Collusion (Kings of Aselvia Book 2) by H.S.J. Williams

Author:H.S.J. Williams [Williams, H.S.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Trillium Press
Published: 2024-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

22

As prisons went, it was a very nice prison. Yellow floral paper patterned the walls and a soft carpet hugged the wooden floor. There were two couches and a seat filled with round pillows and soft blankets. The hearth was merry with a fresh, crackling fire, and even the chandelier and sconces had new candles flickering inside their glass coverings.

But it was still a prison. Tryss was certain of that. She turned and glared at the man who had brought them in. At least he had the courtesy to stay outside the doorway, even if his hand on the knob suggested he was about to close it and leave them inside.

“You work for whoever hired Taersidel, don’t you?” she said. “So who wanted me captured in the first place? For what purpose?”

“Never you mind that, missus,” the man said with another tip of his cap. She had half a mind to dart over and knock the cap off. “I’m paid to guard, not to answer questions.”

And then he stepped back, closed the door, and the sounds of a lock and bolt rattled into place.

“We should have made a break for it,” Tryss muttered.

“You know we couldn’t have outrun him,” Dahlya replied. “Anyway, I had hoped he was involved with Errance or Coren somehow.”

“He would have said so,” she snapped. “He had “stooge” written all over him.”

“I’m sorry,” Dahlya said quietly. “If I could have thought of another idea in time, perhaps we wouldn’t be here. But, I mean, we were not getting anywhere with your brother, and I feel we have a better chance of being found in Dormandy than up North.”

A shudder coursed through Tryss as if just the mention of the North had brought its icy winds into the house. “Don’t blame yourself,” she said. “We at least have more assets here than the bare room Taers kept us in.” Not that the assets were very useful. There was no fire poker or ash shovel, more the pity. The pillows and blankets might be used in strangulation and suffocation, but only if the said person using them was very strong or had their target already unconscious. Instead, the pillows and blankets seemed to be coaxing her over to collapse in their depths. She shoved back against that temptation. “We’ll just have to breathe a little and look for our next chance of escape…”

“Tryss.” Her name was spoken sharply, far sharper than any tone Dahlya had ever used. “I don’t want you to be thinking about escapes right now.”

Tryss blinked and took a step back.

Dahlya looked her dead in the eyes as she said, “What I want you to think about is how all of this is affecting your body and the little body that is inside you. This whole thing is exhausting you, and I need you healthy for delivery, which by the way—” Her voice rose in pitch. “—could be any day now. We are with strangers and we can’t afford to anger them with escape attempts. So far their treatment is not malicious.

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