Page 82 of The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings 1)
“Poor Barbarian King. Do you want me to pack you a pillow?”
He arched a brow. “I’m more concerned about you. You’ve only just recovered.”
“I’ll be fine. How soon are we leaving?”
“When discussed last night, your father said after breakfast. I think perhaps he might need longer.”
On the contrary, when we went down to the main room, Jrijori sat at a table, eating heartily, not looking the least bit hungover. Konstantin stopped by his side and slapped his back. “It’s a most excellent morning.”
“Is it? I began to wonder if you’d ever wake up,” my father retorted.
“Oh, I was up. Right, my little Yanna?” He offered me a wicked wink.
Nothing happened between us. I should know, but the way he implied it…
I blushed, and that meant Jrijori could do one of two things with Konstantin blatantly implying I was a whore. One of the choices would have my father challenging the king. The second—
“About that horse we were talking about last night?” Jrijori slewed a sly glance at Konstantin. “We should make it two so my daughter doesn’t feel left out.” My father took the route of greed rather than kill.
A part of me kind of wished he’d at least pretended to be offended on my honor’s behalf.
“Two horses it is, as a thank-you for letting my little Yanna bring me such pleasure.” Another lewd wink had him dodging my foot and chuckling.
As Konstantin went to move past my father to his seat, he somehow tripped, pitching forward, hitting the edge of a serving tray, sending the eggs on it flying. The king landed on the floor amidst splatters of exploded yolk.
I struggled to not laugh and glanced at Jrijori, who kept eating with a subtle tilt of his lips. How did he do that? All my life, impossible things happened when my father was around. Like the king being suddenly clumsy. One day, I’d figure out the trick.
“Maybe your clumsy, lazy butt should have stayed in bed longer,” Jrijori said when we sat down, Konstantin choosing to ignore the fact he wore food.
“Hardly lazy,” Konstantin drawled. “But she did take her sweet time.” A subtle statement meant to rile Jrijori, but it irritated me. Enough with the innuendo already.
“You know how it is to get older. Things don’t work quite like they used to.” I said it to my father but patted Konstantin’s hand.
He choked.
So did I as I started to eat the fireball egg they called breakfast. “Please tell me where we’re going will have food that doesn’t try to chew its way out.”
Having recovered, Konstantin had no good news. “We’re going deeper into the country where it’s cold. You’ll want the heat.”
Not the most reassuring thing he could have said.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
Ripostes were launchedthe entire breakfast long, with the horde joining in. No surprise, they’d dressed for travel and chomped at the bit, eager to go.
As we exited the castle, we found our mounts saddled and ready. A good thing I’d worn my sword to the morning meal.
To my surprise, Konstantin didn’t insist I ride with him. Oddly disappointing, which had me chiding myself. Why did I want to be close to him?
Jrijori appeared quite pleased with the stallion assigned to him. A bit younger than Konstantin’s, it sometimes liked to gallop ahead, which probably suited my father fine. He usually preferred to skulk on the edges when we went on trips.
As we left the summer castle, a ring of bodies formed around me and Konstantin. A shield made of giants. Probably a good idea. I still didn’t feel fully back to normal.
Konstantin nudged his steed closer. “Are you tired?”
I straightened. “I’m fine.”
“Perhaps you should ride with me.”