Page 29 of The Fury She Holds
“Did you find anything else?” he pressed.
“Written under the coin. A few transactions that didn’t quite make sense—one particularly large sum said something about a trade with a country named Foederis. Ever heard of it, Rain?”
“No. Are you sure it’s a country?”
“It was listed as the location and signed by someone named Sceleratus.”
“I’ll look into it. What were the other transactions?”
“A few trades for provisions, but they were either too large to be plausible, or for items that I know for a fact aren’t available anywhere on this side of the Taralin and haven’t been for quite some time.”
Tal blinked. “Why did any of that stand out to you?”
“They’re probably falsifying the ledger to track the money but hiding what it’s actually being used for. It’s not uncommon but could be worth investigating. Pochette had two ledgers—one where everything appeared lawful and one with the real documentation.” Rain would have thrived in a greater kingdom. Thanks to him, Tal blackmailed Pochette into keeping his promise. One slip-up and his enemies would be sent a letter with some very incriminating information.
Egan stabbed a roll with a dagger and spoke around a large bite, “Are we saying that the king is involved in this since they’re his ledgers and his coin?”
“They weren’t necessarilyhisledgers. Just ledgers in his palace.” Sybil shrugged.
“We don’t really know one way or another, but it’s also highly likely someone else could be secretly sending money elsewhere and hiding the truth from the king with these false documents.” Rain tapped his hand on his boot in thought.
Tal didn’t like it either way. If what they found in the palace linked anyone to the mages, it spelled bad news.
“And I had another vision.”
All eyes shot to the seer.
“I found a room with a long table and really nothing else. When I stepped inside, the vision hit me like a sack of stones.”
“A new one?” Tal gripped her drink, unsure if she wanted to hear what Sybil had to say.
“The same vision actually, but one detail stood out.”
“Are you going to elaborate or…?” Tal didn’t have the patience for Sybil’s annoying tendency to drag out her revelations.
“A window.” She dragged out the word as if expecting the others to understand the significance.
Rainier pinched his nose. “Out with it, Syb.”
His sister huffed and mumbled something about suspense and dramatics. “The window is to your right in the vision, the nobles behind you, and you’re facing the Pyrie.” She paused briefly to let that detail sink in, as if anyone else knew why it would be important. “That exact window is in that room.”
“What? The same one?” Rain leaned in.
Sybil’s head bobbed in affirmation.
“Why would Tal be in a room within the palace among a bunch of nobles?” Egan piped up.
“Hells if I know. All I know is that whatever happens, it has something to do with that room.” She bit into a piece of bread.
“How did the vision feel to you?” Carrick questioned. “Could it still be symbolic, or do you think Tal will somehow find herself there?”
“Carrick, the Pyrie is dead. How would it be a literal vision if the woman is supposed to be there?” Tal’s gentle tone contrasted her words.
Sybil patted Carrick’s bulging shoulder when he shrugged. “It’s okay, big guy. I’m just as clueless as you. I’ll work on finding out more.”
“Well, my part turned out pointless,” Rain finally said. “The lords wouldn’t stop criticizing the king or talking inappropriately about every woman that walked by. Aside from some mention of an expected invitation, they gave nothing away. I suspect they discussed it further when they left for drinks in the study, which I never got to.” Rain side-eyed Tal, and she had the mind to grimace.
“What did they have to say about the king?” Carrick tilted his head.
