Bargaining Chip

Lia almost sagged with relief. She had been waiting for it. She even put it out a lot earlier than what she planned, but they never asked it again. When she said that they did not have the cure yet, that was mostly her wishful thinking speaking. What was the point of getting captured and injured if her main objective would not be accomplished?

But her relief turned to irritation when she saw Eldric's face.

He leaned forward, and Lia instinctively leaned back to her chair. His face turned from blank to that of a charming young man, but the trace of coldness remained in his eyes. "I wonder what it is, Miss."

Lia reminded herself that he used this kind of technique to woo a nobleman's daughter. If he thought that she would relent with his charms, he thought wrong. Lia grew angry with what he was implying.

"I have a sample here," she produced a flask from her pocket, "I know that's not enough so I'll give you the list of ingredients too so the doctor earlier or any of your people can produce more. But under one condition."

Eldric's eyes narrowed, and Lia almost flinched. But she did not back down. They would suspect her if she did. She could not help but swallow as she waited for his response.

"Why should we believe you?"

"Why not? It's not like you have any other choice." Lia was proud of herself for even sounding normal. "My life's on the line so why would I lie?"

The corner of Eldric's mouth twitched into the beginning of a smile. "You're bargaining with me? Crazy," he muttered the last word under his breath.

The way he said it made Lia frown, "Yes."

"Tell me about your conditions."

It was her turn to narrow her eyes. "I'll tell you what I know if none of your men or the mayor's guards or the townspeople will pursue us. You'll free me. And clear the name of my mother because she's not a witch."

"I assume your mother is no longer in the town, then?"

Lia squared her shoulders as though Tamara and the rest were behind her. "Hiding. We will run away from here and leave this town in peace if that's what everyone wants. But we can't have people trailing us. And I won't have my mother be called something she is not."

"How about the antidote? How would I be sure that it was effective?"

"A family friend got sick, so my mother tried to help and gave him that."

"Who is this family friend? And where can we find him now?"

"He's… he left town so we can't ask him now." Lia hoped that they were already far enough that even if Eldric's men patrolled the area, they would not be found. "But you can try the antidote once you agree with the conditions, and if it's not effective, I'll help improve it. I'm not as good as my mother, but I can still help. Besides, I helped with the research."

Eldric did not speak for a while and just stared at her. Then he turned to Tim, "Check the house first."