Page 43 of Trial of Bronze and Blood
His hungry gaze lingers on her. “Which will hopefully be soon.”
“You looked like you could use saving,” Cato whispers once they’re out of earshot.
“And just in time too. I was moments away from unsheathing my dagger and stabbing him between the ribs.” She grits her teeth. “I hate men like him.”
“Not to disagree with you, but what sort of man is that?”
She sniffs. “The kind who thinks he can get any woman he wants simply because he has power.”
Cato smiles softly. “Well, at least you’ve proven him wrong.”
“At least I can take care of myself,” she amends. “Most women aren’t so lucky.”
She surveys the tension between the Durevolians and the Phaedrans. Despite the open courtyard, the uneasiness of the Durevolians suffocates the air. “What else do you have planned for them today?”
“A welcoming ceremony at the temple, when the sun rises to its highest point.”
Dru nearly laughs. “Why? You don’t even worship the same gods.”
“My father insisted on it. The preparations have already been made.” He sighs. “I don’t see the harm in it.”
She steps closer and speaks low. “The more the Imperium inserts themselves into your country, the more likely they’ll try to convert your people to follow the Phaedran way.”
Cato furrows his brow. “My people are stronger than you realize?—”
“It’s not about your people’s strength,” she cuts him off. “It’s about the Imperium’s might. You’ve managed to evade it for hundreds of years, but now you’ve invited it in.”
“And they’re bound to be poor house guests,” he mumbles.
She glances around, finding the bard speaking to one of the Phaedrans. “At least you placed a spy in their midst. It’ll be good to have someone keeping an eye on them, even if itisthe bard.”
Cato snorts out a laugh. “You don’t like calling him by his name, do you?”
“You know, I don’t.”Not that I can remember it if I did.
The rest of the breakfast goes on without a single outburst from either side. As much as the Durevolians might not want to, they’ve found a way to be civil with the only nation that’s tried to invade their country.
Dru settles down long enough to eat what’s on her plate,watching the sun rise over the palace walls. Thankfully, no one else from the Imperium tries to talk to her. After her interaction with their gamemaster, she’s had her fill of them.
After they’ve gorged themselves on food and drink, they take their leave with the promise of seeing everyone at the ceremony. The council departs not long after.
“We should get ready,” the king announces, already heading for his chambers. “Sabina will help you, Drusilla.”
“Why must I attend?” she wonders, trying not to sound ungrateful.
He looks away. “To show unity.”
A lie.“How would my presence show unity?”
“Fine,” he amends, meeting her gaze. “I want you there, that’s all.”
She nearly blushes, though she’s again struck by how quickly Cato trusts people.It’s still most likely that Marcus is the reason for that.
“In that case, I’ll be there.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
DRUSILLA
