Page 65 of Lake of Sorrow
Kaylina shook her head. Why were the Virts trying to claim her? Or make her look worse? She couldn’t guess their motivations.
“They tried to burn her castle down and almost killed her brother,” Targon said. “I don’t know what their angle is, unless they’ve figured out she’s an anrokk and think they can use that, but she’s not working for them.”
That was true, though Kaylina was surprised Targon was that confident about it.
“Is that the brother you’ve been sheltering since before the assassination attempt? My men are looking for him in your compound too.”
“Not in my quarters, I hope. My tastes don’t run toward boys.”
“Mine trend that way more often than yours, but he’s on the scrawny side. I prefer your fit young rangers.”
“You’re welcome to proposition them. Just be prepared for a no.”
“Is my lack of height the problem? Or my bastard heritage? I wouldn’t think you or they would condemn me for that.”
“This conversation is giving me a headache. Take your men and go, Sabor.”
“Not until the search is complete. If you’d like to produce the girl so I can deliver her to the queen, I’ll be pleased to leave straight afterward.”
“I don’t have her, and she’s more than the queen could handle anyway.”
“I can handle her for the queen.”
“We questioned her with kafdari when she first arrived in the city. She’s not a Virt sympathizer. She’s a tourist starting a meadery.”
“Oh, of course. In the middle of a civil war in which the first arrows have already been loosed.”
“You know what versions of the newspapers they get across the provinces. You’ve a hand in it. If it’s anyone’s fault that ignorant tourists think it’s a good time to sail up here, it’s yours.”
“I do what I do for the security of the kingdom.”
“Why don’t you squelch that illegal newspaper then?”
The spymaster snorted. “Are you upset that it’s printing truths about the rangers?”
“It hasn’t printed a truth yet.”
“No? Vlerion screwed up in the dungeon.”
Kaylina stopped breathing. The spymaster knew Vlerion’s secret.
Had he always? Or had he learned about it because of the dungeon? Vlerion had said the king and maybe the prince knew as well as some rangers, but…
“Even if finding all those clawed-up, mauled bodies hadn’t set the staff to talking,” Sabor continued, “he changed into a beast right in front of a bunch of Virts. Dozens of witnesses. Oh, he killed a lot of them, and you and the rangers helped the guards kill or round up more, but not all of them died that day. And the living have tongues. I’m surprised his name hasn’t come out in that paper yet. Maybe they’re waiting until they have a bigger readership.”
“Maybe you should put them out of business before that happens,” Targon growled.
“I’ve got men scouring the city for their press. Its location won’t remain secret for long.”
Except the Virts weren’t printing the newspapers in the city. Kaylina wished she’d thought to peek out of the back of that wagon and get a look at the guard who’d lied to the ranger, ensuring nobody reported the arrival of the cargo.
“I’m more concerned about the Kar’ruk I’ve just heard about,” Sabor said. “Through my spies, mind you. You haven’t sent a report over to the castle.”
“I was waiting to hear what my sergeant learns from questioning the one we captured. Who are your spies among my men, Sabor?”
“If I told you, you would punish them. Relax, Targon. We’re all on the same side here.”
“Uh-huh. If the Kar’ruk have got you concerned, why are you here for a clueless tourist? Even if Korbian were guilty, the poison didn’t hurt anyone. She can’t be a priority for you.”