Chapter 21 The First Move
Fiona
The soldiers left the pitch ages ago. Right now, I’m trying to listen to the rest of the grounds, the tower, the forest, anything that will keep my wolf busy and quiet while I think. I haven’t bothered to shift into my human form since this morning. I am grateful that some random guard brought me lunch. They tend to come and leave quickly, leaving me to my thoughts. Ronan’s little visit was hours ago, and I still don’t understand.
I know that showing me the contract is meant to be a distraction, something to irritate me or whittle away at me, but the knowledge is useful to me.
Or at least it should be, but I can’t understand how.
The contract is baffling. Idiotic, based on what I know of Caldara.
A patch of remote land, a ceasefire, and me as a political hostage “as a sign of goodwill.”
Me. Fine. Goodwill and a ceasefire is often secured with a hostage, but Varek clearly doesn’t need goodwill nor really plan to uphold the ceasefire if he’s going to sell me. He’s not worried about any retaliation for the sale either.
Arrogant? Maybe. But he might not intend to sell me to someone my father would find unconscionable, or Caldara’s coffers are emptier than I think. All three seem more likely, though, and while it’s a small comfort to think that he won’t sell me to someone who I will definitely have to kill in self defense, it’s not a large comfort.
Caldara is a blistering cold tundra full of mountains, remote, heavy in infantry, and light on resources outside of conquered lands. Its entire infrastructure is supported by its conquered territories. Varek has to continue to conquer or get some sort of trade agreement in place. Varek should be looking to secure the state of his army, his people and their livelihood with viable land and trade agreements.
I imagine that selling me like a breeder will yield quite a bit, and maybe that is all Varek is after. There are a lot of desperate Alpha Kings in need of wives for politics, never mind their heirs. Varek has no children and apparently no one worthwhile to sell. Or he believes that his own people are above such things. I roll my eyes at the thought. How he can think Liora is above such a move, but be okay with selling me has to be a matter of self interest. He probably wants to keep Caldara’s bloodlines in Caldara.
Just as well, the inherent tie I have to Solara would make me valuable to many of whom I believe will be showing up, many of whom Varek would be smart to consider. I have met many of them, allies or ally potentials of Solara, they all have the same air. I’m more likely to punch them than get into bed with any of them.
Funny how I want to do both to Varek, though punching is quickly turning into making him break. I smirk at that. It’s amusing to think, gets my blood heated in a good way, and lifts my spirits to think of having him in the palm of my hand.
And it would happen. Slowly, almost imperceptibly. He would look up one day stunned at the change of dynamic. It’s going to be delicious. I just have to get there, and I will after I make sense of all of this.
There are at least five alternatives to that stupid contract that would yield more, faster, with and without me included, and his choice of land is fucking baffling!
What could he want with a patch of dirt that had never been worth much of anything? I scroll through my memories of the area. I had gone on the survey of the land many times.
The earth was more rock than soil. Barely anything grew there. The hills were full of dirt. Nothing precious to be mined, barely any rivers, no game to be had, much like Caldara. I remember Father being disappointed every time we came back to report as much. It is better suited for a prison camp than anything. That was exactly what Solara used it for but the population is small. It isn’t even useful for trade! Sure, it is a large enough piece of land, but it’s as useful as a boot that fits with no sole.
Useless.
I snarl, turning again. My skin starts feeling thinner, stretched tight over the restlessness hounding me. I need to know what he’s getting out of the deal. There’s no way he stormed our castle to not get as much as he wanted out of us with this deal.
I pace and pace, turning it over and over in my mind. My muscles ache, my legs tremble, and my head pounds.
Then, I slow to a stop and drop onto my haunches once again feeling dumb.
I’ve been thinking about this wrong. It doesn’t matter what’s actually there. It only matters what Varek thinks is there. So what could he think is there and why? The history of that remote piece of land is a little fuzzy in my mind, but I’m pretty sure it had been taken a while back. Why? I have no idea. Maybe there had once been something there, but it isn’t there anymore.
Is that why Varek took it?
Could I tell him somehow it’s useless? I push that thought away. No. It would be better to figure out what he thinks is there for. Maybe I can throw it out later after I know telling him is beneficial to me.
For now, I should focus on getting out of the tower and navigating my way out of his plan. Being barren would instantly disqualify me for a lot of reasons, but to my knowledge there’s nothing wrong with me. I chuckle at that a little. It would be entertaining as hell if by some twist of fate his plans were already ruined.
If not then, I would just have to draw it all out until I was considered too old to bother with. Eight or nine years? Could I draw this out that long?
Would he let it go that long?
I’m not sure, best not to chance it without giving him something equally or more valuable in place of such a thing. As much as I hate the idea of helping the bastard, proving my usefulness as his indefinite political hostage will keep me from having to deal with any of that.
Footsteps come up the stairs. I can tell from the movements that it’s Liora. I don’t shift back as she unlocks the door and just comes in. She stops, cocks an eyebrow.
“Not exactly what I expected, but okay. Shift back and get dressed.”
I tilt my head. Why the hell would I do that?
She smirks. “The next part of the nightmare is starting: Alpha Varek wants you fitted to meet your prospects. Tailor’s waiting.”
The words sink in, mulling them over. I’m not bothered by her amusement. I feel distant from it. My wolf feels completely unbothered by the idea of being dressed up to be looked at, but my human side senses a catch.
“Well?” Liora hisses. “Are you going to hurry up and shift or am I going to have to drag you?”
I tilt my head the other direction and look pointedly at the still open door where two male guards are standing, looking in. She scoffs and steps back out, closing the door behind her.
I shift back, rolling my shoulders and suppressing a smile. I dress and go to the door, opening it to find Liora on the other side. I offer my hands. She cocks an eyebrow.
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to chain me?”
She narrows her eyes. “Why would I need to do that?”
“You can’t really think I want to play dress-up, do you?” I smile lightly. “Would make things easier.” I glance at the guard nearby and smile. “He looks spooked.”
Liora narrows her eyes, but the guard needs no more prompting to step forward and slide the silver cuffs around my wrists. Liora eyes me with suspicion but leads the way down the narrow staircase and across the castle grounds. I’m pleased that I don’t feel so weak that I need a break. A few more weeks of training, and I would probably be able to make it upstairs, silver and all without trouble either.
The guards fall in on either side of me, their hands never straying far from their weapons. Liora leads the way.
My eyes drift around, taking stock of people we pass and the decorations.
“No portraits,” I say. “Odd.”
“We don’t waste resources on vanity.”
“No portraits… no decorations, probably no library either.” I muse. “Interesting. I suppose it’s easier to get loyalty from people who can’t think.”
Liora snarls at me. “If you’re going to say stupid shit, just shut your mouth.”
I smile at her. “Hit a nerve?”
The way her eyes narrow tells me that I did, and isn’t that interesting?
I wonder how sensitive that particular nerve is.