‘I don’t know.’
He was telling the truth. No doubt the Carnegies were keeping the details of how they’d get rid of me to themselves. It made sense. So did banning everyone from watching the challenge; no witnesses, no come back. All I had to do was change that.
‘You’re going to demand that people are allowed to watch,’ I ordered the Bull.
‘I can demand all I like. Didn’t you hear me say that I’m not considered important enough to be taken seriously?’
‘All the same,’ I said. ‘That’s what you will do.’
His sausage-like fingers bunched into hard fists but he jerked out a nod. It didn’t change the overpowering hatred simmering within him. I’d have to be very careful how I treated him; I didn’t need the Bull manoeuvring behind my back and trying to kill me again.
‘Thanks!’ I spun off.
My next target would be considerably harder to manipulate. I ran through various possibilities in my head but unfortunately there was only one way I could see this going.
I found Aifric seated in the bar area. A large group of hangers-on were clustered around, fawning over him. Was that why he did all this? Because he enjoyed having his ego massaged? I could work with that.
I strolled up, wasting no time in playing games. I could have waited for him to call me over but I wasn’t feeling patient. Instead, I joined the group and smiled prettily. ‘Steward, you are looking wonderful this evening,’ I cooed. ‘That shirt fits you like a glove. I can see where Byron gets his good looks from.’
There were titters from around me but I ignored them. Aifric pinned his eyes on me. ‘Why, thank you, Integrity. It’s very kind of you to say that.’ He half-turned as if to ignore me.
I giggled. ‘I wonder if I might ask you for some help,’ I said girlishly. ‘I’m so new here and I understand how important it is to act with honour. I’ve been trying to emulate the other Sidhe but obviously I’m still getting it wrong. Otherwise I wouldn’t have had those points deducted in the last challenge.’ Aifric glanced at me. Excellent. I’d hooked him. Now it was time to reel him in. ‘I have some information which might put me at a slight advantage in the next challenge. I don’t want to lose more points so maybe I could ask for your advice. Then I’ll know whether I should share that information or not.’
A muscle jerked in his cheek. He scanned my face, clearly desperate to know what information I had gleaned. He didn’t want me to have any kind of advantage, whether there were plans in place to do away with me or not. ‘What is it?’ he asked. ‘I am more than happy to guide you in the right direction.’
I simpered and forced a blush. ‘Oh, you’re too kind – but it would be better if we could talk in private.’ I looked pointedly at the other Sidhe.
‘Of course, of course!’ he boomed. ‘Shall we step outside?’ He slid off his stool and offered me his arm. I stared at it; I really didn’t want to touch him. When his smile began to waver, however, I hastily placed my hand above his wrist. ‘You’re such a gentleman,’ I gushed. ‘I’m not used to this kind of treatment.’
He patted my hand. It took everything I had not to recoil in disgust. ‘You’re not amongst the Clan-less any more, my dear.’
We walked out and found a quiet spot not too far away from the tent’s entrance. ‘Now, he said benignly, ‘what have you learnt?’
I dropped my pretence. ‘The Bull is going to ask that the audience be allowed to watch every thrilling moment of the Acumen challenge.’ My eyes were hard and my tone was harder.
Aifric stepped back, clearly confused by my shift in tone and canny enough to be wary. ‘My dear, that’s simply not possible. The noise they make will be off-putting and you will require your full concentration to succeed.’
I faked a smile. ‘I can work under those conditions. When the Bull puts forward his case, you will agree.’
Aifric’s expression turned to stone. ‘I will not.’
‘I have his true name.’
He stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what I was saying. ‘You can’t have. Why would he give you that?’
I shrugged. ‘He was under duress. The means aren’t important. The point is that you will know I’m speaking the truth when he asks for the audience to be present, regardless of what else you might have ordered.’
‘The Carnegies are the organisers. I will not interfere with…’
‘Bullshit. You’ve already interfered, probably on numerous occasions.’ I swept a bow. ‘And yet I’m still here.’
Aifric inhaled. The mask which seemed to be permanently in place finally slipped and his features took on an ugly twist. ‘I knew you weren’t the innocent little maid you pretended to be.’
‘Oh, I think you’re the one doing all the pretending.’ I stepped forward and tilted up my head. Anyone watching us from a distance would think I was merely being coquettish. ‘When the Bull makes his request, you will back him up.’
‘No, I won’t. You might have him wrapped around your little finger but you can’t tell me what to do, little girl.’
‘You want Byron and Tipsania to be together. Am I right?’ He glowered at me. ‘Well,’ I said, inspecting my fingernails, ‘I can use the Bull’s true name to make him order his daughter to keep away from Byron. Where will your financial machinations be then?’
