“Thank you, my dear. But Kerrick had what I never did.”

“A puppy?”

This time Tohon didn’t crack a smile. “No. A father who loved him. For six years, I had to hear all about King Neil and how smart and funny and wonderful he was. No doubt Kerrick loved his father. King Neil visited the school often. They were almost as close as Kerrick and Belen.” His grip on my hands tightened. “When Kerrick and Jael fell in love, I couldn’t stand it anymore. It was unfair. Kerrick couldn’t have it all. No. Bad enough he had a doting father and a best friend. I couldn’t let him have a gorgeous, powerful wife, too. And I can’t let him have you.”

I yanked my hands from his. “No one has me.”

Tohon’s gaze went to his guards by the door. A silent reminder of my situation.

“I’m here, but I’m not yours.” I crossed my arms. “State your terms, Tohon.”

“Not here. This place is for…peace.” He led me back down the corkscrew staircase and into an office.

The furnishings had a simple elegance. The desk was midsize and organized. Tohon spoke with one of his guards before settling behind it. The paintings in the room were stark, capturing subjects like a single winter tree, a solitary horse and one chair in an otherwise empty kitchen.

A large map of the Fifteen Realms covered the right wall. Symbols and arrows had been drawn on it as well as troop information. I stood before it, examining it.

I pointed to Tohon’s occupied Realms—Lyady, Zainsk and half of Vyg, with Sogra in the center. “Are you invading the other Realms just to spite Kerrick?”

He laughed. “I’ll admit to being petty and jealous, my dear, but my invasion, as you so quaintly put it, is not due to him. We need a leader, and frankly, I already command life and death, so who better to rule?”

He gestured for me to sit in a soft, burgundy-colored armchair that had been pulled up to the side. Tohon shuffled a few papers on his desk, ignoring me until a knock sounded. The door opened without Tohon’s permission and a tall woman around Tohon’s age entered. With a sword hanging from her waist and her athletic build, she reminded me of Jael. She even had blond hair and blue eyes. The resemblance ended there. Her features were plain and her pudgy nose looked as if someone had sat on it.

“Cellina, this is Avry of Kazan,” Tohon said.

Her name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place her.

Instant dislike flashed in her gaze. “The healer?”

“Yes. We’re going to write up a contract and need you to bear witness to the terms and conditions.”

“You’ve never needed a contract before, Tohon.”

“Avry is different.”

“Really?” Cellina peered at me with a shrewd calculation.

“Stay away from her, Cellina.” Tohon’s tone held a clear warning.

Cellina failed to be intimidated. She flopped into another armchair. “Go on, write your contract. I’ve things to do.”

Tohon drew a clean sheet of parchment from a pile. He wrote a few lines. Anxiety swelled and I clutched my hands together. This was probably an exercise in futility. I couldn’t trust him. His moods swung from perfect gentleman to perfect maniac.

He sensed my apprehension. “Basic introductory language.” Setting the stylus down, he leaned back. “Time for the terms. I need you to heal my subjects as needed—not that it matters to me if they die, but they’re easier to train while alive—to assist with an experiment I’m working on and to promise not to run away. In exchange, you will be well cared for and you won’t be confined. Except for a few areas, you can roam the castle complex when you’re not needed.”

Other than the experiment, his terms matched what I had been expecting. I addressed them in order. “I’ll heal the sick and injured, but I decide who is healed and who can be treated by herbs or time. I want to be in charge of the infirmary. You can’t force me to heal anyone.”

“Agreed.” Tohon wrote down the conditions.

Too easy? I continued. “What type of experiment? I won’t work with your dead soldiers.”

“It’s with Death Lilys.”

Intrigued despite myself, I asked, “What are you trying to do with them?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“Not if you want me to agree. I won’t hurt anyone.”

“How about you’ll help me with my research as long as your tasks don’t harm anyone?”

I found a loophole. “But what about you? What if the research results in something you can use to harm another?”

“I can’t agree to that. I’m going to be at war with Estrid.” Tohon waited.

Realizing Tohon would negotiate only on my actions, I conceded the point.

“And I’ll add that you will not sabotage any parts of the experiments, the research and the results.” Ink flowed over the paper.

Last issue. “What do you consider running away?”

“Leaving the castle complex without my permission. I don’t wish to lock you up every night or chain you to a chair in the lab. It would become tiresome. You kept your word with Kerrick, and he didn’t deserve it. All I ask is the same thing.”

Interesting and scary. “How did you know I gave Kerrick my word?”

“Please, Avry, don’t insult my intelligence. I’d be a poor leader if I didn’t know what’s going on in the enemy’s camp.”

He had spies in Estrid’s army.

Tohon smiled at my expression. “One robed acolyte looks much like another, don’t you think?”

“What if Estrid storms the castle?”

Cellina huffed in amusement.

Tohon shot her a sour look. “In the highly unlikely event that I’m defeated or dead, you’re free to go. How’s that?”

“How long do I have to stay here?”

“As long as I say. I will be king of all the Realms soon, which will make me your king. Then I don’t need a contract.”

More incentive to find a way to stop him.

“You already have the clause in case my plans do not pan out. And you will be well cared for in exchange. That I promise.”

Giving my word not to leave the complex, I would have a difficult time contacting Sepp, but it wouldn’t be impossible. I hoped. Besides, I really didn’t relish the idea of being confined. “Agreed.”

He had the decency not to smile or gloat. “I’d like to add one more…request.”

Uh-oh. I glanced at Cellina. Her amusement was gone. She stared at Tohon as if daring him to continue.

“What is it?” I asked.

“On occasion, I have formal events, parties and meals that I have to attend. I’d like you to accompany me to them.”

“And in exchange?”

His grip on the stylus tightened, but he kept his ire from his expression. I guess I was supposed to be grateful for the opportunity to spend an evening with him.

“For each event you attend, you can make a small request like a trip into town or new clothes or a day off.”

Those small favors might give me some wiggle room. “Agreed.”

Tohon finished the document. He signed his name with a flourish, then passed it to me. I read every single word twice, seeking loopholes and wording issues. He had stated the terms and conditions in plain language. Nothing jumped out at me.

When I’d arrived here, I’d expected to be locked in a cell. At least this had the illusion of being a better situation. Although I’d had no delusions that he would keep his word.

Tohon handed me the stylus. Signing this, I would once again surrender my freedom. Last time it had saved Melina and two others from a horrible life. This time it would save so many more. I had to believe that as I wrote my name. The alternative was too horrible to contemplate.

Cellina signed the contract last. She shoved the paper and stylus over to Tohon. “Can I go now?”

“You’re dismissed.”

She glared at us both and stormed from the room.

“Don’t worry about her, my dear.”

Hard not to. Although compared to what I just agreed to, Cellina’s…anger or jealousy was a minor concern.