Dangerous Gifts by Gaie Sebold

sword to and exactly what loyalty that bought, but a sellsword I had been, and now was again. There’s a reason “mercenary” is an insult.
    I shrugged. “What can I say? I don’t want to see a civil war in Incandress.”
    “You wouldn’t see it if you stayed here,” Malleay said.
    I looked at Enthemmerlee. What was I going to do if they turned me down? I would have to travel to Incandress myself, try to find the trade caravan... even if I could catch up with it, the chances of getting hired as a guard, if I simply turned up, with no references... if I did get hired, that didn’t bode well for the security of the caravan. If I didn’t...
    My stomach clenched on acid emptiness. I could lose the Lantern; and where would my crew go?
    “Rikkinnet?” Enthemmerlee said.
    Rikkinnet looked at me for a long time, cold-eyed. “And if the stability of our country suddenly does not look so attractive, then where will your loyalty lie?”
    “I can assure you,” Fain said, “I have every reason to believe that Madam Steel has at heart the best interests of the Lady Enthemmerlee the Itnunnacklish.” He gave me a sharp look; no, he hadn’t forgotten the oath I’d made him take.
    “Lobik?” Malleay said.
    They all turned to look at the Ikinchli, even Fain.
    Lobik was leaning back in his chair, watching me. He rested his hand along his jaw, thumb pressing against the corner of his mouth. His eyes were calm. “I think we should remember that Madam Steel helped Enthemmerlee before, when she did not know who she was. Yes, firstly for money, but then, when she realised the situation, she did her best to provide protection even though she could have lost by it. I believe she was, and is, a person of honour.”
    I looked at Enthemmerlee. She frowned down at the table, then up at me. “I will trust you.”
    “I don’t know if I can do everything you want of me,” I said. “I don’t know about training up your guard. I don’t know if I can keep you safe. I can promise I will try my best.”
    “That is all that can be asked of any of us, is it not?” She smiled then, brilliant as the sun coming out, and despite everything, I couldn’t help but smile back. It wasn’t all relief, either. I liked the girl.
    “So what else do I need to know?” I said.
    Lobik said, “What is your feeling about snakes?”
    “Snakes? How do you mean, how do I feel about them? I’ve never had a lot to do with them. Why?”
    “I understand some humans find them disturbing.”
    “I’d find one disturbing if it bit me, otherwise, I’m happy to leave them alone if they leave me alone. Again, why?”
    “They are, in a manner of speaking, pets among the Gudain.”
    “Pets,” Rikkinnet said, and snorted. “That is one word for it.” She flicked her long blue tongue out through her teeth.
    Lobik shook his head at her, but was fighting a grin.
    “Fine,” I said, wondering what was funny. Snakes I didn’t mind. Beetles, on the other hand... “But are there other things I need to know? Rules of behaviour? Things that must or mustn’t be done?” I’d spent enough time in various courts that I knew how easy it was to trip over the etiquette.
    “Life among the Ten Families is generally quite formal,” Enthemmerlee said.
    “Not ‘quite,’” Malleay snapped. “Ridiculously. Degrees of this, degrees of that. Depth of the bow. Forms of address. Given my way...”
    “Given your way you would sweep it all aside,” Enthemmerlee said, smiling at him. “And I would no longer be Enthemmerlee Defarlane Lathrit en Scona Entaire the Itnunnacklish. Which would be a relief for those who have to learn our names, I am sure.”
    “Is easy,” Rikkinnet said, snapping the words out like the cracks of a whip. “Do as we Ikinchli have always done. Smile, say ‘sir’ and ‘madam,’ bow. Treat every Gudain as superior. Then, if you are lucky, no one beats you because they have had a bad day or someone’s spilled their drink.”
    There was a