The Invasion of the Tearling

“Brenna is a useful tool, and she enjoys being used.”


Kelsea’s mouth twisted in distaste, but then she remembered the spitting, raging woman down in the dungeon. Perhaps there was something in what Thorne said.

“How did Brenna come to be what she is?”

“Environment, Majesty. My Brenna and I grew up in the worst hell imaginable.” Thorne tipped his head toward Mace, his mouth twisting with malice. “You know what I’m talking about. I saw you there.”

“You are mistaken,” Mace replied tonelessly.

Thorne smiled. “Oh no, Captain of Guard, I am sure it was you.”

In the next instant the mace lashed against the bars, a deafening clatter of steel on steel in the confined space.

“Keep talking, Thorne,” Mace said in a low voice, “and I will end you.”

“What do I care for that, Captain? You or the rope, it makes no difference to me.”

“And what about when I send that pet of yours to Mortmesne, to Lafitte?” Mace grasped the bars, pressing against the cage, and Kelsea was suddenly glad that she could not see his face. Mace never allowed himself to be rattled so easily; Thorne must have touched a very deep nerve. “Albinos are a curiosity, you know. Such women will always draw customers.”

“You have no reason to harm Brenna.”

“But I will do it, Thorne, if you drive me there. Keep your mouth shut.”

Thorne raised his eyebrows. “You support this, Majesty?”

Kelsea was uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation, but she nodded firmly. “I support whatever Lazarus chooses to do.”

“See, I knew it. Kelsea the virtuous. Kelsea the selfless.” Thorne shook his head, chuckling. “Those poor deluded bastards out there have worked themselves into a frenzy over you, Majesty. They think you’ll save them from the Mort. A clever act, yours, but I always knew you were no better than the rest of us.”

“I never claimed to be virtuous or selfless,” Kelsea snapped back. “And I hardly know how you can claim any sort of high ground.”

“But I make no secret of what I am, Kelsea Raleigh—I suppose it’s Glynn now, isn’t it? These delusions the rest of you suffer … so much work and architecture to convince yourself that you’re better, more pure. We all want what we want, and there’s very little we won’t do to get it. Call yourself whatever you like, Queen Kelsea, but you’re a Raleigh through and through. No altruists in that line.”

“I don’t want to die, Arlen, but I would lay down my life for any of these men, or they for me. That’s a real thing, sacrifice, but you will never understand it.”

“Oh, but I do understand it. I have a piece of information that Your Majesty would find valuable, so valuable that I have thought, many times, that I could likely trade it for my own life. But I will not do that.”

“What information?”

“First, my price: the life and welfare of Brenna.”

Mace began to bark, but Kelsea cut him off. “Define welfare.”

“Brenna is known as my charge. When I’m gone, many people will seek to unleash their wrath on her as well. She needs protection.”

“Don’t try to paint your albino as an innocent, Thorne. She’s a dangerous creature.”

“She has been unfortunate, Majesty. Brenna and I were raised as animals. But for luck, even your Mace might have turned out just like us.”

Mace lunged toward the bars, his big hands grasping for Thorne. Thorne didn’t flinch; even Mace’s long arms couldn’t reach far enough through the bars.

“What?” Thorne asked. “Don’t want to reminisce with me? Not even about the ring?”

“Elston.” Mace turned, snarling. “Keys.”

“Elston, don’t you dare.”

“Let us have him, Lady!” Elston replied eagerly, moving forward and pulling the keys from his belt. “Please, I beg you!”

“Sit down, Elston! And you, Lazarus, enough. This man will die in front of the people he’s wronged. Not you.”

Mace had started forward again, but now he stopped. “You will execute him?”

“Yes. I’ve decided. Next Sunday, in the circus.”

“Thorne has wronged me, Lady,” Elston said quietly. “My grievance is as good as any in the Tearling. Let me be the one.”

“Good Christ, grow up!” Thorne snapped. “It was an accident. I’d no idea what you were. Twenty years later, and you still can’t move on with your life!”

“You flesh-peddling—”

“Enough!” Kelsea shouted, losing patience. “Out of here now! Everyone but Pen!”

“Lady—”

“Out, Lazarus!”

Mace had the good grace to look a bit ashamed as he departed, taking Elston and Coryn with him. The door closed with a thump.