Page 70 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)

Breakfast for more than two and a good thing since we suddenly had people tromping through Konstantin’s bedroom. It started with Droga. I rose as the knock came at the door, but the king waved me down and bellowed, “Come in.”

When I would still have gotten to my feet, Konstantin reached over to block me. It put me in a bad spot. Remove his ill-advised hands or let it slide, given he paid me?

Once I saw Droga, I relaxed and reached over to grab a piece of salty meat. It crackled nicely in my mouth.

Droga stomped over. “How’s the little assassin this morning?”

“Fine.” I cast him a wary glance as I took a sip of juice. There were only two chairs at the small table, so Droga dragged over the chest from the foot of the bed and plopped onto it to join us for breakfast. When the king left to have a quick shower, I grilled Droga, and he proceeded to tell me about the rescue.

They’d all helped out. Konstantin most of all. He’d started climbing down right away, even though the only rope on hand didn’t come close to being long enough. They’d had to hold it and tie it a few times as they added to its length.

“Never seen him so determined,” Droga finished as Konstantin rejoined us.

I glanced at the king’s expressionless face. He ate his breakfast with steadfast determination.

Droga wasn’t the only one to visit and talk about the rescue. Every single big oaf I knew came by and didn’t even have the common courtesy to pretend they had business with their king. Nope. They all asked if I was okay and spoke of their king’s heroic rescue, even as Konstantin kept glaring and tossing them out.

By the time the last of the horde left, I simmered.

The barbarian noticed. “You look angry.”

“Because I am. How dare you?”

“Dare what?”

“Make me look bad. Your people think I’m weak.”

“Where did you get that idea?”

“Did you see how they treated me? Asking me how I was. Offering me help as if I can’t help myself.”

“Because they like you.”

I grimaced. “You don’t have to lie.”

He blinked at me. “You do realize they think of you as one of them?”

“No, they don’t. How can they? We’ve barely met.”

His head tilted. “How long do you think it takes to make friends?”

“I don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Make friends. People can’t be trusted.” I’d learned that lesson over and over. The few times I’d allowed myself to believe in others, they’d let me down. Only a single person had never betrayed me.

“Perhaps you’ve not met the right kind of people.”

“Implying you and your horde are different?” I arched a brow. “Maybe you are with each other.” Even I wouldn’t deny their close bond. “But I’m not one of you.”

“What makes you so sure of that?”

I shook my head. “Is this where you’re going to pat yourself on the back for being a noble and courageous king, saving his bodyguard from the abyss? Because here’s the thing. I would have recovered and eventually climbed back out on my own.”

“Maybe. It would have taken days, though. Days with you not around to protect me.”

I snorted. “Because I’ve done such a fine job thus far.”