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“Of course not” Gareth shakes his head “Because it’s preposterous No one would believe I’ a slaver The winter real as King Gladion or I have anything to say about it” He has to stop talking like that Because when he does, I want to clirumpy face, and kiss him until I can’t breathe anymore
“Exactly” Silers “Now that I knoho you are, itGladion’s second-in-co for ways to increase productivity, especially now that you’ve entered an agreement to supply the Vundi with food and—”
“How did you know about that?” Gareth snaps
“Spies” Chastain rolls to his side He would be handsome if Gareth hadn’t beaten a few years off his life “I employ several It’s the only way to keep up the ruse of ”
“Why is it a ruse?” I arch a brow “What made you decide to never trade slaves?”
Chastain winces “I didn’t say I’ve never done it,” he says quietly “But I don’t anymore”
“Why not?” Gareth waves a hand at the opulence around us, his tone verging on acidic “Seems to have treated you quite well”
Chastain’s gaze strays to Siloes to him and sits next to him on the divan
His battered face brightens as she adjusts a bandage on his ar in this house, or even this city”
“She’s your htest bit
“She is my chosen one, the one I would happily forsake my fated mate for” He reaches up and strokes her cheek with his thu, and I will happily risk all to ensure that she will never be a slave again”
Silmaran kisses his palm
Parnon groans
“I see” Gareth pulls hter to his side He smells like the bath, but still has a hint of winter’s bite beneath it I want to roll around on him like a cat
Chastain turns to us “I will send a guide with you to the Abyss You won’t h without one But first, I need you to infiltrate the Bazaar, find out the attendees, and assist us with the overthrow”
“We can navigate the Abyss without any help” Gareth is consistent, if stubborn
“How? The way is perilous One wrong turn and you’ll be flung into the darkest depths of Arin, never to return You have no coin, no food, no water” He settles back onto the divan and closes his silver eyes “You have nothing”
I pipe up “We have plucky determination”
Silmaran smiles “Have I mentioned how much I’ve missed you?”
“I could stand to hear it a few le my brows
Her eyes ale”
“But sos do ‘Silmaran sees all’ What sort of catch phrase is that?”
She shrugs, but a blush creeps into her cheeks
“Sil short of adoration “She’s become the touchstone of all the slaves in Cranthum”
“I’ve done nothing except fight for justice” How does she pull off modesty? I’ve alondered how that particular trait works I seeain, do I really need any? Pffft
Parnon grunts “You’ve freed ht more masters, and destroyed more caravans than any of us”
“Not alone” Silside me” She strokes Chastain’s hair “And you serve as an excellent decoy, my love”
He snorts “When this rebellion is finished, I’d like to hang upmy ass kicked, if that’s possible”
“So, you intend to free the slaves of Cranthum? And then what? What’s your plan?” Gareth’s chilly words put a daift “Kill all the masters? Because I can assure you that there will still be slaves in Byrn Varyndr even if you htly upon an uprising that destroys her nobles and stops the influx of workers southward to the mines or northward to the capital”
“This is just the beginning” Silain “We will liberate this city and then move north to Byrn Varyndr”
“The queen will destroy you all before you set foot on her island” Gareth waves a disic, the kind that comes from the deepest well She and Leander are two sides of the sa each other with the sheer power each possesses in their respective realms”
“Even so, I will fight”
Gareth glowers “You will die”
“Then so be it” The conviction in her words sends goosebumps down my arelings and the brute all have that same set to their chin, the same spark in their eyes Even Chastain nods
She stands “I will happily fight and die for my freedom and the freedom of others”
“I want the slaves freed, but a rebellion is going to end in blood and massive loss of life on both sides” Gareth never seems to shake his level-headedness “Perhaps you’d be better off sending a contingent to speak with Queen Aurentia and—”
“You think speaking will solve this? Did you see the bodies hanging above theherded in for sale?” Her voice rises with each question “Did you see the lashchildren? The babies ripped from their mothers’ arms?”