Page 30 of The Dragon King's Assassin

Chapter Fourteen

Another week passed by smoothly. A week of dog bonding and preparations for Ensarena's Rite. A week in which the King summoned no one to his bed. Because I was there. The man was adorable with his dog; he was definitely the type who craved constant affection. I wasn't the type to give it, especially not when I had to be focused on the King's safety. So I was glad Ren filled that void, while he filled my void, as it were.

Despite Ren's exemplary behavior and the passing of every test I gave her, Tarocvar refused to let me leave the palace again. This was particularly frustrating because it had been more than long enough for Tengven to gather some information for me. But no matter how hard I argued with him, the King refused. He kept putting me off, saying after the rite, he'd think about it. That everything was too hectic at the palace and with all the unknown people coming and going—craftsmen, bakers, musicians, and the like—he needed me there. I guess he had a point.

The King did, however, allow me to leave his side as long as I stayed on the palace grounds. So, after inspecting the room, where the celebration would be held, I made one last walk-through of the main gardens where the rite itself would be conducted.

People scurried about, seeing to all the last-minute touches. I passed some Shanba gardeners using their nature magic to guide plants into artistic displays, most featuring yellow sunbursts to honor Ensarena. Their nimble fingers curled and coerced flowers into blooming to the perfect degree as well as in the proper place. None of them looked suspicious or interested in anything other than plants.

Then there were the carpenters, most of whom were human. They were conducting their final inspections of the platform and altar they'd been working on for several days. The sun icon, brought over from the palace's temple, was getting one last polish and a carpet was being rolled out for His Majesty to stand upon. I glanced up at the sky; the rite would be held when the Sun reached its zenith, a time that could only be determined by the court's high priest.

Damn Dragons and their complicated gods. Not that humans were much better. And not that I knew much about any gods—Dragon, human, or other. I'd never been to any sort of religious rite. Perhaps that's why I was nervous. I had gone over the schedule the High Priest had sent to the King, so I knew basically what would happen, but when you're dealing with the divine, it's impossible to anticipate everything.

I circled the carpenters, peering in their tool boxes and looking over their tools. Several of the men looked at me askance, but I didn't explain myself. The entire palace now knew who I was; if these men didn't, they could ask around. I didn't have time for niceties. I inspected the men as intently as their gear and finally determined them to be exactly what they presented themselves to be.

Moving on, I went to the gathering of priests and priestesses who were preparing their holy jars and spells and what-not under the High Priest's critical stare. They knew me but bridled at my inspection, sending me disdainful looks. No, they didn't have to say anything. They were all Dragons, and I wasn't; that alone was enough to confirm their superiority. But these were holy Dragons, and that took it to another level. That a lowly human who made his money by killing people would dare to question their loyalty was repugnant and outrageous. I was only being tolerated because His Majesty had made it clear that I must be.

I didn't give one holy shit about their pride. This was about King Tarocvar's safety and after a week in his bed, I was more inspired than ever to do my job properly. I know, I shouldn't let myself be led around by my dick, but fuck it. The man already owned me, why not become obsessed with him? He was worthy of my obsession. At least when I was in bed with him.

I smirked and turned away from the sanctimonious Dragons. They didn't have anything in their possession that could hurt the King. I mean, other than themselves. I'd watch them during the ceremony just as I'd watch everyone else, but I didn't think they were a threat.

I headed for the musicians, and that gave me a few seconds to think about how different Taroc—he said I could call him that in private (yes, I'd been awarded the same privilege as Ren but since she couldn't speak, I viewed myself as a smidgen higher)—was when he was in bed with me. And I don't just mean different from how he fucked others. The bed had become a neutral zone for us. I felt like his equal there, a lover free to say anything. But once we left his bed, or wherever we'd been fucking, he went back to being the King.

And that's what worked for us. I've always been a bit casual with him but if I had pushed that further and become overly familiar with him in front of others or acted in any way as if I expected to be treated differently, he would have ended things with me, perhaps fatally. I was walking a very dangerous, fine line, but I was an assassin. This was normal for me. In fact, I thrived on this sort of excitement. And the brilliant part was how well the King treated me because I didn't expect it of him.

And word had gotten around.

I'd overheard the gossiping, so I wasn't surprised when people of the palace, both staff and courtiers, began to treat me more respectfully. Even the Dragon knights eased up a little in their glaring, though they didn't go as far as nodding to me politely, as the musicians did when I approached.

Unlike the carpenters, the musicians were well informed and knew exactly who I was and why I was peering so closely at their instruments. They went as far as to hold out their guitars, violins, and harps for my inspection without my asking. I grinned at them as I looked everything over, not at all surprised by their insight. Musicians were even better than bartenders when it came to gossip. They heard it all and offered it for free. It was getting them to keep a secret that was the problem.

Wait a second . . . musicians. Gossip. Huh.

I motioned to the group. “Gather around, if you please.”

The musicians shared a curious look, then formed a circle around me.

“Have any of you heard gossip about someone wanting the Dragon King dead?”

“That's some dangerous gossip,” the flutist said.

The musicians shared another look, this one far heavier than the last.

I lowered my voice even further to say, “You have heard something.”

“There are always such rumors floating about a kingdom,” the harpist said. “Any kingdom.”

“I don't care about the other kingdoms. Tell me what you've heard here.”

“Not in the open like this,” the violinist said brusquely. “Later tonight. Find me after the festivities.”

“Tell me something now,” I insisted. “There will be hundreds of people here soon. You may know something that could help me focus on the right ones.”

“Look to the upper class,” the harpist whispered.

“Yeah, I've already figured that out. Anything else?”

“Rumor has it, this isn't political,” the drummer said. “They're not after his crown.”

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