Chapter 10 Gabe #2
The old man’s eyes widened as he stepped in front of his daughter. “No need for all that, my Lor– Your Majesty. They were floating the idea of invoking the Dael’Torin, but my men and I have brought them to heel for the time being.”
I should not have been surprised that this was his goal—a way to remove me, without being the one to remove me. Fucker.
The Dael’Torin was an ancient rite that could force the Demon King into a trial by combat if enough of the territories highest ranked nobles decided he was no longer fit to rule.
There had been whispers about it during Malach’s final days, but none had been brave enough to actually pull the trigger.
“Well done,” I answered flatly, seeing where this was going. Put down a small rebellion for me, then come to the palace to ask for favors?
These nobles were all the same. Selfish pricks, so worried about themselves, they barely noticed what was happening around them. To be fair, they weren’t a lot different than some of the human men I dealt with at my casino.
Burnock all but rubbed his hands together, his eyes gleaming, though his tone was full of false concern.
“When my soldiers and I were subduing them, we heard some rather unsavory rumors that I thought you should be aware of. For one, the rebels are in league with several noble houses. Apparently, they’re only a few votes short of invoking the rite, even though we held them back. ”
There was no one strong enough to beat me in a challenge that I knew of, but I didn’t have time for bullshit like this. “And who is it that seeks to take the throne from me?”
Burnock’s lips curled upward. “If the rumors can be trusted, Virinius himself has offered to be their champion.”
I clenched my fist. “Should’ve gutted the bastard when I had the chance.”
“Fear not, Your Majesty. I have it all under control. I have only a single request for you.” He stepped back a hair, gesturing toward the woman behind him.
“I propose a union between my daughter Priscilla and his Majesty. It’s a suitable match, and I assure you that it will be… mutually beneficial.”
I looked past him to his daughter, truly taking her in for the first time.
She had long, dark hair, with soft eyes and an hourglass figure that was accentuated by a gown that was tight in all the right places.
Must’ve gotten her looks from her mother’s side, as she didn’t look one bit like Burnock, a truth that she likely thanked the gods for daily. But that didn’t make the thought of making her my wife any more appealing.
I’d expected him to ask for some kind of reward, but this was a weakly disguised attempt at blackmail.
I sucked in a breath, resisting the urge to strike the man dead outright. “So…to clarify, Burnock. You come to my palace, implying that you’ll side with the traitors if I don’t marry your daughter. Have I got that right?”
A bead of sweat broke out on the older man’s upper lip, his words falling from him in a rush.
“Surely, you understand how precarious your position is. I bear you no ill will, but a union between our families would be in your best interest. Priscilla is highborn, and a perfectly suitable match. No one will have any reason to question it. I’ll have my connection to the throne, and you’ll get to keep your crown. Like I said; mutually benef–”
“Enough,” Priscilla yelped, leaping in front of her father as my hand found the hilt of my sword. The real one this time, not the one I’d used to spar with Luc. I was within my rights to kill him where he stood for this blackmail.
My sword was halfway out of its sheath by the time I felt Rufus’ hand on my elbow.
“Your Majesty, please hear me out.”
I kept my eyes trained on Burnock but nodded. Annoying wizard. “Go on.”
“If you kill him here, the Dael’Torin is a given.
Virinius will be here within days, and your position will be forever weakened by the display of distrust from the nobles, even if you win the duel.
Moreover, despite his insolent delivery, Burnock isn’t wrong.
Priscilla is an ideal match. Marrying her would go a long way toward uniting the kingdom behind you.
Our guest has disrespected you, and you have every right to cut him down where he stands, but there is a time for strength, and a time for temperance.
This is a solid option for you, Your Majesty. ”
“And how do I know he won’t try pulling this again, after seeing it succeed the first time?”
Rufus let go of my arm. “Perhaps we could find a place in Sixthell for Lord Burnock to stay for the foreseeable future? Close enough to monitor him but not so close that he can act against you.”
The noble nodded in fast agreement, trying and failing to appear calm. Perhaps realizing just how close he came to having his head removed from his body. “That can definitely be arranged.”
I stared into the other man’s beady eyes, straining against the impulse to strangle him. “This can’t come out of the blue without looking suspect. We’ll want a ‘courting’ period of a few weeks to ease people into the idea.”
And to ease myself the fuck out of Seventhell before it happened, hopefully. Again, assuming that the world hadn’t been wiped out by Lilis.
The older man nodded. “As you wish.”
I stepped forward, my eyes never leaving his as I thrust my hand toward him. “It’s a deal, then.”
He put his cold, clammy hand in mine, his gaze still tinged with a touch of defiance. “A deal.”
I yanked him close, nearly wrenching his shoulder from its socket, ignoring the yelp of pain as I grabbed him around the neck with my other hand.
“Please! Don’t hurt him,” Priscilla pleaded as I clamped my fingers around his neck, lifting him off the ground until his feet dangled like a child on a too-tall chair.
“Listen to me very carefully, Lord Burnock,” I bit out.
“If you ever try something like this again, you’re dead, no matter the stakes.
I know nobles view all this unrest as a chance to seize more power for yourselves, but I promise you now; this is the end of it.
I’ll marry your daughter because it may well be best for the realm, but from this day forward, if I say jump, you had best ask how high while you are already in the air. Do you understand?”
The man nodded in agreement, his rancid breath pricking at my nose as he opened his mouth to speak, squeaking out the words, “Understood…Your Majesty.”
“Good.” I set him down none too gently, and stalked back toward the throne room, turning to Rufus as I passed. “Set the old man up with a place in level six as discussed and get Priscilla a wing on the southeastern side of the castle. We’ll begin the courting process as soon as time allows.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty,” Rufus said, a sparkle of satisfaction in his eye.
Seeing him that happy was almost enough to make me regret the decision, but I continued into the throne room.
The truth was, he’d been right about this move.
A good king had to know when to be forceful, and when to show restraint.
In the grand scheme of things, all of this was a means to an end.
To defeat Lilis, I had no choice but to unite my people behind me.
Even if it meant letting a weasel like Burnock live and acting as if I intended to marry his daughter.
Whatever calmed the seas most. Because right now, I had far more pressing matters at hand.
I glanced at the clock on the wall, increasing my pace when I saw the time.
5:11 pm. I was already late for my scheduled meeting with the Briar Queen, and I was itching to hear what news she had for me. The faster we found the key the better.
My anticipation had nothing to do with the potential sparring match Briar and I might get into, of course.
“Your Majesty?”
I looked up, surprised to see Harald stepping into the throne room just as I’d been about to re-enter the hall. “Yes?”
He reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded slip of paper. “It’s from the Briar Queen.”
I snatched it from him, a wave of irritation washing over me. “That’ll be all, Harald. Thank you.”
I scanned the neatly scrawled words, my blood boiling hotter with each passing second.
Demon,
I’m afraid I’m unable to make our meeting this evening due to unforeseen circumstances. I will come first thing tomorrow to deliver any news.
With warm thanks for your understanding,
Briar Queen
Speaking of insolence…
I crumpled the note with a laugh under my breath, before stuffing it into my pocket.
Grinning to myself, I slipped away from the throne room.
That infuriating woman still didn’t get who made the rules around here now.
Which meant I’d just have to show her.