Chapter 17 · She Walks To Him

"Kneel, love. Kneel and your sister lives."

Varric didn't even look at me. He was staring at Kaela, palm open. A thin stiletto lay across his skin like a gift. A promise he knew she couldn't refuse.

Kaela took a step. Then another. Her boots were silent on the cold marble, but the silence felt like a scream.

"Don't," I said. My voice cracked. "Kaela, don't. Don't you fucking do it."

"I have to," she whispered. She wasn't looking at me. She was staring at that blade. "He has the counter-sigil, Silas. Lila has three days. Three days before she chokes on that debt."

"She has more than three days if you don't sell yourself to buy them!" I snapped. My hand was already under my coat, fingers locked around the Ledger. The leather felt like a hot coal against my ribs. "He's lying. That's his whole game. He lies and you pay."

"Am I?" Varric asked. He sounded amused. He tilted his head at me like I was a dog that wouldn't heel. "Check her throat, boy. Count the ticks yourself."

Kaela’s fingers brushed her neck. The blood-lock pulsed there—black-red, an ugly little clock ticking under her skin.