Page 67 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)
“Shouldn’t it just be about getting it done? And you seem to forget, it’s a king’s job to delegate.”
“You’re right. I should hand off jobs I don’t have to do. Joor!” he bellowed, and the big man just popped into sight, somehow managing to be invisible until needed.
Or maybe I was just too exhausted to see past my own nose.
“What do you need?” Joor asked with the respect usually shown in other kingdoms. Oddly, I rather respected Konstantin for being so casual with those he trusted and worked with most.
Konstantin held me out at arm’s length. “Carry her. She’s heavy.”
My mouth rounded. I most definitely was not heavy.
Joor took me without question and plodded off. We didn’t go far before Konstantin grumbled, “Hand her back. You’re bouncing her around too much. You’ll make her injuries worse.”
“It’s just a few scratches and bruises. I’m fine,” I grumbled.
“Those are just the things you know of.” He held out his arms.
Expression solemn, Joor handed me back over.
I rolled my eyes and huffed, “You’re overreacting.”
“And you’re being willfully stubborn. You could have internal injuries.”
“You toting me around or Joor, no difference.”
“I’m carrying you.” The king remained stubborn on that point and then proceeded to show me the difference.
He did pay more mind about the jostling. His steps were careful, his grip sure. Arriving at a dangling rope, he harnessed me himself then proceeded to yell at those pulling me up the side of the ravine. Turned out only part of his horde had come down. The rest remained atop in order to make the return trip faster.
Horses waited for us on the rim, meaning I didn’t have to pretend I could walk all the way back. No extra horse for me. Nor did anyone ask who I wanted to ride with. As if there was ever a question.
Surely there was some rule against an assassin being coddled by her employer. Inherently wrong on some level, but I couldn’t bring myself to truly hate his actions.
Thankfully the trip to the castle proved short, but not quiet, with the giants feeling a need to replay the battle and my plunge.
Hoolia exclaimed, “You should have seen how fast His Majesty went after you.”
I never found out how quickly because he gave her a look. Just one. They all went quiet after that. It lasted until we hit the inner bailey. People mobbed us with lanterns and questions.
“Is she okay?”
“Nice dragon catch.”
Even worse, some of the servants tried to coddle me.
“Someone fetch Granny’s hot poultice.”
“She needs heating stones.”
“Get some food. The girl looks starved.”
Despite my role as the king’s mistress, they accorded me the highest of respect. Treated me like a queen. It discomfited. All of it. But most especially the attention being paid to me. An assassin usually lurked in shadows. Being out in the open like this… I’d yet to decide if I liked it or not.
Adding to the confusion, Konstantin hovered as if I were special. Important. Like he cared.
He didn’t. The entire thing all boiled down to an act, him pretending to be the caring lover of his mistress. Only, he didn’t drop the overdone concern once we hit the bedroom.
He carried me the entire way.