Page 29 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)
Wait, had there been other assassination attempts? Of course, there had. Failed ones obviously since he remained alive.
“You won’t budge on this, will you?”
“All my life, my father’s life, my grandfather’s, and further, we’ve fought. Endless wars and skirmishes. Always riding out to fight. Wouldn’t you like to stay home and get fat?”
“No.” His friend sounded disgusted by the idea.
“I would. I’d like a wife, a few children, and a chance to read.”
“You? Read?”
“Fine, nap.”
“You mean die of boredom.”
“If I am bored, I’ll start a war.”
Now that sounded properly barbarian.
His friend snickered. “Won’t have to look further than your wife. You’ll have problems with her. Which is why I can’t believe you’re not enjoying your freedom while you can. Go back out. Find yourself a pair of willing thighs you can plow in a corner.”
I grimaced.
Konstantin didn’t sound impressed either. “At my engagement party? That would be crude even for me.”
“The wedding will never happen.”
On that his friend was correct. I’d be putting an end to it shortly. Although I kind of agreed; the king should go back to the party and drink. A lot. Because he sounded way too sober.
“Guess we’ll see. In the meantime, I’ve played their political game. It’s time to go,” Konstantin commanded.
“Tonight?” his friend questioned.
“Yes, tonight, if the horde is willing. I don’t trust anyone here.”
“I’ll round up the crew. Sooner we go, sooner I see my wife.”
The friend left. The king stood, and his pants hit the floor then his shirt. He padded to the other room, barefoot and possibly naked. At his most vulnerable. This was the time to strike.
The person under the bed with me knew it, too. When they would have slid out, I grabbed their wrist.
They growled. “Let go. This is my bounty.”
Wrong. I leaned over and dragged my knife over their throat. They thrashed more than necessary, which only caused them to bleed out faster. If I didn’t want to lie in a puddle of it…
I rolled out from under the bed and wondered where I should hide for maximum surprise. The barbarian did have size over me.
Behind the door? When he reentered, I could leap out, pounce upon his back, and stab him between the shoulder and neck. More likely he’d buck me like a bull.
What choice did I have? I couldn’t get him while he slept since he appeared determined to leave tonight.
Before I could hide behind the door, I heard him grumbling, “Stupid snack platter has no meat. What do they have against meat? Fruit is not meat.”
He neared, and I had no time to hide behind the door without him seeing me. It left me under the bed with a puddle of blood or the tub with its milky scented water. It would hide me well, especially since I came prepared with a straw since I wasn’t sure if I’d need it in the canal.
I quickly slipped into the tub, luxuriating in the warmth as I submerged. The straw gave me the air I needed to remain still and calm so as to not cause any ripples.
The interesting thing about water was how it muffled some sound but amplified others. My heart sounded like a loud drum, but I never heard him coming. Just felt the hand that wrenched me from the water!