Page 32 of Winter Gods & Serpents

“Tick tock,” was all I said. Taking opportunity from the distraction, I took a few steps back making him stumble forward. I jumped up before landing on top of the flat of his blade, his hand twisting against the ground. He screamed in pain and muttered a chain of curses but did not resist or fight back.

“I hope you use your left to pick your nose,” I teased, kicking his hand and picking up his sword throwing it out of the pit. He was in front of me on the ground disarmed, the tip of my sword at this neck.

“First blood, right?” I asked playfully, and then I grazed his skin causing blood to gush out. I dropped to my heels to be his head length, still not removing my sword despite Alaric’s words ringing on my ears.

Do not kill. Living with shame is worse than death, your father enjoys that. It is his punishment for someone who has failed him.

My knuckles turning white at the tightness of my grip around the sword’s hilt. “The pot belly doesn't help, neither do your tendencies of a piece of horse dung. I could offer you a few training sessions had you not the tongue of swine.”

“You whore.”

I gave him a wink. “Die knowing a whore gifted your gravestone.”

The tip of my sword moved to his face and I dug it deep enough that I was shaking holding myself from sending his wife brain soup.

“Forgive me,” he said breathlessly, putting both his hands up in the air. “Don’t kill me.”

Fear before death writhed my appetite. I disliked beggars. I waved my sword in the air for him to scatter and he immediately took off running out of the training courts. He could run, but he was running right into a trap. Freja had already been informed days ago about all the details of my plan by myself. Phase two of my new plan, I now needed him dead too, just not from my hand.

I stood facing the balconies filled with spectators whose expressions turned grim. Delicately putting my jacket on, one by one I met all their gazes, few of those who once had seen me wither in pain and the one who had made me scream in agony. Father had turned a pale angry, face no longer a solemn mask. Alaric was owed some thanks, it appears I had not just angered my father but impressed him as well.

* * *

I had been up and ready before Penelope came in this morning, jittery to face my father for the new position I’d obtained, one that would not last long hence the agreement with the King of Adriata, but one position I planned of using and abusing till it was time to do so.

Making my way to the dining chambers, today in a burgundy short sleeved silk dress with beaded embroidery at the hem that swished heavy when I took steps, this one clung to every curve of my body almost as a second skin. A memory of her youth, a dress she’d once worn when my age, before marrying father. The healing wounds of my palms concealed by deep burgundy gloves, they probably had to be sown to my skin at this point, I even slept with them on. My hair was in a loose braid hanging above my shoulder, concealing part of my scar, and flaunting two massive golden earrings with rubies, a gift from father to my mother on one of their anniversaries. The tyrant had taste. But just as beautiful, they were also Alaric’s plan.

Distract. Anything that will have him angry will draw him out of questioning.

Father sighed at my sight when I bowed delicately a hand over my very exposed chest and headed to my usual seating arrangement. My uncle was missing so I sat next to Elias, who did not hide his staring from others. Fren looking between the two of us in confusion.

Father had not spoken a single word to anyone, only casually peaking a glance at the jewellery dangling from my ears, so I broke the silence. “I am now a soldier in your army, like you always wanted just not how you wanted.” He had worn us loose for years trying to beat and train Aura out of me and my siblings, to bring out the hybrid Aura he had intended to create, to wield at his desire towards more wars he was trying to wage. Eren had been his biggest prey, my brother had never spent a day of his life out of training courts or his examinations. He had never said anything and abided our fathers words without question. We never had a life here, and now they were gone without even experiencing living.

He cast a short glanced over my gloved hands. “Very well, if that is what you desire.” Crossing his arms on top of the table he leaned forward. “Since you’re convinced on dallying and offending just about anyone, I would indeed prefer you away from the castle, but you are to be captain, not general. That is a duty too grand and filled with much bigger responsibilities you could handle, and I will not put a kingdom in jeopardy for your games. You might pick your team, for which I will have a perfect assignment.”

Once you have beaten Gabriel you have entered your trap. He will impel you out of it. Entering is not the difficulty, staying there is.

Alaric had been right once again.

I rolled my eyes, but it would have been too good to be true. Half-heartedly I nodded accepting his terms. My initial plan had gone to waste but at least now I was inside his court. It was his perfect assignment that had me clutching my hands, I’d defied my father therefore I was to be punished. He always had the perfect punishments for me. Once he’d made me kill every living stock that came in the castle when I refused to eat meat knowing animals had to die, I was only seven. Everyday along with the servants I had slashed and gut animal after animal, while his bastards leisurely enjoyed the luxuries that should have been mine, that of a royal. The two radishes paraded around learning etiquette, stuffing their hollow heads with how to drink tea and use forks, yet he was the most surprised when it came to my behaviour, which he had shamelessly labelled wild. I had tried to be strong for Thora more than myself, I wanted to teach her to be strong yet every night I had silently cried myself to sleep from the horrors of the day that kept flashing in my nightmares as well. I always failed them, till the day they died.

If need comes, use highwall as reason. He knows your anger, he will buy into that.

“I would like to tend to the trials of the Adriatians caught at our borders and tending Highwall. I might as well make myself familiar with them, I am after all, marrying their king,” I interrupted before he could finish. However, this was no longer a lie. Both kingdoms close to my watch, I could use this opportunity to seek information on the Adriatian side as well. If my fears of a military union were true, they had to be preparing along. I doubted Adriata kept their secrets as guarded as my father.

“She is what, Silas?” Moreen called from her seat. Had he not told anyone about his arrangement? There was no reason to keep it a secret, and definitely not from his consort who he had shared all his vast plans with prior to anyone else, even my mother.

Father explained to the table his plans to come with an agreement with Adriata and how that would benefit both kingdoms, as if he cared about anyone besides his own nose.

“Seems a well thought plan, why are you insistent on that?” he asked, studying me with scrutiny at the doubtfulness of my query. It felt as if he could read through my thoughts, was he beginning to doubt my true intentions?

Lifting my chin, I cocked an eyebrow at him. “Would you not be insistent if you had few of their kind to torture to your like and under the veil of law at that?” Not entirely a lie, just a very twisted truth.

His lips curled wickedly. “Revenge on petty peasants?”

“Anything better than nothing considering they will probably lock me in a cage when I get there.”

He blew a raucous laugh, eyes flashing eagerly, no denial on my claim, it was probably what he wanted. “If it that is your wish, you have my permission. No, a gift. A wedding gift from me,” He added, toasting his goblet in the air. He bought it after all.