Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3)(95)

Amara only stared at Rook for a long, silent moment.

"Go get your knife, Countess," Rook whispered. "The sooner we begin, the sooner it will be over with."

Amara bit her lip and looked at Bernard. He stared at Rook, his face troubled, and shook his head.

"Countess," murmured Lady Aquitaine. "May I speak to you?"

Rook looked up at the sound of her voice, body tensing.

Amara frowned but nodded to Lady Aquitaine, who stood silhouetted in the doorway, and turned to step close to her.

"Thank you," Lady Aquitaine said quietly. "Countess, you are an agent of the Crown. It is your profession, and so you are familiar with many of the same things as the prisoner. You are not, however, personally familiar with Kalarus Brencis, how he operates his holdings and uses his clients and those in his employ."

"If there is something you think I should know, it might be more productive if you told it to me."

Lady Aquitaine's eyes managed to be cold and perfectly restrained at the same time. "She asked you to kill her when you saw her?"

Amara frowned. "Yes. How did you know?"

"I did not," Lady Aquitaine replied. "But it is a position one can understand, given a few key facts."

Amara nodded. "I'm listening."

"First," Lady Aquitaine said, "assume that Kalarus does not trust her any farther than he can kick her, if it comes to that."

Amara frowned. "He has to."

"Why?"

"Because she's operating independently of him most of the time," Amara said. "Her role in the capital had her away from Kalarus for months at a time. She could have betrayed him, and he would never have known about it until long after."

"Precisely," Lady Aquitaine said. "And what might possibly compel her to perfect loyalty despite such opportunity, hmm?"

"I-" Amara began.

"What might compel her to deny potential clemency? To urge you to finish her as quickly as possible? To ask you to kill her outright from the very beginning?"

Amara shook her head. "I don't know. I take it you do."

Lady Aquitaine gave Amara a chill little smile. "One more hint. Assume that she believes that she is being watched, by one measure or another. That if she turns against him, Kalarus will learn of it, and that regardless of how far away she is, he will be able to retaliate."

Amara felt her belly twist with nauseated horror as it dawned on her what Lady Aquitaine was speaking about. "He holds a hostage against her loyalty. Someone close to her. If she turns against him, he'll kill the hostage."

Lady Aquitaine inclined her head. "Behold our spy. A young woman. Unwed, I am certain, and without a family able to support or protect her. The hostage must be someone she is willing to die for-willing to face torture and agony for. My guess..."

"He has her child," Amara stated, her voice flat and cold.

Lady Aquitaine arched a brow. "You seem offended."

"Should I not be?" Amara asked. "Should not you?"

"Your own master is little different, Amara," Lady Aquitaine said. "Ask High Lord Atticus. Ask Isana her opinion on his decision to relocate her nephew to the Academy. And did you think he hasn't noticed your relationship with the good Count Bernard? Should your hand turn against him, Amara, do not think for a moment he would not use whatever he could to control you. He's simply more elegant and tasteful than to throw it in your face."

Amara stared steadily back at Lady Aquitaine. Then she said, in a quiet voice, "You are very wrong."