Page 8 of Kiss of Ice

“It’s only a tiny portion of what was there, your Majesty. The centre has so many medicines, they wouldn’t miss a few bottles.”

“Not the point, thief. Stealing is stealing. Surely, you, little Miss Righteous, can see that?”

“Keep it then. Take it back to the apothecary for all those rich folk to use. But if you do, the boy will die.” Ren’s heart was thumping hard. “Not that you care. You’ve been away so long, you have no idea what ordinary people are going through.”

“Are these the same ordinary people who believe I deserted them for fifty years?” he said bitterly. “They already think so little of me, why should I care about them?”

“Perhaps they’d think differently if you did something to change their minds instead of sulking about it.”

She stopped, shocked at the words which had flown out of her mouth. This was the Emperor.The Emperor!He could have her flung in a cell and left to rot forever.

Why was she even bothering to try to make him understand? She’d been told repeatedly he cared little for his people. Nothing she’d seen of him suggested otherwise. Any second now he would call the guards and have her dragged away.

“What’s wrong with him?”

The question was unexpected.

“He has sickle fever, your Majesty. And until it clears, he’s suffering terribly. The calora will lower his temperature and the panacea will cure the infection.”

Panacea. He was familiar with it. He had used it himself once, to heal another’s wounds. He threw the bag back at her.

“Go. Before I change my mind.”

For a moment, she was stunned. Of all the things she thought he’d do, it wasn’t that.

Then she scrambled for the door, opening it and jumping out, almost tripping over her own feet in her haste.

She glanced back at him. He wasn’t looking at her. His face was pensive, almost sad, and she wondered what he was thinking about. Then she turned and ran.

Four

The shaitun cowered, prostrate and snivelling before his master.

“Forgive me, your Lordship,” he hissed. “I had no choice. I owed them a boon. It is demon lore and I was bound by it.”

“You betrayed me. And because of you, he is back.”

“I only told them where he was, I did not think for one second they would be able to break the curse. Please believe me master!”

Salaq surveyed the demon coldly, his pale eyes flints of ice. It was true, Ravij had been in his service for well over four centuries and he had proved invaluable countless times. As a spy, a hunter, an assassin, he had served the Lord of the Marid unflaggingly.

Until now.

“It has taken me months to find out how my enemies discovered Kamran’s location. Imagine my surprise when I realised the culprit wasyou,Ravij. My trusted confidant. My faithful helper.”

“I swear I did not tell anyone the beast was Kamran transformed,” the demon implored. “The slayer discovered that for herself. Please, my lord, have mercy.”

“Thecurse was the only ace I had in my pocket. Your treachery has cost me the throne, Ravij.”

The cadaverous figure fawned at his feet, the ankh tattoo of servitude stark against his pallid skin.

“I have been with you since I was created, my Lord. I would never knowingly deceive you. I beg your forgiveness. You are my family!”

“A family that has proved to be a disappointment. A wife who couldn’t live long enough to give me a son. A daughter whose bleeding heart weeps for every waif and stray. And you. A pathetic shaitun who has failed me. And since I don’t tolerate failure, you know what this means.”

“NO!”

Ravij screamed and jerked backwards. His form flickered as he started to shimmer away, a shaitun survival trick, but Salaq was ready.

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