Demon Child #02 - Treason Keep by Jennifer Fallon

Author:Jennifer Fallon [Fallon, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Epic, Fiction, General, Women Soldiers
ISBN: 9780765348678
Google: bLX3J-9Yx58C
Amazon: 0765348675
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Published: 2001-01-01T23:00:00+00:00

Damin nodded. "Hablet sent her to Greenharbour for Lernen's birthday a couple of years ago - the same year you were recalled to the Citadel, as I remember. Adrina had obviously been well briefed about my uncle's various weaknesses before she arrived and she pandered to them very effectively. She dragged him along to the slave auction and coaxed him into buying a pair of twin boys. The cunning little bitch even made the boys ride back to the palace in his carriage, no doubt hoping to whet his appetite.

That night they slit their wrists in my uncle's bed and bled to death while he slept. The blade they used was Adrina's table knife. She must have slipped it to them in the carriage. I wonder how she sleeps knowing they killed themselves rather than do as she demanded."

"I'm surprised you didn't go to war with Fardohnya over an attempt on the High Prince's life."

Damin shrugged and poured another cup of wine. "Nothing definite could be proved. I was out hunting that day, and didn't return until late, but I was told Adrina claimed at dinner that she had lost her knife. We could never connect the boys to her afterwards, and we tried every avenue of investigation. In the end, we had no choice but to let the matter drop." He swallowed the wine and thumped the cup down on the table. "You know what really irks me?"

"What?"

"That bitch and her slave are wearing the collars Lernen gave those two dead boys. I'd recognise them anywhere. Lernen and I had quite an argument over their cost. It's how my mother met her gem merchant, incidentally. Adrina no doubt kept them as a souvenir."

Tarja frowned, as if he could not conceive of anything so callous. "So take them back."

"No, I think I'll leave them right where they are for now. Another thing you may not understand about Fardohnyans and Hythrun, Tarja, is that for a noblewoman to be collared like a slave is the worst kind of insult. Her Serene Highness could well do with a little humiliation. Anyway, she thinks I need a key to open them. I can keep her collared for quite some time, while I'm waiting for the keys to arrive from Hythria."

"Have you sent for them?"

"No need. There's a concealed clasp. But the idea that her good behaviour will earn her release might keep her tractable for a time."

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