The Grand Duke Gave the Hostage Prince the Only Key novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Keys

Elior held the letter in both hands, and the young guard shut the study door behind him and went away.

He had thought of folding it small.

He had thought of putting it in the fire and saying nothing.

He held it out to Teodric instead.

"Read it."

Teodric took it and read it standing, in the lamplight, without hurry.

When he looked up, his face was grave.

"It orders you to spy on me."

"Yes."

"You could have burned it."

"I could have," said Elior.

"Then I would have been spying on you in secret, and you would have been kissing a liar.

"I would rather be hated for the truth."

Teodric looked at him for a long moment.

Then he looked down at the seal and turned the paper to the light.

"I studied your father's seal on the treaty for an hour, the night it was signed," he said.

"I see the same lion on this letter, and I marked its tail then."

"The Treasurer holds the ring for him," Elior said quickly.

"My father is ill.

"He cannot hold a pen, so Dreyne must be using a household copy."

"Perhaps," said Teodric.

His tone was mild and entirely unconvinced.

He did not press, and Elior was grateful and a little afraid of why.

The duke went to the desk, opened a drawer, and took out a ring of heavy iron keys.

There were thirty of them, at least.

He put the whole bundle into Elior's hand and closed his fingers around it.

"The granary," he said.

"The armory.

"The north gate, the stores, the muster rolls, the strongroom.

"Count whatever you like.

"Write to your father what is true, and I will send it with my own rider."

Elior stared at the keys.

"You are giving me the keep."

"I am giving you the numbers.

"If you must spy, spy openly, and ask me anything.

"I would rather you knew what I have than guessed."

The iron was heavy and cold in Elior's palm.

Nobody had ever trusted him with so much that he could have used to hurt them.

His eyes stung.

"I hate this," he said unsteadily.

"I know."

"I hate you.

"It isn't working."

"I know that too," Teodric said, and almost smiled.

Elior put the keys on the desk.

He took the single iron key from his shirt, the one that fit the door between their rooms, and held it up between two fingers.

"I will go to my room," he said.

"Give me a quarter of an hour.

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