Once Upon a Crown by Demelza Carlton

Author:Demelza Carlton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lost Plot Press
Published: 2021-04-16T16:00:00+00:00

Twenty-Three

Sativa wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her mother would despair if she knew, but Sativa had no handkerchief here.

"Why?" she whispered.

Captain Zydrunas shrugged. "Like most women, she was too noisy for her own good. Inquisitive. Complaining. And tears...ugh." He shuddered.

An arrow of remorse shot through Sativa's heart. She had disliked Nekane's constant tears and mourning, too, but she'd never wanted to kill her. She was a widow, and widows were allowed to weep.

"You are a monster," Sativa said. It was a calm statement of fact.

Why wouldn't he move away from the door? she raged inwardly.

"All men are monsters in their own way," he said loftily. He nodded at Nekane, and there was considerable pride in his voice as he added, "She said I was like a dragon."

"It was no compliment," Sativa shot back. "Dragons are mindless beasts, who don't know the difference between a sheep and a woman in wool. They burn and devour because they don't know any better. Men are more than that."

At least, the men in her father's court had been. Those aboard the Wydra. And Reidar.

"I would take a dragon over you any day," she added, more to bait him than anything else.

It worked. He moved away from the door, but only to approach her. "But you will take me, girl. She could not stop me, and nor will you."

He would kill her, and defile her dead body. Horror made her jaw drop, but some other instinct told her to draw her dagger. She did.

Zydrunas set the lantern on the table, and drew his own knife. Easily thrice as long as hers, the steel blade seemed to drink the light instead of reflecting it. He thrust across the table, and Sativa barely managed to dodge the wicked point. Her arm seemed to have a life of its own, driving down to slice his hand.

Zydrunas swore. "Little bitch. I was going to cut your throat, nice and easy, but you'll have no quick death from me now. You shall suffer."

Faster than Sativa believed possible, he whipped his blade to the side, slashing it across her belly. Warm liquid gushed out, soaking her tunic, but the wound came with no pain. Sativa pressed her hands to her belly, and they came away red. She turned horrified eyes on the captain as she backed away.

He made no move to follow her now. He knew as well as she did that she was as good as dead.

Instead, he crossed to the bed. He lifted Nekane's corpse in his arms, and she flopped like some obscene rag doll as he carried her over to the bench Sativa recognised as a privy. He kicked open the lid and forced the body in, feet first. He managed to get her halfway in, before she stuck, her torso sticking out of the privy like a giant glove puppet.

"She can watch you die, then," he said, forcing the corpse's eyes open. Gore dribbled down Nekane's bloated face – there was nothing recognisable about her eyes any more.

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