Page 48 of The Winner's Kiss
He smiled with his teeth.
Testing the truth of it as she spoke, Kestrel said, “I knew that they did that to runaways. I don’t remember seeing it happen.”
“You might not have. You were a lady. Part of privilege is not having to look at ugly things.”
“You’re not ugly.”
“What a sweet little liar you are.”
“Except when you smile. You make yourself look like a grinning skull. You do it on purpose.”
“Not so sweet, then.”
“Not a liar.”
“But you were a liar. A very good one, if what I hear is true. Who’s to say you’re not lying about your lost memory?”
She gave him a look of such plain hatred that he drew back. The wasps buzzed.
“I have a confession,” he said. “Sometimes I offend on purpose. It’s like my smile.”
“That’s not an apology.”
“Princes don’t apologize.”
In a swift move, she had her dagger in her hand at his throat. He jerked his head back with a hiss.
“Apologize,” she said.
“I’m not sure giving you that dagger was wise. You’re not exactly stable.”
She pressed the dagger. He stepped back. She stepped forward. “Every one says I’ve done these marvelous things. Traitor to my country for the greater good. I was so noble.” Her mouth became a sneer. “Poor girl. Poor Kestrel with her worthless weak body, her empty mind. Why would I lie now?”
“To torment him.”
Startled, she lowered the blade.
Roshar said, “You torment him.”
“Is that why you’re here? To protect your friend from me?”
This time, Roshar’s smile was a mere twist of the mouth.
“I don’t want anything from him,” she said.
“That might be part of the problem.”
She spoke as if she hadn’t heard. “I don’t care about your war.”
“Did you, or did you not, just advise us on how to improve a weapon designed to riddle your people with holes? A weapon that if we are very lucky will kill your father.”
“My father.” The blue sky went black. Wasps buzzed inside her head. She opened her mouth to speak. Nothing came out.
“Yes,” Roshar said. “He’s leading the Valorian army. Didn’t anyone tell you?”
The hand that held the dagger sagged. She thought about her conversation with Arin in his rooms. He had tried to tell her.
Roshar touched her shoulder. Her vision cleared, but her heart was racing. He said, “I apologize. I’m sorry for what I said earlier.”
