She'd be lucky if Tenger allowed her to ever leave this carriage.
Hoping to calm things between them, I picked up the story. "If Risha was able to wield the dagger, then we believe another Halderian can claim it too. Risha's heir."
"You believe?" Kestra sat up straight. "You half-wits captured me over some mindless belief?"
"It's more than that." Tenger cast a well-deserved glare at me. "After Risha stole the blade, others tried to use it in her place, but merely touching it left them burned or seriously injured. Once we have the Olden Blade, somewhere within the Halderian clan, we'll find the next Infidante, the challenger." A satisfied grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "The Infidante will go on to kill Lord Endrick."
Her lips pursed in anger. "Then it's simple. All you must do is find some mythical dagger that's been missing for almost seventeen years, locate Risha's heir in a country of dead Halderians, and get this Infidante past the Dominion army to fight an immortal, all-powerful Lord Endrick to the death. Brilliant plan, Tenger. It can't possibly fail."
Tenger's smile darkened. "Before her death, Risha Halderian was imprisoned in your father's dungeons. With her was an Endrean servant named Anaya. Risha and Anaya entered the dungeons with the Blade, but it was gone when they were executed. Risha hid it there, somewhere. Your job is to get a few of us inside those dungeons."
"I'm happy to put you in the Woodcourt dungeons, but I will slam the door shut behind you. I will not help you find that dagger."
Tenger leaned farther forward, grabbing Kestra's knee with the grip glove I had taken from her, and squeezing. The glove would directly trigger the nerves, with far more strength than an ordinary hand could achieve. She bent forward in immediate pain, obviously fighting the urge to cry out. She tried to pry his fingers away, but she couldn't do it.
Tenger said, "Is that true, my lady? You will not help us?"
"Let go of me." She could barely breathe, but his fingers only pressed tighter.
I looked away, wishing that I could be nearly anywhere else. Why didn't Kestra just cooperate? She could make this stop at any time. But she only cursed at us and then cried out as Tenger pinched deeper again.
"Two minutes of this, and you will lose the leg," Tenger said. "Would the Dallisors tolerate a cripple amongst them? I rather doubt it."
"Please let go!"
She would beg, and cry, and curse out her anger, but she would not give in. I knew this. I'd once watched her stand barefoot in the snow for an hour after refusing to tell her father the name of the servant who'd tracked mud through the great hall. Her mother had finally rescued her.
But she'd never told him my name. That time.
I laid my hand over Tenger's. "You're hurting her."
Tenger's eyes flashed, but I wouldn't remove my hand until he did. Tenger was the captain and I was sworn to obey his orders, but Tenger was only angry because she wasn't cowering the way he'd expected, and that wounded his pride. We'd get her cooperation, but not like this.
I hoped.
Finally, Tenger let go and she began to breathe normally again.
"The Olden Blade," Tenger said.
"It doesn't exist." She was still out of breath, still reeling from pain. "What you ask is impossible."
"Nothing is impossible." Tenger brushed his gloved fingers together, a clear reminder that he could hurt her again. "Bring me the Olden Blade. In exchange, I will return your servants and set you all free."
"Even if you find the dagger, you can't do anything with it."
He gave her a wink. "Perhaps I'm a Halderian."
"If you were, I don't imagine you're stupid enough to admit it. Anyone who crosses the Dallisors, as you've done tonight, will be killed for it. But if a Halderian does it, we'll kill you twice."
That was true, but hardly a good enough threat to worry a Corack. None of us were likely to survive this rebellion. Just sitting in this carriage probably cut my chances of survival in half.
Tenger smiled. "And what do you think we'll do to you if you ignore my orders?"
"To steal the most valuable weapon in Antoran history, and betray the Lord of the Dominion? Do whatever you want to me. I'm no filthy traitor, like you."
And now she had crossed the line.
Tenger opened the carriage door enough to put out a hand and snap his fingers. Instantly, we heard the cry of Kestra's servant, the handmaiden. It was a bloodcurdling scream that nearly made me sick, so I couldn't imagine what it did to Kestra. Her face drained of color and she started from her seat, but Tenger slammed her back into it, keeping his hands on her arms.