Page 54 of What Fury Brings
Slowly, Andrastus went to his knees on the cushion. Feeling somewhat guilty, Olerra lowered herself into the chair.
It’s only because he tried to escape. Today has to be punishment. Tomorrow you can woo him.
“Say hello, Andrastus,” Olerra said without looking at him.
It took a moment, as though he didn’t realize at first that she was talking to him. “Greetings,” he said stiffly.
“I see he still has much learning to do,” Usstra said as she sipped from her goblet.
“It’s been some time since anyone has taken a husband from our neighbors, has it not?” Ydra chimed in. “It’s easy to forget how hostile they are in the beginning.”
“It definitely speaks to your character that you performed such a feat,” Cyssia said. “And to choose one so large and Brutish!”
Olerra selected a slice of apple from the tray before her and bit it in half. She offered the other half to Andrastus, who looked at the proffered food as though it were poisonous. She raised a single eyebrow at him, waiting.
Andrastus looked around to all the women watching him, then back to Olerra. She could see the moment he realized that this was the only way he would get breakfast, with his hands still captured behind his back. Finally, murder in his eyes, he lowered his head to eat the fruit from her fingers.
“He may be large and somewhat uncivilized for now, but those lips make my heart race,” Olerra said.
Cyssia made a sound of agreement. “This is a good show of your power, Olerra. I am pleased to see you take this step to secure your line. It’s a wonder your cousin hasn’t settled down by selecting a man of her own.”
“She’s a bit wild,” Usstra agreed, “running around with all those men of common blood.”
Someone cleared their throat over Ydra’s shoulder, and the four women turned to see Glenaerys standing there. She wasn’t alone.
Athon was there, too. He was done up even more than Andrastus was. His armband was made of rose gold, and it had three opals inlaid in the center. His skirt was shorter. Chains had been wrapped around his waist and dangled in between his legs. A harness went around his entire head so the man couldn’t eat, and he walked with a limp.
One that Andrastus definitely hadn’t given him during the fight.
She felt the prince stiffen beside her.
“It’s to be expected,” Olerra offered. “Glen’s no fighter. She hires people to do her dirty work for her. Kidnapping a husband is no easy feat. She’s just not cut out for it.”
“That’s a real shame,” Cyssia said. “I can’t see any differre woman as a ruler if she can’t capture a noble-born husband. The children will be common, otherwise. Unless you have plans to wed Daneryn, of course?”
Glen’s face was a mask, despite the insults thrown her way. “Rumors suggest that Olerra has already had him. What use is a dull sword?”
At this, Andrastus twitched slightly.
“The rumors are untrue,” Olerra said, for her prince’s sake, not Glen’s. She suspected Daneryn had started the rumors himself to try to guilt her into marrying him.
Glenaerys ignored her. “I will take a husband when I can, Cyssia. I do have my hands full with collecting intel and managing much of the finances of our country. Not all of us have the free time to spend a couple of weeks in another country.”
“That’s why delegating was invented,” Olerra said, now offering a cube of cheese to Andrastus. He bit into it, his teeth gently skimming her finger. She tossed the remainder into her own mouth, savoring both the richness of the food and the knowledge that his lips touched what she now consumed.
“Unlike the ability to wave a sword through the air, my job cannot be performed by just anyone,” Glenaerys said. “I’m sure Usstra understands the care with which I must handle our nation’s secrets.”
“I also understand an excuse when I see one,” Usstra responded.
Olerra took great care to keep her face straight. Ydra didn’t quite succeed.
Glenaerys met Olerra’s eye. Something dangerous lurked within. Something Olerra had learned to recognize even when they were young girls. Glenaerys didn’t get wild or out of control when she was angry. No, she grew calm and calculating. She didn’t do rage. She did revenge.
And Olerra knew that whatever she was planning, it wouldn’t be good.
“There don’t seem to be any more available chairs at the table,” Glen said. Then she turned to Athon. “On your hands and knees.”
The former soldier obeyed, wincing slightly with his bad leg. All the while, Glen made eye contact with Andrastus.
