Arlen nodded. ‘Ay.’

Wonda had cut her hair to fall over the side of her face the demon had clawed, but she brushed it back, revealing deep puckered lines. Her voice dropped low. ‘Can you take away my scars?’

Arlen hesitated. He could do it in an instant, but looking into Wonda’s aura, he wasn’t sure he should. He drew a ward in the air to keep his reply for her alone.

‘I can.’ Her eyes lit up and her aura surged in both elation and fear. ‘But come new moon, what are you going to be worried about, Wonda Cutter? Your neighbours, or your face?’

Shame filled her aura, and Arlen gestured to his own face, covered in hundreds of tattoos. ‘Scars can protect us, Wonda. Remind us what’s really important.’

The girl nodded, and he took her shoulders, squeezing. He had to tilt his head up to look in her eyes. ‘You think on it. After new moon, you still want this, all you have to do is ask.’

Her aura shifted to a more neutral colour and texture, but a slow swirl began within as she considered his words.

‘I suppose this means you’re not likely to accept the demon of the desert’s proposal, then?’ Thamos asked, chewing on the last of his bacon.

Leesha smiled at him. Her own appetite had returned, and she was feeling strong for the first time in weeks. ‘It’s unlikely.’

‘Mother says you can be trusted to do what’s best for Hollow County,’ Thamos said, ‘but that I shouldn’t mistake that for following my commands.’

Leesha laughed, rising to clear the plates. ‘The Duchess Mum has the right of that.’

‘You’re a lot like her,’ Thamos said.

Leesha cocked a hip at him. ‘Not too much like her, I hope, or else last night was something I don’t want to think on. I know you Royals like to keep your bloodlines pure.’

Thamos laughed. ‘Not that much, though I’ll have you know my mother was a great beauty in her day.’

‘Of that, I have no doubt,’ Leesha said.

‘As for bloodlines …’ Thamos shrugged. ‘Ours was a minor house a century ago. My grandfather was the first of us to sit the ivy throne, and it was more money than blood that put him there.’

He stood swiftly, sweeping her into his arms. ‘You’re the closest thing the Hollow has to royalty in any event. Have you ever thought of what you might accomplish as countess?’

Leesha snorted, gently pushing the count back to arm’s length. ‘Your Highness has a reputation for bedding every young thing that winks at him. Am I supposed to believe you’ll stay true?’

Thamos smiled, and kissed her. ‘For you, I might be willing to try.’

‘If any of us are still around next week, I’ll think on it,’ Leesha promised, giving him a peck on the lips in return and pulling away to resume her cleaning. She didn’t doubt the offer was sincere, but it was more politics than affection. A union between them would cement Thamos’ control of the Hollow, and Rhinebeck’s control of his duchy, and Araine knew it.

Would that be such a bad thing? She honestly didn’t know.

‘Is it true you also encountered one of these mind demons Mr Bales speaks of?’ Thamos asked.

Leesha nodded. She went to her writing desk, taking an envelope sealed with wax and pressed with her sigil, a mortar and pestle. She handed it to the count. ‘For your mother.’

Thamos raised an eyebrow. ‘My brother, you mean.’

Leesha raised a brow in return. ‘Must we play that game, even alone and intimate?’

‘It’s not a game,’ Thamos said. ‘Rhinebeck is duke, and he is paranoid and proud. If you disrespect him openly, there will be consequences.’

Leesha nodded. ‘Ay, but he will get his report from you, and I have no doubt you can get a message to Araine—’

‘Her Grace,’ Thamos corrected.

‘… Her Grace,’ Leesha allowed, ‘without interception. You said yourself that Herb Gatherers were still her purview. There is no disrespect here.’

Thamos frowned, but he took the letter.

‘I’ll be honest, Highness,’ Leesha said. ‘I don’t know how far I can trust you, either inside my bed or out. Are you here because you care, or because you want to consolidate your hold on Hollow County?’

Thamos smiled. ‘Why, both, of course. Cutter’s Hollow was always part of Angiers, and depended on the throne for many things, including the Messenger road that kept you connected to the rest of the world. It was a minor hamlet not long ago, but oaths of fealty are not things you can just break when you come into power. Would you have expected the throne to just let you go if you discovered gold or coal on your lands?’

Leesha shook her head. ‘Of course not.’

‘These wards Mr Bales brought you are no different,’ Thamos said. ‘And what have we done that is so terrible? Have we not brought food and seed, livestock and warm clothing to your people in their hour of need, as you asked? Helped build them homes and construct the greatwards you helped design? My keep may look imposing, mistress, but it is meant to hold against the Krasians, not to terrorize the people under my protection.’

Leesha nodded. ‘For all the good it will do. In two years, the Krasians will have more warriors than there are men, women, and children in Angiers. Even now, they could crush the Hollow in a day if it was their wish, though they would have to leave Everam’s Bounty weak and enemies in Lakton at their back to do it. But once the Hollow was theirs, we could do little to take it back, and they would have Lakton caught like a tooth between pliers.’

Thamos shook his head. ‘The Krasians will never take Lakton unless the desert rats suddenly become sailors. The Laktonians have port hamlets scattered over hundreds of miles of shoreline to dock for supplies. No force in the world could guard them all, and the crannogs and swamp demons would take a heavy toll if they tried. The Laktonians can turn their ships on a klat, and rain arrows on Docktown or the shores, but the dockmasters are cowards, and will see no gain in taking the fight any farther than the shoreline. A Laktonian off his ship is like a grounded wind demon. No match for anyone.’

‘I agree,’ Leesha said. ‘I’ve been telling the Laktonians in the hamlets to flee to the Hollow.’

Thamos’ eyes narrowed. ‘Already acting the countess? You had no right to extend such invitation. We are already at capacity.’

‘Nonsense,’ Leesha said. ‘Our only chance to resist the Krasian advance is to grow as quickly as possible. We must fill the Hollow.’ She sighed. ‘If there’s a Hollow left to fill, once the moon has waned.’

Thamos took her hands, leaning in close. ‘We don’t need to be at odds, Leesha Paper. I will let every louse-ridden peasant from here to the Krasian desert camp on my doorstep if you’ll give me the answers I need.’

‘Answers?’ Leesha asked, though she knew full well what he meant.

Thamos nodded. ‘How many warriors do the Krasians have, and where are they stationed? What did you learn of the mind demons that has you so terrified? Can we trust Mr Bales to not waste lives as he combats them? Will you endorse my rule?’

The sun was beginning to rise, and both of them perked up at the sound of the count’s coach approaching. She sighed. ‘I’ll consider your questions, Highness, and have answers for you soon.’