Page 45 of Vows of Sacrifice

Elendur didn’t speak immediately, preferring first to savour another sip of wine.

“You think that was my objective?”

“Because it wasn’t?” I countered, snapping at him.

Again, the Osacan king did not respond immediately.

“Let’s imagine—and I do mean ‘let’s imagine’—that this was indeed what I had in mind when I accepted her proposal; what do you plan to do about it?”

As a preamble to my response, I let my gaze change colour to become as fiery as the flames crackling in the braziers of his outdoor throne.

“Are we still imagining? I’d kill him and burn his body instantly.”

I then pointed to his bottle of wine.

“And maybe add his ashes to your favourite drink to spice up the flavour, what do you say?”

Elendur’s gaze drifted for a moment to the crystal decanter containing the precious liquor.

“But we’re just speculating, aren’t we?” I insisted. “Because none of this is real or even close to happening.”

A friendly smile, belied by the cold rage that animated his strange yellow irises, bloomed on the lips of the King of Osacan.

“Yes, that’s obvious. You and I have vivid imaginations,” he retorted.

I smiled back, and it must have been a terrifying sight, because the two chambermaids, still on their lord’s bed, let out the yelp of a frightened beast.

“It’s a common point that binds us, in the absence of blood, I suppose.”

I had probably put him in a state of nameless fury. Those women weren’t going to make it out of there alive. And it was my fault. I suddenly felt responsible for their fate. I gestured at them with my chin, without really looking at them.

“Are they trustworthy?” I asked, deliberately changing the subject.

Anger still reigned in his eyes, but Elendur gave me the grace to answer me with a curt “yes.”

“I want them. At my wife’s service. This stubborn woman refused to bring any chambermaids from Muvaria, so not a single servant accompanies her, apart from a young page named Massim who’s in the stables. She can’t take care of herself alone; it would be frowned upon by the members of your court, you, and Nadrisse.”

This time, Elendur’s expression contorted into the grimace of a predator.

“And why them? There are other women more qualified than these laundresses in Tarnton.”

“I don’t want to waste my time auditioning damsels. If you value them enough to share your bed, then they’re worthy and capable.”

He couldn’t contradict me without denigrating himself, and a king never denigrates himself, least of all when his name is Elendur Silh of Tarnton.

“Well, then, I’ll make you a present of it. I owe you for killing the king of Muvaria, your wife’s father,” he retorted perfidiously.

I didn’t flinch. It took more than that to throw me off balance.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

With a wave of my hand, I urged the women to get dressed. It was too late for him to summon others, and perhaps by the morning, he wouldn’t be in such a murderous mood as to take revenge on them in retaliation.

Tonight, I was going to have to go out. I was going to have to expel this fury that was gnawing me down to the bone. A need for blood. A need to kill.

As soon as the two castle laundresses and I were out of Elendur’s room, I harpooned them with my most merciless stare.

“I just saved your life.”

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