raised her
raised her eyebrows. “Fix it, Father. You created this mess. Now sort it out.”
He looked at her, his eyes narrowing. “You really do have a mind of your own, don’t you? We always thought you would be our greatest asset in extending the Tyn States. Now we are sure of it. What do you suggest we do, rapier-sharp child?”
“Don’t be so patronizing, Father. I’m not exactly a little girl any more. Knowing you, I doubt if you have less than a thousand men back there. Toss this bunch into the river,” she said coolly.
“Three thousand actually. And taking us hostage won’t serve either. We took steps—which we’re not planning to tell about.” He smiled insincerely. “Not drowning . . . it’s so bad for the water quality downstream. There are better ways. You”—he turned to the dripping captain—“We need to talk to you. Back there.” He pointed to a low shed, dimly visible on the shore. “Wait.”
They stayed like puppets. Well, mostly. Bey drifted toward Shael. “I can hear them perfectly well,” he said quietly. “Your father is telling Wickus that, as you are about to marry his prince, he’d better cooperate. He’s also said that once he’s taken you away they’re welcome to slit all our throats.”
Leyla made a retching noise. “Shael. Prince Jaybe is at least fifty-five. He likes his girls young. Prepubescent. He keeps at least one with him all the time. Get used to the idea.”
“It doesn’t matter which midden he had planned to bribe with me. I’m not going. At least . . . I’ll run away as soon as I can,” she said quietly.
Captain Wickus was doing a wonderful job of fawning and shivering at the same time. “Ah . . . I believe you mentioned an anesthetic, my good lady. His Highness has assured me that it would be best to follow your suggestion after all. Er, so as not to affront you ladies, perhaps the pris . . . gentlemen will care to come to our temp’ry headquarters over there.” He pointed at the hut from which he and the Tyrant had emerged. “Also I could grab a dry blanket.”
“No. You do it right here. It won’t be the first men’s bare bottoms Shael and I’ve seen. We don’t trust you. Besides, the shivering’ll help you lose some of that lard.” Leyla’s voice