Page 21 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)
It occurred to me to ask if the king had changed his mind. “Does he want me to send the purchase with you?””
“He said you might ask, and his reply was, ‘Don’t be late for dinner.’”
The barbarian with braids wrapped around her crown snickered. “Where you’ll be giving each other a sword, eh?”
“Care to rethink your choice of words?” My sharp rebuke took her by surprise. I’d not shown my tougher side yet. I smiled. “Such talk is more the realm of indiscreet gentlemen. I am a lady.”
Smythe choked behind the desk and bent over out of sight. He’d better be dying, or I’d kill him.
“You’ve got a bit of fire. Nice.” Braids beamed in approval. “You’ll be good for him.”
“I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong person. He’s engaged, remember?” Did no one care about that fact?
The male snorted. “He should have said no. We all told him not to do it.”
“Wait, you don’t want him marrying the zariina?”
“If he marries that family, then we gotta play nice and no more midnight raids.” Braids scowled.
“Isn’t peace a goal?”
“Peace is boring,” the male replied.
The claim reminded me of the city we’d left. Too much nice could be bad.
“What are you going to do to stop the wedding?” I asked.
The braided woman eyed me sharply. “Nothing. We do as our king tells us.”
Sounded like they were loyal. Meaning they probably wouldn’t turn a blind eye if I tried to kill him.
Once they left, I had only a little time before I’d need to lock up and make my way to the restaurant. I glanced down at my outfit, wondering if I had the time to change. I’d not worn a gown but rather very wide-legged trousers that gave the illusion of a skirt. Considered a tad scandalous in the upper ranks. I didn’t care. A true skirt could hamper if a bad situation arose.
I wouldn’t change for him. This was business. The wrapped sword went into a sling over my shoulder. I swirled a cloak over it. A thief who laid a hand on me would lose it. Once on the street, I moved quickly.
I’d just about made it to the tavern when someone staggered into my path.
The man, his face florid and his eyes squinty with drink, leered in my direction. “If it isn’t a pretty—”
The Barbarian King shoved him aside before he could finish that sentence.
“I didn’t need you to interfere.” I had a cool reply for his action.
“He was in the way.”
“You could have gone around.”
Konstantin shrugged. “That was faster. Plus, he said something rude.”
“He called me pretty.”
“Obviously blind.”
I cast him a sharp glance. “Excuse me?” I didn’t think I had much vanity until Konstantin implied I wasn’t attractive.
“It’s obvious you’re much more than just pretty.”
The compliment took me by surprise, and I couldn’t stop the heat in my face. “You shouldn’t be saying things like that. This is a business meeting,” I reminded as I aimed for an empty table, which I realized was too good to be true in this busy place. It took another partial moment to realize why as I noticed the barbarians I’d met before, along with other giants, sitting at the tables nearest the empty one.