A Clever Piece of Blackmail

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“If you speak a word about tonight,” the Patron’s Daughter hissed, “I will destroy you!”

“If I talk, your ruin will come before you could get at me. There’s sure to be some deep and dark bruises on your bottom. That’ll prove the truth I’d be telling.”

I couldn’t resist mocking her a little.

“You filthy little grubber! I hate you!”

Underneath her viciousness, I heard the tremor of fear in the Patron’s Daughter voice. She would never be able to bring me to shame or rage again.

That was when I understood how much power I now had over the nemesis who had cast my life in shadow.

That moment has always been the most exquisite intoxication I would ever know. I’ve enjoyed much power since that night. But nothing has compared to how I felt in that moment because it was my first taste of power.

“Likewise.”

With one word I was free from the bondage of hypocrisy, and the relief sent another luscious shiver through me.

“Don’t you dare tell anybody about tonight!”

“What are you going to do to shut me up?”

“What!”

“Don’t play dumb. How many times has your father paid for silence? If you want mine, you also have to pay.”

She stared at me, her mouth agape.

Honestly, I was as shocked as she was because those words were out before I knew what I was saying. Fortunately for me, years of stoicism enduring brutality and overwork made it easy for me to hide my feelings.

“What did you bring for the Brute?”

Her eyes widened as understanding set in.

“You set me up!”

“There was no way I could have set that up,” I retorted. “If I had known you had a yummy for taking a beating, I would have taken it upon myself long ago.”

“You ugly, repugnant, little tripe!”

“If you think I’m ugly, do you see the Brute as handsome? You sure cleaved your pin pretty good rutting up against him.”

She slapped me hard across my face.

It was everything I could do to not slap her in return. If I had, I would have left my mark on her for certain.

Instead, I pushed her down hard.

“Either give me what you meant to give the Brute, or there will be lots of exciting conversation to be had after morning worship.”

She practically snarled at me.

“No! You rot with the devil!”

“I think you’re likely to meet him before I do,” I said, and turned my back. “It’s your ruin.”

I took five steps before she relented.

“Wait!”

I stopped, but didn’t turn around.

“I brought three gold coins and two jeweled rings I never wear.”

I came back and held out my hand.

“I am not giving you all that!” she protested. “That’s what I brought to marry the Noble Son! What you saw is not worth that much.”

“The gold coins will keep me quiet. On my honor.”

“You have no honor, you greedy little snipe.”
“Takes one to know one,” I repeated the Brute’s retort.

I had no choice but to admit she was right.

My connection with her was dishonorable from the very beginning.

But I didn’t care.

As soon as the cold gold touched my palm, a shiver went down my spine. In my hand was more money than my family had ever possessed in our miserable lives.

I almost fainted from the thrill of it. The sacrifice of integrity was worth it.

“Next week, I suggest you be fully prepared to guarantee my silence.”

“I won’t be coming next week.”

“If you insist,” I replied. “You know where to find me when you change your mind.”

Her response to my audacity was spit to the face when we came out of the woods.

But I knew the Brute was right.

I also knew the Patron’s Daughter would never be able to strip me of my dignity again.

At last, I looked into my palm.

The coins were larger than I expected and I had no idea what they were worth.

I was buoyant, skipping through the woods to go back to the cabin as the Sorcerer and I had previously agreed upon.

I expected the Brute to be there when I walked inside. Instead, the Sorcerer waited.

His ancient face looked almost pleasant when he saw me.

“That was a clever piece of blackmail,” he said. “I’m impressed.”

“You practically handed it to me. Thank you, by the way.”

“Perhaps I made it easy, but you were intelligent enough to take advantage of the opportunity. Most people don’t. You have a sharp instinct.”

He peered into my palm and whistled.

“I think you will do supremely well in the next phase of your life, Addie.”

“I don’t even know what these are worth,” I admitted.

“With the money you have in your hand right now, you could live in very elegant apartments with a servant or two in the Capital City for three months.”