Page 24 of Crown and Dragon

Chapter 12

Tahlia

Sweating, Tahlia touched his arm. He shut his eyes and his chest moved in a deep breath.

Tahlia faced the king’s brother and smiled. “Here, take my ale in apologies, my lord.”

“I’m no lord, but I’ll take it just the same.” He grinned at her, snatched the ale, and then drank it down in three swallows.

She clapped and laughed like it was the greatest feat she’d ever witnessed. Marius, who was pretending to study the painting, looked like he was about to burst from trying not to roll his eyes or beat the man to death. Perhaps both.

“I have always wanted to meet the most powerful man in Midhampton.”

“That’s my brother,” Jovanyth said, winking, “not me, lass.”

“Ah, but he would do whatever you asked, I’m guessing, and that’s the best kind of power.”

Marius had told her that humans cared for control above all else, and she really hoped that was true for at least this one fellow. If he was, instead, say, more focused on loyalty, this little conversation she was attempting would rankle the king’s brother instead of opening him up.

Jovanyth set his mug down and pointed at her. “You are a smart one, aren’t you?” His words knocked together like untied urns in the back of a mule cart. “Why don’t you sit here and chat with me for a while? Or will your man there get his feathers ruffled?”

She dismissed Marius with the wave of her fingers and sat in the chair opposite the king’s brother. “My cousin is perpetually ruffled, so don’t even worry about that.”

The anger rolling off Marius was almost palpable, but he stayed in character and began to discuss the upcoming tomato throwing with a man and a woman wearing thick aprons stained with dyes.

Tahlia leaned over the table and began to whisper to Jovanyth. “So I heard your brother has a big surprise for the end of the festivities.”

A flicker of distrust shaded the drunk man’s eyes, but he shook his head and laughed, the sound bouncing off the low ceiling. He rifled through a pack strung across his chair and removed a pipe.

“Where did you hear this, pretty one?”

She smacked Marius’s hip, and when he turned, she stole his ale. Marius allowed it and he quickly went back to his conversation with the couple. Tahlia sipped the ale, then slowly licked a drop off her top lip. Jovanyth watched her movements like a lion preparing to pounce.

Don’t even try it, pal. Marius will eviscerate you and that will ruin everyone’s day.

“I don’t remember where I heard it.” She tipped her mug back and took a good gulp. When she set it back on the table, he was studying her a bit too closely. “Oh, yes, I do.” She laughed, loud and sure as he had. As if she hadn’t a care in the world. “It was from that arse-head, Domi. He’s always getting his prick into private conversations.”

A smile cracked Jovanyth’s frowning face. “Liked by the noble ladies, your friend?”

“Yes. He’s, um, how should I say this?”

“Blessedly endowed.”

Not actually entertained, she slapped the table and feigned being lost in hilarity. He joined in and called for a server to bring them another round.

Tahlia met Marius’s gaze for a second. His eyes questioned her, and she gave a barely perceptible nod. Yes, she was all right. It was working.

“My arrogant-as-the-sun brother has something dangerous, I’m sure. It’ll be all well for him and shit for the rest of us, as usual.”

“Can’t you benefit being his sibling?”

“No.” He took the ales from the server and handed her one. His was half gone by the time he set the mug back down. A belch rumbled from him and Tahlia forced her features to remain in a vaguely happy position. “The bastard set up a whole series of traps around whatever it is.” Leaning forward, he whispered, “Even a siren. There’s a damned siren down there under the fortress. Can you believe it?”

Tahlia’s body froze. No. It couldn’t be. “I thought…” Her mouth didn’t want to work and it had zero to do with the ale.

“That they weren’t real? Yeah.” He barked a laugh. “I didn’t think they were either until his arse returned from the north with one. She’s horrifying, and that’s saying a lot considering she has the body of a goddess and the face of a dream.”

“She can kill with a song?”

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