She-Wolf on a Leash: The Darkness in the Midst, #2

By Joy Demers

How long can a she-wolf be kept leashed before she breaks free and bites? The kingdom of Ledonia is about to find out.

Cadda ni Caridos finds herself in the employ of the king, serving as one of his personal bodyguards. But everyone else knows her as the she-wolf of the king – his fear mongering brute. The only reason Cadda puts up with this is to keep her mother safe and preserve any hope of ever finding her little brother alive. When the king reneges on his promise and puts all Cadda holds dear in danger, she must comply, even if it means voyaging back to the one place she thought she'd never return to: home. She must also convince a prince to follow her and that her intentions are good – a difficult task, considering the voice in her head wants him dead and Cadda to do the deed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joy Demers
• Release date: Jun 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9798201023706

Joy Demers

Joy Demers is a writer from the north, a.k.a. Canada. She is a self-proclaimed geek with a love for fantasy, certain video games, history, and crochet. By day, she works in a finance department, crunching numbers and paying bills. By night, she tries hard to stay awake and write. Joy lives with her cat in a small Canadian town.

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SHE-WOLF ON A LEASH Copyright © 2019, 2020 by Joy Demers

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design

First Edition: June 2019

Second Edition: March 2020

Contents

1. Chapter One

2. Chapter Two

3. Chapter Three

4. Chapter Four

5. Chapter Five

6. Chapter Six

7. Chapter Seven

8. Chapter Eight

9. Chapter Nine

10. Chapter Ten

11. Chapter Eleven

12. Chapter Twelve

13. Chapter Thirteen

14. Chapter Fourteen

15. Chapter Fifteen

16. Chapter Sixteen

17. Chapter Seventeen

18. Chapter Eighteen

19. Chapter Nineteen

20. Chapter Twenty

21. Chapter Twenty-One

22. Chapter Twenty-Two

23. Chapter Twenty-Three

24. Chapter Twenty-Four

25. Chapter Twenty-Five

26. Chapter Twenty-Six

27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

28. Chapter Twenty-Eight

29. Chapter Twenty

30. Chapter 29

31. Chapter Thirty

32. Chapter Thirty-Two

33. Chapter Thirty

34. Chapter Thirty-Four

35. Chapter Thirty

36. Chapter Thirty

37. Chapter Thirty-Seven

38. Chapter Thirty-Eight

39. Chapter Thirty-Nine

40. Chapter 39

41. Chapter Forty

42. Chapter Forty-Two

43. Chapter Forty-

About the Author

Books by Joy Demers

Chapter One

The day held a promise of fulfillment.

I straightened my helmet. It had a tendency to slip over my brow and blind me. On second thought, I removed the blasted encumbrance. I did not want to miss any of the next fifteen minutes.

Do you have the orders? With my helmet tucked underneath my armpit, I held my hand out for the parchment. The guard at my side fumbled around for it. Glancing over my shoulder, I lifted a brow. Hann, do you have it or not?

He shoved it in my hand. Here.

Good.

Matty’s brother was new to the Blayvian Guard. In the year following Kenric’s death, King Esmond culled the elite order and replenished it with men loyal to him. Now, Esmond purged the nobility.

I gestured us forward; us being me, Hann, and a dozen foot soldiers of the Tenth Infantry.

Play it smooth, as always, I said.

Hann shook his head. He didn’t like playing the bully. Neither did I, but we didn’t have much choice.

We made a ruckus, marching through the second most lavish neighborhood in Ledonia City. The mansions were smaller here, but no less gaudy in their grandeur. And because the neighborhood rested at the bottom of a hill, the breeze from the ocean did not reach through the streets and a mild smell of rot hung heavy in the air. The midsummer sun pelted me with heat. Sweat formed underneath my armor. I’d be glad when the day was over, so I could strip off the black chain, black tunic, black everything.

I often wondered, why the color black? As we marched toward our next destination, I knew. Servants and slaves scurried out of our way. Petty nobles rushed home, frightened they would be the king’s next target. We were a humbling sight, made menacing all in black. I wished King Blayve, who started the order, would have picked a less sun attracting color. Made of the north, I couldn’t stand the southern heat even without the color black.

Our target came into view. A tiny mansion by most noble standards, it could still easily fit at least three families from the slums and then some. It didn’t even have a gate, only a row of yellow summer flowers leading up to a door. Hardly a threatening den of monsters, most people might wonder, why this one? Well, King Esmond had exhausted the richer houses already, unfortunately for the lesser nobles.

I directed half of the soldiers to the back of the house, to cover any escape routes. Nodding to Hann, I took a deep breath. I didn’t like being a bully, but this time, I’d make an exception. The noble had it coming.

Hann knocked on the door, his gauntlets creating a scraping, pounding clink of doom. If I had been on the other side of the door, I’d have pissed myself. It was going around town, that sound. Nobles whispered of it behind their hands, trembling as they described the moment everything changed for them. Some lost their fortunes. Others, their lives.

I laughed.

Hann glared at me. He wasn’t nearly as fun as his sister. The door opened a crack. A meek little woman peeked around the frame, her knuckles bone white. The wife? Or a slave?

Lady Mina of House Thistleton? Hann asked.

She gasped. It was her, then. Mina tried to shut the door, but I pushed it open, inviting myself inside. The lord didn’t even have a butler or steward to answer guests; he had his wife do the menial task. King Esmond picked for wilted fruit with this house. But then again, his orders here were first and foremost for an arrest.

Hann followed me into the drawing room, a pair of soldiers behind us. The rest stayed outside, guarding the door until I stated otherwise. Lady Mina backed away from us, screwing up the top of her dress, as if to stop her heart from jumping out of her chest. She looked at the floor, anything to avoid having to look at us goons. Her knees shook, poking through her dress. She’d fall in another minute.

You poor little thing, I said. How anyone could be married to that ox of a toad – it truly baffled me. I really did sympathize with her plight. Where is your husband?

Mina’s lips trembled. She stammered out something, too low for me to hear. Sighing, I brushed by her. To her credit, she didn’t fall. But she did cry out while making the warding off sign in my direction. I rolled my eyes. I was the big bad she-wolf, creeping into her house, bringing with me death and destruction. I plopped into a comfy looking chair. The pillows were absolutely divine. One could fall asleep on such softness. I closed my eyes.

Cadda… Hann cleared his throat. Always in a rush, that one. He should’ve known by then we always caught our prey.

Best to get it over with. Placing my helmet on my lap, I opened my eyes. I unfolded the parchment and read, in a loud voice. If the lord were hiding in his home, and surely he was, then hearing this would either make him rush into this room and kill me, or more likely, run away. He could try both. Either way, he’d fail.

It is the order of his grace King Esmond, ruler and protector of Ledonia, that all valuables and riches from House Thistleton be confiscated immediately to compensate the realm for the treason this house has shown. In addition, Lord Noll is to be summarily arrested for said treason and is to be taken to stand trial before the king.

Mina crumpled to the ground and burst into tears.

Funny, I thought it’d be more satisfying than this to get back at my former lord commander – but, no.

Restless now, I shut out the noise the woman made and focused elsewhere. Shuffling noises from another room, in the back, came to me. I snapped my fingers in that direction. He is in the back. The two soldiers left the room.

What trial? Mina moaned. He’ll just be thrown into the dungeon and I’ll never see him again.

Wouldn’t that be nice? But the woman pulled at her hair, already acting as if her husband were dead. She wasn’t all wrong. Lord Noll would be put into the dungeons without a trial. Esmond never bothered with those. I doubted Noll would survive the prison. I should know, I’d spent a long vacation down there. The darkness was not for the faint of heart. Or for cowards, like Lord Noll.

Hann attempted to pull the sniveling woman off the floor. She pushed him away and crawled to the wall, where she pulled her knees up to her face. I might have felt sorry for her, were I not so restless, frustrated. A she-wolf on a leash. What was taking so long? Noll was an ox, I’d give him that, but it shouldn’t take more than two men to apprehend him. Did I have to go in there myself? Faintly, voices neither Hann nor Mina could hear, drifted to me.

They have him, I said. Mina groaned. Hann didn’t question my innate ability to sense things better than anyone. He’d gotten used to it by then, though I knew he was suspicious. He’d been that way ever since I’d met him and his sister, almost two years ago, now. Some things were better left a mystery.

The two soldiers returned, a raging Lord Noll in between them. The moment he spotted me lounging on his soft chair, his face turned a mottled red. He fought against the soldiers, to no avail. His nostrils flared and spittle flew out of his mouth.

You… woman! he shouted. You hussy! You are the bane of my existence!

Oh, Lord Noll, how I’ve missed your tirades. Standing, I chuckled.

It is always a pleasure to see you, lord commander.

He spat on my feet. You’re a traitor!

How can I be a traitor when I was never Ledonian in the first place?

You took an oath and you broke it.

I took an oath to serve the king. Am I not serving the king?

Noll roared. He elbowed one soldier and kicked the other, breaking free. Come on, then. I know you want me. I stood where I was, not flinching as he charged toward me. Hann shook his head but made no move. Noll, the raging ox, reached me. I don’t know what he intended to do. Knock me over, perhaps? Then run?

I punched him. He fell back with a crack. A long time coming, that punch. I smirked at him. He held his face, a welt already showing. I flexed my knuckles, gauntleted. A good bonus, these steel capped gloves of mine. I might have broken his cheekbone.

Would you like to try again? I asked.

He grumbled incoherently.

Would you like me to read out my orders one more time? I do believe I read them out loud and clear the first time.

Treason? Noll shook his head. The soldiers, rubbing their injuries, returned to his side. Grabbing hold of him, they hauled him up. He did not resist this time. If anyone is guilty of treason, it is you, woman, for doing the tyrant’s dirty work.

I raised a brow. Did he really just call the king a tyrant? Talk about implicating yourself. Stupid oaf. I am following the king’s orders, like a good soldier.

Pfft. You’re a snake, promising the rebellion one thing and then doing another thing. Becoming Lord Baldwyn’s pet and then just as quickly cozying up to the king. Women cannot be trusted.

The fool should shut his mouth about rebellion. I wasn’t sure about Hann or the soldiers. I massaged my temple. What was to be done? I had looked forward to this moment ever since I’d spotted his name on the king’s list. But now it didn’t feel right. None of what I’d done had felt right. King Esmond might have given me back my mother, but by the Mother Creator, he was a tyrant.

Hann, take Mina to the back. The rest of you, clear the house.

What about him, s-sir? one of the soldiers asked, a flush on his cheeks. They never knew how to address me.

I smirked. Leave him to me.

With a salute, the two soldiers released Noll and went to the door to recruit the others for the work to be done. Stripping the house of valuables. Searching every nook and cranny for hidden treasures and riches. Not the kind of work the Tenth Infantry was used to, but it got them paid, what more could they ask for? I knew some of them pilfered, too. I let them, as long as they kept the good stuff for the king. Happy troops made my job a whole lot easier.

Hann gently coaxed Mina from the floor and led her away to the back. Noll watched this carefully, biting his lips and balling his fists. I went over to the ox and brought his arms in a twist behind him. He was a head taller than me, a whole lot wider than me, and had arms and legs as thick as tree stumps, but he was a helpless child in my grip. I pushed him forward.

You should be more careful about what you say, in the future, I said.

What future?

Lord commander, you may think I am out to get you, but I assure you, I am not.

He laughed, the desperate laughter of a dead man. And so said the gods before they wiped humanity out with the flood.

I laughed with him, much to his surprise. He shut up.

Noll’s house stood rather empty. He didn’t seem to have any servants or slaves. They might have run when they caught wind of us. Or they might not have existed at all. His house was plain. Nothing reeked of richness. Still, it remained a step up from the merchant class. Esmond would not be easy to placate. What I had decided would only make it harder.

We caught up to Hann and Mina in the kitchens. Giving Noll one last shove, I released him. Go, I said. The backdoor is unguarded now.

Hann frowned. Noll creased his brows, as if he thought it was a trick.

Go, I said with more force. Before I change my mind.

It took his wife to convince him. Little Mina latched onto him, tugging at his shirt sleeves, begging him with her eyes to believe me. She put a lot of trust in me, for all she had warded my evil off earlier. I hoped she would keep her mouth shut. It wouldn’t be good for my reputation to be tarnished by mercy.

Go!

Lord Noll eyed me carefully, not exactly grateful, but at least with a little less spite than before. Then, smartly, he turned around and fled through the backdoor with his wife.

Was that wise? Hann asked.

The king wants coin more than he wants another body in the dungeon, I lied. He will get that.

But he spoke of a rebellion.

I turned on Hann, warning smoldering in my eyes. The king only wants to increase his coffers. We will not mention any of this to him. Noll is a fool, always has been, always will be. He would say anything to shift blame away from himself.

Then why did you let him go? King Esmond will be angry.

Stating the obvious, per usual. Shaking my head, I left the kitchens and Hann. The ransacking of Noll’s house was at high tide.

I couldn’t answer Hann because I couldn’t be sure myself. Why did I let Noll go?

The king really would have much preferred to have Noll in hand. He suspected Noll knew things and he was right to suspect. I’d have to lie to the king.

Noll was right; I was a traitor.

***

The coward was not home. He must have gotten wind of his imminent arrest and fled.

The king studied me from beneath narrowed eyes. He sat on his gilded throne, the echo of my words bouncing off the walls of the grand throne room. If he was really desperate for gold, he could’ve melted down that uncomfortable looking seat. It might be enough to keep his army paid and fed for a year or two.

I refused to balk from his gaze. Standing straight, I finished my report. His house has been stripped of riches and everything of value has been added to your treasury, your grace.

The room was usually filled with courtiers and petitioners. But he cleared it whenever he had real business to attend to – meaning, his purge of nobles. Only Conn, his loyal captain of the Blayvian Guards, a paymaster, and a palm leaf waving slave remained at his side. I didn’t doubt, however, nosy spies of nobles laid their ears to the walls. I’d caught scraping noises before. Never bothered to inform the king.

And he wondered why some nobles escaped the city days before they were supposed to be arrested. Not my problem, really.

Esmond snapped his finger at the paymaster. The paymaster came forward and dropped a small pouch of coins into my waiting palm. A pittance of coins. It wouldn’t even pay my rent. What a surprise. The greedy king did not like to share his wealth, even if he did need us.

Well done, Esmond said, a half smile curling his lips. The pretty boy was suspicious. But then again, he always was, ever since I’d killed Lord Kenric and let Ry free. Of course, he didn’t know that. I’d named the pirate a coward, too, insisted he wasn’t important. Esmond knew he was. Esmond sat on Ry’s throne. Prince Rhodri’s throne.

Your grace. I bowed, hiding my smile, ready to back away and leave.

Only the king did not dismiss me. He snapped his girlish fingers again. This time, Conn stepped to his side, handing him a sheaf of papers. For some reason, my stomach turned.

I’ve been looking through Kenric’s papers, lately, hoping to find some of his hidden wealth.

Kenric – my father’s murderer. No wonder my stomach turned, even if the man was long dead now, by my hand, no matter the word on the street. I clenched my fists, bit back the rage that name built in me.

Esmond continued, as if simply mentioning the sunny weather and not a man he knew I hated with all my soul. He wrote a lot he did not mention to me. Perhaps you could be of aid to me. This Blood of the First Ones, what is it?

Saxtili. Not this again. It is a silly tale to entertain children, your grace.

Really? I don’t see Kenric being fooled by such things. In fact, he found the tomb. A cave of riches, they say. Esmond arose from his throne. His long robe of silk fluttered at his feet. Now I knew why he was interested. Riches. So he could make more of those awful looking robes. This Blood, it has the power to heal lepers. What else?

I do not know, your grace.

The king stood in my face, his steel blue eyes boring into me. A powerful healing potion, perhaps? If nothing else, perhaps it could maintain my youth?

As if he was in danger of becoming an old man anytime soon. I’d humor him, like a good subject. Perhaps, your grace.

I want it.

If it were anyone else standing before me, I’d tell him, sorry, but you can’t always get what you want. But he was the king. Kings always got what they wanted. So I bit my tongue, swallowed the retort whole.

And if it turns out to be nothing but a silly tale, then there should be treasure in that tomb. Gold, even. The north used to be famous for that.

Used to being the key words. Of course, being the ignorant ninny the king was, he didn’t get it. The north’s caves of gold had long ago been mined dry. Nothing would stop him, though.

I shall think on this some more, however… He gripped my shoulder like we were the best of friends. Ready yourself. I would send no less than my rabid she-wolf on such an important mission.

He turned his back on me. With a flick of his hand, he dismissed me.

Your grace. I bowed another time. Walking in reverse until the respectable distance had been reached, I left the impressive throne room. Once a paragraph in books, now a familiar reality to me. As were many things Ledonian. But I was not Ledonian. I was Ruromanni.

And I should have burned all of Lord Kenric’s possessions.

Chapter Two

The worst kinds of people were found in Ramshackles, the slums of Ledonia City, located in the shadows of the northern wall. Nasty winds in the winter, stifling air in the summer, its water supply got all the slop from the mansions on the hill surrounding the palace. A horrid place to live. Cutthroats, prostitutes, diseased beggars, insane wanderers, thieves, murderers, gangs, rapists, and any other kind of vile you could think of made their home there. As did I, the she-wolf of the king.

Nobody bothered me. In fact, most people avoided me. If the street were full to the brim with bodies pressed together, the sight of my glittering black chainmail and the purple horsehair plume of my helmet would part the crowd. It wasn’t wise to mess with a Blayvian Guard, let alone the only woman in the order. My reputation preceded me wherever I went. I was no longer Cadda, champion archer of Fulke’s games. I was a thug. The king’s thug.

I didn’t make any friends. Not that it mattered to me. I had acquaintances. Men and women who could be or were useful to me. I imagined many people wondered why in the Mother Creator’s name would I choose to live in that dangerous slum. It wasn’t my choice, really. It was my mother’s.

Even if I’d had enough coin to afford somewhere better, my mother would have it no other way. Ramshackles was a short walk away from the ocean, and from there, the slave markets.

The tenement we lived in was probably better off than most. It had a roof which leaked only slightly. And it hadn’t gone up in flames, yet. As I walked toward it, I sighed. A robbery blocked my way in.

A group of street orphans pounded on a mean looking fellow who curled up into a ball to guard a pouch of coins. The man was a pimp. I’d seen him hawking his wares before. Pitiful women he owned. If I’d cared even a bit, I might have killed him and freed the women. But if they couldn’t even care about their plight, why should I?

Hey, I said. The orphans looked over their shoulders. I didn’t even have to plaster an angry look on my face. One glance at me and they turned tail and ran. The pimp sputtered up blood all over my entryway. Shaking my head, I pulled him up from the ground and tossed him aside. If I ever see you here again, I will kill you.

No sir, I won’t get in your way. He limped away before I could punch him. I was no sir but no one ever knew how to address me. To my face, anyway. The things they called me behind my back, I could only guess.

Savage. Sorceress. She-wolf.

I opened the door of the tenement. It fell off its hinges, again. I’d have to have a word with the landlord. I couldn’t have just anyone coming into my home. Placing the door to the side, I walked down the hallway and then up a flight of wobbly stairs. At least the tenement didn’t smell so bad. Or maybe I’d become accustomed to the smell. If I recalled correctly, it used to smell like wet dog, blood, vomit, shit and piss. Maybe, the other tenants had taken my complaint to heart.

At least the door to my apartment was functional. I entered through it into a quiet room. The bed had been made. The table had been tidied up and a very faint breeze flittered in through the single window. But my mother wasn’t home.

I let out an agonizing breath. If she wasn’t home then she was out on the streets, alone. There were only so many people I could warn away from her. The whole city didn’t know Talabari was my mother. One day, some idiot might do something to her and I’d never know. She took too many chances.

Every day she walked to the docks, to search the slave markets for her son, my little brother Acco. She ignored my protests. I didn’t like it when she went alone. I tried to get her to wait for me. Sometimes she would. And while she searched the markets, I eyed the ships in port. It was never there, though. Sometimes, more than I’d like, she had a feeling and took off by herself. Always, it amounted to nothing. Luck didn’t seem to ever be on our side.

I removed my sword belt, tossing it to the bed, musing how I didn’t even have to brush the hilt that day. It was almost too easy now. Slowly, I removed my armor. It went a lot faster when my mother was there. Once free of the burdens, clad only in a knee length under tunic, I slumped into a chair.

"Where are you, imitna?"

The cat jumped onto my lap. Unlike the other denizens of the city, the black and white fur ball held no fear of me. He purred loudly, kneading his paws into my thighs, his claws with them. I picked up Conn – yes, I’d named the cat after the captain of the Blayvian Guard, for my amusement, mostly – and placed him back on the floor. Conn leaped up again. Stubborn cat.

I thought of going back into the streets to look for my mother. I dozed off, though. Sometime later, the creaky door woke me. My mother walked in, alone.

Anything? I asked, switching to the Ruromanni tongue.

She shook her head. Taking a seat, she covered her face with her hands and sighed. Her black hair, streaked with more gray than when I had found her, fell over her shoulders. My heart ached for her pain. She seemed unable to function, knowing her son was out there, living the life of a slave. A life she had escaped from with my help.

Do you not want to go home?

She didn’t answer me. It had become a frequent question. I worried for her. I wanted her to go home, back to our clan in the north. Back to Caridos, even if it were nothing as she remembered. I might have been tied to Ledonia City, but she wasn’t. And I didn’t trust she wouldn’t be used against me again. If Esmond wanted something of me, he’d have no scruples holding my mother’s life hostage. It was another reason I’d set up in Ramshackles. It’d be easier to get my mother away if the king decided to go that route.

But she couldn’t let go of Acco.

I sat up, sending Conn scurrying off my lap. Nearing my mother, I gripped her arm, prying it away from her face.

I shall find him, I promise.

She gave me a weak smile, removed my hand and patted it gently. She didn’t say much anymore. She’d never been the silent type. I cursed Lord Kenric for the umpteenth time. I’d gotten my mother back, but she wasn’t the same. She never spoke of the past. Besides one time during our reunion, she never mentioned my father. All she could utter was about finding Acco.

Maybe it was a good thing, for I wouldn’t have to tell her I lost Niri, my father’s sword. Well, technically, that wasn’t true. I knew who possessed the sword. I simply didn’t know where he was. And mother’s healer pendant? I’d managed to leave that somewhere, too. With the rate I was losing things, I was surprised I hadn’t yet lost my mind.

My mother went to the bed. Without bothering to move all I had tossed there, she lied down. I found a shell of my mother. My mother, who didn’t seem to realize she had a daughter right before her.

Curling my fists, I allowed my nails to cut into my palms.

I had him in my arms and I let him go.

Maybe she could have loved me again if I’d brought him to her.

But I let him go.

With nothing left to say, with no way to reach her, I left the apartment.

***

Down the hall lived one of the more useful acquaintances I’d made. Sal from Valderon. He didn’t speak a word of Ledonian, but I never visited him to talk.

There he stood, squeezing a wet rag over his head. Sal didn’t even turn around as I came in. Little beads of water trailed down his face. A dockworker, he smelled of the sea, salty and sweaty. His shoulders were broad, arms strong, and skin light brown. I loved to run my hands through his silky black hair.

Hello, he said, putting down the rag and facing me with a smirk. All right, so he knew one word. He repeated it over and over as we fucked.

I prayed to the Mother Creator my mother wouldn’t hear. But even if she did… she cared nothing of what I did. So I moaned and thrashed about like a cat in heat and scratched up poor Sal’s back. He didn’t mind. He never did. Then again, he never said anything except hello.

Chapter Three

King Esmond liked to take his noonday meal on a balcony overlooking the city and the ocean. The day after storming into Lord Noll’s mansion, I found myself stuck guarding the king while he ate. I hated the duty. The balcony held far too miserable a memory for me.

Any trace of that day had long since been wiped clean. But sometimes, passing through the dining hall leading out to the balcony, I still saw his blood pooling onto the floor. You’d think it’d be a pleasant memory. After all, I’d worked so hard for vengeance against Lord Kenric. Yet, it left me with a simmering rage every time. My slavery had commenced the moment I shot an arrow through his throat and allowed Ry to escape.

Mother was free, which was all that mattered.

Lord Merkle’s presumptuous laugh brought me back to the present. The brown nosing lord had fitted himself into the role of advisor to the king after Kenric’s death. Utterly useless, all Merkle could do was agree with the king and speak ill of other nobles. A shame, really. The king could benefit from some good advice.

I heard Lord Tybalt of Elderbrooke has divided and buried all his riches among the pig sties of his town, Lord Merkle said.

His town? Esmond lowered his goblet to the table and sent the lord an imperious look. My dear Merkle, you do know I am the king and even that pig sty of the north is mine?

Merkle ran a handkerchief across his forehead. O-of course, your grace. It was nothing more than a harmless slip of the tongue.

The king glanced at Conn, always by his side and more influential than any nobles I’d come to learn. Conn gave a barely discernible nod of the head before looking at me. Inwardly, I sighed. Here we go again.

I stepped to the side of the table. Merkle nervously looked between me and the king. I wrapped my hand around the hilt of my sword.

A harmless slip of the tongue? Esmond pounded the table. Merkle flinched back. How would you like a harmless slip of a sword on your neck?

Faster than he could blink, I withdrew my sword and left it suspended in the air before Lord Merkle. The lord cowered in his seat. A sheen of sweat coated his pale face. His hands trembled wiping it away.

I apologize, your grace. I am nothing but a simpleton. I promise it won’t happen again. Merkle’s eyes came close to popping out as he watched me. I never once thought I’d be able to make a noble squirm in his seat. How many times had I done it now?

King Esmond broke into laughter. A jest, Lord Merkle, really. You are no fun at all.

I sheathed my sword and backed away. Color returned to Merkle’s face. He let out the breath he’d been holding. King Esmond flicked his hand at the lord.

You may leave.

Lord Merkle sat up so fast the chair knocked over. He righted it, muttering an apology. Bowing a few times to the king, he attempted a nonchalant chuckle. It sounded pathetic. Like the annoying little man-like creature the king had for about a month once. A monkey, I think it was called. Screechy and whiny. Horrid little thing.

Send in the other guard as you leave, Esmond said, wincing at the laugh emitted from the lord.

As you wish, your grace. The lord bowed one more time. He scurried away before the king could play another joke on him. I didn’t know why he wasn’t used to it by then. The buffoon had been the butt of the king’s humor for some time.

The other guard, Hann, marched onto the balcony not long after. He thumped his heart and bowed his head in salute to the king. Standing straight, he awaited the king’s instructions. I had to admit, Hann made a striking guard. It surprised me how fast he’d risen through the army, almost as quickly as I had. He was still new to the elite order, though, and had a lot to learn about the king’s ways.

Hann, is it? the king asked.

Yes, your grace.

The king arose. Brushing his silken robe out of his feet’s way, he ambled over to Hann. The king proceeded to examine Hann, twisting the guard’s head this way and that, feeling his flanks and tugging at his belt. The stableman’s touch, I called it. He did it at least once to all his new guards. Why? Because he was the king and he could. Of course, he probably wanted to make sure his guards were in top shape and ready for… anything.

A fine stallion you are, Esmond said, squeezing together Hann’s cheeks. Would you mount the she-wolf if I told you so?

Blech. That thought didn’t sit well in my stomach. It’s not that Hann wasn’t attractive. It was just, well, he was Matty’s brother. And Matty had been like a sister to me. By that reasoning, Hann was my brother, too. Anyway, the king joked. Or at least I hoped he did.

Hann didn’t seem so sure. Your grace?

Would you? Esmond let Hann go and stared at him expectantly.

Hann glanced in my direction. One thing about most redheads, they blush easily. And blush Hann did. Whatever you ordered me to do, I would do, your grace.

Esmond crossed his arms. Smiling, he shifted his attention between me and Hann. My heart raced. I didn’t think he’d give the command. Would he? Esmond dragged the moment through the mud. I wouldn’t do it. I’d draw the line. But what if he threatened mother?

Excellent, Esmond said. He turned around and strolled over to the balcony railing. His back was to us, but I could hear him fumbling with his pants or whatever he wore beneath his robe.

Saxtili.

And then, a stream of piss. I relaxed.

Give them their orders, Conn, the king said.

The captain of the Blayvian Guard stepped in front of us. Rather brutish looking in daylight, he frightened many peasants. But I had yet to see anything threatening from him besides his loyalty to the king.

You two will escort the queen-consort to the Temple of Mara. Do not let her out of your sight and keep the people at a safe distance from her.

Yes, captain.

We saluted our superior and turned away from the balcony. When we were into the hallway of the palace, I stopped Hann.

What god is Mara? I asked. There yet remained much I didn’t know about the gods of Ledonia. Fulke, the god of war and warriors, stood as the only one worth knowing.

The poor sop couldn’t look at me. Remnants of his blushing episode still colored his cheeks. The goddess of love and fertility, he muttered.

Makes sense, I said, carrying on.