A Question of Counsel

by Archer Kay Leah

  "Hey! You!" Aeley yelled and rattled the chain. "Big guy. Mind telling me where I am?"

  The guard remained still, almost like a statue, except for the way his one hand curled into a fist.

  "This should be fun," Aeley muttered. She glanced around the cell again. Windowless and locked from the outside, she discovered, and the keys hung on the wall between the guard and the staircase. There were few options for escape.

  But are there really any options? There's nothing here. The walls have been smoothed out, so no climbing. The bars are too thick and too close together to do anything. The only door is locked with keys I can't get. Who needs options when you've got nothing to work with anyway? I don't even have boots, for the love of the Four! Boots. Nothing special to them, but they're gone anyway. And my knife is probably still in the carriage. I could just kill Ryler. I hope they finished him off in the middle of that no-good roa—

  "You're finally awake."

  Recognizing the voice, Aeley bit her tongue. A chill danced up her arms to her neck. It felt like someone had thrown her into freezing water. Are you joking? She wanted to scream, her fingers curling into claws.

  "Ryler," she said, unable to resist growling at him when he stepped into the light. When he neared to the bars of the door, she could see the darkened places on his face where bruises had formed. Even if he wasn't responsible for her capture, at least someone had struck him.

  "Welcome to the Derossa family estate. Looks like we've misplaced our hospitality for the day." His lips twisted into a sneer. "Told you not to get me so hard. Like your punishment?"

  "So I hit you in the throat! You think this makes up for that?" Aeley pushed up from the floor. She sucked in a breath, almost hissing as she straightened.

  "You should be more clear," a low voice scolded from the darkness. "This isn't for that. This is for things well before now and what's left of your future."

  Aeley groaned. Not you, too.

  Another shadow cast across the floor. Emon approached the bars and leaned against them, his body angled towards his brother. He took small glances at Aeley. "He likes to be dramatic, especially when he feels he's been slighted or embarrassed."

  "Embarrassed? Who's embarrassed?" Ryler argued, thrusting his hand between the bars towards Aeley. "She's the one in this hole. I had her exactly where I said she'd be. It went off without any trouble. Didn't even lose one man."

  Aeley's nails dug into her palms. "So everything was a lie to get me to go with you? The whole 'you're paranoid' and 'you need to relax' bit was just to reel me in?"

  "Yes." Ryler looked at Emon. "That was risky, coming up from down the stairs when we came by. You were supposed to be gone before then."

  Emon snorted. "It took me longer to find the chest than he said it would. But it was buried in the floor where he left it. I managed to get the gold out to my carriage a little after you left. No one has any idea. Though next time Allon says to get something, he needs to be clearer."

  "Allon? Gold? What?" Aeley stomped her foot. "What have you been doing with my brother?"

  "Oh, look, she's angry. Practically ten shades of red," Ryler teased with a laugh. "She doesn't like it when anyone talks about him." He stopped laughing. "Allon. Allon. Allon, Allon, Allon, Allon!" He teetered back and chortled, banging on the bars. "Look at her! She wants to kill me. Oh, I'm scared."

  Emon scowled, his face pinched. He swatted his brother's head. "I'll kill you myself if you don't stop being annoying."

  "I'd take that as a threat, but I can't. We agreed we wouldn't. The family still needs us, especially with Lira being such a pain," Ryler argued.

  Aeley felt another chill when he said Lira's name, his voice full of disdain. Lira was practically a Goddess next to him. She deserved more than snide remarks.

  One thing at a time, she reminded herself and shook the chain. "Hey, we were talking. What about my brother? Has he been making you empty promises? Bribing you to get him out?"

  "No and no. For now, he's staying right where he is," Emon answered. "And they aren't empty promises. He's delivering on exactly what he said. Promised us payment as a sign of good faith, and now we have it."

  "From our estate? There wasn't anything there!"

  "Funny, that, you thinking you know everything," Emon muttered. "Except that's the interesting thing about secret stashes of wealth. They're secret."

  "We just had to get into the estate and since you fell for everything, we got in." Ryler grinned. "We thought Allon's plan sounded too stupid to work. We didn't count on your version of stupid."

  Come over here and say that again, so I can slap you. Aeley crossed her arms. The metal chafed her skin. "What do you mean 'everything'? There's more? You mean to tell me that during this entire ordeal, you were taking advantage of me and playing me like a game?"

  "But see that's the beauty of it. All of it was a game." Emon drew his hair over his shoulder to play with the ends. "Every attack, every message. Just pieces being played."

  "We were always coming for you," Ryler said. "We just had to move it faster than we planned, because someone couldn't keep her hands off. And then you invited the mercenary."

  "You were responsible for it all," Aeley murmured. She felt like flames engulfed her heart. "And let me guess: Allon helped you?"

  "He gave us the idea." Ryler slipped his arms through the bars and folded one arm over the other. "We have an understanding. He thought the marriage was a good way to get back at you and help his friends out, because he owes all of us in one way or another. He's got a lot of things you don’t know about. Precious things, worth more than you can understand. And he's willing to give it all to us if we just do this one little thing."

  "What? Throw me in a cell and starve me to death?"

  "Hardly," Emon replied with a grunt. "One of us gets you and whatever you've got. The other gets all of Allon's wealth that he's hidden away."

  "We just had to have you take us more seriously. Everyone else, too. We're tired of our family being the one that lost. But a little chaos went a long way to driving you to us." Ryler gestured to Emon. "He thinks you were desperate to trust someone."

  "More like desperate in general. That's how Lira's been all over her," Emon corrected. He glared at Aeley. "Whom, by the way, is as involved in this as we are. Before you start yelling that she's innocent and we're just criminals, you should know she's pulled the strings over your head. She's been in on it the entire time—just doing it on her own terms. She wants to be Steward and take over our family, even while my father's still alive. She's been very, very busy."

  Lies!, Aeley's mind screamed. She gritted her teeth, trying to control the racing of her heart with deep breaths. "I don't believe you."

  Emon threw up his hands. "If you don't want to believe, that's your choice. I just thought we'd let you know what's really going on. Why do you think she was at that initial meeting? It wasn't to warn you away from us. It was to ensure you went along with it. She knew about the marriage contract all along and didn't tell you, not until then. We know—we saw your face. She's played you as much as we have."

  "Has she told you about our mother yet?" Ryler asked. "Possibly with tears and a sad face? Told you she had her poor little heart broken when she was a girl and how terrible Mother's been? Maybe mentioned something about being ignored? Forced into things she says she didn't want?" He tapped his forehead. "All from here. She was never forced. She was given everything she ever wanted, spoiled until she turned rotten. Got it into her head that she's been wronged, so she's taking everything out on all of us and wants to destroy the family. She's using you to do it. And you fell for it."

  "Notice how quickly your romance has come along?" Emon asked. "And let me guess: she doesn't talk about herself. She avoids it, brushes it off. She's sweet to you and acts like she cares, like she wants to get to know you. Maybe you've felt distracted, more interested in spending time with her than doing your job. Maybe she's made you think she's clever and funny, someone who wants
to listen to your problems without adding the burden of her own. And maybe she's been around you just after an attack has happened, claiming she knows nothing. I'd say it's all very interesting, full of coincidence, and fast. Too fast."

  Aeley stared at the floor. For being liars, they knew too much. She tried to remember the expression on Lira's face when she talked about herself. Had they really been lies? "You're lying," she whispered.

  "I bet she didn't tell you our parents haven't been here for weeks." Emon inspected his fingernails. "She didn't, did she? She just kept close to you, staying in the village and saying she didn't want to go home. She may have said something about not getting along with our parents and feeling like she's forced out of the house. But she neglected to tell you that no one's been here except for the two of us, and we’ve been busy elsewhere. So before you doubt us, maybe you should ask her why she lied."

  "Because we’re telling you the full truth," Ryler added. "There's no point in lying about it anymore, because you're here, exactly where we've wanted you."

  "Why are you telling me?" Aeley asked, happy for the change in subject, despite the topic making her want to rip off their faces. "Since you love saying how stupid I am, let's talk about you. I think it's pretty stupid to give up everything, even when I'm stuck behind bars."

  Emon laughed. "We want you to understand what we're capable of—that you're in over your head. To impress on you the implications, should we let you go."

  "Let me go? Now who's lying?"

  "No, that's the truth." A smile cracked Emon's serious expression. "You don't have to spend the rest of your life here."

  "If?"

  "If you're willing to play the game. All of us can win and neither of our families becomes further disgraced. We can put the past behind us and go forward together, assuming you're willing to be nice."

  "Be nice? What could possibly make me want to be nice to you ever again?"

  Emon gestured to the bars with a limp wave. "Other than being stuck here forever? A few things. We know you're pretty fond of Mayr and Haydin—all of the people who live under your roof, really, as sentimental as it is. You also seem to have something for the magistrates and people in general. Our sister, too. And you obviously value your own life, or else you wouldn't have fought so hard to keep it."

  "Meaning what?" Aeley watched Emon's face. No emotions spread across his features, almost like he wore a mask.

  "Goddesses, you're slow," Ryler muttered. He banged the bars. "Pain. Loss. Death. Absolute chaos. We know a lot of people, some of whom enjoyed Allon's ideas and wouldn't mind going along with it. We'll mess with people so bad, they'll beg for a new Steward. And you know, if you should meet a rather untimely death, guess who the people will likely turn to in order to fill in the spot? That's right—us. We'll campaign hard and say we tried to solve every problem, but you refused us."

  Aeley felt her skin cool as blood rushed from her face. The threat of her death was one matter, but threatening the lives of those she cared for was something else entirely. They would never touch Haydin or Mayr, not while she lived. Both men were her family and she would always protect them, even if it angered Mayr to the point where he ignored her. And the people were her responsibility, those under her roof and in the rest of the tract. All her life, she had worked hard to do the best she could for them. It would not end with the greed of two men.

  Though the fact that they allowed her to live confused her. Had they truly thought things through? "So, why don't you just kill me now?" Aeley asked. Sneering, she added, "Not man enough?"

  Ryler snorted and fell back. "Hardly. Notice I said likely. It's not guaranteed they'd give it to us, no matter our promises. That's where the marriage is advantageous. We get the control without the same risk."

  "And before you think you wouldn't get anything out of it, consider how much good you can do from a marriage instead of a funeral pyre," Emon said. "Even keep us in line if we go too far. We'd be willing to entertain the possibility of being wrong, as long as you keep your mouth shut about the rest of this."

  Aeley fell back and spun on her heel. Walking towards the wall, she wondered if she was insane for considering anything other than "no". You have to, for everyone else, she reminded herself.

  She bit her tongue and turned back. "I don't understand why you did this at all! You'd have the same thing if you had just stuck to the marriage contract—"

  "No, not quite," Emon argued. "The marriage deal outlines only a few things to benefit our family, but we've decided we want a lot more. This is how this has to happen. We deal here, while you're in the position to be serious about it. Then, and only then, can we believe you're willing to make it work. Once you agree, there's no backing out. You're bound to your promises or there will be consequences."

  "Not to mention we're doing this as a favour to your brother with a pretty good payoff," Ryler said. "He was a friend; a good friend. We hate what you did. Instead of just handling it the way other families would have—as a family, you made the Council deal with it and go around pretending like you didn't put him in the position to lose his mind. He's willing to give us everything, just to see you squirm—including his estate and his things, all of which reverted to your possession. You agree to this and we get that."

  "So it's all about you," Aeley muttered. "Big surprise."

  "No, not us: our family," Ryler corrected. "We've got a lot of fixing to do. A lot of things your parents helped break. But you wouldn't understand. Your family's had it easy."

  If you call this life easy, we have very different definitions. Aeley knew Ryler believed every word he said, making him a dangerous man. Allon whispering in his ear had made it even worse.

  Emon tapped the bars. "No need to make a decision now. We're happy to give you all the time you need. We have somewhere to be as it is. Can't allow people to think we've disappeared, too."

  He beckoned his brother with one hand. When Ryler stepped forward, Emon punched him in the face.

  "What was that for?" Ryler yelled and stumbled back, holding his cheek.

  "You need the sympathy. The captain has to believe you and so does everyone else. Come here so I can add to it."

  Ryler snarled and slapped his brother's fist away. "I've got enough bruises to make it work. I just have to play the emotional bit. Cry and sob about how she's still out there," he wailed, before pretending to wipe a tear from his eye. "See? It's not that hard. But I'm bored now. Let's go."

  Emon and Ryler disappeared into the darkness, reappearing for a few moments on the staircase. Aeley heard a door slam closed.

  She almost crumpled to the floor. With both men gone, she wanted to do nothing more than curl into a ball and cry for the first time since her father died. What a mess I've made this. Father would be disappointed. So, so disappointed. And Lira… Is any of it true?

  Aeley crept towards the back corner to the highest pile of straw. She sank into the straw and wrapped her arms around her as far as the chain would allow. She felt used. Even more, she felt an idiot, gullible to a fault. The lengths the ridiculous family feud had gone made marriage seem like child's play. There was no easy way out. Either way, she would lose. The only choices left were how much was she willing to lose and how.

  Alone in the silence, she begged for a third option.

  *~*~*

  The guard's gaze slid over her body as if she wore nothing, a leer that made her feel exposed.

  If only I could punch you in the face and make you realize I'm not the sumptuous meal you think I am.

  Aeley stretched her stiff limbs and the straw pile sank further beneath her. How long had she been captive? Shrouded in the darkness, the most she had to track time was the one shift change of the guards. Glancing at the guard's back, she wished for the previous man. He ignored her, at least. His replacement was young, perhaps only eighteen. Unable to stand still, he appeared inexperienced. He either received different instructions or ignored the responsibilities of his assignment, turning to look at
her with consistent timing.

  I'm not going anywhere. No need to twist your neck off... unless you want me to. What I'd give for that much. I can't keep sitting here. This isn't me.

  Pushing up to pace around the cell, Aeley drew her hand along the walls. No imperfection, no means of escape, even without a guard. Just a deal to bind and gag her.

  I never should have asked for help. Why I did I think Allon had a point? He never has a point, unless it benefits him. Why did I think I couldn't handle it on my own? I shouldn't have listened to Lira, either.

  With a groan, Aeley pressed her forehead to the wall. Was it true, Lira's role in cornering her? She hated the heavy knot in her stomach, tightening and growing bigger whenever she remembered Ryler and Emon saying that Lira lied. It felt like a thousand thorns dug into her insides, tearing her apart. She wanted to believe they were the liars: their words sharp, but strategic.

  Except… Her thoughts wandered, led by doubt. Despite how much she hated both men, they knew more about what had passed between Lira and her than they should have. If none of it had been the truth, she would have completely ignored them. But there was truth to it. Lira had burst into her life so suddenly, at the same time as the problems started. And as the attacks continued, their relationship seemed to skip ahead. Even though she had wanted it, it was still fast, her falling for Lira so quickly and finding herself lost in her. Emon was even right about how distracted she was by Lira.

  Maybe they were not the liars after all.

  Spinning around, Aeley watched the shadows dance across the ceiling. Was this another twisted nightmare? Was she lying unconscious in the road, making up villains in a dream to compensate for not having Allon around? While she wished they could be the truth, her healing body and the ridiculousness of the situation were real.

  Real like what I thought I had—have—with Lira. Why can't I get over this idea that it's not what it is, what I want it to be?

  Her mind all but shouted the answer. She was more like her father than people realized, and more than she should have been, settling for the more difficult path through life. Being alone for so long and sacrificing her life to take care of her father and clean up after her brother had left her feeling empty. That she had more of an intimate relationship with her weapons than with any one person had made her wonder if there was anyone to take the journey with her.