It’s dangerous, being this errant. But his reaction, or lack thereof, is information. He wants something from me, otherwise he would have dismissed me the moment I showed disdain, or at the very least aerstepped the whiskey bottle to fly at my head. I stare him down and pick at my fingernails, playing the role he expects of me.

“The Witch Queen has agreed to take one emissary from Velmara into her court,” he says, matter-of-factly. My jaw drops, and I’m unable to hide my shock for a brief moment. My mind races, wondering why he’s told me this information and how in the world he got the Queen of Thayaria to agree to trade emissaries. “Queen Laurel and I have agreed to a mutual exchange of ambassadors as a first step in repairing our sordid history,” he continues. “In exchange, she’ll buy her grain exclusively from Velmara, and we’ll pay an increased cost on thayar imports,” he says. Realization dawns on me.

He’s sending me to Thayaria.

“The Velmaran representative will need to get close to the Queen and observe her magic,” he continues. “I wish to know how strong she’s become in the last three hundred years. I also want to know what Thayaria is like, who her advisors are, how the people feel about her, anything that may be interesting to know.”

I know the answer to my next question, but I ask anyway. “And who will you be sending?”

My father smiles, wide and feral. “You.”

The lights flicker, the only external sign that I’m affected by this information. They flash brightly, dim, then return to normal. Even though I had no intention of drinking the disgusting concoction of whiskey and tea, I consider downing it, just to get my bearings. Instead, I take a deep breath and center myself, not letting my concern show.

“Me?” I ask, incredulous, adding a haughty confidence to my voice that I don’t feel. “Why me? As you love to remind me, I’m useless, only good for drinking and fucking. And I have no political skills to speak of. I would make a terrible emissary. Not to mention, I have no desire to live my days in the hovel of Thayaria. I decline.” I feign nonchalance, leaning back in my chair once again as if I don’t have a care in the world.