"My brother?" The woman's face falls. For a moment, she forgets to work the pedals to Zeona's machine, giving her some respite. "His experiments, no - well, yes, but - it - it was complicated."
She blinks rapidly and takes a deep breath. It seems to help, and she regains her composure before she starts to work the pedals again - but far less severely, now. "My mother is...without wasting time on details, she is politically ambitious - enough so for Szass Tam to exile her from Thay. Everyone and everything is a tool to her, including Ossimar and my brothers and I. But Kandik wasn't the tool she wanted. He was a deeply intelligent wizard and researcher, but he had no interest in courtly intrigue and subterfuge. He couldn't and wouldn't play the political games she wanted from him. That made him more useful as a sacrifice than an asset."
She scowls bitterly, but it's not directed at Zeona, and the machine's dildos remain merciful. "Again, without wasting time on the details, my mother can earn goodwill and sympathy from various nations if a Cormyran assassin slaughters her own family in her own city. If that family is inconvenient to her, so much the better, in her mind."
She sighs softly before continuing with Zeona's other questions. "My given name is Azara. I never had any others - none that would give my mother pause. I won't take your place on the gallows, but you could wear my face as an illusion. It won't fool her for long, though. She mastered wizardry before I was born - she'll know the magic when she sees it. But I'm a mage myself, and I have agents loyal to me. We'll strike when she's distracted."
She thinks for a moment, touching a knuckle to her lips. "Your clothes from the ball? It will be unusual, but I can arrange for you to be wearing them on the gallows, so long as they provide - " She grimaces slightly. " - access to your body. Your ring and the money will be among them. You're sure a hundred gold will be enough for ship's passage?"
