Page 104 of Poisoned Kingdom
I should have left her in Truso,I thought for the hundredth time.
As much as I wanted to spare her pain, I couldn’t rob her of a chance to say goodbye to her friend. The scout’s report on Tova’s whereabouts had warned me to prepare for the worst. And while Sana would insist on seeing him immediately, she was exhausted, and I didn’t know how much one woman could take. If only I could ensure the dwarf would survive before I let her see him . . .
My men exchanged confused glances as I issued orders, but my gaze kept flicking towards Irsha, who was constantly by Roksana’s side. She gasped when he helped her dismount, catching her when her legs gave way. After she steadied, he led her to sit on a tree stump. Sana laughed, complaining that her legs were numb and tingly at the same time, and the wretched assassin crouched beside her, vigorously rubbing her calves.
The reasonable part of me knew they were close friends, that their bond wasn’t romantic—but the berserker in me didn’t want to listen to reason. I knew it was just a trait of my personality, but at times like this, it felt like there were two of me—man and beast—fighting for control.
‘Perun give me strength. He’s going too far,’ I muttered when he lifted her skirt to knead her muscles, but my curse morphed into a smirk when my anger gave me an idea.
‘Sire?’ my officer prompted. I turned to him, but my mind was elsewhere.
The soldiers’ voices blurred into background noise. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Irsha extend a cup of warmed honey water to Roskana. My Viper refused at first—until he dropped to one knee, presenting the dented cup like he was offering tribute to his queen.
Bloody idiot.My fists tightened at the sight.I should have thought of that first.
Sana laughed, beautiful and carefree, mischief dancing in her eyes as she accepted the cup with a mock regal flourish. She’d needed a distraction, but if I’d have done that, would she have laughed like that for me?
As if sensing my stare, she turned, still smiling, and raised the cup in a silent toast.
I was on the verge of groaning in frustration. I had to close my eyes for a second before I could plaster a fake smile on my face,pretending I didn’t notice that Irsha was now rubbing healing salve on the scrapes on her arm.
‘For fuck’s sake,’ I muttered, my hand drifting instinctively to my blade. Perun, who had forged berserkers in fire and madness, was surely testing me today—I was one breath away from challenging the bastard . . . again.
‘Your Majesty?’ My officer cleared his throat, dragging me back to the moment. ‘You were asking about Ostrava . . .’
‘What?’ I blinked at him, pinching the bridge of my nose as if the small gesture could help me concentrate on the issues at hand.
‘You asked about the situation in Ostrava,’ he repeated carefully. ‘What are your orders, sire? Shall we make camp here, or continue to the town?’
‘No stopping,’ Roksana said before I could answer, rushing towards us, hissing with every step she took. As her breath misted in the air, the chill breeze gave her pale skin a luminous glow, making the tiny laugh lines around her eyes even more visible.
‘I don’t think you can ride any more today,’ I told her. ‘You can barely walk, Sana. The last thing I need is you toppling from your horse mid-canter.’
‘I can manage,’ she said with a glint of defiance in her eyes. ‘And we can rest when we get to Ostrava. Irsha said that’s where we’re meeting the group who found Tova.’
As if reeled by an invisible thread, her assassin came closer.
‘If you’re worried, sire,’ he said, gaze flicking to me, ‘I’ll take her on my horse.’ He turned to her, tone softer as he tugged on the end of her braid. ‘Don’t give me that look, trouble. He’s right—you look like shit. The only way I see you riding without holding us back is with someone holding you up.’
That was it. I’d had enough. It was the right thing to do, but if the assassin thought I’d let him ride with my Sana cradled to his chest, he was sorely mistaken.
‘An excellent idea,’ I said smoothly. ‘But as your duty isguardingthe Lady Roksana, I think it best if she joins me instead. My stallion can carry a man in full armour and a week’s supplies. He won’t even notice her on his back.’
Before Irsha could reply, I reached for Sana’s hand and tugged her gently towards me, sighing with relief when she didn’t resist.
‘I don’t think it’s necessary,’ she said, though she didn’t take her hand from mine.
‘I’m not taking any chances, Viper.’ I looked at her, then turned to Irsha. ‘In fact, in order to keep Sana safe, I require your expertise, Blade. Please ride ahead with the captain of my guard. Make sure our lodgings in Ostrava are secure. We’re close to the southern border, and someone has already tried their luck attacking her. I want the area cleared and locked down before we arrive. Make haste.’
The request, though politely phrased, wasn’t well received. Irsha wasn’t the type of man to be ordered around—even by his king.
‘I would be happy to oblige, but my duty is to stay beside Roksana,’ he huffed, nostrils flaring as he stepped towards me.
‘Well, then, I’ll have to insist on camping here until my man reassures me that all potential threats are eliminated,’ I said with a smile. My satisfaction was short-lived when I felt Sana’s hand slip from mine.
She walked to her friend, and his gaze instantly softened. ‘Please, no more arguments . . . could you do it? For me?’ she asked.
The bastard had the audacity to take her hand and kiss it as he looked me in the eye. ‘For you? Always. Whatever you command, trouble,’ he told her, but the smirk was all for me.
