Page 43 of The Mountain King
She kept her eyes trained ruthlessly on his face. She wouldn’t look down. Not even a peek.
“Need clothes for town,” Sere said.
His brow rose and he shrugged, then trotted off the path and into the forest. “Stay put!” he yelled over his shoulder. “I dropped my pack a few feet from here.”
Kailigh snorted, fully intending to ignore his order.
“We could use the extra muscle, Ma,” Persia said.
“Nice muscle,” Sere murmured.
Kai glared at both her daughters, but waited. A man with them—as much as it galled her to admit it—might tip the scales in their favor at least in terms of numbers.
The Dwyrkin Lord gave her alookas he emerged from the forest. “I’m absolutely amazed you didn’t run off. I would have enjoyed the chase.”
Kailigh eyed him up and down. “You’re dressed like a Domer.” A man who didn’t work for a living, the kind with inherited money who dabbled in ‘trade.’
Maddugh tugged at his finely woven vest. “It’s a disguise. No one could possibly take me seriously in this frippery.”
That was God’s truth. While he always dressed as befit his station in life, his regular style was decidedly understated, even severe. This outfit… the quality of the cloth, polished gold buttons, and shined shoes complemented his lean frame, but was nearly dandified with profusion of gold on brown brocade. He’d pulled his hair back and tied it with something so it wasn’t its usual wild mass. All he needed was a topcoat and a cane.
Kailigh snorted and set off again, her daughters at her side. Maddugh fell in at her side.
“So, what is the plan, Kai?” he asked. “Youdidhave a plan?”
“Working on it,” Sere said.
The plan mostly consisted of nosing through town, finding the slug who’d shot her daughter, and inviting him for a little chat at high noon in the town square. At least in her mind. She’d likely stake him out and wait until dark, quietly shoot him in the head, and then hope to make it back to the castle in time for dinner. She hated cold food, though cold chicken was all right.
“Split up?” Sere asked.
“No,” Maddugh said.
“Good idea,” Kailigh said simultaneously, then glared at him. “Look, Your Royal Majesty, this is my show. I make the calls.”
His head tilted as he studied her like some particularly curious form of bug. With wings for him to snatch off. “Mistress, you’ve forgotten you owe me the fulfillment of our deal.” He smiled, the pleasant expression rising the hairs on the back of her neck. “I must protect my investment, after all.”
They spent a few hours scouting—skulking, rather—before Kailigh called a halt. She rounded up her daughters. “Look, go back to the castle, I’ll scout for a few more hours. Cin won’t like being by herself for long.”
They protested, but Maddugh intervened. “Your youngest sister is your first duty, and she should be properly attended by other women of her household,” he said, voice firm. “Obey your mother.”
They gaped at him, but Kailigh just grinned, smug. It felt nice to have someone on her side for a change. The three girlsalwaysargued with her. If they’d had a real father growing up, maybe they wouldn’t be so wild. Going around drinking, carousing, getting shot. They left, though, Serephone with a dark glare and Persia with a knowing little smirk. Kailigh ignored them both.
“This time of night, the traffickers and their ilk will be in one of the establishments that offer adult entertainment,” Kailigh told Maddugh.
He looked interested. “Adult entertainment? Would that be why you really wanted the girls gone?”
“Don’t enjoy yourself too much,” she replied, voice a little sour.
Maddugh reached out a hand, pushing her cheek with his knuckles. “I only have eyes for one lady. And am thoroughly enjoying her stubbornness.” He paused. “Mostly.”
What could she say to that? Not much, especially since she wasn’t accustomed to the flirting. She jerked and shrugged and led the way to the first strip joint.
It wasn’t officially licensed as a strip joint, but there was music, and half-clad women on tables who happened to be dancing to the music. It also wasn’t officially licensed as a whorehouse, but there were rooms, and there were appropriately unattired women in those rooms.
“My,” Maddugh said, glancing around. “What… character?”
Kai glanced at him. His expression was pleasantly bored, eyes sharp as he located and sized up every male in the room. He didn’t look at the women-and Kai watched to see where his gaze would fall.
