Red Claw (Dragonblood Assassin Book 2) by Andy Peloquin & Jaime Castle

Author:Andy Peloquin & Jaime Castle
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2023-05-29T16:00:00+00:00

38

Kullen

Kullen struggled to keep his jaw from touching the ground as Natisse flounced out onto the dance floor hand in hand with Pantagorissa Torrine. Cliessa had clearly blessed them with her luck tonight. Kullen had expected Natisse to turn heads—he had to admit she cut a truly astonishing figure in that cetacean-blue dress, her fiery-red hair tied in a braid far simpler than the overelaborate coiffures—but this particular head far exceeded his wildest expectations.

Could it simply be that easy for her? he wondered. A few smiles, a witty remark or three, and suddenly she’s invited to the auction as the Pantagorissa’s arm candy? He could hope, certainly. But he wouldn’t hinge the success of his mission entirely on happenstance.

Kullen allowed himself a moment to enjoy the pleasant sight of Natisse spinning around the dance floor. He supposed he shouldn’t have been surprised to discover she was a fine dancer—she moved with the grace of a trained swordsman—but the more he came to know the ardent woman, the more he realized he had no idea the full extent of her capabilities. She had transformed into Lady Dellacourt so fully he would never have recognized her as the same hard, fierce fighter who’d killed Magister Branthe’s guards in his underground fighting pit.

The moment ended when he realized he no longer stood alone by the refreshments table where Natisse had left him. The trio who had taken up station behind the Pantagorissa—all of whom displayed the gold-etched skull-and-crossed-oars of her personal, elite guard—now surrounded him. Two remained facing the dance floor, keeping an eye on their mistress. The third, however, the scowling, scar-faced man who’d roared in the voice of a drill sergeant, fixed Kullen with a hard stare. Though the Shieldbandsman said nothing, Kullen got the distinct impression the man was taking his measure—and Lady Dellacourt’s by extension.

Kullen clutched the valise tighter and shifted nervously from foot to foot, as if discomfited by the scrutiny. He kept his shoulders hunched, and his eyes never truly lifted to meet the Shieldbandsman’s. Better he appeared utterly uninteresting and unthreatening to the watchful elite guards.

Realizing the Pantagorissa’s man would continue watching him as long as their mistresses shared each other’s company, Kullen chose to ignore the black look of the guard and instead appraise the room around him from beneath his downturned forehead. If Natisse failed to secure an invitation as the Pantagorissa’s invited guest at the auction, they’d require an alternate plan to gain entrance.

He nibbled at a roasted quail leg, though he barely tasted the perfectly spiced, tender meat. His attention was riveted on those sharing the vast chamber with them. Most were dancing, some were eating, and all were drinking… a lot. By and large, everyone seemed to be enjoying the festival without causing trouble.

But every few minutes, one of the serving men wearing the Pantagorissa’s colors—darkest black and bleached skull white, with a hint of gold accent—appeared from a door at the northern end. These carried no food trays or barrels of drink like did their companions, nor did they mingle among the guests to offer refreshment.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.