Page 52 of Thorns & Fire
The Bear Slayer returned, holding out two flutes.
‘You’re too kind, Lord Hargrave,’ Dessa said, batting her lashes.
Torj rolled his eyes and turned to face the view.Wren, however, followed Dessa’s gaze across the crowd to a nobleman leaning against a pillar.He was tall and slender, and, though his clothes were simple, it didn’t take a trained eye to know that they were of a fine make.He carried himself with the easy grace of a person born into wealth and power.The small circle of noblemen and women who surrounded him looked captivated by whatever tale he was telling, charmed by his confident smile, failing to identify the boredom in his eyes.
‘Do you know him?’Wren asked her friend.
‘I knowofhim...That’s Lord Devereux.He owns several estates between here and the far reaches of Tver, and it’s rumoured that he funds the entire Tverrian army as well.He’s apparently one of the wealthiest men in the midrealms, if notthewealthiest.’
‘Oh?’Wren had heard that family name somewhere; it was unique enough to leave an impression.
Dessa continued.‘From what I’ve heard here tonight, he also funded the rebuilding of King Leiko’s castle after that first battle in Notos.’
Wren’s brows shot up.‘I saw the state of that castle myself...His coffers must run deep indeed to have funded those repairs.’
Dessa nodded.‘He’s been very generous.’
Wren didn’t have the heart to tell Dessa that generosity like that rarely came without strings.
To her dismay, the man in question seemed to sense her attention.His eyes met hers across the balcony, and after a beat, he saluted her with his glass.
‘Aren’t you meant to be causing some sort of diversion?’Torj asked Dessa sharply.
‘All in good time, Lord Hargrave.’She smiled sweetly and offered him two small pieces of parchment.‘You’ll need these to get upstairs as overnight guests.Perhaps it’s time you took your wife on a tour of the manor?’
CHAPTER 19
Torj
‘Scholars still debate whether the centuries of rule in Tver were maintained more by their magic or their masterful political alliances with prominent families’
– The Midrealms Chronicles
WIFE...THEFURIEScertainly had a wicked sense of humour tonight – or Kipp did, at the very least.Torj had never seriously considered what he was giving up by becoming a Warsword.The knowledge that Thezmarr’s most elite warriors never took wives – or husbands – had seemed inconsequential back then; he had never wanted to settle down anyway.But as the word had left his lips on several occasions that evening...Wife.Mywife.He’d realized he liked the sound of it, the taste of it.
But that future had never belonged to him.It had been a dream, nothing more.
It didn’t stop him sliding an arm around Wren’s waist and leading her from the terrace, or from admiring the elegant slope of her neck, wrapped in that striking choker.
‘Farissa told me that Lord Hullet’s study is on the third floor, by the library,’ he told her, guiding her through the sea of opulence and finery.
Having shown their overnight passes to the guards, they ascended the sweeping staircase to the first floor, Torj noting several sentries stationed at the doors to various suites.
‘Come on, Dessa...’he muttered as he felt a pair of eyes on them.
He paused to brush a lock of hair behind Wren’s ear, hearing her sharp intake of breath at his touch.Gods, he was pathetic.He’d vowed to himself that he’d keep his distance, but at the flimsiest of excuses, he’d got as close to her as possible, driven mad by his need for her.
A loud crash sounded from below, and suddenly the guards were rushing to the balustrades, peering down.
‘Pick me up,’ Wren hissed.
‘What?’
‘Pick me up – make it look like you’re taking me to bed,’ she said with more urgency.‘We’re lingering here too long.’
Torj swept her up in his arms, staring deep into her eyes.‘As you command, wife.’
‘Stop calling me that.’
