Page 143 of Ironling
The company’s silence was telling, and Hakon’s beast growled with disgust.
“As he is without an heir and in custody, your oaths belong now to your heiress,” said Aodhan.
“You can honor your oaths,” Hakon said, “or you can join your lord in a cell.”
Murmurs, angry and anxious, burst through the company.
With a snarl, Garth advanced on Hakon. “And who’re you to make such demands, halfling?”
Hakon squared his shoulders, looming over the man by half a head. “She’s mymate. Do you want to find out what it means to cross an orc’s mate, human?”
By the old gods, no words ever tasted or sounded so good.
A sort of horrified understanding overcame the captain’s face, and he recoiled in disgust. “She choseyou?”
“She did. And you’d be wise to choose her, knight.”
Garth snorted in derision, but it took only a glance over the man’s shoulder to see his company weighing their options. Hakon seriously doubted any would truly wish to join Bayard in the dungeon; the baron didn’t seem the sort to garner loyalty out of respect.
Instead, Hakon spoke their language. Bribery may not have been necessary, but he was willing to participate if it meant getting back to Aislinn that much sooner.
Hakon held an uncut gem up to Garth’s face, letting the deep purple catch the light. Garth’s eyes betrayed him, pupils dilating as he fixed on the sudden sparkle.
“You won’t go without compensation. You owe Lady Aislinn your loyalty, but she is fair and ensures all her knights are paid well.”
Garth’s gaze reluctantly flicked to Hakon then Captain Aodhan. The other captain gauged them for a long moment, but his gaze drew unfailingly back to the gem.
From behind him, one of the other knights cried, “Long live Lady Aislinn!”
“Long live the heiress!”
“To the lady!”
A chorus of pledges rang out, filling the barracks with ardent promises of loyalty to Aislinn.
Hakon contained his smugness when Garth reached out and snatched up the gem. “Have it your way. We’ll fight for her.”
“Your show of loyalty is heartwarming,” Hakon drawled.
Garth scowled, even as he pocketed the gem.
“Keep your knights contained and ready,” Captain Aodhan warned. “We expect the mercenary force in a few days. Until then, your company is confined to the barracks and courtyard.”
The other captain’s lips thinned, but begrudgingly he nodded in agreement.
Captain Aodhan nodded back. “Excellent. I always knew you were a smart man, Garth.”
Hakon would’ve reveled in the triumph of the night—if he didn’t have an even greater, more precious triumph waiting for him.
Aodhan escorted him through the castle, although Hakon wasn’t entirely sure why until the captain said, “I’m pleased for you, Hakon. But I’m more pleased for our heiress.”
Hakon looked at the captain in surprise.
“Lady Aislinn is a good woman. Everyone in the Darrowlands knows it. She needs someone who will love and protect her as fiercely as she deserves. I have hope that’s you.”
“I won’t fail her.”
He would give everything to and for her, including his life—both his mortal life and the life he thought he would have. It was nothing to an orc to sacrifice and die for their bonded mate; Hakon had lived for a long time with that truth before meeting Aislinn. Giving up his ideas and dreams of what a good life was, though, had been harder to accept.
