Page 34 of The Shadows Between Us
“Ah. An admirer who is hesitant to give up. I can hardly fault them for that.”
I place my hands on my lap as a servant retrieves my plate from my previous seat and lays it before me.
“Did another meeting keep you?” I ask carefully. “Has the bandit struck again?”
Kallias’s shadows darken. “Not since the last time, no. But we’ve had word of another problem.”
I nod, focusing my attention on my food. I don’t want to ask. I want him to tell me on his own. I want him to confide in me. To trust me.
My patience is rewarded.
“We’ve had delegates arrive from Pegai.” The most recent kingdom Kallias has conquered. “The news they bring isn’t good. There are open acts of rebellion happening right and left. The people kill my soldiers.Start fires in the barracks. Throw rotten food upon my regent when she travels the streets.”
“They oppose your rule?”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. “They were beaten. I conquered them fair and square. Their taxes are hardly more than what they were before, and my soldiers provide protection for the whole city. The only lawlessness to be found is within the insurgent peasants.”
“So what’s to be done? Public hangings?”
“So far, it’s only been public floggings. The smaller the population, the fewer taxes I receive. I plan to move on to conquering Estetia by next year. The army needs the money.” He looks up from his food suddenly. “This cannot be interesting to you. We don’t need to discuss it.”
“I find it fascinating,” I answer. “But if I may ask, doesn’t flogging a man make it difficult for him to work? How will you obtain your taxes then?”
“Do you have a better idea?”
“Oftentimes, it is not fear of punishment that prevents wrongdoing.” As I know too well from my history of disobeying my father. “Sometimes working to gain something is better. What do the Pegains want aside from their independence?”
He turns to me. “I don’t know.”
“Perhaps a good place to start would be to give them a voice. Allow them to select someone of their own choosing to be on the regent’s council—if the attacks cease.”
“You would give them more power?” he asks incredulously.
“Of course not. I would give them the illusion of power. Once you know who they’ve chosen and who that person interacts with the most, you’ll have found the ringleaders. And you can put an end to all of them. Crush the entire rebellion underfoot.”
He swallows the bite in his mouth. “Alessandra Stathos, that’spositively despicable.” He says the words like they’re the highest compliment he can give me. “You are an absolute gem, do you know that?”
My whole body warms at the praise.
THAT EVENING, I make inquiries. First to the viscount, Myron’s brother, Proteus. Then to the owner of the popular gaming hall I know Myron frequents.
These are the first steps to putting my plan into action.
This is not over. Not by a long shot.
CHAPTER
10
The dress I’ve selected for tonight is perhaps my most exquisite. For my first outing away from the palace, I want to draw attention. I want everyone to know I’m the one courting the king over six kingdoms.
Even if he’s not in attendance with me.
The gown is silver, the skirt showcasing loose ribbons made to look like waterfalls spilling down the sides. Tiny gems, sapphires and emeralds, are shaped to look like fish jumping from the bundled fabric all along the hemline.
My only accessory is a gray fan, perfect for hiding my features should the play turn out to be dull.
And of course to hide my distaste over Myron.
