Page 5 of Beyond the Winter Kingdom
Farris muttered, reminding us we were at his inn. “Oh good. Yer all stayin’, then? We’re really doin’ this?”
“I’m so sorry I broke your dishes, Farris,” I said, grimacing as my family pulled out chairs. The sound of the legs scraping against the wooden floor cut through the silence. I took the seat next to Lou, leaving an empty one next to me, but I had a feeling Vareck wasn’t going to sit.
With a crease between his brows, Farris looked around at a table full of angry redcaps. He finally sighed in resignation. “Can I get ya’ anythin’? It’s not on the house.”
Vareck held out his hand to shake the innkeeper's, clasping it firmly. “I’ll cover the damages. My apologies.”
Farris nodded, releasing Vareck’s handshake, speaking softly before his gaze jumped over every redhead in the room, myself included. “It’s not you I’m worried about, yer majesty.”
I felt my shoulders tighten the moment the words came out of his mouth.
“Did he just say ‘your majesty’?” Darroch whispered harshly to my dad, and my father nodded, then rubbed at his forehead with his eyes closed.
Vareck paused. “You knew who I was when we checked in?”
Ferris chuckled, rolling up his sleeves and evening out the crease of the fabric. “Of course. My wife an’ I traveled to Brumlow for yer coronation, an’ once more when ya’ opened the castle to commoners. Lovely event that was.”
I could feel six pairs of eyes burning into me. My mom could barely hide her smirk. My dad remained stoic, but open-minded. It was my idiot brothers who had a different reaction. Each of them leaned back in their chairs, arms crossed. Cadoc’s fingers were twitchy, and he started twirling one of his knives.
“Oi!” Farris shouted, shaking a hand at Cadoc. “Put that away an’ stop breakin’ my inn!”
“No,” Cadoc replied in a flat tone, without taking his eyes off Vareck.
I forced a smile for Farris’ sake. “They’ll behave themselves,” I said, hoping my assurance would placate him a little bit. The wary look he gave me suggested he didn’t trust me either. “Do you think we could get some of that tasty venison stew you made? And maybe a pitcher of ale?” Farris turned for the kitchen, muttering his incoherent response.
Lou put his hands on the table. “Well, this seems like a family affair. As nice as it’s been, it would only be polite if I saw myself out.”
Vareck grabbed his shoulder, shoving him back into the chair while he and my brothers spoke in unison. “Sit the fuck down.”
Lou held hands up in surrender, keeping his seat. “Hard to argue that,” he muttered.
“Won’t stop you from trying, though, will it?” Cadoc asked, keeping expert control of his blade. Lou watched it with concern. “If you didn’t need your tongue right now, I’d be happy to help you part ways with it.”
Darroch uncrossed his arms, leaning an elbow on the table as he gestured to Corvo and then me. “So we’re going to ignore the talking cat, and the fact that Meera is boinking the king of Faerie?”
“Again with the cat insults,” Corvo muttered.
“Boinking?” I repeated at the same time. “What are you, twelve?”
Darroch glared. “You’re my baby sister. Saying your name and the word ‘fucking’ in the same sentence when it’s in reference to?—”
Atlas kicked Darroch under the table. “You’re being a dick. The talking cat, nor Meera’s ...” He glanced at Vareck,grimacing. “Friendlyrelationship with the king matters right now.” I didn’t have to look at Vareck to know that the situation had just gone from bad to worse, and that was before Corvo started cackling like the Wicked Witch of the West.
“There’s nothingfriendlyabout our relationship.” A warm palm settled on my shoulder despite the apathetic tone of his voice. Vareck gave me a tight squeeze.
Kill. Me. Now.
I leaned back in my chair while rubbing my temples. “This is a nightmare. That must be it.” I pinched myself, but nothing happened. The silence was overwhelming. I pinched harder a second time, my nails breaking the skin. “Fuck me. This can’t be real. Maybe I’m dead. This must be hell. Explains why Lou’s here.”
“Excuse me?” he asked, having the audacity to sound offended.
“Afraid not,” Corvo chimed in. “Hell is warmer. Two suns and all that.”
“But the catistalking,” Fearghal said. They just couldn’t let that one go, could they?
“We’re in Faerie,” Atlas rolled his eyes. “I’m surprised the furniture isn’t breaking out in song and dance. A talking cat is the least important thing right now.” I gave him a tight smile, silently thanking him for trying to get this conversation back on track.
Corvo came down from the counter and sauntered over to the table, hopping into my lap. He balanced himself precariously before curling up. “Says I’m not important. Peasants.”
