Fantasy of Fire (The Tainted Accords #3)(29)

“I need to know what’s happening in the Outer Rings. And … I have a couple of favors to ask.”

Blizzard smashes his cup on the table, sloshing liquid over Avalanche, who whacks him in the back of the head.

“About bloody time people made a stir in my opinion. The situation here has been too bad for too long! The king needs to do something about it.” He speaks loudly, and stares daggers around the table, daring anyone to disagree.

“Yes, but why now? What's changed?” I direct my question to the group.

“You couldn’t feel it on your way in? Didn’t see it?” Shard inquires. I shake my head, thinking back on the last part of my journey. But the Outer Rings always felt dangerous to me. I’d have to pay more attention.

“Your question needs to be ‘who,’ not what. You know I like to keep an eye on things,” Ice answers. “There have been a lot of murmurings going around. Hale’s been busy. Not putting many in the pits nowadays, really.” Ice follows up his words with an evil grin. “Makes me wonder where he’s getting his goldies.”

“I don’t care. Hale’s absence from the arena has been great for business,” inserts Alzona with a face-splitting beam. Crystal rolls her eyes.

“I knew it,” I say.

“Knew what?” Ice asks quickly. Shard snorts.

It’s funny what I can tell this group of people that I wouldn’t dare tell others. I would die for every person here, and they me. “I think Blaine is behind all this,” I say truthfully. I watch closely for Alzona’s reaction to my words. I’m not disappointed. Her eyes widen. She knows something, but what I’m not sure. Last sector, during a pit fight, Zona caught sight of Blaine and hid, emerging incapable of speech once the slimy delegate was gone. There was some kind of history there, and I had hopes she knew something about his plans.

Ice has a frown between his brows. “The man I followed for you in the arena that time?” he asks. I nod.

“Ain’t seen him, but there’s been a few fancy-dressed outsiders about. He might be staying away, keepin’ clean.”

“This is the first favor I want to ask of you.” I turn to Ice. “I want you to spy on Hale and any of the unrest in the Outer Rings and report to me.” Ice is nodding before I finish, but not everyone is happy with this.

“I happen to be the owner of these barracks. You want one of my fighters, that’ll cost ya. Especially because you’re working for the king.”

“You’ll be telling the king everything? What makes you think we want to help him?” says Blizzard, arms crossed.

I address Blizzard first. “If Hale is involved, it can’t be good. Who would you trust more? Hale or your king?”

“The king put me in the Dome,” he retorts.

“Yes, he did. But then when you proved your worth, he treated you as a guest. He gave you clothing, food, drink, and offered you a place amongst the watch,” I say quietly. “This in no way excuses the monstrosity of the Dome, but Hale would sooner slit your throat than give you bread. I know who I’d choose.” I don’t add that Jovan could just kill him if he doesn’t help. Jovan has his ways, and I have mine.

I turn to Alzona. “You’ll be compensated for Ice’s time, of course. I will pay you the coin for one match won each week.”

“I want the price of two matches, considering the risk to Ice.” I narrow my eyes at her. She’s a fearsome businesswoman, but I wonder if she’s ever tried to convince twin boys to stop pranking their nannies.

“The price of one match won. It’s no certainty he’d win each week. This is more than you’d normally receive.” I ignore Ice’s splutters. “Might I also remind you, you’ll be in the king’s favor. This might prove … beneficial.” Her eyes sparkle with my words.

“I feel like a piece of meat,” Ice says with a happy grin.

“You said there was more than one favor?” Shard presses. He’s sat quietly this whole time, no doubt observing me closely.

“The king wants to garner goodwill from the Outer Rings to help settle the unrest.” This wasn’t strictly true. But it was what Jovan needed to be doing, I was just getting the ball rolling. Jovan’s rule was excellent, but he had no experience in the Outer Rings, and therefore no strategy to calm his people here.

“I’ve talked to him about the main issues this area faces. In particular, the violence against women and children.” I look around at the others and know they’ll be remembering the whore, Ursa, who was strung up, dead in our alley. By the way Crystal’s face pinches, I gather she’s recalling her own horrific experience with Slay.

“The king wants to fund a fighting program for women. I wanted to propose this to you as a side business, Alzona. You’d start it in your two premises on Glacium. I’d gather the women for your first group,” I offer.

Alzona stands and walks away from the table, her back to us. We wait on tenterhooks.

Ice has only slightly more patience than Flurry used to. “So…?” he says.

“It would revolutionize the Outer Rings,” Alzona whispers. She turns back excitedly. “Two evenings a week. Led by my own experienced fighters! We’d expand once word got out. Increase the sessions to daily, or maybe double that.” She stands at the table in front of me. “I’ll do it,” she says.