Page 11 of Queen of Darkness
The Duke waved one hand at me, his creepily long fingers much too big for the size of his hands or even his body. “All is forgiven. However, I do not believe I can do any further business with you. In fact, all I can offer is to see you safely out. After that …”
“I’m already aware that she’ll be waiting for me,” I said, acknowledging his unspoken point.
“Indeed. There are only a few exits available to you,” the Duke said. “And she will know them.”
That was another interesting piece of information. I couldn’t just use any old exit, it seemed. Was that part of his deal or because of some other reason? Perhaps due to the exit locations? I simply didn’t know.
“So, why did you agree to her deal? Did she threaten you into not helping me?”
For one moment, the Duke was something I’d never seen before. Speechless. He stared at me with such incredulity that he didn’t know how to respond. I braced myself, half expecting him to come over the desk and attack me for even suggesting such a thing.
Instead, he flung his head back and laughed. His entire body shook as the room filled with his laughter.
“Absolutelynot,” he said forcefully once he recovered, his customary neutral expression returning. “She is neither so brash nor so stupid. Not when there is a more natural solution to her problem.”
“Natural solution?”
The duke spread his hands wide. “She paid me not to help you, of course. It was an offer I could not refuse.”
“Well, shit,” I muttered. “So, you can’t help me with a new identity or somewhere to hide that’s off-grid?”
He shook his head. “No. I am not to interfere.”
I nodded slowly, considering his words. “Did she specify what exactly would constitute interfering?”
“She did.” Duke Hamelin’s face twitched ever so briefly as he realized where I was going. If his eyes were capable of conveying emotion, they probably would have indicated some amused humor, but as pure black as they were, I couldn’t get a read at all.
“What did she say? Or can you not tell me?”
The duke appeared to think for a moment before a sly grin broke out, curving upward on his long, thin face. If I didn’t know him better, I’d have been deeply unsettled by the look. However, having dealt with him before, I knew that Duke Hamelin was enjoying himself immensely.
As I said, he obeyed the letter, not the spirit.
“No, as a matter of fact, she did not. However, I am afraid it will do little to help you. She said to offer you no aid if you were to come asking for help.”
“Were those her exact words?” I asked before he could continue.
Duke Hamelin paused just long enough to replay a memory in his head before he nodded. “Yes. She said, ‘You will not offer her any aid if she comes asking for help. You will not provide her shelter or assistance in hiding or any items that can be used to harm me.’ In this instance, ‘me’ is Queen Elenia and ‘her’ is, well, you, Miss Alustria. As you can see, it was quite specific.”
I slowly smiled as he finished repeating the queen’s orders back to me.
“So,” I said slowly, “if I come to you, say, looking tobuyinformation, you would be able to provide it? After all, I’m notaskingfor help. I’m offering topayfor information.”
The Broker considered my words. “I cannot see why that would be an issue. Nothing is being provided for free. Nor did you ask for help. As long as you do not ask for information about where to hide or where to find items that could harm Queen Elenia, then you should be okay. A simple transaction is not off the table.”
“I’m glad to hear that you’re open for business as usual,” I said, halting a broad grin from filling my face.
“What is it you wish to know?” he asked without preamble.
I had to restrain myself from leaning forward. “I want to know if anyone has ever successfully rid themselves of a Blood Letter without dying, and if so, how? Keep in mind, I’m talking about people who’ve done so without the originator of the letter taking it back. I want a loophole, a back door. That’s the type of answer I want.”
The duke grimaced at my clarifications. I knew he hated such specificity, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t going to waste my time or his. Not with Elenia butting in.
“That,” he said after some thought, leaning back in his chair, steepling his fingers under his chin, “isveryexpensive information indeed. It would take an equally expensive payment.”
I wondered just what it was he had in mind as payment. Would I even be able to come up with it?
“Are you sure you want to pay?” he asked when I didn’t initially respond.
