Chapter 9 #5
“It would be more accurate to say that they are moving south. These are still assumptions, but according to the monster hunters we met in the mountains…” Hebaron trailed off as Maxi’s expression darkened with worry.
Awkwardly scratching the back of his head, he tried to reassure her.
“I’ve said too much, but you have nothing to fear, my lady.
With the Remdragon Knights protecting Anatol, no monsters will be able to invade our land. ”
Maxi still felt uneasy. She had witnessed herself what havoc monsters could wreak while tending to wounded sentries and loggers in the aftermath of the werewolf attack.
If more monsters came to Anatol, it would mean more violence.
She slipped a hand inside her pocket and clasped the magic stone.
Though she might only ever be capable of small, simple magic, she did not want to be useless.
Starting tomorrow, I’ll study even harder.
“Don’t look so anxious, my lady,” Ulyseon said to lighten the mood. “Have a taste of this roast boar—it’s our cook’s specialty. The skin is crispy, but the meat inside is tender and juicy! Dip it in cameline sauce and take a big bite. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”
“I-It does look d-delicious.”
“Try the pigeon with nutmeg too. And the fried cinnamon wafers are exceptional.” Ulyseon filled her plate as he spoke.
Unable to ignore his urging, Maxi took a few small bites. The food truly was delicious, and for the moment, she managed to forget about her worries. Hebaron observed her as he drank, then leaned forward and filled her goblet with wine.
“You must be thirsty, my lady.”
“Th-Thank you.” Pleased by the rare show of kindness, Maxi gulped down the wine.
Hebaron raised an eyebrow and refilled her cup, shifting in his seat to face her. “You must like your wine, my lady.”
Maxi rarely drank more than a goblet or two of wine with her meals, but Hebaron was looking at her so expectantly that she didn’t want to disappoint him.
Maxi threw her head back and emptied her goblet once more.
The wine tingled warmth through her body, and she relaxed a little. It was not an unpleasant feeling.
Each time she drained her goblet, Hebaron filled it again, and soon her eyes shone with the effects of the wine. Amused, the other knights began to offer her food and drink as well.
It was a little offensive—the knights attempted to feed her as they would some fantastic creature—but she did not refuse them.
She soon lost count of how many goblets she had drunk.
Her vision blurred, and she felt as if she were floating.
Hiccupping, Maxi clutched her goblet in both hands and began to sway in her seat.
Hebaron moved to pour more wine for her, but one of the knights stopped him. “I think her ladyship has had enough, Sir Hebaron.”
“I-I’m…a-a-all right.”
Maxi’s tongue was less cooperative than usual, and her words came out slurred. Normally, she would have clamped her mouth shut in embarrassment, but now she felt no shame. Intoxicated with a rare boldness, she emptied her goblet and held it out to Hebaron.
“I-I would l-like s-s…some m-more.”
“Happy to oblige,” Hebaron said. “You can certainly hold your alcohol.”
Maxi noted with pleasure that Hebaron’s tone had grown amicable, much the way he might speak to a fellow knight. She drained another goblet of wine with even greater enthusiasm. Despite spilling wine onto her sleeves, she found herself giggling. One of the knights burst into laughter.
“Who knew her ladyship could be so charming? And here I thought she was a cheerless, self-absorbed noblewoman!”
Maxi spun around to glare at the speaker. “I-I am not s-self-absorbed! Though I c-can’t deny th-that I’m ch-cheerless.”
Hebaron poured her another goblet of wine and she drank it like water, then sighed deeply. Her euphoria had dissipated, replaced by melancholy.
“B-But th-that’s because I-I’m not u-used to i-interacting with s-so many p-people!
And I-I’m not w-well-spoken…I d-don’t ever know what I sh-should say…
.A-And all of you are s-so intimidating, e-especially when you’re so t-tall you l-loom over me.
Y-You can’t b-blame me for sh-shying away.
I-In fact, you’re the r-reason I’ve been so ch-cheerless!
I w-would a-appreciate it i-if you could all sh-shrink a little. ”
The knights stared at her dumbly. Hebaron broke into uproarious laughter.
“We’re not tall for no reason, my lady,” Hebaron said, still laughing. “Bulk is an advantage in combat. I’m afraid your ladyship is the one who is too small. What were you doing while everyone else was growing?”
“Are you drunk, Sir Hebaron?” one of the knights asked with some surprise.
Ignoring the question, Hebaron filled Maxi’s goblet to the brim. “It’s not too late, my lady. If you start drinking and eating as much as I do, you may yet grow as tall as a pine tree.”
“You r-really think I-I can still g-grow taller?” Maxi looked up at Hebaron with hopeful eyes. If she was taller, maybe she would have more courage.
Hebaron smiled cheekily. “I’ve been drinking alcohol since I was a lad of thirteen. That’s how I managed to grow this tall.”
“So that’s your secret, Sir Hebaron!” Ulyseon finished stuffing his mouth with meat and reached for his goblet of ale. He guzzled it down eagerly.
Nearly in unison, the rest of the knights groaned and buried their faces in their hands.
Maxi could not understand why they looked so agitated. Foggy with wine, she tilted her head this way and that, wondering why the atmosphere felt suddenly gloomy. As she raised her goblet for another sip, a large hand shot past her shoulder and snatched it from her.
Startled, she turned around to find Riftan towering over her, his expression grim. He narrowed his eyes, taking in her flushed, stupefied gaze.
“What the devil are you doing?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“I-I was t-trying to grow t-taller…” Maxi hiccupped, and her voice withered.
Riftan ground his teeth and turned to glower at the knights. “Explain to me why you got my wife so drunk.”
“She seemed capable of holding her alcohol, so we got a little carried away….” Hebaron answered a little sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.
Riftan’s face grew more forbidding. “So, your idea of entertainment is getting my wife drunk?” He slammed Maxi’s goblet onto the table, and silence fell over the dining hall.
When he opened his mouth to speak again, his voice was menacingly soft.
“Eat well and rest up. You’ll need the energy for training tomorrow. ”
The knights groaned, but Riftan ignored them and gathered Maxi up before striding out of the room. Maxi wrapped her arms around his neck, glad to have him carry her. Her eyes had grown unbearably heavy, and she longed to make her way to bed.
Riftan sighed and Maxi burrowed her face in his neck, pretending not to have heard.
He flinched and she felt him stiffen, but her blissful inebriated state made her quite indifferent to his reaction.
She inhaled the smell of him and impulsively kissed his neck, pressing her lips right against his pulse.
Riftan stood frozen in the hall. “Maxi…” His voice was like the growl of a beast.
Smiling, Maxi stroked his hair like one pacifying a disgruntled animal.
Riftan briskly climbed the stairs, Maxi bouncing lightly in his arms. She felt as if she rocked in a cradle, on the edge of sleep.
Placing her hands against his chest, she snuggled into him and closed her eyes.
Riftan reached the door to their bedchamber without breaking a sweat.
“Maxi…You’re not sleeping, are you?” He shook her gently.
She murmured in sleepy annoyance and nuzzled into his neck.
“Just how much did you drink?” he muttered, gazing down at her fretfully. “And damn it all, why are you dressed so…”
He lowered her onto the bed and pushed up the skirt of her bunched-up gown. Disoriented, Maxi raised herself so he could undress her. As soon as he pulled the dress over her head, she slumped onto the pillow and fell asleep. Riftan ground his teeth again as he loomed over her.
“You’d better be prepared tomorrow as well.”