Page 11 of Shadows of Winter

Kaylina wanted to bristle at being lumped in with children—she was twenty-one, damn it—but she managed to keep her mouth shut.

“They have, but we aren’t at war with the entire proletariat, and we can’t assume everyone who isn’t a noble is an enemy.” The captain’s jaw tightened in a clench. “They’re our own people.”

“Even those who don’t raise weapons against the nobility would cheer to see us burn.” Vlerion’s tone was back to emotionless, but his face conveyed an aloof haughtiness.

“Don’t let your heritage define you, Vlerion.”

“It would be… quite impossible for it not to.” Their gazes met with the understanding of some shared knowledge. Or… a shared secret?

Whatever it was, Kaylina doubted it had anything to do with her. Deciding she didn’t care about their secrets, she raised a finger. “May we explain what led us to that castle? And who?”

“The land agent who mysteriously disappeared?” Vlerion asked coolly.

“Naybor was his name. And when armed rangers on giant hairy beasts show up, people disappearing can’t be that mysterious.”

That spark of irritation—of danger—flared in his eyes again.

Kaylina reminded herself not to intentionally goad him. He clearly didn’t like her, probably because she was a commoner. That was fine. She didn’t like him either. Asshole.

“I’m Captain Targon. Tell me what led you to the cursed castle.”

“Have you the authority to weigh guilt and innocence and release the wrongfully accused from incarceration?” Frayvar asked.

Targon, whom Kaylina had dubbed the more likely of the two to listen, narrowed his eyes. Perceiving the question as disrespect? Maybe his heritage defined him too. Or he at least believed people should bow down to his rank.

“I command the rangers and report to the king,” Targon said. “I carry his authority when it comes to defending Zaldor against threats, foreign and domestic.”

Kaylina held her hand up to keep her brother from speaking again and launched into a more complete version of what had happened since they’d landed. She was almost surprised when Targon listened. Vlerion also listened, but his eyes said he’d already condemned them as spies.

When she finished, she lifted her hands. “I’m willing to eat that root and answer questions under its influence. It’s a truth drug, right? If it can clear my name, I’m especially willing to eat it, but you can’t give it to my brother, okay? He’s allergic to stuff from the tree it comes from.” Kaylina looked at Vlerion. “That’s why he ran. Not because he was guilty of anything. He was scared for his life.”

Vlerion’s expression didn’t change, and she couldn’t tell if he believed her. She looked back to Targon, deeming him the more sympathetic.

“I volunteer to take that root and be questioned,” she repeated, “if you don’t give it to my brother.”

“You will take the root and be questioned whether you volunteer or not,” Vlerion said.

Targon glanced at him but didn’t naysay the statement.

“I thought it might be helpful if you had my cooperation instead of me biting you when you try to shove something in my mouth.” Kaylina bared her teeth at Vlerion.

“She definitely wants to hit you again,” Targon told him.

“Yes,” Vlerion agreed with an indifferent shrug.

Targon focused on Kaylina. “You two do look like siblings, even if you’re a lot more appealing than he is.”

Frayvar lifted a finger, as if he might object, but he lowered it and said nothing. Good. Kaylina didn’t want him drawing attention to himself. She didn’t want to be called appealing by a scarred-up forty-year-old guy, but he hadn’t ogled her chest or her ass, so she could deal with it.

“For now,” Targon continued, “unless your answers lead us to believe there’s more that we must unearth, I’m willing to question you in lieu of your brother.”

“Good,” she said. “I’m ready.”

Targon held up a hand. “Have you been given kafdari root before?”

“No.” Only after she spoke did Kaylina realize the question might have been a test. If she had said yes, would Targon have believed she’d been in trouble with the law before?

“Then you’re not aware of its side effects and how you might react under the influence.”

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