Their eyes took on a lascivious gleam and I had my confirmation that Lessa was present. “You’ll bring them to His Highness yourself,” I said, filling my words with power. “And you’ll be sure to tell him how much you enjoyed the one you ate.” It was malicious and cruel of me, because I knew how Roland would react to a human taking his sweets. But I found I didn’t care. They were traitors to their kind.

“I will.” He took the tray, and the globe trembled on its candy legs. “Careful, now,” I murmured, watching his arms steady under my command. When he’d disappeared inside, I nodded once at his companions. “You never saw me.”

Their eyes glazed, and I scuttled around the corner before they could take notice of me again. Then I got in line.

With weapons and threats, the guards herded us in single file toward the tavern, the guard at the door allowing one person in for every one who left. All their attention was for those who had yet to swear, and those who had just done so seemed confused by their newfound liberty as they exited the building.

“Where do I go?” one of them asked. “What do I do?”

“Don’t rightly care,” the guard responded, cracking a staff across the man’s shoulders. “Move.”

The man stumbled away, mouth opening and closing like a fish. “Where do I go? Where do I go?” He looked right at me, and I averted my eyes, but not before I noticed that his clothing was singed, his hands red with burns.

“Next!”

There was no one left in front of me. I stepped inside.

My eyes took a moment to adjust to the dimness, sunspots dancing across my vision as I moved forward, bumping into the woman in front of me.

A platform had been constructed where I expected the bar had once stood, and, on it, Roland perched atop a large overstuffed chair, his feet swinging back and forth just above the floor. There was a man on his knees in front of the platform, and Lessa stood next to him, mostly hidden by the crowd. “Repeat exactly what I say,” she ordered. “I, your name, swear fealty to Prince Roland de Montigny, and promise to obey his summons and commands for as long as I live.”

“I, your name,” the man whispered, and Lessa kicked him in the ribs.

“Say your name, you idiot.”

Weeping, the man complied, and when he’d finished, Roland reached over to pat him on the head like a dog.