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“I mean, they do have the best wine,” Thane said with a wink at Layala. “And Brunard’s personal stock? It must be good.”

Layala swiped a hand across her damp brow. The stone oven produced enough heat to cook them it seemed. Only one window about as tall as her upper half was open to let in a breeze… one small window. The guards might see them. She dashed across the room, practically diving for the white curtain tied off to the side. Voices drifted on the air. Gah—faces. She gasped and with a quick jerk, slid the curtain over.

“Hey,” one of the guards said.

She waved wildly for everyone to take cover. They dragged the kitchen staff to an open pantry door. Layala slid her sword out, setting it down on the table before she pushed the blade flush against the wall so it wouldn’t be seen. Then she snatched an apron on a nearby hook, threw it over her head, and just as she finished tying it behind her back, a hand grasped the curtain and moved it aside.

Layala picked up a bowl of flour and dunked her hand in, only to realize something wet and gooey was inside. A couple of eggs. “Hello,” she said with a big smile. Probably too big. She relaxed her face some. “How are you today?”

His curly light-brown hair was half tied back, and his smile wrinkled his eyes. “I’ve never seen you before. You new?”

His partner tapped his shoulder. “Come on, we can’t stop to chat with pretty maidens.” He started walking off.

Please, just go with him.Layala silently pleaded but kept her smile plastered on.

“Just started.” She mashed the eggs into the flour.

“You’re not from here, are you?” His eyes trailed over her face and down to her breasts. “And you haven’t met Lord Brunard either, I assume?”

Layala’s heart thundered. She laughed off her nervousness. “What makes you say that?”

He gestured toward her head. “As beautiful as you are, Lord Brunard wouldn’t have you in the kitchens. He’d have…” His mouth twisted into a slight frown. “Other uses for you.”

Other uses? By his tone and shift in demeanor it couldn’t be a good use. What did he do to beautiful females? “You’re right. I moved here not long ago from Quindar.” She said the only other Calladiran town she knew of.

“Ah, nice town.” His blue eyes darted around the room behind her. “Where is everyone else?”

That stopped the other guard.Maker, no. Just go away.She didn’t want to have to kill them, the other set of guards would notice, and they’d be discovered. “Um, seems like a bout of the runs is going through the others. They had to find a toilet. You might want to stay away.”

“Runs?”

The other guard turned on his heel and kept walking. He appeared to catch on quick.

Layala couldn’t help the blush creeping up her neck. Was that not how they referred to loose stool sickness? Why didn’t this elf get it?

Then the guard’s eyes widened. “Oh.” He took a step back. “Right. Well, I better be on my way. Just a warning to the new maiden, if Lord Brunard sees you, he’ll invite you to be a part of his harem. He rewards the females well but—I don’t know, you just seem too good for that.”

With a flour-covered hand, she waved. “Thanks for the warning. Bye.” And with that, he hurried to catch up with his partner. Layala’s tense shoulders dropped, and she set the bowl down, and pulled the curtain closed again.

The Ravens crept out of the walk-in pantry. Layala tossed the apron overhead and onto the counter. “His harem? He has a harem of females for sex?” Maker, she was disgusted by the idea, and thankful Thane was nothing like the typical male in power.

Thane lifted a shoulder.

“A shrug? You’re not appalled. That doesn’t bother you?”

Thane pulled her into a hug and ran his hands up and down her arms. “It’s not ideal but it’s also none of our business. I saw them last time I was here so I’m not as surprised as you.”

“Oh, and you still offered your sister to him as a wife?”

“It’s complicated. I’m not offering her now, am I?”

“You know what a great idea would be,” Leif said, tapping a finger against his chin. Layala didn’t like the mischievous look on his face. “You and Piper go in, dressed as part of his harem. It would be easy for you two to get past the guards.”

The harsh look on Piper’s face made Layala laugh. She clearly wasn’t enthused about the idea. “Why don’t we put you in a skirt and add some rouge toyourcheeks?”

He grinned. “If it would work, I’d do it. But I don’t think Brunard wants someone with a tallywacker between his legs and hair on his face.”

Deep chuckles bounced around the room. Fennan tapped his boot on the floor. “Actually, it’s not a bad idea.”