Page 44 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
The attendant paused, giving them time to declare any preferences or allergies, but the only thing Brownie had trouble with was watermelon, and that just made her tummy gurgle.
When they said nothing, the attendant bowed and backed out of the room, leaving the door open.
Brownie took off her instrument case and delicately leaned it up against the chair before settling into the very comfy seat. She’d left behind everything else—red shoulder bag, belt pouch, and knife—for this meeting.
Rufus leaned in across the space between the two chairs and whispered, “Actually, I may have been given a small side mission while visiting this particular event.”
Brownie raised an eyebrow.
“Keith is miffed with Duke Wyldon at the moment,” Rufus confided. “And I’m to make it known that the king of the Dark Enchanted Forest isdispleased.”
“Ah.” Brownie knew theremusthave been a reason for Rufus to travel to this particular event. It didn’t make sense when Servalt and Nilheim weren’t close allies, and she’d rarely seen anyone from the Dark Horde at any of the events she’d performed here previously.
Excepting the Servalt queen’s Milestone celebration three years ago, of course, when King Keith himself had made an appearance.
But that was different.
The queen had further cause to celebrate her birthday then because she had held on to a magical amethyst Milestone for the full year. It had granted her a permanent +1 to any attribute. The queen had chosen Constitution, a great choice for her Royal Barbarian class.
Brownie had been humbled to get to play at the birthday banquet.
“Do you knowwhyKing Keith is angry at Duke Wyldon?” Brownie eyed the innocent-looking Rufus, who was patiently waiting for their host.
“Apparently,” Rufus said, stretching out his legs and crossing one over the other, “Duke Wyldon propositioned Henrietta.”
Brownie gasped. “No?!”
“I most certainly didno such thing!” Duke Wyldon declared, standing in the doorway. His face contorted in an affronted frown. “Iproposedto the princess. It’s not the same thingat all.”
“Your Grace.” Brownie jumped to her feet and bowed while Rufus took his sweet time standing up. Brownie was certain that Rufus had already known that the duke had arrived.
“Wyldon.” Rufus nodded. He raised an eyebrow at the man. “As I understand it, Henrietta was happily engaged when youproposedmarriage. And you didn’t believe her like a reasonable adult when she said as much, ignoring her opinions and going as far as to announcepubliclythat she must be under mind magic.”
Duke Wyldon stiffened. “I wasworriedfor her.”
The duke was a half elf, with an ashen gray complexion and raven black hair that he kept in a low ponytail. He was clean-shaven with a stern disposition, and a pair of scholarly glasses on his nose. Proper, sophisticated, and well respected.
Brownie was almost surprised that he had chosenherfor the entertainment. Currently, she was trying to not appear entertained herself.
“And my king found your worry insulting,” Rufus stated, matter-of-factly.
“He’sthe Dark Lord,” Duke Wyldon said through clenched teeth. “He should bepleasedthat people consider him dangerous.”
Too bad the duke had joined them before the tea service. Brownie wished she could sit back down in the comfortable armchair and watch the proceedings with a snack and a glass.
“So?” Rufus shrugged. “Servalt was caught in kidnapping and trading slaves. I can’t see why being the ruler of a Dark Enchanted Forest is any worse?”
The duke sighed. “Must we discuss this now? If you are fishing for information on the investigation, then you can justask.”
Suddenly, the duke turned to Brownie. She stood straighter and gave him a polite smile. He surprised her by saying, “If anything,youshould be the one I explain this to. On behalf of my countrymen, Idoapologize, Minstrel Bronwynn. Again.”
“Think nothing of it, Your Grace,” she told the man. Of course, if King Keith hadn’t gifted her a new instrument, then she would have hadmuch more to say on the matter.
As it was, she was just happy everyone was safe.
“I’ve had spies within the Assassin’s Guild, and I’ve ordered them to do everything in their power to find the responsible parties,” he tried to assure her, and Brownie felt her smile strain against her cheeks.
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
