Maxen peered at me, and I couldn’t quite read his expression. Curiosity, maybe?
I pushed away the mental image of the golden-eyed Duergar as I continued on to the cells. I’d hardly had a chance to think about how Jasper had aided our escape. How I’d sworn an oath, promising a favor in return. Given the current state of disintegration in the New Garg-Duergar relationship, it was unlikely we’d be crossing paths any time soon. Or, if we did, it would probably be under contentious circumstances. Unease pinged in my chest. There was a possibility that my promise could end up putting the Stone Order in a worse position with the Duergar, depending on how Jasper ended up calling it in. Nothing to do about that, though. As Oliver had so bluntly observed, I couldn’t take it back. I hoped Jasper would keep the oath to himself. The last thing I needed was Periclase dictating how I’d have to make good on it. I suspected Jasper might not take that route, though. After all, he’d helped me escape.
Much as I tried to move on to other thoughts, I couldn’t help recalling how Jasper and I had fought the servitors in the Duergar courtyard. He’d handled himself with practiced ease, keeping his wry humor through the whole thing. I felt a zing from Mort, as if my broadsword was also remembering the battle.
As I approached the fortress jail, I refocused my attention. I pushed through the door to the small front office and found Patrick, the same attendant, on duty. I quickly signed in. I had the right to question Bryna alone but couldn’t take in any weapons. Patrick waited while I took off my scabbard. He locked my sword in the safe behind the desk. Fortunately, he didn’t question the plate of food when he took me back to Bryna’s cell.
Inside, Bryna was awake. Dark smudges under her lower lids and bloodshot eyes indicated she probably hadn’t slept much, if at all. She was curled up in the corner of the cell on the bed, with her legs drawn up, reminding me of when I’d found Nicole. It was cool in the cell, and the skirt of Bryna’s dress was pulled around her legs like a blanket. The fabric was dirty, and I could see the tear from when I’d stepped on the back of it as she’d tried to dart away. Her muddy high heels were discarded on the floor.
Her eyes narrowed as I came in, but she didn’t move.
Patrick shut the door behind me, leaving me alone with the prisoner.
I went to the bed, put down the plate, and pulled off the foil. The food was still hot enough to steam, and I waved the foil a little to waft the aroma toward her before crumpling it up and tucking the aluminum ball in my pocket. I retreated to a spot near the door, folded my arms, and leaned a shoulder against the wall.
“I’m going to make this simple,” I said. “Things are not good between the Duergar and the New Gargoyles. Since I brought you here, the situation has escalated. Diplomatic talks have ceased, and Maxen and the others have returned. No one’s playing nice anymore. So, if you want out of here, I’m your ticket.”
She just glared at me.
I waited. The food was still steaming. She didn’t look at it, but when her tongue flicked out to moisten her lips, and then she swallowed, I knew she was hungry. She had to be, after all the time she’d spent running around outside the palace when the rest of the party had been dining.
“What do you want?” she asked finally.
“I already told you. I need to capture Van Zant.”
“No.” She folded her arms, and her eyes slid off to the side.
“You don’t have any leverage here, Bryna” I said.
“You’re going to have to let me go tonight. You can’t hold me longer than twenty-four hours.”
“I can if I submit my charges to the High Court.” I really, really didn’t want to do that. It would mean having legal proceedings consume my life for months. “I’m sure Oberon and the rest of Faerie would be interested in how you violated the sanctity of the netherwhere with your wraith.”
One of her hands reached down to pull her skirt more tightly around her legs. She knew she’d lost. She was just being stubborn. I kind of got that.
“You’re getting off really easy, Bryna,” I said. “Just give me the vamp.”
“In return for?”
“If your information is good and I apprehend him, I won’t pursue charges in the High Court.”
“If I tell you where he is, you drop the charge and let me go. Whether or not you manage to bring him in isn’t my problem.”
I’d purposely left her that little bit of wiggle room, and she’d taken the bait perfectly.
I let my arms drop and leaned forward, taking a couple of threatening strides toward her.
“I said you’re not in a position to negotiate!” I barked the words so loudly she jumped and drew back, her eyes widening.
I gave her a steely, unblinking look of disdain and then half-turned away as I muttered a string of curses under my breath. Finally, I heaved a huge sigh.
“A compromise,” I said. “I must make it through a doorway with Van Zant.”
She inclined her head in acquiescence.
“Now say it.”
“I pledge this promise to you. I will supply you with Van Zant and give you a way to safely leave the Duergar realm with him,” she said in a grudging tone. She cast me a smirk. “Your turn.”
Magic tingled like electricity in the air.
I rolled my eyes. “I pledge my promise to you. If you personally uphold your promise so pledged, I will release you from custody and will not pursue charges against you in the High Court. And so a promise is exchanged.”
The air between us shivered and wavered briefly as our oath was sealed.
“I’ll be back for you in twenty minutes,” I said.
“Wait, I have to go with you?” she asked. “That wasn’t part of the bargain!”
I shot her an incredulous look. “It wasn’t not part of the bargain. You think I’m just going to take your information and go traipsing off to Maeve-knows-where into some trap you’ve set?” I lifted my chin at the plate of food. “Eat up, princess. You’re gonna need the energy.”
I fixed her with a hard glare, and then looked up at the closed-circuit camera, raised my arm, and flipped my fingers in a come-here motion to signal to the attendant that I was ready to leave. Patrick let me out of the cell, and I reclaimed my scabbard and sword at the front desk. In brief terms, I told Patrick about my deal with Bryna and that I’d be returning for her, so he could do whatever paperwork was required. Then I was on my way back to my quarters.