The Pressing Issue

Islinda grimaced, her face twisted so uglily one might think that she just consumed shit. Tears stung her eyes and she was stuck between the urge to throw up and the need to obey him. That bastard! How could he threaten her with a deal that they've agreed on already? 

Aurelia continued as if her initial threat was not enough, "He said if you have the energy to drink to your full, then you must be brave enough to take your medicine. He said to gulp it all and not even a drop should remain else the terms of your deal with him might have to be reviewed." 

At this point, Islinda wanted to cry. Aldric made it seem as if she was the one desperate over the deal when he had been the one anxious to repent over what he did to her. But now, Islinda realized it was just a ruse and he trapped her instead. Between the both of them, Islinda was the one who needed the information in the library the most and she could not lose the opportunity.