“Because the landlord didn’t need the herbs, and the merchant did.”

“What?”

Kyra looked at him. “The landlord. Who took the herbs.”

“Kyra, what are you talking about?”

He really didn’t know. “The herbs in the storehouse were taken from a shopkeeper who couldn’t make his rent. His landlord took payment out of his wares instead.”

“How do you know this?”

“I watched the rent collection. You were there.” There was a flash of recognition in his eyes, but he still looked doubtful. “Look in your records if you don’t believe me.”

Tristam gave her one last calculating look. “Maybe I will.” He jotted something down in his notes. “Tell me more about James. What’s he like?”

Kyra sighed, seeing that this line of inquiry was over. “James is a strong Guildleader,” she said. “He knows his men well, and he knows how to get folk to do what he wants. He manipulates people and uses their emotions against them.”

“Does he share his power with anyone?”

“There’s no clear second-in-command, but he’s closer to some of his crew than others. Bacchus is one of his favorites.”

“What was your relationship with James?” asked Tristam.

She had been tracing the wood-grain lines on the table and now her fingers turned white with pressure. Her eyes flew to his face.

“What do you mean?”

“Did you speak with him often? Did you know him well?”

From his tone, she realized it was an innocent question. Kyra swallowed.

“No,” she said. She avoided his eyes. “I didn’t know him well at all.”

What had her relationship been with James? She felt sick at the way she’d felt and acted, like a giddy farm girl who’d lost all sense at a suitor’s first wink. Had he really been attracted to her, or had he just been manipulating her to his ends? Her bitterness at what he’d done sat heavy in her chest, but at the same time, she couldn’t believe that it had all been a lie. James’s pride at her gradual improvement had felt real, as had the conviction in his voice when he spoke of their city. Kyra thought back to the afternoon they’d spent planning the raid. Something had happened there. She just wasn’t sure what.

Tristam had stopped writing and was watching her carefully.

“You’re not telling me everything,” he said.

“There’s nothing to tell,” she said too quickly. Kyra wished he’d stop looking at her. She, for her part, looked everywhere but at Tristam.

“You cared for him, didn’t you?” Tristam said softly, his eyes opening up with the realization. “He threatened your family to get you to kill Malikel, but that was only after things broke down between the two of you. Did he take you into his bed?”