“I’ve had enough of this game, Vahn,” Terzak sneered. “Produce your evidence now or leave.”
Vahn couldn’t produce the parchment, having sent it to Occi with Windrider. Besides, it was ever so gratifying to watch Terzak squirm. He pressed his sword deeper for the infraction of speaking his name. “Forget the treason for now. Let’s settle our personal score, shall we? I gave you five thousand in gold fifteen months ago. I was to be given thirty percent of the tavern profits for the first year. Where is it?”
Terzak winced. “Is that what this is all about? I’m sorry, your highness,” he crooned. “You know I’ve had a tough time with staffing the tavern. I did ask you for help several times, you remember, but you were having domestic problems of your own. I gave you time to get over your wife leaving you for the butler. Now give me some time. Help me at the ITC and—”
“That reminds me. I gave you nine slaves. Where are they now?”
Terzak shifted. “You know it’s past Queen’s Jubilee. Four of those nine were only good for a year. The rest are around here somewhere.”
“Wrong again. Kee is at Rebono Keep, and hardly looking healthy. Lady Willow tells me byli and xassa are dead and marha disappeared seven months ago. So I ask again, where are my girls?”
Beads of sweat broke out on Terzak’s brow. “marha was insolent, so I sold her. xassa and byli died of natural causes. They aren’t your girls any more. They’re mine. You gave them to me, papers and all. I demand you give kee back immediately, or haven’t you noticed her Owner’s Mark? Even the duke is not above the law. I am her rightful owner now.”
Vahn fumed, losing patience. There was one more piece of information he hoped to gain before he lowered the boom. “To whom was marha sold, Terzak? Give me a name.”
“I can’t remember. I didn’t get much for her. She was such a worthless sloth.”
“I’ve had enough of your chicanery. She was one of the best. If I were to look through your records, I bet I would find her contracts. When I do, that will prove you didn’t sell her. No one would buy a Numbered Slave without papers.”
“Calm down, your highness. All right, I didn’t sell her. I caught her running away and punished her for it. The death was an accident, but I was well within my rights to kill her for attempting escape. That still doesn’t give you the right to kee. Just give her back. I promise not to punish her for running away and I won’t report you to the ITC.”
Vahn laughed. “Your word isn’t worth chicken spittle. If I had to, I’d defend Kee with my life, but I don’t have to. You’re the one who will be dead. I just haven’t decided whether to do it slowly or take your head off this instant. Right now, I’m leaning toward slow and painful torture, based on Kee’s condition and the very rude idea you intended to lure me here tomorrow to have me shot with crossbows from three different angles. Can you give me even one reason why I should give you a quick death?”
Terzak pounded the arm of his chair. “Damn Saerula! I can’t believe that shrew told you. After all her talk about Dauntere being king and hating your very smell. What in Byntar did you offer her to turn me in?”
This was quite the pleasant surprise. His harlotrous ex-wife had been in on this. Eliminate all the other heirs, put her son on the Throne for show, then rule as Queen Mother. Quite the ambitious little scheme. If it hadn’t been for Kee, he would have walked right into the trap. He wondered whether Arx and Phinia might have fared any better under her bloodthirsty cunning. Vahn’s thin lips curled into a decisively wicked grin.
“I didn’t know the former duchess was your accomplice until just now, Terzak. Thank you so much. I may give you an extra hour off your life for that. You will beg me for death, you know.” Terzak had no idea Kee had been the one to reveal his plan. Vahn rather liked it that way. Terzak was undoubtedly now trying to decide whether Vahn was lying about Saerula or whether he had indeed betrayed his partner. Simply delicious.
“I beg no one, boy,” Terzak said. “Don’t act so innocent. If I were killing the king and queen to put you on the Throne, you’d have been behind me all the way. You say I conspired against the king. I am Rebono. I demand a trial in Royal Court. You can’t touch me.”
“Fine. I will leave enough life in you to stand trial with my brother for treason. In the meantime, I will exact reparation for your other crimes.”
“What other crimes? I haven’t done anything,” Terzak argued indignantly.
“Kee’s condition says otherwise. You can’t tell me you couldn’t afford food for your slaves. You tell me what crime Kee committed to be branded and starved.”
Terzak squirmed. “Branding isn’t illegal. Lots of slaves are branded.”
“Criminals and obstinate males who need to be taught a lesson, maybe. Kee is neither. I daresay she hasn’t ever disobeyed a single order. If you wanted to Mark her, a tattoo would have been much less painful and far more pleasing to look at. So let’s chalk the branding up to pure stupidity. Now, what about the starving? What possible excuse can you have for leaving her emaciated?”
“I wasn’t trying to starve her. I swear that. I had xassa and kee working at my summer cottage. I provided enough food for them to share. I didn’t notice how badly kee was faring until just recently. That’s why I brought her back here. Ask kee. I gave them food.”
“Irrelevant. Slave owners are responsible to care for their slaves better than that. What about what you owe me? We had an agreement. You never kept your side of the contract. I never got my information. I never saw a single copper of the profits I was promised. According to the laws of Latoph, I am entitled to call in the debt when there has been breach of faith. I am calling in the debt, Terzak. I want everything back now.”
“You know I don’t have it. It’s all in the tavern. Just give me a little more time. I know I can still make it work. You believed in it before. Take willow, fawna, and kee back and give me time to make you some gold. I’ll give you sixty percent this year to make up for last year,” Terzak coaxed.
“I am tired of listening to your inane babbling. Shut your putrid mouth.” Vahn raised his voice and took on a formal tone, addressing his men as witnesses. “Fifteen months ago, I gave Marquis Terzak Rebono five thousand gold and nine female slaves in return for information he never provided and a percentage of a business he promptly ignored. By the laws of the kingdom of Latoph, I pronounce him my debtor. Since there is no other, save the king, who can pay such a debt, I claim terzak as my slave. If my brother wants what is left of him when I am done, he can pay the debt and buy him.”
He turned to terzak. “Kneel, slave, before your master.”
“No, Vahn, please, just listen...”
“Silence now, slave, and on your knees.” Several of the men poked terzak with their swords for emphasis. terzak looked Vahn in the eyes. Vahn’s pools of pure black malice glared back at him. terzak slipped off the chair to his knees. Vahn removed the bag he had slung over his shoulder and opened it. Within was a set of Ringed bands sized for a male. These were not steel bands like he used on all his other slaves. These were iron—rusty, thick, and cumbersome. Vahn removed the neck band and approached terzak.
terzak lunged toward Vahn with his hands poised to strangle him. Two of Vahn’s men caught and restrained him. “That will cost you, slave. You will find I am a harsh master.” Vahn slipped the iron band around terzak’s neck as the men held him down. “Take his garment. I want him as scantily clothed as he made my girls.” They ripped the nightshirt off, leaving only drawstring-waisted silk shorts. Vahn applied the wrist and ankle bands over terzak’s writhing protestations.
“Would someone please gag the pig?” Vahn asked with mock exasperation. The nightshirt was ripped twice. The knights stuffed a wad into terzak’s mouth and employed another strip as a tie to hold it in. terzak tried to pull it off, but his captors prevented it.
“It’s time I taught my slave some manners. Prepare him for whipping.”
terzak squealed helplessly behind his gag as Vah
n’s men attempted to hook a padlock between the iron wrist bands.
Vahn walked toward the office to check on Captain Shil. Before he reached the end of the hall, Shil emerged with a pile of parchments and a box so heavy he struggled with it. The papers slid off; when he tried to compensate, he dropped everything.
One of Vahn’s men, who stood watching his two fellows contend with terzak, left them to help his captain gather the scattered parchments. While the numbers were in his favor, terzak leapt from the grasp of the remaining two men and bolted toward the stairway. He ripped the gag from his mouth as he ran up the stairs. Vahn and his four men dashed after him with swords drawn.
Just then, fawna appeared at the head of the staircase, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
“Get back!” Vahn shouted.
She stood there mutely, staring at her nearly naked master in iron slave bands, blinking in shock at the five men with swords chasing him. By the time she figured out what was going on, it was too late. terzak clamped his arm around her throat. “Get back or I break her neck,” he hissed.
fawna yelped as he twisted her arm behind her back and viced her neck tighter. Vahn read the terror in her eyes. She believed him. Why didn’t I make sure she was safe first? Vahn halted and spread his arms in front of the others. “Do as he says,” he ordered.
For a few seconds, no one moved. They’d stopped with Vahn, but they hesitated to withdraw.
“I mean it,” terzak said. He dragged fawna toward the first door on the second floor.
“This is between terzak and me,” Vahn said to his men. “Go on.” Slowly, they backed away. Vahn wanted to give Shil an assuring wink, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off terzak. Vahn fought to quiet his sense of vulnerability. They had come here because terzak wanted him dead.
“Drop the sword,” terzak hissed. He yanked fawna back and forth. She whimpered. Vahn thought she even appeared to struggle against him. He’d never seen one of his female slaves act so assertive, but then again, he’d never seen one so terrified.
“You don’t give the orders, slave. I do. Let her go. You have nothing to gain by this.” Vahn continued pressing forward, but he let terzak improve his lead.
“I have nothing to lose, either. Aren’t you the one who said you’d defend some Itzi slave with your life? Is the great Vahn Rebono a liar?”
Anger welled deep and hot. Much as he wanted to do the chivalrous thing and offer himself in trade for her, he wasn’t that stupid. terzak would kill him first, then her as a witness. terzak would never get to Arx now, thanks to Windrider, but Vahn wasn’t about to make Arx’s life any easier by forfeiting his own.
“I’m here, am I not? I could just turn around, walk out, and order this place torched. Besides, I said I’d defend Kee, not this lazy slug.” He hoped fawna didn’t believe his bluff. He couldn’t let terzak know he cared or it would only endanger her more.
terzak cleared the doorway and backed into the room. He was probably going for his sword. With any luck, he’d discard fawna the minute he was armed and they could fight honorably without all this hostage nonsense. While risky, a duel afforded Vahn the advantage. terzak pulled fawna out of sight. Vahn sprinted toward them.
He reached the door just in time to see terzak shift his grip on fawna. He sat on the bed with the terrified female in his lap. He now held a straight razor just under her jaw. “Drop the sword or I slit her throat.”
She bawled and trembled in his grip. Vahn forced himself not to look in her eyes. “Fine, go ahead. No need for Royal Court if you commit murder before my eyes. Destroy my property and give me every right to do as I please with you.”
terzak pressed the blade into her skin. Blood trickled down to the copper band around her neck. She cried harder. “Maybe I won’t slit her throat straight off,” terzak said. “Maybe I’ll just slowly carve my name into her face. You ready to watch that, cousin?”
Chapter 93
Vahn lowered his sword, then crouched slowly and laid it on the floor. He splayed his fingers as he stood, showing terzak his empty hands.
“Sentimental fool. That’s why you’ll never be king,” terzak said.
Vahn struggled not to react. terzak wanted to get a rise out of him and Vahn wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. “As you once reminded me, Arx wears the crown.”
“He won’t forever. He’s weak and indecisive and he’ll probably drag Latoph into war.”
Although Vahn agreed, he didn’t nod. He studied the room in his peripheral vision, never removing his gaze from the razor in terzak’s hand. The window was directly behind the bed, but too far to hope he could push terzak through it with a lunge. None of the lamps or candles were lit, which precluded fire as a distraction. The rug under his feet was anchored by the bed and a large armoire; there’d be no fumbled footing.
At least terzak had let up on the blade. What little blood had drizzled down fawna’s neck was now clotted and nothing new flowed. fawna sucked in her cries, trying to catch her breath.
“So what do we do now? Stand here and discuss politics like drinking companions?” Vahn asked.
“No, you’re going to toss me the keys to these bands.”
“Forget it. I indulged you with the sword so you wouldn’t vandalize my property, but you’re not in charge here and you’re not getting out of those bands.”
“I can still skin her alive.”
Vahn rolled his eyes. “What are you going to do, hide behind some feeble Itzi for the rest of your life? Let her go, then get your sword and we’ll settle this like knights.”
terzak guffawed. “Wise knights know when to retreat and regroup for another battle. Get me a horse and promise me two hours’ lead and I’ll release the slave unharmed. After that, you and I can play the cat and mouse game. The Dronak Death Gang had a longer lead than that. Surely you could catch little old me.” His last three words dripped with sarcasm.
Yes, Vahn had caught the Dronak Death Gang, but not Saerula. terzak was somewhere in his fifties and fit enough to ride. He also had men sworn to him, though Vahn had no idea how many or where they might be. Still, such a plan was likely the only way fawna would leave the room intact. It was his fault she’d been endangered. Somehow, he had to see her out of this.
terzak waited with an insidious look of triumph on his face. Vahn searched fawna’s eyes and saw her fear. She even looked away in deference as she had when she wore his bands. That, more than anything, broke his resolve. He’d promised her protection once and though he’d failed several times since then, he’d not fail her today. He squared his shoulders, inhaled deeply, and turned his gaze to terzak.
The window behind terzak suddenly darkened and then exploded in shattering glass. Two pairs of boots thrust through the room and collided with terzak and fawna. Vahn lunged for fawna, extricating her from the three men who wrestled on the floor. When they had some distance, Vahn pulled the dagger from his boot and stood between her and the men. He grinned with pride as it dawned that Captain Shil and Lieutenant Alnen had rappelled from the roof and swung in on ropes.
Swords and the razor flashed and drew blood. The lieutenant had a bloody forehead, but Vahn didn’t know if he’d injured it in the glass or if terzak had slashed him. Both Alnen and Shil were madder than yackabucks whose territories had been violated in mating season. Vahn kept his distance, protecting fawna. He wanted a piece of terzak, but his men did too and they’d earned it.
Alnen kneed terzak in the stomach, then when he doubled over, Shil toppled him from the back and mashed terzak’s razor hand into the floor with his foot. Vahn heard bones break and he smiled. The lieutenant removed the razor from crushed fingers.
“Well done!” Vahn exclaimed.
Shil gave him a crooked smile, pressed his hand to his heart, and bowed. “Sorry to take so long, your highness, but I am glad to find my lord well.” The lieutenant dipped his head, foregoing any further display while terzak was being restrained.
“Are you two all right?” Vahn aske
d. Shil and Alnen nodded, the lieutenant wiping the cut on his forehead. It didn’t appear too deep, but it would need stitches. “Thank you both.” Vahn turned to fawna who had backed herself into a corner and curled into a fetal position. “Are you all right?”
She dissolved into tears, but nodded. He offered her a hand up but she just shook her head. “Please, just leave fawna alone,” she whimpered.
“We’ll leave you alone, Lady Fawnessa. I hereby declare you a freewoman, your contract paid in full. When you’re ready, I’ll remove your bands and see you safely back to Ny.”
She sniffled loudly and nodded. “Thank you.”
He turned to find his captain and lieutenant each holding an arm of his newest slave, now well-chained and once again gagged. terzak had a bloody nose, a gash on his arm, and another on his chest. He hid his twisted fingers protectively.
“It’s time we had that lesson, slave.” Vahn sheathed his dagger, picked up his sword, and walked out.
Outside, the rest of Vahn’s men applauded as he exited the manor. He ordered them to fetch terzak’s wagon. They could use it to get the rope over a high limb and later to transport their prisoners to Ny. As his orders were carried out, he found Willow. She watched terzak in slave bands with great amusement.
“How many times has he whipped you?” Vahn whispered.
“Sixteen lashes, your highness, but not all at once.”
“Barbarian dog,” Vahn spat. “I’m going to have him whipped. Would you like to do it?”
“No, thank you, but I’ll gladly fetch the whip for you.”
Vahn managed a small chuckle. It was better he did it anyway. He was stronger and probably held more venom against the swine than the gentle Itzi. Willow darted off. Vahn watched as preparations were made. Shil sent two of the original party back into the manor for the heavy box and the parchments they’d lost in the scuffle. They returned shortly, one carrying the huge stack of papers and another straining with the box. It was evidently iron underneath the silver and decorative gems. The top and bottom fit together cleanly; there was not enough seam to exploit with a lever. All four sides bore a keyhole, but the locks were internal. It wasn’t apparent where the hinges might be, or whether the whole lid lifted off after the locks were defeated.
The Duke's Handmaid (Book 1 of the Ascendancy Trilogy) Page 36