Page 6

Chapter

Five

W hen she woke, the stars still winked at her through the floor-to-ceiling windows behind her bed.

Amalise had laughed when she’d picked this room—they’d moved in during summer, after all, and the window faced south, so her room was bathed in sunlight most hours of the day.

But she’d stopped laughing, understanding instead filling her eyes, when Lessia had refused curtains, unwilling ever to block the sun again.

In winter, though, the sun barely peeked over the horizon in Asker, the island too far north. She’d hated it at first, had only ever known Vastala, where it was warm year-round, the Fae island several weeks south by ship.

But she’d gotten used to it. Even if she still hated the dark, the snow made up for it, and the coastal town was still bright and perhaps even more beautiful in winter, with ice coating every building, making the town sparkle.

After a quick stretch, she pulled on soft trousers and a long-sleeved black tunic before throwing her cloak over her shoulders. She sighed as she straightened the clothes she’d haphazardly thrown over the chair in the corner of her room last night.

In winter, she got fewer stares, fewer people wondering why she bundled up, why she wore long-sleeved tunics even in the blistering sun.

Following a brief stop in the kitchen, where she gobbled down a few pieces of dried meat and an apple, she went to the actual office. They’d built it in the back of the building, far from where the children slept.

Pulling apart the curtains, she let what little light there was in, setting down the lantern she’d brought from her room on the side table by the door.

The fireplace already burned bright, its orange flames dancing across the large wooden desk and the many papers strewn across it. Ardow must be up—there were more papers for her to sign, a new shipment of liquor coming in that they had first right to.

Lessia picked at the paper, but instead of picking up the quill to begin signing and checking what appointments she had today, she rose again, heading toward the small bookshelf.

She pulled out an old book containing maps of Havlands and shifted a few other books to the side, then stole a quick glance at the door before she took out a key hidden in the book and opened the safe.

With her heart pounding in her ears, she pulled out the papers she’d hoped she’d never have to see again.

After closing the safe and putting the books back in their place, she sat back down at the desk and stared at them for a long while, her throat dry and eyes burning.

A firm knock interrupted her thoughts, and as Lessia snapped her head to the door, her eyes widened. Pulling at some of the other papers, she covered the thin pile .

Waving for the man to come in, she forced her lips to curl. “I’d almost forgotten it was the end of the month. Good to see you, Zaddock.”

Zaddock smiled back at her, his neatly combed brown hair not showing any signs of the walk here and his black uniform perfectly pressed. “Good to see you too, Lessia. I hear business is booming.”

Outside the door, several of his men stood posted, all bearing black masks to cover their faces and their hands resting on the swords by their hips.

Lessia held back a shudder.

She’d been intimidated by Regent Loche’s men since the first day she got here, by those terrifying masks they never took off.

But she guessed it was the point.

Tearing her eyes away from them, she nodded and opened a drawer to pull out the thick envelope he sought. “It’s been good. Prices are going up, though, so it’s getting more expensive to keep everything running.”

Accepting the envelope, not bothering to open it, Zaddock gestured to the chair opposite her. “Can I sit for a moment?”

Her stomach churned, but she forced her smile to remain. “Of course. What’s on your mind, Zaddock?”

Racking her brain, Lessia tried to think of what he could want.

She had not once been late with tax payments, and while the taverns and gambling rooms she, Ardow, and Amalise owned were not upscale, they made sure they followed all Ellow’s rules. None of them would ever risk having the regent and his men look into their businesses.

Zaddock tapped his fingers against his knee as he studied her, his face tilted and dark blue eyes soft .

She understood why the regent chose him as his collector. From the outside he looked gentle—kind, even.

But she knew better.

She’d heard what Zaddock and the rest were capable of if someone went against their leader.

“Regent Loche doesn’t want to do this, but as you mentioned, prices are increasing. And with this harsh winter, the farmers and fishermen are struggling.”

Her shoulders lowered an inch. “So he’s raising taxes?”

While it wasn’t optimal, since they barely made more than what they needed to cover for the children living here, everyone living in the warehouse had a roof over their heads and warm beds to get into at night, and she’d just have to be more careful with the food she purchased.

Lessia knew too well what it was like to be cold and starving, and if she could keep someone else from experiencing it, she would.

Nodding, Zaddock picked up a small dagger lying on her desk, observing it for a moment.

“He is. But as I’m sure you’ve noticed, we have had several ships come in the past weeks, and we’re expecting more.

With the elections beginning soon, the soldiers are needed here to ensure everything goes smoothly. ”

Her eyes trailed the dagger, how the shiny blade reflected the firelight, before she responded. “I have. It’s been good for business. Although some of these men have been kept at sea for too long. There has been more trouble than usual.”

Zaddock put the dagger down and met her eyes again.

“Yes. Loche is willing to make you an offer. If you hire more men to keep the soldiers from beating each other—and anyone else, for that matter—to a pulp, he’ll hold off on raising your taxes for now.

While you might not have the most decadent of venues, the soldiers seem to prefer them. ”

He quieted for a moment, but she heard the underlying message.

He could not understand whyever someone would prefer their taverns over the upscale ones close to the castle or in the western part of Asker.

Sucking her teeth, she mulled it over.

More men meant more salaries. However, a few of the older boys in the house were getting anxious about getting out, and perhaps it would be a good way to introduce them into society.

Ardow, Bren, and the rest of her men could keep an eye on them while they worked, and since they were half- or at least part-Fae, they were strong enough to take on a drunken human.

Lessia reached out a hand. “Tell Loche we have a deal.”