14. Chapter 14 #3
Broads? Fucking broads? My patience tapered to a dangerous level, even as Peiro tried his best to squeeze my hand and rub calming circles with his thumb, but I felt the tension rise even within him.
In the years I’d experienced Beralt at court, he had always been a savage, and was too comfortable making objectifying whispers toward me and my sister, along with other women in court.
It was becoming too easy to envision myself yanking him by the beard down to the table and forcing more food down his throat until he choked.
“So kind of you to greet us, Lord Ivan. It has been an age since we were graced with your presence back in Grianmore.” I was amazed at how cordial Ora spoke. Her diplomacy finally shined through in a way that made me feel a sense of pride.
“As you know, we have my sister, Princess Ophelia, and Lord Sury.“ She gestured to us both, Sury giving a light head nod as I continued my stare at Beralt. “Our other companions here have made their allegiance to us. Let me introduce you to Peiro Brozneil and Fyom Tres—“
“You,” Beralt once again interjected as he pointed his fork in Fyom’s direction. “I would like to try my hand at sparring you in the fighting square. What say you?” His smile was a disturbing one.
Fyom’s ears moved back as his eyes narrowed. “I would humbly have to object, my lord. As you see, I’ve never considered myself a fighter, but rather a man with a focus on Healing.”
Beralt scoffed as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. “Pity. A man of your stature, you would make the betting much more interesting. And I’ve never lost a bet.”
“If you would have me, I would love nothing more than to enter the fighting square with you, my lord.” Peiro spoke with elegance and grace, but a hint of malice laced his words.
Beralt must have sensed the same, since he immediately straightened his spine and gave Peiro a once-over before returning his attention to his food. “We’ll see what can be arranged, Mr. Brozneil.”
I smiled at the thought of Peiro putting Beralt in his place, which excited me in a surprising way that heated my skin.
Peiro answered my thoughts with a quick pulse of his hand and a small smirk as he continued. “Before we arrange such details, I believe Queen Aurora was speaking.” It took every ounce of self-control to not laugh outright or kiss Peiro in front of the others for his remark.
The taunt in his voice evoked something within Beralt that made him sneer. He reluctantly turned his attention back to Ora, who did a fine job at keeping her face fixed. “Apologies.” He took a bite of food off his plate and chewed loudly.
Ora kept her eyes on the man. “As I was saying, it’s been some time. Princess Ophelia is even my new royal advisor—“
“You?” Beralt lazily looked in my direction, stopping mid-chew of some kind of meat, doubt deep in his voice. “You are a lead advisor? With your shit magic?” He began laughing as if someone had ordered a jester.
I seethed. “So it would seem.” My voice practically growled through clenched teeth. He only remembered me as the weakened sister. Good.
Make him kneel, the ink demanded.
My Wielding flared immediately, humming just underneath my skin, but I stopped it before I dove and reached too far.
Peiro cut me a glance and silently took a deep breath, nudging me to follow. Reluctantly I called my Wielding back and took a deep inhale.
“Hmm. Desperate times, it would seem.” He continued slicing into his meal. “How long do you plan on staying?”
Ora blinked. “We would never mean to impose on such a fine lord as yourself. We only wish to discuss the future of Gria, and then we’ll take our leave.”
“Fine.”
“How about a tour of Ventus Bluff, my lord?” I almost forgot Melisanna was present, even with her voice so low. “It might have been some time since they have seen the area. You can show them how we’re thriving here, yes?”
Beralt shot his wife a look of disgust before rising from his chair.
“Ever the one to propose such fine ideas, Mel. You know”—he turned his attention to the men in the room—“I truly don’t know why women even bother speaking up, thinking they can run an estate like this.
Matter of fact, just the other day, Mel came to me with her very own journal of numbers and gave me suggestions of how we can increase our crops by ten percent.
She gave me suggestions. Why, I believe this wife is the funniest I’ve ever married.
It would be a shame if she didn’t give me a son.
“ He cut her a glance as he flicked his tongue between his teeth, presumably working out a piece of stuck food from a tooth.
“Yes, it is very interesting that a woman would get an idea that she can run an estate—or even an entire kingdom, perhaps?” Fyom’s demeanor was calm, but the ire that laced his voice gave me chills. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fyom so angry.
“See! You get it, my giant friend!” Beralt punched Fyom in the arm like they were old acquaintances. “When Sury here becomes king, which we all knew would happen, then this realm will see better days.”
“Yes, it would seem only the cock knows how to run things,” I scoffed under my breath. “Or maybe it’s just yours.” The gall in Beralt’s smile made my fingers clench into a tight fist.
My body tensed in a rage I was growing too comfortable with.
I always knew this man was a bastard, but the veil had been lifted to reveal just how deeply his disregard for women went.
The outrage threatened to swallow me. My Wielding wanted to reach the surface again, to cage him in the same feelings he so easily imposed on others.
He tsked and moved away from the table. “Come, come. Let’s go on a tour.”
Melisanna followed behind him in his shadow with her head still bowed.
Sury once again tucked Ora’s arm into his to not only mimic propriety, but probably also to keep Ora’s hands at bay from calling her own Wielding forward.
I chuckled under my breath as I watched her palm pulse with a glowing light before it disappeared all together.
Peiro tucked my arm into his, forcing me to smirk.
Fyom followed close behind us. “Let’s go on a fucking tour,” he said in a low whisper, but still loud enough for me to hear.
I laughed. It was rare to hear Fyom curse, and when he did, it was known how peeved he truly was.
“With a man like that, it is hard to stay poised,” Fyom huffed. “I took your court training for granted, it would seem. How you and your sister say nothing is impressive, yet concerning.”
“Please do not mistake my silence as weakness,” I stated as I envisioned many ways for that man to feel pain.