✨ 𝐁𝐑𝐈'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐒 . . . including a bloodthirsty courtesan , a chaotic bard with a penchant for trouble , a runaway sacrifice to be & a hermit cartographer.
Avi did not look his usual self; that is to say, he looked unkempt. Even at his most piratey, he’d always managed to maintain a certain level of dashing swagger, opposed to anything grimy or grotesque.
But when he made it to Juaqoan, he allowed the crew to disembark as well, give them a reprieve from the tragedy they’d all been forced to witness. Once he’d taken care of his shezhani, Avi took a moment alone (alone in a busy, bustling crowd still felt alone) to gather his thoughts.
But a familiar voice pulled him out of his reverie and he turned to face little Cecily Gwynne.
Strangely, her unexpected presence here seemed like an advantage rather than an inconvenience. Avitej murmured something to his officers, who nodded and turned away from their captain, heading into the tavern with the rest. Avi wordlessly curled his arm around Cecily’s shoulders, guiding her away from the quay, and into the city itself.
He didn’t say a word to her, until he arrived at a clean but modest-looking inn. Avi paid coin, and took Cecily up to a room. The ruse fit - Avitej Kumara, the sluttish Rajayan captain, and his courtesan of choice, holing up in a room together.
Avi tugged out a bottle of rum from his coat and used the wooden cups on the little table. He poured for each of them and then finally settled on the bed, sitting up against the backrest. He raised his cup to Cecily; his voice hoarse and gravelly when he finally spoke.
“Do tell, Cecily Gwynne.”
SHE PLAYED HER PART , leaning into avi’s touch and glancing to him with a hooded gaze. for those who recognized her would see the well traveled temptress , not a spy meeting with her master , secrets hot on her tongue. and it also gave her reason to ignore her pounding heart. very rarely did cecily gwynne find herself so up in arms but , noctyx spare her , this was greater than a simple slip up.
the two traveled through the bustling streets , leaving his crew behind them. she dare not speak , not when the city had ears. half the people they passed would gladly sell whatever avi or cecily said to the highest bidder — cecily knew because she had done it before. instead , the walk gave cecily time to assess her companion : arm tucked in a sling , untidy and . . . gods , it was like the light and warmth that crackled from his body had gone unlit.
why , well , cecily already knew. the secret perched on her tongue would catch avi’s attention only because of what left him so unkempt. when they passed into the inn ( cecily noting the name and exits silently ) , she was ready to unravel , bear all she wished to tell avi if only to get it off her chest. never before had cecily been so willing to free a secret from her lips.
and yet , she paced herself — allowed him to pour out the rum and raise his cup to hers. only when her own cup was in her hand did cecily speak.
“ my sources have heard word of a rogue dragon roaming their lands. ” she tipped her head in a manner that screamed arrogance — concern for theo nearly paralyzing her and she still had the nerve to act above it all. “ and i have reason to believe the dragon is the cause of your horrid state. ” cecily vaguely waved her hand at avi. “ i must admit , this is not a good look for you. ”
cecily rose the cup to her lips , her fingers itching to fidget as she pictured the outcome if she did not succeed . . . the rebellion blamed , riza hunted for her misdeeds , and theo — the truth could reveal all of the tangled webs the prince crafted. he could very well meet the same fate he delivered to his own brother. if life was simple and cecily had not been knotted in those webs herself , she could sell the truth and claim her coin. but things were never simple.
it was up to her to stop the rumor of the cause of the duke’s death in its tracks before it took loqoala by storm and evidently was swept up into elysian and vailen courts.
cecily shouldered the weight of the responsibility but built up her nonchalant facade , cocking an eyebrow at avitej , “ though if you wish me to divulge more , i may need some encouragement. ”
Cecily Gwynne rode into town on a dusty evening. She had nothing with her except her horse - or, her momma’s horse. Her own horse was killed back in the gulch. And her mom...well her momma never made it out of the gulch either.
She wasn’t even close to thirty, but Cecily Gwynne felt so tired. Exhausted, even. She thought she’d be living this life forever - living for the thrill and excitement, the look in one man’s eyes right before she put a bullet in his brain. The soggy wilt of another’s manhood as she strangled him to death. Sometimes she just shot men in the back of their heads, without them even realizing it was their time. Sometimes she just killed men for the feel of hot wet blood on her face.
No sex with a man had ever felt as good as that.
Her momma was the brains behind their operation - sweet and matronly, easily gaining people’s trust with her harmless demeanor. Cecily was the brawn, deceptive as that seemed. If she wasn’t using her body, she used Miss Smith & Mrs Wesson. Either way, they got the jobs done.
Until the gulch. The showdown. Her narrow escape. Leaving her dear sweet momma’s body there, in the dust and mud tracks.
She couldn’t think about it now.
Now, she tied her horse and slouched into the saloon, a nasty glare to anyone who dared look her way. She was glad to be dressed in her leathers and man’s kit, dirty and scruffy like a wayward boy rather than a small woman. She pulled up a stool at the bar, and the bartender - a tidy, dark-skinned man with a neatly trimmed moustache - came over.
“What’ll it be, son,” he asked first, then ducked his head to look under her wide-brimmed hat. “Uh. Miss?”
“Whiskey. The bottle if you can spare it. I’m good for it,” she grunted, slapping down two lumps of silver.
The bartender picked up the pieces first, inspecting them as if he had an eye for it. They weren’t in silver country, so it was amusing to watch him act like he knew what he was doing. He seemed satisfied (as he should be, it was real silver...well real enough for cheap watered down whiskey, anyway) and pocketed it, then brought out a bottle.
“Looking for a place to stay, or just passing through?” he asked, since she was the only one at the bar. The saloon was surprisingly quiet, for the evening. She heard distant music, but not here.
“Passing through,” Cecily said first, then shot back a glass of hooch. “No - looking to stay. Just a night or two.”
“The Nightshade’s got room. Granted, it is a brothel.”
“You trying to be funny?” Cecily glared at him, unamused now. “I don’t like jokes.”
“No ma’am. I just owe the mistress a favour, and she likes shiny things. Like silver,” the bartender replied quickly, cleaning glass after glass with a fastidious precision. “Plus as a lady, you’ll be safer there. I can put in a good word, if you like.”
“My hero,” Cecily said dryly, downing her third. Nothing helped. She remembered the cry of her mother, the last words that escaped her mother’s mouth: ‘Leave this life. Go be happy’.
What did make Cecily happy? She thought it was the life she had with her mother, robbing and killing those who deserved it. But without her mother, it hardly seemed worth it any longer. She drank from the bottle this time.
“Y’know, you look familiar,” the bartender started up again. And Cecily, never one to pass up a good brag, smirked at him. The saloon only had a handful of old men and nervous boys. If they tried anything, she’d get them first, she had no doubt.
“Yeah, well you might’ve heard of me. The Gwynne Sisters?” she decided to say. She lived for his reaction - he almost dropped one of his overly clean glasses, and Cecily beamed. “So you’ve heard of us.”
“Indeed I have, ma’am,” the bartender said, wiping faster. He looked behind her. “But where’s your sister?”
“Hrm. Wanna know a secret?” Cecily crooked a finger, getting him to lean in closer. He smelled like woodsy sarsaparilla, and Cecily was tempted to lick his jaw. Instead, she just whispered, “She ain’t my sister. She’s my momma.”
“Well I’ll be,” the bartender whispered too, then leaned back, looking fearful and impressed. “We don’t want no trouble in Amaranthe, Miss Gwynne.”
Was that the name of the town? She’d been through so many, all the saloons and names blended. “And I ain’t here to start any.”
Relaxing slightly, the bartender nodded. “Mighty glad to hear it, ma’am. I gotta get going now, but Kiri’ll come take over the bar soon, and he’ll look after you.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Cecily said dully. She was glad to see him leave, but also wished he’d stay and keep talking. He was a welcome distraction. After another gulp and ten minutes of unhappy, dark silence (’Leave this life. Go be happy’), she decided she wouldn’t wait for any Kiri. She took her bottle and strode out of the saloon. Across the street, she spotted the source of the music, and where she surmised most of the townsfolk were. The brothel. The Nightshade.
It looked inviting and lively in the twilight. Maybe she’d hire a pretty whore herself, some real distraction for the night. A nice soft woman with comforting, pillowy breasts that she could pass out on in a drunken stupor. Then she’d wake up next morning, and try to figure out what the hell she wanted to do with the rest her life.
‘Leave this life.’
She just stepped onto the porch of the brothel, when she was greeted by a woman as petite as her, but rouged and dressed in a magnificent satin dress.
“Howdy,” Cecily said with a tip of her hat. “You must be the madame.”
“That I am,” the woman replied, then tilted her head, addressing someone else. “This really her, Avi?”
“Yep. This is indeed, Cecily Gwynne of the Gwynne Sisters. Or rather, The Gwynne mama and daughter - but that’s our little secret,” The bartender appeared from behind the madame. He’d been hidden in the shadows, wearing a dark coat over his crisp white shirt, blending in the dimming light. Hackles raised, Cecily’s hand immediately went to her holster.
“And who do I have the fucking pleasure of speaking to, exactly?” she demanded.
“Pinkerton, Miss Gwynne,” the bartender - Avi - replied. “Well, an agent thereof, but you get the idea.”
‘Go be happy’
The madame produced a rife from her voluminous dress and pointed it at Cecily, as the bartender kept speaking. “Now you can come with me alive, Miss Gwynne, or we could take you in dead. Either way, we get--”
Cecily moved with her trademark swiftness. She managed to get a single shot fired, before she felt buckshot slam her square in the chest.
“Avi!” She heard the madame gasp, but Cecily was already falling to her knees, a small smile on her face. She must have shot the Pinkerton. Her momma would be proud. She shot a fucking Pinkerton.
“I’m coming momma. Wait for me...” she whispered, as she crashed against the hardwood. Her eyes blurred with tears before everything turned black.
CECILY WOKE WITH HER FACE PRESSED AGAINST SOMEONE’S BOOBS. when it occurred to her that she had no idea who the boobs belonged to , she shot back , her body getting tangled and knotted in the sheets. her instinct was to fight the inanimate object , stretching and kicking at the fabric , but that only resulted in half of her body falling off of the bed . . . the heart shaped bed.
“ IT IS SO HARD TO GET BLOOD OUT OF WHITE CLOTHES. i’ll have to stop by the shop and pick up bleach. what a pain. ” her tone was conversational , light even , as if cecily wasn’t talking to a woman bound to a chair.
GIRLS DONNED IN PURPLE AND GOLD LITTERED THE FOYER , though they were surprisingly quiet given that it was a rush event. though that did not mean the entire house was silent. in fact. , just up the stairs and around the corner , yells shook the chandelier hanging precariously above the sigma sigma sigma hopefuls. the sorority sisters shared annoyed looks amongst themselves but made no move to usher the crowd out — no one liked to miss a fight between cecily and catlina. @vixenandviper
Made a list of all the AU’s I could think of. Used to help me when I have no ideas, decided it could help others and I should post it. It took a few weeks to fill it out this extensively and I have no more interest in adding to it, so please don’t bother suggesting anything （；￣д￣）
some time has passed since the ball now and i find myself in the most interesting of places , loqoala. i have always considered the eastern isles your domain , yet when i finally make a visit it seems you are nowhere to be found . . . a pity for you because i am about to tell you something that i am sure you would relish even more in person.
thank you. i will not specify for what , you know what you did. i’m sure if i breathe even a cleverly worded thing about it , our mutual friend would be disappointed in his new hire. and you should thank the pretty little thing that told me where to send my letter. without her , you would not be reveling in seeing thank you in my handwriting.
i hope you have cared for that eye properly. i would hate to hear of my only competition bed ridden with infection. at least the bastard who did that met his end. it’s truly a wonder that a brave stranger found and saved us from all of those rebels. how would have two lowly women escaped with their heads without such a savior?
i have business to attend to while i am in loqoala , but i will be returning to the dovecote eventually. you may send word there if you feel so inclined.
CECILY DID NOT HEAR THE CHEERY LOQOALANS , nor see the colorful array of goods. all she felt and knew was the hammering panic clutching her heart. the whisper on the wind that made her rush to juaquon — on a hunch no less — hissed of the rebellion , east reach , and theo. loqoalans loved to chatter , of nobility and the secrets they would sell their firstborn to protect. she had caught the secret slipping from a sailor at a rajayer port — it was only a matter of time before word reached avitej. no longer did she trade her body for his coin. he had discovered the truth of her profession and cecily had done what was necessary to protect herself.
however , it had occurred during her meeting with him that cecily could turn the tides of this predicament , take what she learned from the soon to be archduke to the rebellion. and , now , she was learning that she could also serve as an obstacle for rumors trying to reach avi. or at least she hoped she could. dark eyes spotted avi outside a tavern , his crew a step away. she refused to believe she was too late , that the rumor had reached him before she , not when she had a way to distract him . . . a secret for a secret so his attention would be elsewhere — anywhere but east reach and its late duke.
“ avi — or do you prefer my lord now? ” despite her worry , cecily still gave a wicked smile. she would decide herself when the cracks in her mask showed themselves. “ i hope i’m not interrupting anything too important. ” she cast a sidelong glance at the makara crew , brow raised. “ but i have quite the story i am dying to share. ”
“Back so soon, love?” Leo called out at the sound of the door to Theo’s quarters creaking open. His ears peaking up expectantly at what he had anticipated to be the sight of his best friend. But, instead he found himself glancing over at someone much, much worse… his lover.
“Oh joy. It’s you,” He grimaced. His gaze falling back down to book in his hand that he had swiped off one of the shelves. Leo didn’t even particularly enjoy reading. Chalk it up to his short attention span, but if he was going to indulge himself, he preferred witnessing a play or hearing a cute bard recite poetry over the muted words on a page any day. And yet, he’d take the thick book on military strategies in a second over having to entertain Cecily. “I’m afraid Stoneward’s not here and won’t be back for quite some time. But, I’ll tell him you stopped by,” He stated, flipping to the next page as he popped one of the grapes from the tray of food that one of Theo’s handmaidens had brought him into his mouth. “If I can remember that is,” He mumbled the last bit under his breath.
CECILY WAS A GHOST , slipping into the keep silently and leaving no trace of her behind. all this effort only to find theo’s loyal lapdog behind closed doors. she made no effort to hide her scowl as she shut the door behind her. her distaste for the prince’s friend was no secret , thankfully. cecily could scowl and groan all she wished.
“ yarra’s dry cunt , what are you doing here? ” disgust dripped off of cecily’s words , her eyes rolling at the sight of him. she entered the room nonetheless , plucking a couple grapes from their stems as she passed leo. eventually she made her way to theo’s bed , kicking off her shoes so she could tuck her feet under her.
“ i’ll wait. ” cecily finally said , narrowed eyes resting on leo. if he were so lucky , she thought. cecily felt a tinge of satisfaction knowing that she was disrupting his plans for the evening. “ i know by now not to trust your memory. ”
Yavanna had traveled the world had interacted with people from many different walks of life. She also had quite a few people that she had employed for one thing or another whether in Vailen, Elysi or anywhere else. She enjoyed the rumor that ran through Fahalune that no one could escape her. When she wanted someone, of course she would always find them.
The governess didn’t often like to get her hands dirty. Even though she could and she had. A few centuries of taking lives to show her father that she was truly ready to be the woman in charge had been enough. Yet when business became personal, she often came herself for the job that needed doing. She did enlist the help of woman that she’d met by happenstance, unknowingly tracking the same person, and struck up a casual friendship based around mutual respect and a healthy dose of distrust. While Yavanna would never share all the secrets of her city with Cecily, she would however trust in business transactions. She trusted that when there was a job the woman was very capable of executing it.
This was a different sort of job. It wasn’t one that needed to be quick or effective. Slow and torturous was more like it. She’d asked Cecily to meet her at the Inn in East Reach where she was staying, and where the mark was. She could sense Cecily’s approach, Yavanna gazing out the window as she spoke. “This is a different kind of assignment,” she said in lieu of greeting. “It’s very personal, so instead of getting straight to the point, I’ll need slow and torturous because I need information,” she explained. “I probably don’t even have to ask, but do you think you’re up for that?” @masqucradings
WHEN YAVANNA SUMMONED HER , cecily heeded. the request had left little room to argue anyway and cecily rationalized it all with the knowledge that there would be a hefty pay for a job well done. she owed much of her early success in her less than savory career to yavanna who could brag of connections tying her to the far reaches of the world. there was a degree of respect between the women , a hard fought for honor for both of them . . . but cecily would not kid herself by thinking their relationship was anything more than distrust masquerading as friendship.
cecily entered the inn where she had been directed to , finding yavanna within its walls easily. silently , cecily went through the impressive inventory of steel on her person — her throwing daggers on her thigh , her silver hilted dagger sheathed under her cloak , even sharpened pins holding her hair back.
yavanna’s lack of greeting did not surprise cecily. she merely nodded at the instructions and leaned against the wall , her watchful eyes scanning the rest of the inn. her response was predictable , at least for a woman who was well versed in slow and torturous , “ more than up for it. ” her gaze lifted to yavanna , “ though dare i ask what makes this so personal? ” she did not expect a straight answer from the other , knowing that both of them kept their reasons for doing things close to their chests , “ and who is it i will be keeping busy tonight? ”
HIS WORDS LIT A FIRE IN HER STOMACH — the image of them , a united front , bringing enemies to their knees. she would not have expected this outcome when theo had joined her in her dovecote quarters all those years ago. though they took part in the same activities , cecily had been absorbed in the idea of gaining a prince as a client. she had misjudged him then , casting him in the role of elysi’s golden prince , the honor of the stonewards. cecily had thought to play him like all of the other people who were unlucky enough to be entertained by her. theo , however , had proven himself more than a second born son . . . all cecily wanted to do then was catch herself in the flames of his ambition.
“ did i ask for mercy? ” she practically growled , her hips grinding into his touch. there was nothing more intoxicating than hearing him say we , to welcome her into the fold. cecily had met her match in him , they spoke bluntly to one another and shared their desires. with the falsehoods between them gone , cecily finally had someone to show her true face to.
cecily needed to turn the words once , twice over in her mind , utterly distracted by theo’s skilled fingers. her hands gripped to his chest tighter as she felt herself growing close , a low moan escaping her lips and then — the pressure was gone. “ bastard. ” she let out breathlessly , though her disappointment did not last long , theo moving on top of her , his mouth already on her skin.
her hands were in theo’s hair as his lips trailed downward , mind whirling — if loyalty was the issue . . . there were a number of ways she watched coldblooded merchants and thieves solve the problem of disloyalty among their ranks : punishment of various violence , threats made to family and loved ones , death. but the rebels were not some street gang looking to make quick coin. she figured their loyalty equated full bodied devotion , shedding all their ties to the other side or even using those ties to their advantage.
“ i want that. ” she stated simply , but there was no question in her voice. what she said was the truth , she wanted a part in all that was to come and she wanted it to be by theo’s side. “ and i think i know how we can achieve it. ” cecily’s words were a purr , her toes curling. “ the nobles are terrified of the rebels , for good reason. if we feed off of the panic the attack on the palace caused , we may be able to guide the ashcrafts astray. the family is practically in shambles already and most likely looking to discuss matters with someone they trust. you could have their duke’s ear , your families are close , yes? ” the idea was slow in its formation , but cecily knew that there was something in her fragmented thoughts. she idly traced her nails down theo’s back , pushing herself to put the last of the pieces together before she grew too distracted again , “ i can travel to east reach , learn what i need to know about alek’s advisors , commanders too and plant ideas in their heads. when those ideas land on alek’s desk , you encourage him on a path that will leave east reach vulnerable. ”
CECILY COULD NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HER CURIOSITY AND ENVY. but both of them gave her reason to trail the lady of ravencliff through glasswater , echoing each of the steps the duchess made. the roads estelle took were not unfamiliar to cecily. at this point , glasswater was as much her home as red keep had once been. she allowed the brunette noble to guide her rather than attempting to get ahead of her ; there was no point in cornering estelle , not if all cecily wished to do was learn more about theo’s betrothed.
what was estelle seaworth hiding behind her pretty face? cecily wanted to unearth it all , if only to tuck it away for use later. perhaps she sought out the duchess out of selfish interest , but she needed to put the jealousy that stirred in her stomach to rest. cecily believed that once she saw the duchess for what she was — the other half of a political arrangement — she would find peace with the betrothal . . . though when had the spy ever found peace?
cecily tore her attention back to estelle , in time to see her turning into one of the more popular market places in glasswater. the colorful tents and shouting merchants welcomed buyers into the market just around the corner. cecily melted into the crowd , pretending to take in all of the wares. only when estelle approached a stall did cecily make her move. she had planned to merely eavesdrop but she couldn’t help herself — cecily spoke up , “ careful. —
“ alfred is known for swindling his customers. ” cecily swept in towards estelle , her gaze trained on the merchant and his hungry eyes. at cecily’s words , the merchant — alfred — growled out a response to which cecily waved a dismissive hand and continued to speak to estelle , “ he would cheat a child out of their candy if he had the opportunity. ”
Avi had no real idea how this conversation was progressing, or how it would end. Cecily gave away nothing, despite the gleam of her small pearly teeth, the bright alertness in her eyes. If anything, she looked glowing, gorgeous. Not seductive or coy, not like when she played courtesan. This was a different sort of beauty - the dangerous sort. But then, when had Avi ever been turned off by a little danger.
All he could do was keep mentally reminding himself of something Erinwel once told him: everything spies say, is a lie. Once you knew that, then dealing with them was a piece of bhakluvi.
Easier said, than done.
He wouldn’t break eye contact with her, and that at least was effortless. It was hardly like Cecily Gwynne was difficult to look at. And one he laid his own offer - Cat’s offer, really - on the table, Avi schooled himself to remain still, tense, waiting for her response. Which at this point could range from anything from a rebuke and denial, to a distraction and her complete disappearance from his life.
Unbidden, Avi huffed a laugh when she purred, and he couldn’t help looking away then. He had to - the memories of her writhing under him were suddenly far too sharp in his mind.
“Hire you,” Avi said, tone incredulous at her audacity. “What makes you think this –”
But he stopped speaking, his well-trained eyes sensing her subtle movements. She was preparing to defend herself. Or perhaps…end this once and for all. And that was when Avi realized he might be dealing with more than just a courtesan, more than even just a spy.
“Put it on the table,” Avi ordered Cecily. “Here - I’ll show you mine first.” He withdrew his curved dirk, palm down onto the table that separated them. Avi didn’t pull his hand away from the hilt; and if Cecily put her dagger out, he expected she’d do the same. “So we understand each other now, Cecily. You know I fucking hate all this cloak and dagger. And I know you’ll fuck with me if you have to. Currency is meaningless, innit. What do you really want? Power? A title? Safety, security - what?”
Leaning in, Avi said, “Prove you’re worth what Cat says you are and tell me something. Was Beric Stoneward a rebel?” It was a generic enough question. A question that circulated around Vailar since the attack. Some said yes, others said no - but Avi didn’t pay attention to conjecture and rumours. He still remembered the blood on Theo Stoneward’s hands.
“You know the truth of it, don’t you?”
THIS WAS THE KIND OF POWER CECILY CRAVED. money and land and valuables would never satiate her like a meeting of sharp minds , especially when cecily felt like she was two steps ahead of her opponent. it was easy to train her face into a cool facade of amusement and danger , the vision of a predator playing with its meal. there was some truth in it , but avi did not know her completely , all he had was an inkling of the beast cecily gwynne truly was. she wondered if he was going over their past meetings , agonizing over the secrets he let loose. the idea almost caused a crack in her mask.
and then — noctyx curse the fighting minded man. she had not been subtle enough and there would always be repercussions for underestimation. others had experienced them because they thought cecily was helpless , now she was paying for a similar mistake.
still , she maintained her air of nonchalance , rolling her eyes at avi’s demand. with a huff , she replied , “ since when did you become such a bore , avi? i only wanted to play. ” again , there was a flash of danger in her dark green eyes , a hint at the monster that lay behind the pretty mask. nonetheless , after avi unsheathed his weapon , cecily followed suit. she revealed the silver dagger but did not immediately set it on the table — instead , she expertly wove the weapon between her fingers. it was as much as a taunt as it was for her own fun. cecily buried the dagger in the wooden fibers of the table between them , ignoring the shout from who she presumed to be the owner of the establishment.
“ i am so happy we have no more secrets between us. ” sickly sweet words coated in double meanings. though , her interest did pique at the mention of all he could offer her. security was the magic word to cecily , speak it and she would listen.
but of course there were conditions.
cecily herself had only learned the truth of beric stoneward weeks ago. it was a lie woven to protect the rebels , to shift the blame onto others — cecily would not allow herself to be the one to bring the carefully constructed plot crumbling down. instead , she snorted at avi , meeting his eyes with a level gaze , a hint of a smirk even. a single fracture in her mask could ruin everything she had only just begun to fight for.
“ the truth , as far as i know , is that beric stoneward lived and died for the rebel cause. ” cecily told avi. “ the intel i have gathered suggests nothing less than that. but that is all i will say until we have struck up a deal. so please , continue to enchant me with promises of riches. ”
cecily knew she was being difficult , but any spy with half a brain would refuse to give up precious intel unless there was something in it for them. alas , just like a prostitute , those who were skilled in subterfuge still had to whore themselves out to the highest bidder. “ i promise i can provide you whatever information you seek , but you must understand that this is my livelihood. you would not refuse to pay a merchant for their wares , hm? ”
. . . a plot pieced itself together in cecily’s mind , a way to provide for herself and her mother as well as prove her worth to the rebels.
andulkaphoto
dailybridgerton
areudirty
tangentwithtanner
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