"The negotiations with the Guild Masters in Blackwell didn't go well," Hugo said, flashing Isabell a brief, wry smile as she helped Samira back to her seat among the Blackwell party. "Master Isabell is fierce, sharp-witted, and knows her worth… The same couldn't be said for Lord Owain and his offer."
"Mind your words, Hugo," Owain snapped. "We were more than generous…"
"No we weren't," Hugo countered, surprising himself with the outburst. "No, we weren't generous at all. The treasury has bled dry in the years since the War of Inches. Most of the riches are gone, taken by the Crown as tribute, spent on feasts and lavish gifts to secure the Church's support for the Holy War…"
