Page 110 of The Winner's Kiss
“What did you think would happen if we lost?”
“Usually I don’t think. Usually my sister thinks, and tells me what to do. I’m quite comfortable letting other people run my life.”
“You never say what you really mean.”
Roshar held his eyes. “If we lose, I’ll take you home.”
“Your home.”
“Mine, yours.”
“Not possible.”
Roshar sighed. “Well, lots of things are.”
“Your sister . . .” Arin flushed.
“Oh, that.”
“How does that play into this?”
“Well, that, as I understand, happened in my city when you were just a ragged, trespassing foreigner of little importance. Of course”—Roshar gave him a sidelong look—“you have your charms. Now you’ve put an end to that—which, I don’t know, I think that if I were you I wouldn’t have. Your country could always be returned to you as a wedding present.”
Arin made a frustrated sound.
“It might be better for you if you didn’t draw every thing in such rigid lines.” Roshar thumbed more tobacco into his pipe. “It might be better for me if I did.”
“You know how I feel. Where I stand.”
Roshar arched one brow. “Indeed.”
Chapter 30
Kestrel stopped short of where the prince lay on his back in the grass in the midst of camp, eyes loosely closed against the sun. It was rare to see his face relaxed. The sun showed how scar tissue had thickened his upper lip and knotted where the tip of his nose had been.
She knew he wasn’t sleeping. “Lazy,” she accused.
“This is how I look when I conspire.”
“No Valorian commander would let his soldiers see him like this.”
“This is a strategy.”
She snorted.
“It is.” His eyes were still closed. “Aren’t you going to ask me how it is?”
She toed him. He stretched like a cat and seemed to settle back into position. Then his hand lashed out, seized her ankle, and yanked her leg out from under her. She landed on her rear.
“Yes.” Roshar’s black eyes glinted as she spluttered. “A masterful plan. Divine.”
Kestrel kicked him.
“ Tch. Lovely lady, won’t you hear my plan? It is the very best. You’ll like it. Here it is: I am waiting.”
“Sunbathing.”
“Waiting, I say, for you to tell me what to do.”
