Chapter 6: The Law of Salt

"What does that mean?" Ingrith said.

"It means you should not pull it."

"You said it tells you things."

"It tells me when you are afraid. It tells me when you want something."

Her face went hot.

"It does not tell you that."

"It told me just now."

She yanked her wrist hard.

The heat hit her, and she bit back a sound.

Kaelor's jaw tightened.

"Do that again and I will not be responsible."

"Take it off."

"It does not come off. Not until the wedding."

"The wedding?"

"Yes."

"Absolutely not."

The raven coughed delicately from the balcony.

"Perhaps you two would like the room cleared."

"Out," Kaelor said, and the dead filed away through the pillars in perfect silence.

The great hall emptied.

Ingrith stood with her fists clenched.

"You trapped me," she said.

"I offered."

"You offered a bad choice and a worse one."

"I offered one choice. You made it because you love your mother." He stepped closer. "I admire that. It is the reason I chose you."

"You chose me because I pulled a thorn."

"I chose you because you did it with your hands bleeding and you called me a fool in the same breath."

"I never called you a fool."

"You said marry a healer."

"That was an insult."

"I know," he said. "I liked it very much."

She hit his chest with the flat of her hand.

It was a mistake.

He caught her wrist, the one with the chain, and drove her back against the nearest pillar.

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