Page 118 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“And all in favor of five hundred gold?” Again, only the two agreed. It was an unreasonable sum.
“Madame Potts has notoriously been critical of Sumbria,” Wizard Lorthar offered up a solution. He laced his hands together on the table. “Why don’t we ask for two hundred gold coins? That would round up the total fine to an even fifty-two thousand.”
Keith choked but held himself professional. Henrietta, seeing her husband in distress, walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. He smiled up at her, tight-lipped.
“All in favor?” Calisto asked, and everyone raised their hands. “Then, Miss Gerda, on behalf of the Valarian Continental Council, you are charged with multiple counts of treaty violation to the sum of fifty-two thousand gold coins, due by the autumn equinox. You are also expected to cease and desist all unregistered Casts until you have signed a contract with a country to use their system, and to familiarize yourself with the laws regarding your station as an elite of Valaria.”
I smiled up at the duchess. “I understand.”
“Your case is dismissed,” Calisto declared, waving a hand at the room behind her. “You have leave to go or join us. Welcome to the Continental Council, Miss Gerda.”
Thomas was furious and glowering at me now.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” I smiled and added, “If it’s alright, I would settle my accountsnow.”
With that, I waved a hand and dropped the entire fee amount at my feet.
CHAPTER 66
May I Introduce You to Berry-Berry
Julian
Julian spent the rest of the day fighting to keep a straight face—and losing.
The bridge troll’s smug satisfaction when she’d dropped a hoard’s worth of coin wasunforgettable. Julian caught himself grinning from ear to ear every time he recalled it, and his good mood took him all the way through the rest of the council meeting and closing ceremonies. Tasks he’d otherwise have dreaded flew by in no time at all.
She had beenspectacular. A beautiful, funny, captivating delight. One who was meeting him here at the stables any minute now, as John had informed him that Gerda’s goodbyes with Henrietta and Lady Amy had finished ten minutes past.
“Wait,whoare we waiting for?” Sir Jeffry asked, his eyebrows raised. The half-elf swordfighter was fully ready to go before everyone else and already mounted. He’d probably been here for hours reviewing their itinerary and going over their travel supplies. A sheet of paper and a quill were floating in front of him, keeping notes.
“Miss Gerda,” Sir Tully replied, throwing his saddle on his horse and starting on the straps.
“But …why?”
All eyes turned to Julian, who didn’t look up from his own task. “She asked for the escort.”
Julian had finished his own preparations earlier and was going over Gerda’s mount with a final inspection. The horse was a dapple roan, playful but steady. She would do well for the troll.
“And?” Sir Jeffry pressed.
“And our illustrious leader said yes.” Visha came out of the stable with her horse on a lead, Sir Pram right behind her. She was in full armor, withher enchanted twin blades shrunk and latched at her hips. “Tully, are you not ready yet?”
“Calm your horses, I’m almost done.” The paladin was lavishing pets on his mount instead of properly securing his saddlebags. To the horse, he muttered, “Nobody respects me.”
“Is she bringing her own supplies?” Jeffry grabbed a sheet out of the air and signed it with his fingernail. The paper disappeared.
“I prepared her saddlebags yesterday,” Visha said. Just one of the many things Julian had tasked her with.
Jeffry frowned. “On whose expense—?”
“She’s here,” Sir Pram interrupted. Gerda was quite a ways away, but all conversation stopped as Julian’s closest allies turned to watch her saunter up the path.
The bridge troll was wearing a dark-purple tunic that hung down to her thighs and cinched with a long tan belt at the waist, brown leather tights, and calf-high boots with a small heel perfect for riding. Her hair had been rebraided, and each braid woven together into a singular larger braid.
“Miss Gerda.” Julian stepped forward, leading her horse to the front. “May I introduce you to Berry-Berry.”
“Hello, Berry-Berry.” Gerda smiled and offered her hand to the horse, who sniffed it once then butted the hand, demanding pets. Gerda acquiesced, rubbing Berry-Berry on her nose, her neck, and all the way down to her saddle. The troll turned to him. “Do I just pull myself up?”
