Page 33 of Chosen
“What mix up?”
He hesitates and waves his hand dismissively. “I think Lawreynce might have mentioned it in passing, when we spoke about a minor issue. Don’t ask me what it was about, I was busy all week in your absence. I made sure everything ran smoothly in your stead. If there’s an issue with the servants, I can handle it from here. There’s several documents that need your attention pertaining to your visits around the sector this past week.”
“That won’t be necessary. I will handle this matter myself.”
“Sector Leaders usually leave minor details such as these to their subordinates,” Braeden counters.
“I will be the one to decide what details I will handle.”
His turns a deep shade of red but quickly recovers and straightens his shoulders. “Of course. You are the Sector Leader. May I at least remain here while you question these staff members?”
“Why? Do you think I need a guardian?” I retort, more than a little perturbed by his implications.
He shakes his head. “Of course not. But as your back up, wouldn’t it help if I’m aware of any issues around the fortress. That way, I’d be ready to step in in case there are any more issues.”
That made sense and it would have been unreasonable of me to deny him the request over a mild disagreement. “Fine.”
I finally return my attention to the three remaining servants. “Chef, do you care to explain the slop that was served to my breeder.”
He falls to his knees and clasps his hand in supplication. “I was only following orders, My Lord. Please have mercy!”
“Who ordered you to give my breeder inedible food?”
He raises his head, and looks at me and then looks to Braeden before looking back at me. “Ugh, the steward. He said that I could feed her the leftovers off the Enforcer’s plates.”
He shoots another look in Braeden’s direction. Maybe he thinks my second-in-command will save him but I disabuse him of that notion immediately.
“Chancellor Braeden can’t save you now. Look at me. I want my face to be the last one you see.”
I raise my clawed hand and he yells out, “But Chancellor Braeden?—”
Braeden beats me to him, inserting a dagger in the chef’s head before the other man can get his words out. The chef’s lifeless body falls to the ground.
I’d forgotten about that dagger Braeden keeps on his hip because he doesn’t have the ability to shift like I do. I’ve only seen him use his weapon a few times, but every time he has it’s been with deadly precision.
“Begging for mercy like a coward,” Braeden says with disgust and spits on the chef’s corpse.
“Unless the two of you wish to share the same fate, you will tell the Sector Leader who gave you the order to abuse the breeder, serve her tainted food?”
The dark-haired one called Sahra, according her to file speaks. “It was the steward. It was all him. We were simply following orders. Please have mercy on us, Chancellor Braeden. We promise this will never happen again.”
Braeden raises his dagger, but I stay his hand. “There are punishments far worse than death. Have them reassigned to the pits. I want them out of the fortress within the hour.”
Braeden looks at the cowering maids who cling to each other in tears.
Unable to stand the sight of them, I head out the door but stop when my cousin calls out to me.
“Should I have new maids assigned to your breeder?”
“From here on out, I will oversee the assignments around here.” I reply without turning around.
“But—”
I turn on my heel and shoot him a glare.
Whatever he was going to say dies on his tongue.
“Make sure this body has been removed by the time I return.”
