Page 47 of Gilded Crown

The alcohol had already mellowed Jari out and given him a nice buzz. “What about the youngest? Did he get himself a harem too?”

“I don’t know. I don’t hear much about him.”

Gullveig was probably content to be the Crown Prince. He wouldn’t have to do much real work, and he’d get to be Zylem’s buddy for life.

“I heard the brothers were all fucking each other. Thank Elira that none of them are abundant males. Imagine the inbreeding. I think the insanity was caused by earlier members fooling around. Shit like that gets worse over generations.”

Jari finished his drink and suppressed a groan. People would believe anything and spread it around, but Zylem did have such desires. Disgusting. Another two drinks came, thanks to Aurelius.

Beyond family matters, some at the table thought Zylem would invade Wockston. One man butted in to say that was stupid because he’d have to split his army, although he wasn’t sure what the fuck King David was waiting for or why he’d ever bothered to pick at the borders of Nova since nothing ever happened.

Something had to be wrong with him since he’d only nipped at the edges and didn’t put much real effort into it. The guy next to Jari said that King David was actually afraid like a small dog that yaps all day to look tough and tucks tail and runs when someone raises their voice.

Jari had to slow down on the second drink. Aurelius was nursing his second like there was no more vodka in the realm, and he better enjoy that last bit.

Others at the table talked. The price of wool had gone up, and potatoes were cheap and plentiful thanks to last year’s bumper harvest to the east. The largest potato farm owners out that way probably had lans coming out of their asses and ears. Libby leaves were a bit pricey thanks to blight.

The man asked why Jari’s buddy was so quiet and downcast. Aurelius looked depressed with his head bowed, his hood up, and his hands wrapped around his glass.

“Erm, he found his man was fucking someone else,” lied Jari.

“The best way to forget an ass is to get in a new one.” He gave Jari’s thigh a quick grope under the table. Clearly, his ass was totally available.

Jari thought he’d drank more of his vodka, but the glass was fuller than he remembered. It was only because he hadn’t been paying attention to it.

The rest of it went down too easily. Aurelius complained in undertone that they’d fucked his up, and it barely had any Plavarian liquor in it.

Jari gazed at the last half of his orange drink. “It looks fine to me.”

Aurelius pushed it over. “Then you finish it.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ve had quite enough.”

“Considering how much I spent on it, don’t waste it. I won’t be in the habit of buying you fine alcohol.”

Jari took a sip of it. It tasted good to him. Damn good actually. He might as well finish it and satisfy Prince Prick who always had to complain about something.

“Are you staying close by?” asked the man who was quite flushed by now. Who knew how many ales he’d been through? “We could have our own two-person fair in bed.”

“I haven’t heard that line yet.” Jari snorted and wished he hadn’t finished the drink to satisfy Lord Unhappy next to him. “With lips like that, I bet you could suck the engraving off of a sword hilt.”

Not that Jari would be bringing him by. He’d had too much, and the one Jari wanted was right next to him on his other side. Unfortunately, he was also completely untouchable.

Aurelius tugged on his sleeve. “Come on. We need to go.”

“I think we’ve both had too much,” said Jari.

“Wait-” started the other man.

“I don’t fuck drunk guys,” said Jari.

The Plavarian liquor really hit once he stood. Dear Elira, that shit was strong. It took some effort to follow Aurelius’s black-cloaked form, get down the stairs without tripping, and make it outside without bumping someone and starting a fight.

“I shouldn’t have had that much.” The street spun. “Fuck, I only had two and a half.”

Aurelius pinched his sleeve to tug on him. “Come on. We can’t have you getting lost.”

“Still too good to actually touch me.” Jari slung an arm around Aurelius who tensed, and Jari smiled at him even thoughhe could only make out the Prince’s chin and lips under his hood. “Hi.”

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