“Don’t think of it that way. Think of it as a job, an assignment, which you performed with panache. I don’t see talent such as yours often, and I could find other uses of your skills. Join with me and you’ll be well compensated. I’m working on another project now, for an even more lucrative employer, and I’m in a position to make a great many good things happen for you. You and your daughter can live like landed gentry. How would you like your own estate?”
“You kidnapped my daughter. The only business I’m interested in doing with you is arranging your death.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Ah, see? Here she is now. Safe and sound.”
Poe escorted a little girl down the steps. She was around ten years old, her light-brown hair was tied in a bow, and she wore an elegantly tailored blue dress with fine leather shoes.
“Daddy!” she shouted.
Wyatt rushed over, throwing his arms around her. “Did they hurt you, honey?”
“No, I’m okay. They bought me this pretty dress and got me these shoes! And we played games.”
“That’s good, honey.” Turning to Merrick, Wyatt asked, “What about Elden?”
“He’s fine, still in Colnora. Waiting for you, I presume. Wyatt, you really need to consider my offer, if for no other reason than your own safety.”
Wyatt spun on him. “I did your job! You sat there and told me I did it brilliantly! Why are you still threatening us?”
Merrick looked at the girl. “Poe, take Allie in the kitchen. I think there are some cookies she might like.”
Wyatt held her to him.
“Don’t worry, she’ll be right back.”
“Do you like cookies?” Poe asked her. The little girl grinned, bobbing her head. She looked up at her father.
Wyatt nodded. “It’s okay, go ahead. Hurry back, honey.”
Poe and Allie left the room hand in hand.
“I’m not threatening you. As I already said, I’m very pleased with your skills. I’m merely trying to protect you. Consider for a moment, what if Royce is not dead? He’ll put two and two together, if he hasn’t already. You should be afraid of what he’ll do to you—and your daughter. Royce will probably kill Allie first and make you watch.”
“He’s not like that.”
Merrick released a small chuckle. “Oh, sir, you have no idea what Royce is like. I’ll grant you that his association with Hadrian Blackwater has tempered him greatly. Twelve years with that idealistic dreamer have made him practically human, but I know him. I know what lurks beneath. I’ve seen things that make even my hardened heart shudder. Get his anger up, and you’ll unleash a demon that no one can control. Believe me, he’s like that and so much more. Nothing is beyond him.”
Allie returned with a handful of sugar cookies. Taking her other hand, Wyatt headed for the door. He paused at the threshold and looked back. “Merrick, if what you say about Royce is true, then shouldn’t you be the one who’s afraid?” Wyatt walked out, closing the door behind him.
Merrick sipped his cider again, but it had gone cold.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND NAMES
ADAM: Wheeler from Ratibor
ADDIE WOOD: Mother of Thrace/Modina, wife of Theron, killed in Dahlgren
ALBERT WINSLOW: Landless viscount used by Riyria to arrange assignments from the gentry
ALBURN: Kingdom of Avryn ruled by King Armand and Queen Adeline, member of the New Empire
ALENDA LANAKLIN: Daughter of Marquis Victor Lanaklin and sister of Myron the monk
ALGAR: Woodworker in Hintindar
ALLIE: Daughter of Wyatt Deminthal
ALRIC BRENDON ESSENDON: King of Melengar, son of Amrath, brother of Arista
ALVERSTONE: \al-ver-stone\ Dagger used by Royce
AMBERTON LEE: Hill with old ruins not far from Hintindar
AMBROSE MOOR: Administrator of the Manzant Prison and Salt Works
AMILIA: Carriage maker’s daughter from the small village of Tarin Vale
AMITER: Second wife of King Urith, sister of Androus
AMRATH ESSENDON: \am-wrath\ Deceased king of Melengar, father of Alric and Arista
AMRIL: \am-rill\ Countess that Arista cursed with boils
ANDROUS: Viceroy of Ratibor
ANNA: Chambermaid of Empress Modina
ANTUN BULARD: Historian and author of The History of Apeladorn, passenger on the Emerald Storm
APELADORN: \ah-pell-ah-dorn\ Four nations of man, consisting of Trent, Avryn, Delgos, and Calis
APELANESE: Language spoken throughout the four kingdoms of men
AQUESTA: \ah-quest-ah\ Capital city of the kingdom of Warric, seat of power for the New Empire
ARBOR: Baker in Hintindar, married to Dunstan, shoemaker’s daughter
ARCADIUS VINTARUS LATIMER: Professor of Lore at Sheridan University
ARCHIBALD BALLENTYNE: Earl of Chadwick, commander of Sir Breckton, promised providence of Melengar for service to the New Empire
ARISTA ESSENDON: Princess of Melengar, daughter of Amrath, sister of King Alric
ARMAND: King of Alburn, married to Adeline
ARMIGIL: Brew mistress of Hintindar
ART, THE: Magic, generally feared due to superstition
ARVID MCDERN: Son of Dillon McDern from Dahlgren
AVEMPARTHA: Ancient elven tower, home of Gilarabrywn, which attacked Dahlgren
AVRYN: \ave-rin\ Central and most powerful of the four nations of Apeladorn, located between Trent and Delgos
AYERS: Proprietor of The Laughing Gnome in Ratibor
BACKING: Rigging a sail such that it catches the wind from its forward side; having both backed and regular rigged sails can render a ship motionless