Page 43 of To Kill a King

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Page 43 of To Kill a King

“And you’re no better,” Elessan said, turning on the dwarf. “What’s the point of bringing me a mage who’s too spineless to help a dying woman?”

The gnome put his fists on his hips. “Like you were too craven to not kill Therolis? He was harmless.”

Aliya tensed. Elessan had killed someone? When?

“That was an accident, he stepped into the wrong place at the wrong time.”

She relaxed. Of course he wouldn’t murder anyone. Not on purpose.

“Uh, huh. That’s not what my niece told me.”

“Valek!” Elessan ran his hand through his hair with a forceful exhale. “And was your niece there?”

“Of course!” The gnome shoved thin silver spectacles Aliya hadn’t noticed before up his nose with a huff. “She was the mage!”

“Then she wasn’t paying very close attention. He was worth a lot more to me alive then dead.”

“Be that as it may, my answer stands.” Aliya closed her eyes as his focus shifted to her. “Unless she can give us something to make it worth our while.”

Her stomach hardened at the earnest expression on the gnome’s face.

Elessan tensed, his right hand going to his blade. “Like what?”

“A favor, from the queen.”

“What kind of favor?” Elessan widened his stance, his fingers going white as they wrapped around his sword grip.

The gnome gave him a thin-lipped smile. “That’s between me…and Her Majesty.”

Aliya closed her eyes as an invisible weight pressed down on her shoulders and chest. She was in too far over her head. Not even Elessan would be able to bail her out.

Elessan spat something else out in the same guttural language. Kavol responded in kind.

A few heartbeats later, hands touched her shoulders gently. “Aliya?” Elessan’s breath tickled her ear. “Wake up.”

She groaned, turning her head toward him.

“This man can heal you, but he won’t.” Elessan paused. “He and I have mutual acquaintances with…bad history.”

The gnome scoffed. “Don’t sugar coat it, elf. You murdered Therolis in cold blood.”

She swallowed, trying to moisten her throat. “What?” By the mages, she sounded like a foundering seagull.

“Please, Aliya. You’ve been poisoned, and I can’t get you the antidote in time.” Elessan’s voice trembled. “He will let you die.”

Poor Elessan. He was so scared and angry. But he was wrong—she hurt too much to be dying. Maybe he could hold his sword to the gnome’s neck, and it would work better than it did with the dwarf?

He shook her again, a little harder than before. “Aliya, sweetheart. Please.”

That was a no on the sword thing, then. She licked her lips. Opening her eyes, she met his gaze.

He tilted his head toward the old man. Switching to Elven, he whispered, “I have no leverage here.”

But as the monarch, she did. She’d just have to trust Elessan to protect her if things went sideways. Dragging her attention away from him, she squinted until the gnome came into focus.

Lead settled in her gut as she took a deep breath. “I am Aliya Larimar Cerel, wife of King Malkov, Queen of the realm. Name your price to save my life.”

His eyebrows disappeared under the hair that hung over his forehead. “A royal boon? Of my own choosing?”




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