Page 101

"Idiots," he spat. "You could have at least spared her face. How am I supposed to bed that?"

Behind him, Korzien's uncle appeared. He saw the body too and gagged. "Korzien has gone too far, damn him," he muttered. "And damn this whole thing. Guards, seize these two," he said, pointing to Cilia and Kate, "and bring them to my quarters. Azil can wait with me there."

They screamed as the guards pulled them away, kicking and hitting. Aly tried to move in front of them, to stop them, and was quickly shoved away. She fell to the ground next to Jamie, who moaned. Aly shook as she stared at her, her stomach rolling, but she refused to get sick.

"Where are you going, uncle?" came Korzien's voice behind her.

"We are taking ours to my rooms. I don't care to have mine beaten to a pulp. You move to stop me, boy, and you'll regret it."

"Go, then, uncle, and stay out of my sight."

Footsteps faded away, and Aly knew Korzien stood right beside her.

"It's too bad. She shouldn't have gone. This could have been easily avoided. Zyr, take her. Have an oracle come to fix her."

Zyr must have gestured to the rest of the guards because they began to pick Jamie up. "I want a better one next time, Korzien, do you hear me?" Zyr snapped. "I deserve a clean one, an obedient one."

"And you will have it, Zyr. I promise. Next time."

Zyr left, with the guards towing Jamie over one shoulder, blood dripping onto the shiny floors and pristine carpets.

"It's sad," was all Korzien had to say, in the most unemotional voice imaginable. He sighed, and she knew he looked down at her. "It's time we left. Come, let's move to the grand terrace and watch the sun set. I'll bring some wine."

Aly didn't move.

"Did you not hear me, girl?"

"I heard you fine, you asshole," she said in her own tongue, southern accent and all.

Korzien laughed. "What was that? Speaking in gibberish now? Funny, but I'm done playing games. Get up."

She did, and once she stood, she turned to face him. "We shouldn't forget your portrait, should we?" She walked past him, still holding her brush tight in one hand.

"I didn't say you could walk away from me."

"But it's so important, isn't it? Your precious, stupid portrait. We wouldn't want to forget it!" she shouted back at him as she rushed to her private work room. She stopped before the picture just as Korzien made it to the door.

"You'll have to be whipped for that, but I'll do it after the ceremony. If you come here now and be good, I won't punish you more."

"You are a bastard."

"What was that?"

"You heard me. A sniveling, cockless bastard. And I'm done doing what you say. I'd rather die than be controlled by you anymore. So, go on ahead because you'll never have anything from me. You can beat me, but I'll never do a thing to make you happy. Not ever!" Aly raised the sharp end of her brush and stabbed it into Korzien's portrait, tearing it down the middle. "I'll never praise you. I'll never draw your picture. Nothing. You are nothing to me." She stabbed and stabbed, till his painted face was in shreds.

She panted, limbs shaking as she dropped the brush, paint splattering on the carpet. He didn't say a word, and when she turned to look at him, she thought she might faint, but she took deep breaths, fighting to keep herself steady.

Korzien didn't look shocked. He didn't even look enraged. The closest she could come to identifying his expression was disappointment.

"That was the wrong choice," he said dully, shaking his head. "Stupid. And you will regret it." Calmly, he began to walk toward her, and it took all her strength not to go running. "You’re right about one thing, though. You won't be making any more drawings of me. Or of anyone. You'll just have to learn how much I matter and how little you do."

***

Ryziel felt like a beast trapped in a cage. The sun was nearly down, and he paced the room, ready to burst right out of it as soon as the sun was gone. Xilya was much more calm as she sat on the bed. They had gotten little sleep, Xilya wanting to keep watch and Ryziel unable to shut off his brain. They ate a pack of bars and turned away any of the servants who came knocking on the door. Waiting, waiting

He had a clear memory of the house in his mind. He remembered well each and every room. His uncle's rooms were on the top floor, and that was where he would head first. Xilya would head around the outer walls to cause a distraction, or so she claimed. He didn't worry about what she had planned, not yet. Hopefully, whatever fight she cared to start wouldn't happen if he got to his brother first and made him see reason. He didn't ask her why she wanted to help or cause a scene, but he had a feeling it had something to do with Aly. She cared for her too, in her own way.

With blades ready at his sides (another small buy at the shadow market), he checked them each carefully one more time then turned to the door. His receptors vibrated lightly, telling him there were at least a few guards walking around nearby.