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“We saved you? Is that what he told you? I’m sure Perl told you his own twisted version of the story. But have you considered why those fae princes never returned to the fae realm after they defeated the Bellator? Why the fae stayed on Oria and Ulla and your beloved fae princes stayed in the mortal realm to beget the Hevelikar? We did not send them to help you. They were traitors. That act, helping you defeat the Bellator, was treachery. We wanted to leave you to burn.” Kerik blinks. Perl certainly had not told him that part of the tale.

“The fae did not help us?”

“Of course we did not. You disgusting creatures betrayed us. We wanted to leave you to your fate. Only one fae thought differently. She travelled to the mortal realm to sire five fae princes with some mortal men and wrought their magical swords. A vile act and one for which we curse her and all her line. Including you. Any mortal with fae blood is a descendant of the greatest fae traitor there ever was. And you are tainted by her. If it were revealed you would be killed where you stood.”

“Then why not reveal it?”

Vane smiles. “Perhaps I am too soft-hearted.”

“Are you?” Kerik’s mind feels slow, frozen like ice, even with the little warmth he has gained from the cell door opening. But there is a bigger picture here, he is sure of it. So many schemes at work. Every faerie is enacting their own elaborate plan for their own self interest.

Every faerie? But is he any different himself? He has his own secret plot. And what of Perl. If Vane considers this story true, then perhaps Perl’s claim about his reasons for taking Kerik, however outlandish, are what Perl considers the truth. And more than that. What Perl is doing would be seen as treachery if it were discovered.

Vane smirks. “So what do you think is the real reason I am keeping your secrets to myself?”

“Perhaps you are thinking you will hold your information about Perl close until Exeinil grants Perl’s boon. And then you will reveal it, hoping it will damage her enough that you can take her throne for yourself.”

But when Kerik finishes, Vane smiles. He does not look concerned that Kerik has uncovered his plotting, he simply looks amused. “You are so mortal. What sort of place do you think this is? Do you really think I have any interest in ruling Vylenor? It’s a slum compared to the Timeless Court. All I want, dear mortal fool, is some way to pass the endless days I am confined to this revolting place. Undermining Perl’s pathetic schemes will work for now. So, let me see what games can be played with you.” He waves a hand and the cloak rises so he can take it back into his arms. “I will see you in time, thrall.”

Kerik watches him going. Perhaps his claims are simply the truth. He is bored and finds Perl amusing to toy with. But, of course, he does not know what Perl is really doing. Why Perl has brought him here. What would Vane think if he did? Would he keep that secret to himself too? Kerik doubts it. The cell darkens as the door slides back into place. The warmth from the parlour seeps away.

Kerik begins to shiver. He can’t seem to stop himself. He wills himself harder to think of warm things.

His bed chamber in the Rose Palace, in the Tower of the Heir. Damon and Lukas had once shared that room, he knew, but both were gone by the time Kerik was moved into it from his mother’s bed. So he slept in that room alone. And he grew into a man. A sly man who seduced other men with easy charm and brought them back to his chamber to share his bed for pleasure. His fire banked high, sweat-slick against warm skin. He lets the warmth of these thoughts soothe him. A beautiful man kneeling before him, a hot mouth closing around his cock. The heat of pressing himself into another man’s body. Baking hot nights in Attar finding pleasure in the scrubby bushes on the north bank of the Gleam.

And how long has it been since he has taken bed pleasures from another? Too long. Longer than he has ever gone without such things since he became a man grown. Five long years in Perl’s prison. And then the days he has been here. It is strange, but when he thinks of that he finds he is unsure how long that has been. It is unnerving to not be sure of such a thing. He feels as if he could have been here for a year, days slipping queasily into each other. But Perl had warned him time moved strangely in this faerie palace. And that is certainly the case, with no sun or moon, seasons or tides or stars to mark it.

What an uncanny place this is with every day the same. It is little wonder that the fae grow so bored and cruel.

So cruel that they enjoy witnessing torment like this. Kerik freezing to death in this endless, savage cold.

Cold that is impossible to tell from pain. Kerik screams out in agony. He pulls at the chains, but that just causes him more pain as the ice around his wrists bites into him.

It may as well be fire.

Kerik tries again to think of something warm. But he cannot, he cannot think. His mind seems to seize. He is so cold.

He cannot feel his body. He feels quite sure this ice cell will ruin him.

Even if it does not kill him completely, his body will be destroyed from this. He knows what cold can do to a man. Kill his body piece by piece.

What will be left of him?

He feels panic rising. He needs to think of something else. Anything else.

His bed. His bed in the Rose Palace. Vindar had caught him in that bed. In that bed with his Fanosti bodyman.

Kerik found out later that it had been Vindar who had found the man for his mother. She had thought a Fanosti would be loyal to her. But, in truth, she likely would have found more loyalty in a palace guard chosen at random than in any man who had come with Chancellor Vindar’s recommendation.

Lady Ilyne was mounting a challenge to the Rose Court’s decision to deny Kerik the title of Duke of Fanost. A challenge that would never succeed if Vindar’s man stood as a witness and declared Kerik sly.

Rumours about Kerik’s bed chamber tastes were one thing, a man who would give evidence before the Justice was another. Because, although Kerik had taken many men to his bed before, none of them would ever declare it to the Rose Court, they would be condemning themselves as much as they would be condemning Kerik. But the Fanosti had been coached by Vindar about exactly what to do. He did not fall willingly into Kerik’s bed. He had twisted things so it could be claimed that Kerik had given him no choice.

Kerik had fallen into a trap. A trap he could only escape by agreeing to a deal with Chancellor Vindar.

The deal was simple. Vindar would overlook this latest transgression if Kerik completed a mission for him. If Kerik traveled to Jur-Mattan to make a diplomatic arrangement with King Ramel’s mother, Queen Jareleezi. Who possessed some treasure the Rose Court wanted to obtain.

It was to be a simple trade. Those treasures for her safety. If she did not surrender then the Imperial Army would take Jur-Mattan.