"Why do I have to learn this?" Anwyl glared at the waspish woman who was tutoring her.

"Don't ask questions. Never ask questions." Mistress Bior cast her a narrow-eyed glance. "Now straighten your back and add that sway to your hips."

"I can't."

"If you don't, you'll be useless at acquiring information. So, you will." Her beady eyes sharpened with a glint. "You do want your freedom, don't you?"

Anwyl bit back a curse. She didn't even bother to answer Mistress Bior. We both know the answer, you witch! She straightened her back and tried to sway her hips when she walked.

"Better." Mistress Bior's switch didn't slap her in the hip this time, but the woman's tone was so sharp that Anwyl wondered if she was truly improving or if the old biddy's arm was tiring.

"Mistress Bior?" She dared to approach the old lady with her questions, though she suspected none would be answered.

"Didn't I say no questions?" The woman's lips pressed together as though she were holding back more foul words.

Anwyl dropped it and continued with the lesson.

***

"How is the training progressing?" Aamon picked at the fruit in front of him while he watched Anwyl push her food about on the plate before her.

"Satisfactorily, I suppose." She bit the inside of her cheek, staring at her food.

"I see." Aamon popped a red, round fruit into his mouth with a smirk.

"Master, if I may inquire..." Anwyl swallowed back the lump in her throat.

"Inquire what?" Aamon's fingers stilled atop the oak table's surface.

"Mistress Bior wouldn't tell me why I'm being trained to do all these things. I don't understand." She picked at the meat in front of her, and her stomach churned.

"Is that all you wished to know?" Aamon chuckled. "Such a small request, but I'm afraid I can't tell you yet. Your other questions?"

"What..." She trailed off, her fingers shaking on her utensils. "What does your mission have to do with the way Mistress Bior is training me? It's like she's training me to extort men using my body, frankly."

"Well, of course. It's at your disposal, isn't it?" Aamon ate another piece of fruit, his gaze remaining fixed on her.

Her gaze flew up to meet his. "What? Why would I do that?"

He waved a hand. "Oh, never mind. You're a smart young lady. I'm sure you can figure it out on your own."

I hope he's implying that I should learn to use every tool at my disposal. She bit her lip. But I can't shake the feeling he means something else that's much worse. Anwyl's shoulders hunched, and she continued to pick at her meal. Still, that's stupid. He's not been unkind to me while I've been here, so there's no reason to assume the worst. "Yes, Master."

"You shouldn't fret so much about the promise you made. I mean, it's not like I'm going to ask you to kill someone." He chuckled, spearing a yellow vegetable on his plate.

She shivered and averted her gaze. "May I be excused to rest, Master? I'm afraid I'm feeling a bit worn."

Aamon cleared his throat. "Of course. Are you coming down with something? Should I ask one of my healers to aid you? Or perhaps you'd like me to have a servant fetch you some hot tea?"

Her teeth worried at her lip, and she shook her head. "I just need rest, I'm sure. And it wouldn't be right for you to worry so much about me. As you said, I'm only a slave."

His eyes glinted when she looked back up at him, but he didn't make a move toward her. She stayed glued to her seat until he exhaled and waved her off. As soon as he did, she shot up from her chair and beat a hasty retreat toward the door.

His voice halted her just as she was about to turn the handle and escape the confines of the dining room. "Anwyl?"

She swallowed and turned back to him. "Yes, Master?"

That strange glint was still in his gaze. "Don't forget the agreement. Five years. Anything I say. I have a right to care however much I choose."

A chill crept down her spine, and she had to resist the urge to look behind her for an open door or window. "Yes, Master."

"Good." He waved his hand again. "Well, be off. Rest well, Anwyl."

Heart skittering to a halt in her chest and mouth dry, Anwyl turned and forced her legs to carry her from the room.

***

General Layt stood on the hill looking out over the town of Ashteft. Beside him, Lieutenant Wyrcrest let out a long breath. Layt raised a brow at his companion. "Something the matter, Wyrcrest?"

"Yes. We've been looking for an in with Ashteft for weeks. Now, we've finally found someone who can work amongst the men and start sowing discord between families, but Prince Aamon insists on keeping her to himself!" Wyrcrest's fists balled up at his sides.

"It isn't for us to question him. You know that." Layt crossed his arms and continued staring.

"When do we finally get to see the fruition of all our plans, General? I'm getting sick of all this waiting." Wyrcrest glared down at the town. "Stupid healer and his positive impact!"

"Patience, Wyrcrest. It's a virtue, I've been told."

"One I don't possess."

"Well, you'd better start possessing it because I have more news from Prince Aamon." Layt's eyes narrowed. "We have new orders."

"New orders?"

"Yes. He wants to see discord sown other ways. We're to pay a visit to Master Seit tonight. It's time for him to pay back the favor he owes Prince Aamon."

Wyrcrest shot him a glance. "Seit? What's he going to do?"

"It's not so much what he's going to do as it is what he's going to have those women of his do."

A gleam entered Wyrcrest's eye, and he smirked. "Oh. I see." He guffawed. "Well, that will be fun. Did Prince Aamon forbid us from mingling pleasure with business on this particular excursion?"

Layt snickered. "No. I believe his exact words were 'don't break them because we still need them'."

"Unusually generous, wasn't he?" Wyrcrest rubbed his palms together.

"Well, Seit and his whores will take whatever coin we give them happily, so I'm not sure how generous it was. He's not paying us for it, so it'll be out of our own pockets." Layt shoved his hands into the pockets of his overcoat.

"Worth every linar spent." Wyrcrest pulled his coin purse off his belt. "When do we get started?"

Layt grinned. "I like how you think. How about the earlier the better?"

"I could be persuaded." Wyrcrest chuckled and headed down the incline toward the town.

***

The whispers traveled through the market place like a lightning bolt. The news passed from one woman to the next, and men discussed it in the taverns while they conducted business. Seanan listened to the conversation of the two women buying vegetables at the stall next to the one where he stood. He examined a bundle of aldspur, determining that the sedative herb was in good condition on this particular day.

"Did you hear what happened to Alder Coveson?" The brunette's nimble fingers picked through the firm, oval vegetables, and she eyed their green skins distastefully. "Why can't they ever seem to have ripe okarts?" She hefted one in her hand, showing it to her blond-haired companion.

"How would I know?" Her companion's lips pinched together. "I don't even understand how you can stand eating those things! They've got such an oddly creamy and slimy texture."

The brunette shrugged. "All in the perspective, I suppose. Regardless, have you heard about Coveson?"

"Not much. I heard they found his body floating in the lake with no visible wounds to indicate how he died." The blond woman's nose scrunched. "Why do you want to know, Dianna?"

Dianna snickered. "Because... Just because we're women doesn't mean we can't investigate a little on our own. You're too subservient, Chastain."

Chastain shot her friend a narrow-eyed glance. "And you're too quick to get involved in the men's business."

Dianna dropped the okart she was holding back into the vendor's container and dragged her snooty friend in another direction. Their voices gradually faded into the hubbub of the crowd.

"Seanan?" The stall's owner leaned forward. "You going to buy that or stand and gawk at those two gossips all day?"

Seanan blinked and returned his attention to the stall owner. "My apologies, Caiden. I would like a bundle of your aldspur, please. It's in fine condition today."

Caiden's shoulders straightened, and he grinned. "It is, isn't it?" His grin faded. "So, I take it you hadn't heard about Coveson yet."

"I hadn't."

But I already knew, he added in his mind.

"Sordid business that. No one knows what happened. His wife says he left in the early morning to go cut lumber for the day's sales, and he never returned. They retrieved the ax from a nearby tree, but no one's figured out why he didn't have it and how he could've died without a mark on him." The vendor shook his head. "Be careful when you're out and about, will you?"

Seanan managed a grim smile. "Of course. Thank you for warning me, Caiden."

Caiden shrugged. "I figure it's what any decent neighbor does."

He handed Caiden a few linars for the herbal bundle. Caiden deposited the money into a drawer inside the stall and handed him the herbs in exchange. Accepting the package, he said, "Well, nonetheless, thank you." He tucked the package away in his bag. "I'd best be getting back to the Hall. May heaven smile on you and yours."

Caiden smiled. "And on yours."

Seanan turned and strode into the crowd, blending in with the shoppers and gossipers.