The King's Company by Zarlina Josefsson

Author:Zarlina Josefsson [Josefsson, Zarlina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798848022582
Google: zQbXzwEACAAJ
Amazon: B0BS6Z7R44
Goodreads: 76728341
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp
Published: 2023-03-02T15:58:25.745146+00:00

thirty-nine

Pain

Returning to the building where they had left the slaves, they found the two young men on the floor. Andreas was sitting against one of the wooden pillars holding the ceiling up, and curled up by his side was Adrian, his injured arm resting on Andreas’s leg, the burn facing up.

Adrian didn’t look up as they stepped inside, but Andreas did. While Adrian kept his face half hidden in Andreas’s shoulder, one of the blond’s arms wrapped around him, Andreas searched for eye contact with his master, looking for approval to stay where they were, to not have to get into proper positions for their owners.

Christoph gave a slight nod in reply, and Andreas lowered his gaze again, the fingers of his free hand slowly moving over Adrian’s arm, brushing over the skin above the fresh wound.

Tom had to fight hard to keep his face straight, to not let his emotions show in his eyes as he looked down on Adrian, at how the teen had made himself as small as he could, curled up to Andreas, searching for the little bit of comfort he could have in the always so cold world he’d been born into.

“I’ll care for his wound now, if you’ll let me, Your Majesty,” Christoph said, stepping over to one of his tables, collecting a few things from different drawers, which he then went to put down in front of the two slaves. Then he picked up a bucket of water, carrying it over to the fire, where he had a pot waiting. It was hanging far enough from the flames to not boil, but to still keep the water warm. Pouring it into the bucket, using his hand to make sure it got to the right temperature, he returned to the young men on the floor, smiling softly. “As I’ve already mentioned, some owners enjoy the mark adding to their slave’s pain and would want me to leave it as it is, but I believe you’d prefer it if I ease his discomfort as much as I can, yes?”

He didn’t look back at Tom, the words not an actual question. It was more out of formality, to ensure that if Tom would have changed his mind, he would have the chance to voice it before Christoph did something he’d later come to regret.

“Yes,” Tom stated, though Christoph was already kneeling in front of the slaves, smiling gently, not expecting any other reply from his king.

“Don’t worry about the position you’re in,” Christoph said when Adrian’s gaze flickered a bit, his body stiffening, as if he was preparing to get up, to move and sit more properly. “You can stay right where you are. I’ll take care of it here.”

He turned his head, looking at Tom for a moment.

“Is the demand of not upholding any of the common rules still in order, Your Majesty?” he asked, meeting Tom’s gaze.

“Yes,” Tom said again. “I won’t have him punished for any possible mistakes, and he may speak freely, if he wants to.

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