Chapter 39

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

Ellery

"One hundred acres is worth at least fifty thousand carisle," I said as I tried to control my rising panic. "That's ten times what you've asked in exchange for my mother."

Ryker had promised to get us through this, but there was no way I could explain the manor staying afloat after this if we had fewer crops to sell this year. We wouldn't be able to feed ourselves.

"So it is," the king remarked. "But there is also a fine for failure to pay taxes, and of course, interest on the penalty."

I gulped. "I was told five thousand carisle, milord."

"But you do not have five thousand carisle; you have crops."

My heart slammed against my ribs as more sweat broke out on my forehead, my blood pressure soared, and hunger ate at my insides. For an awful couple of seconds, I feared I might pass out as my vision blurred and a strange hum sounded in my ears.

Then, thankfully, the moment passed, and I managed to stay on my feet as my knees wobbled. I wouldn't have been prepared for this, even if I was well fed and rested; as it was, I could barely think past my exhaustion and starvation.

I hadn't taken care of myself since the guards took my mother. Those three days on the bench had pushed me over the edge into what? I didn't know, but I had to get out of here before I said or did something I regretted.

The duke bent and whispered something in King Ivan's ear. The king laughed before shaking his head. "Oh, Veni, you do amuse me."

When he turned toward me, the duke's smile remained, but malice flashed through his eyes. He played the game well, but he despised the king.

"I'll take half your crops, but I've also heard much about your horses. They say they are the finest in the land."

It took more time than it should have to respond. "They are, milord."

"I'll have the first choice of three of the foals born this year."

I didn't want to argue with the man, but there was a problem… "First choice has already been sold off, milord."

"Then you will have to refund their money. I will have first pick of three of your foals."

I hadn't seen this coming, and it would also be a devastating blow to the manor, but I couldn't do anything to stop it. "Of course, milord."

The duke scowled; this wasn't what he would have taken from us, but the king had gone against him. The duke may be King Ivan's right-hand man and coconspirator in all this, but the king wouldn't let him make his choices for him.

"Wonderful," the king declared. "I look forward to seeing them! Now that we've dealt with this unpleasantness, let's see where your mother is."

I frowned at his odd statement. Wasn't she in the dungeons with the rest of the poor souls they'd arrested lately?

The king waved a hand at a servant, and the man rushed forward. "Find Mrs. Marian for us."

"Of course, Your Highness."

When the servant hurried away, I stood there, confused and uncertain. One powerful man eyed me with loathing while the other stared at me like I was a tasty snack he planned to devour.

I didn't know which of them I feared more.