Well, that’s a good start, Lila thought. The only thing more frightening than Marin Karn at a distance was Karn up close.
Don’t show fear don’t show fear don’t show fear. She looked into Karn’s tobacco eyes and said, “Forgive me, General, if I’ve offended. I only meant that it would be a rare woman who could hope to be a suitable match for you.” She snapped her mouth shut, unsure whether she’d made things better or worse. Stop spilling scummer, Lila, or you’re the one will be knee-deep in it.
After what seemed like a lifetime of silence, the king of Arden began to laugh. Once started, he laughed so hard that tears leaked from his eyes. Just like that, the cord of tension snapped.
“You have to admit, Karn, she has a point,” he said, swiping his eyes with his sleeves.
But Karn wasn’t admitting anything. “The bitch has a mouth on her that’s going to cost her if she isn’t careful.” He’d gotten the message, though. Releasing his grip on Lila, he stalked back to the table and dropped into his chair.
“Botetort.” Montaigne nodded toward the door. “Leave us. We’ll talk later.”
Botetort wanted to stay, Lila could tell. But he seemed to know better than to object. He bowed out of the room.
They must have decided that Lila posed no threat, because Karn sent the blackbirds out, too.
There was an empty chair now, but nobody invited Lila to sit. She was tempted to sit down, anyway, but wasn’t sure how far she could push these two. So she stood behind it, resting her hands on the back. Anyway, she thought better on her feet.
With no further ceremony, the king nodded to Karn to proceed.
“Where are you from, girl?” Karn studied her through heavy-lidded eyes.
“I grew up in the Southern Islands, General.”
“And yet, I believe you’re of mixed blood.”
“Aye. My father was a soldier. He wasn’t around much.”
“Ah,” Karn said, nodding as if he understood, which he didn’t. “A sell-sword, then. Who did he fight for?”
Lila met his gaze. “The Fells. That is one reason I am fluent in that language. But I work for myself. You could call me a sell-sword, although I believe my talents would be wasted on a battlefield.”
Montaigne and Karn looked at each other. “Well, then,” the king said. “Did you bring the collar that you mentioned?”
“Aye, Your Majesty. As you know, I’ve been able to source magical tools from time to time in the past, but it’s very hard to get. The clans are wary of letting go of flashcraft these days, since they worry that it might make its way to Arden. But I do have a piece to show you. With your permission?” Lila patted her carry bag.
“Please.”
Unfastening the flap, Lila reached inside and pulled out a collar made of beaten silver, its dull finish inscribed with blackened runes. She extended it toward the king, but he yanked his hands back and shook his head. “Have a look, Karn.”
He’s a cautious bastard, Lila thought, for about the hundredth time.
Karn took the collar and turned it in his hands, examining it on all sides. It took on a glow as he sent power into it, testing it. “It is flashcraft, Your Majesty. Copperhead made. But it looks old—like a vintage piece.”
“It is,” Lila said. “It dates from the Wizard Wars. It’s more than a thousand years old.”
Karn looked up sharply. “Is it, now? Where did you get this?”
Lila shifted her eyes away. “I have a contact who can supply flashcraft now and then. Not just collars. Talismans, magical armor, and amulets.”
Karn unfastened the catch and opened the collar, snapped it shut again, tried the connection. “Who is this contact and where does he get the merchandise?”
“I don’t know,” Lila said. “But he is trustworthy.”
“Trustworthy?” Montaigne said, raising an eyebrow. “Is there really such a person?”
“What I mean is, he knows better than to cross me.”
Karn rolled his eyes, as if he found that hard to believe. “We would rather work directly with your contact,” he said.
“First of all, this person doesn’t want to meet either of you,” Lila said, feeling sweat trickling down between her shoulder blades. “Second of all, if he traveled south, people would wonder why. As a student and a soldier, I have an excuse.”
“He’s a swiving copperhead,” Karn said, like a trout striking a fly. “Isn’t he? That’s why he can’t come to us.”
Lila hesitated just long enough to confirm it. “Understand his position. He’s taking a huge risk as it is.”
Montaigne splashed more whiskey into his glass. “Well, Karn? What do you think?”
The general fixed Lila with his muddy eyes. “I think a trickle of flashcraft doesn’t do us any good. We need a source who can supply a large number of collars right now. If you’re as good as you think you are, you will find a way to make that happen. Otherwise, we’re not interested.”
“How many collars were you thinking of?”
“Five hundred to start.”