure. The Harzi were not known for their gentleness when it came to interrogating prisoners.
“You need a third crime. Is that your final question?”
“Yes,” Digi said. “Give me a third crime that the tair committed. Something I can take back to my people to prove the Blood-burning.”
Her stepfather had done a lot of shady shit. Let’s see, what would qualify and have the right emotional weight to enrage the clan?
Ah. That.
“There is a man named Amur among your retainers. Do you trust him?”
“Yes.”
“Amur’s grandfather travels to the Mountain Temple every year at midsummer, during the longest day. This year Amur should accompany his grandfather to the temple. You must secretly meet them there. Don’t tell Amur’s grandfather of this plan. Let it be a surprise.”
Digi nodded.
“Make sure the abbot of the temple is present for this meeting.”
She nodded again.
The Blood-burning required specific conditions. To prove a case in the clan’s court, one would need the injured party, a blood relative, or a sworn sibling who could speak to the impact of the crime, and an impartial witness to confirm the testimony.
“The abbot must be your witness,” I warned. “The Grand Priest will support the husband of your mother, and the abbot is the only one with enough sway to counter the Grand Priest’s influence.”
“Understood.”
“When you meet Amur’s grandfather, ask him if he still mourns his dogs on the longest day of the year. You must appear as if you already know the answer. Then let him speak. All you need to do is listen.”
Digi opened her mouth and closed it. She had asked three questions. Anything else would cost her extra.
“If his grandfather hesitates, tell him that you never cared for the number seven.”
“Thank you.”
A moment passed. Another.
“And what of Selva’s wishes?” Digi asked.
Behind her, her bodyguard clenched her spear.
Everard’s posture was relaxed and his voice calm and measured. “As long as all of the blood stays on your side of the border, Selva will not cross it.”
Oh, how clever. The way he put it could mean that he expected all of the fighting to stay on their side of the border or all of their people, because the Okula referred to their clanspeople as the blood.
“For how long?” Digi asked.
The Harzi clan territory directly bordered Selva. She wanted to make sure he wouldn’t stab her in the back while she secured her position.
“My quarrel is with the husband of your mother,” Everard said. “Should the Harzi find themselves a new tair, that tair can count on lasting peace and a calm border.”
“May such a tair have that in writing?” Digi asked.
And she had just questioned his integrity.
A thin curl of black smoke slipped out from Everard, circled around his forearm, and melted into nothing. The bodyguard looked like she might faint at any minute.
“Treaties and accords are made between rulers,” he said. “Become your people’s ruler. Until then, my word must suffice.”
“The Sleepless Duke has never broken a promise to me,” I said. “His word is carved in stone.” Take the hint. You’re pushing too far.
“And if I did go back on my word, she would never let it pass,” he said. What?
Digi looked at me.
“It’s getting late.” Go while you can.
“So it is. Should you wish to have tea without any trade, Lady Maggie, you know where to find me.”
“I would like that.”
Digi pulled the hood over her head. The poor bodyguard woman almost collapsed in relief.
“Kaiden!” I called.
He popped out of thin air in the doorway.
“Please escort our honored guests to the door.”
The two Harzi women departed.
Everard turned to me.
“So the smoke. Do you control it or does it happen on its own . . .”
The dark swirled around him like tongues of some cosmic flame and vanished again. “It’s the start of the Fatefire. The same as Arvel’s radiance just before he shapes his barrier. I find letting it loose at the right time makes an effective statement.”
No shit.
“You made it seem as if I have much more influence over you than I do.”
“I believe I’m the ultimate authority on the amount of influence you have over me.”
It was best to just leave that alone.