Page 46 of Amidst the Insidious Courts
His sister freed him?Ifucking freed him! If I could burn a hole in the back of his head with my gaze, I would.
Bram changes the subject. “You remember Mother’s words about her?”
Madoc nods, glancing back at us. “I memorised them all. As have the others. We are ready.”
Cryptic assholes. Prae watches them both, the cogs in her brain visibly turning as she mulls over their words.
“And your loyalty?”
Madoc tuts. “I remain loyal to the Nicnevin before all others.”
It seems to satisfy Bram somewhat. “You know why I had to check.”
Rather than take offence, Madoc snorts. “I bet Florian insisted on it.”
Both of them sober at the reminder of their eldest brother, and beside me, Prae rolls her eyes.
“He’s not fucking dead yet,” she grumbles under her breath. “That pompous asshole is too stubborn to die, anyway.”
“What are we here for?” Madoc asks, as we turn the corner onto a row of neatly maintained shops.
“A glamour charm,” Bram says carefully. “Better if you don’t know the details.”
“You know it won’t hold up against Aiyana’s gift.”
“That won’t be necessary. The person in question isn’t going anywhere near her.”
Madoc nods, pulling his brother into an alley. “Down here. You’ll want to make sure it’s unregistered, I suppose?”
“Obviously.”
A few twisting turns later and we come to a stop outside an old and incredibly tall door. Madoc knocks twice, and a peephole opens above us. A second later, it slams shut again, and another opens at eye level.
The face visible through the slit has wrinkled skin the dark orange of an ogre.
“Your Highness. Here for the usual?”
“No.” Madoc’s reply is curt, cutting off all speculation as to what ‘the usual’ might be. “I need an untraceable glamour charm.”
The ogre’s beady pink eyes gleam. “Anything specific?”
Bram reaches back and pulls Prae to the forefront. “This. We need it to look like this.”
The ogre nods, squinting at her. “One hour. Sixty gold.”
“Sixty!” Bram’s incredulity colours the word.
Madoc winces. “That’s an excellent price. We’re happy to pay. Thank you.”
The peep hole slams shut, and Madoc drags his brother away. “Try not to piss off Moggoth, Bram. I know you’ve always been tight, but the value of gold has plummeted since the fourth war with the Fomorians began. Sixty is the most reasonable offer you’ll get.”
Scowling, Bram shoves his brother lightly. “I’m not tight! I just have a higher understanding of the value of enchantments than you.”
* * *
So followsan hour of watching Bram splutter over prices in the market as Madoc shows him around. Amusing as it is to see the fox shifter drawn out of his quiet shell by his brother, being their personal guard is frustrating. The youngest prince fear-shifts whenever a loud noise startles him, and soon, trying to dodge any sharp sounds becomes tiring.
Bram doesn’t much care for the arrangement, either. Despite his earlier words, he’s still not forgiven me for what transpired in the Deep Caves, and so it’s no surprise when he thrusts the glamour charm at us as soon as he’s paid for it.
