“Annaleigh, no!” Cassius shouted behind me, but I did not waver.
“Annaleigh, put that down,” Papa ordered, approaching me from the side.
I countered, keeping the blade trained on Sterland. “He did this. He made the pact. He’s behind everything, Papa.”
Sterland’s face turned red. “What? What are you talking about?”
I tried to still the tremor in my hands as I stared down the dagger’s blade at my father’s lifelong friend. “Tell them! Tell everyone about Viscardi and the bargain. Tell them the dancing and the balls weren’t real. Tell them all about the deal you made!”
“Deal? What deal? Annaleigh, you’ve gone mad!” He glanced around, presumably searching for a weapon.
“You’re punishing Papa because he became the Duke, stealing everything from you.”
His mouth opened in surprise. “What? I would never—”
“Sterland, is this true?” Papa asked, eyes widening. “You think I killed Evangeline? My own sister? Just for some title?”
“Of course not,” Sterland said. He raised his hands as I took a step toward him, swishing the dagger back and forth. “I admit it’s crossed my mind before, but I never truly…Ortun, I don’t know what the girl is talking about. I never made a deal—certainly not with a Trickster.”
“Papa, do something!” Honor or Mercy—I couldn’t take my eyes off Sterland to be certain—let out a strangled sob.
A thought trickled down, running through my head like rainfall on a stone wall. Though it seemed clear Kosamaras was using Camille’s accusations to have me killed, maybe she was creating all this confusion to make me strike at Sterland first?
Which meant Sterland hadn’t made the bargain…
Or had she known I would jump to that conclusion and wouldn’t be able to kill him, thus protecting the dealmaker?
Or, worse, was she putting these ideas into my head now, overloading me until I snapped? My temples pounded, my mind cycling through too many possibilities. How was I ever to know which was right?
“Annaleigh, why don’t you give me the knife?” Papa said, approaching slowly, hands raised in supplication. “You’re upset, obviously. You’ve been through a lot these last few weeks. Let’s talk, and I’m sure we’ll come up with a solution.”
“No. Sterland has to die before the bargain can be completed. This is the only way to fix it. Tell them, Cassius.”
I glanced over my shoulder. I needed his reassurance. This was rapidly spinning out of my control. But when I looked to the doorway, he was gone.
A sound of confusion escaped me. I hurried out into the hallway, but he was nowhere to be found. “Cassius?” Crossing back into the room, I scanned it more thoroughly. “Where did he go?”
Camille frowned, confusion clouding her face. “Who?”
“Cassius.” I turned back to my sisters. “He’ll explain everything, Camille. I didn’t do anything to Verity, I promise you—”
“Who are you talking about, Annaleigh?” Camille’s voice was calm and measured, as if she were talking to a madwoman. The real glint of fear in her eyes gave me pause. She was looking at me as if Iwasa madwoman.
“Cassius…Cassius Corum. Captain Corum’s son.”
“Captain Corum is dead.”
“I know that. His son took his place at Churning. Why don’t you remember any of this?” Despite my best efforts, my voice rose in pitch as I spoke, verging dangerously on hysterics.
“It’s like Elizabeth all over again,” Papa murmured. His face was ashen. I’d never seen him look so old. He offered Sterland a look of spent resignation. “I’m so sorry, old friend. Would you allow us a moment with just Annaleigh?”
Sterland edged away from the chair, patting Papa on the back with remorseful condolence. “Of course, of course. Family affair and all that.” His eyes lingered on me, deep with sorrow. “If there’s any way I can be of assistance…”
Papa thanked him and waved him away.
“You’re just going to let him go?” I asked, watching him leave the room a free man. “Papa, he—”
“Sterland isn’t the issue here.” The look on his face said everything his words did not.
