Page 45 of Untempered
If Kadan was dead, I’d’ve heard. There would’ve been fighting in the corridors. And lots of other people would probably do that for Luca, too.
Did I want to know what had happened? Yes.
Was I giving this lout confirmation of the chink in my armor? No.
“It’ll be the last time the Horse Fucker heir ever rides here,” he said smugly, and shot me an expectant look as he shoved his way into the mess hall.
My heart ached.Kadan. I didn’t respond.
“But you’ll see that tonight,” he went on, without needing my invitation. “You’ll have to stand behind the lady and maintain the perimeter. If you see the Raa’shi heir, you’re to hold him.”
Unease crept up my spine. Had the Wuurgard survivor talked? Kadan and I wouldn’t be implicated, as the deal with the South had been driven entirely by Luca. What other reason could the Duke possibly have to hold him?
“You’re a cold bastard, aren’t you?”
I scratched my jaw. Thomas had told me I had to shave and cut my hair, but damned if I knew when I was supposed to have done that or how it would matter. Anyway, Audrey hadn’t seemed to care, and she held my reins until I figured out how to get the bit between my teeth.
“You obviously want to tell me something,” I said, aiming for indifference and hitting it neatly as we wandered in. “I don’t feel like dancing, so if you want to use your words, you go ahead. Otherwise.” I glanced around and identified where the line for food began. “I hear I eat while I can.” And mayhap I’d carry something back for Thomas. If I was going to be stuck with him for the rest of our lives, I may as well get on with the relic.
My temporary mentor stood beside me in the line, and I realized his face was flushed with temper. Mayhap he’d had a hard-on for Mikus.
But I hadn’t killed him. I would’ve. But I hadn’t.
Be okay, Kadan.
Around me, uniformed servants and off-duty guards looked back with varying levels of subtlety and hostility. Irritation prickled between my shoulder blades, but I resisted the urge to resettle my shirt.
“Your kind aren’t welcome here,” he whispered.
I was a lot more capable of looking after myself now than the last time that’d been true. It didn’t matter if I had no skirts to shelter behind. I had friends, and I had myself.Kadan will be fine. I’d’ve heard if he wasn’t.
I sent the guard an unimpressed look. “Obviously,” I drawled. “Since I’m bloodsworn to defend the Duke’s most precious possession.”
He didn’t like that truth any more than I did. I moved forward in the line, ignoring the looks we were getting.
“You were a bannerman for the Horse Fuckers.”
Was I the horse fucker, or Kadan? All of us? Consistency was too much to ask for. I’d need to check on Bliksem. They could say what they wanted to me, but I’d be damned if they’d hurt my old friend. For now, I let my gaze drift over the heads of the people in front of us and ignored the looks directed my way.
This was the rest of my life. When the line moved forward, I could barely lift my feet, they had become so heavy.
“Shame you weren’t there,” he said again. “Hey, Barth, how’s the stew?”
The young man nearby grinned up from his bowl, and I didn’t miss the cruelty in his look. “Fanciest horse I’ve eaten. Tastes like all the others.”
Bullshit.I moved along with the line, ignoring the cawing laughter.
“Who knows, mayhap if you’d been there to kiss that fancy pony better, it wouldn’t be dead,” my mentor said with a grin.
“I hear my kisses are pretty amazing,” I agreed blandly. “Don’t know anyone’s said I could raise the dead, but sure.” I’d been tormented by people who knew every flaw in my armor. This guy was a fly buzzing around shit. We shuffled up so we were next in line, and I took a plate for me and one for Thomas. He, at least, hadn’t come for me.
“He’ll never walk again,” my mentor breathed in my ear. “They’re going to take his legs.”
The blood roared in my ears, and I fought not to react as it came my turn to step in front of the cook. “Extra stew for me,” my mentor said with a nod. “I hear it’s something special tonight.”
The cook gave him a beady eye, then turned his suspicion on me.
Kadan.
