Page 405 of Warlords, Witches & Wolves

Chapter 16

"Where's the rest of it?"

Boris blinked, but his eyes just didn't want to stay open. Nearly drowning and having to drag oneself out of a surprisingly deep pool took a toll on a man.

Something poked him in the belly. Hard.

"Where's the rest of it?"

That sounded a bit like Igor, but it couldn't be. No squire would use such a tone to his master. Not unless he wanted to be clouted across the ear and assigned latrine duties for the next month. Two stints of latrine duty had surely taught Igor some manners by now.

And yet, whoever it was persisted to poke him most painfully.

Boris flung his arm out, shoving his tormentor away, before he forced his eyes open.

An angry Igor sat on the ground, presumably where he'd landed, with the dripping sceptre in his hands.

The sceptre Boris had been forced to leave in the pond, so that he might save himself from drowning.

"Give me that, boy," Boris said, stretching out his hand.

Igor stuck the sceptre behind his back. "No! You give me what you stole from the king, so I can take it back. You should have just taken the potion and run, or not drunk the ale, like I told you! Instead, you stole the crown jewels, so he knew you weren't dead, and he won't rest…I won't rest…until I bring back everything you stole, and you!" His voice had crept up higher in his panic, as though he knew he was on an impossible quest, but it was too late for him to refuse it.

Better for the boy to give up, head to some other kingdom, and find a less treacherous king to serve.

Boris rose. "He is no longer my king." He snatched the sceptre out of the boy's hands, and held it up high, where he could not reach it. "You can go back and tell him the only time he will see the crown jewels again is when he submits to justice for what he did. I will wear them to his execution."

Igor began jumping like a flea, trying to reach the sceptre. "You don't understand! I must bring them to him! I must!"

Boris sighed. "Then you're the stupidest squire who ever lived," he said sadly. With one swipe of his arm, he sent the boy sprawling, out cold.

He took the sceptre back the cave, where he packed it into the sack with all the other treasures. Then, he headed deeper into the forest, where Igor would not be able to find him. Even his stupid squire would have to give up some time.

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