Setia was towering over the shaking man. He was no longer threatening her, he was begging.
"Katamaran steel."
She said with appreciation, looking at the bloody blade and ignoring the groans of the wounded one.
"It's true what people say, it is second to none."
She wiped the blade on Marwin's pants, sat down on the table and looked at his pale face. Marwin cried and moaned alternately
"I will ask you each question only once, answer truthfully because I am not patient. First I'll cut off your fingers and then I'll gouge out your eyes."
"Lady…"
"You're only answering my questions - she interrupted him in a tone as sharp as the steel she has been using.
"How long have you been falsifying books?"
Marwin swallowed his saliva and after a moment of silence replied
"For about four years."
"How much income do you earn from this per year?" Setia was playing with her knife while Marwin wasn't taking his eyes off the blade.
"Varies, - he sniffled, trying to stop the snot from flowing from his nose - about 450 to 500 arenas a year."
"So you owe Emfer roughly 2,000 arenas." Setia summed up quickly.
Marwin nodded, he didn't dare to protest.
"Why are you deceiving your master?" She leaned closer, examining her captive carefully.
The legist was breathing quickly and very shallowly, his eyes were wide open, it was obvious he was fighting with himself.
"At the request of Aktis from Fenigrid, for whom I work." He muttered, with his lips white from fear.
Setia leaned back and jumped off the table she was sitting on. She was walking slowly around the table for a while. Everything started to fall into place logically. Aktis was clever, this way she made sure that Tendred would never have a chance to return to Fenigrid. Without money and with debts, in disgrace, he was not an interesting match for anyone. Well, unless it's for an aspiring former mercenary.
"Listen - she stood directly in front of him - from today you will work for me. I understand that you regularly send reports to Fenigrid? - Marwin nodded - Have you already informed her about me? - Marwin nodded again. - Do you have correspondence with her at home?"
"Yes." The legist's voice was quiet and rough.
"We will do the following, the guards will take you home in a moment. You will give me the correspondence and the box containing exactly 2,000 arenas." Setia could literally hear the air escaping from Marwin lungs.
"You didn't think I would let you keep my future husband's money, did you?" Setia smiled sweetly. She went to his left hand and took out the knife again. Marwin swallowed nervously.
"I told you everything, I'll give you every single ress, I'm begging you!!"
Setia calmly ignoring Marvin's moans, grabbed his middle finger and took it away with a deft cut. The legist howled in pain. Saliva and snot dripped down his chin.
"I'm begging you…" He was almost screaming.
"You will never betray me again."
Setia said firmly, looking him straight in the eyes, the ruby in her mask glowed blood red, Marwin was shaken by internal sobs from time to time.
"You will continue to send letters to Fenigrid, under my dictation. If you deceive me, I will cause you a lot of pain before I kill you. Much more than I made you suffer today."
She bent down and picked up the bloody fingers from the floor and stuck them into Marwin's shirt.
"Take this as a souvenir of our conversation. I hope you understand that it was confidential. Oh - she stopped for a moment - you will continue to act as a legal clerk and keep the books, and I will check them. If even one res is missing - she raised the dagger meaningfully and winked her only eye, which gave a rather ghastly impression.
In the afternoon, carrying an elegant box, Setia went to Tendred's chambers. The prince was in a great mood and in the company of Moros. They were talkeing about partridge hunting.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you." Setia, dressed in a red dress with loose hair, smiled radiantly and entered the room.
"You? Never dear sister." Moros jumped up and looked at Setia with relief
"Can you leave us alone, brother?"
"Of course." Moros bowed and left immediately.
"Has anything happened?" Tendred had a disconsolate look on his face, he found Moros's company very pleasant.
"On the contrary - Setia approached Tendred and handed him the box - it's a gift for you for small expenses." She smiled and took a seat at the table.
Tendred looked at her, became serious, and then opened the lid.
"There are 500 arenas inside - Setia specified - it's a gift for a new beginning." Having said that, she stood up and moved towards the door. Tendred's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Why?"
"According to the contract - Setia turned to her future husband - we make decisions about expenses together. However, I understand that a man like you should not be forced to ask for a few arenas. I will make sure that your private box is full. We will decide about the rest together."
"You surprised me," Tendred looked at her in disbelief. After a while, he added. "Maybe I was wrong and it will actually be a perfect marriage."
"There are no perfect marriages, but there might be perfect arrangements." Setia curtsied and rushed to the door leaving stunned Tendred with a box in his hands.
In the corridor she came across Moros waiting for her.
"What was that about?" He pointed towards Tendred's rooms
"What do you think? - Setia looked satisfied - I gave him some of his own money and now he feels grateful and happy, although he is too proud to show it."
"Then why did you do it?"
Setia instinctively looked around to see if anyone was nearby. She took her brother's arm and walked calmly towards the spiral staircase.
"I don't need Tendred as an enemy, everyone needs to see how well we get along, how harmonious our marriage is and how sincere my despair will be after the loss of my husband."
Moros shook his head in disbelief, feeling a cold chill running through his body.
"You think about everything and so calculatingly. I don't know if I could do that. I feel sorry for Tendred. - after a while he added - And this musician? What do you need him for?"
"Atnar will go to Fenigrid, I also like to know everything about my opponents. As my father used to say, in order not to be surprised, you need to have a good understanding of the area. In this case, spy network, Atnar will be first, then Bentor will join. Maybe I'll send someone else there, we'll see." She shrugged and let go of Moros's hand to go down the narrow stairs.
Jefre had been waiting at the gate since the morning, he wanted to see Tendred's future wife with his own eyes. He already knew that she wears a blindfold or a silver mask on her face because she is missing her left eye, her constant companion is her brother Moros. They both come from Katamir. She has a lot of money, which makes local craftsmen very happy, who count on the city's development. Everyone is impressed by her appearance, she is young and beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Depending on which profile you watch it from.
The most interesting information was provided to him by the owner of the inn. He said she had been here before with a delivery for the prince and that she was alone. The latter surprised him greatly. Tendred's wife was an enigma, a fascinating mystery.
Of course, there were also other rumors circulating that the prince was more interested in her brother than his wife. He saw them going partridge hunting. Setia's brother was just adorable. He learned from one of the maids with whom he briefly flirted that the castle was quiet and peaceful. Everyone is preparing for the wedding, the lady is firm but nice. The maids are happy, thanks to Mrs. Setia's maids they have less work. In fact, he didn't learn anything. He didn't even see her, she practically never left the castle. There was to be a wedding today, he knew that Aktis would arrive soon. He wanted to see her for a moment and tell her everything. Setia probably won't come out again, unless it's to show off to the people of Emfer.
Time passed and only at noon the horn was heard, the sound with which the king usually announced his arrival, except that the horn sounded for the absolute queen of Fenigrid.
At the head, behind the front guards, was Brandis wearing a golden armor, followed by the Aktis' carriage, then a carriage with luggage and two maids, and finally, twenty men-at-arms. The inhabitants of Emfer lined along the main entrance and waved their hands to welcome the new arrivals. Jefre approached Aktis's carriage and took advantage of the confusion to slip inside.
"What did you find out?" Aktis didn't waste any time and he loved her for it.
"Not much, he's missing one eye and wears a mask on her face, she comes from Katamir, she has a brother named Moros who likes to spend time with the prince. - He smiled significantly – She almost never leaves the castle. Everyone who has seen her claims she is impressive, well she didn't impress me, but I haven't seen her with my own eyes either.." Jefre smiled apologetically.
"Not much, actually - sighed Aktis - I don't like people from nowhere. Everyone has a story and there is silence about it. We know as much as she wants us to know. - she bit her lower lip - it's hard, I'll find out the rest myself. Be vigilant."
Jefre flashed his teeth and disappeared from her sight.