The King's Dragon (Fire and Valor Book 1) by W. M. Fawkes & Sam Burns

Author:W. M. Fawkes & Sam Burns [Fawkes, W. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-09-25T16:00:00+00:00

26

Tristram

Tristram didn’t enjoy the boxing matches Reynold held for entertainment on occasion. Tourneys that mimicked honorable battle were bad enough, pointless violence that they were. Outright fisticuffs? It was like two cutthroats fighting in an alley, not two honorable members of the king’s court.

He especially did not like that this match had been staged simply to please Lady Rhiannon. Every moment she sat at Reynold’s side, the king shooting occasional glances at her to make certain she was watching his spectacle, put everything Tristram cared about at risk.

Reynold’s increasing fear of everyone could only grow tenfold if he found out the lady he was courting was a dragon in disguise.

Still, watching Bet fight in the round council chamber was like watching a snake strike. His motions were swift and sudden, and the fact that the bout managed to last as long as it did was almost certainly a choice on Bet’s part. The man was better in a fight than anyone else Tristram knew, and just as vicious unarmed as he was with his swords.

His poor opponent didn’t manage to land a single blow, despite his apparent skill, and it made the fight seem entirely pointless. Wearying, even, but for the continuing display of Bet’s speed and accuracy.

Tristram couldn’t help but turn his mind back to the night before, to Bet hovering over him, lying beneath him, stripping him naked. The man’s pearly skin had been painted gold by firelight, his black eyes even darker in the shadows. The way he’d moved in Tristram’s bed had been more masterful than his work on the field of combat.

His pride wouldn’t allow him to ask, but he wondered if the man would return. Perhaps it had been a passing fancy, and now that his lust was slaked, he had no further use for Tristram.

Bet’s gaze met his over the shoulder of his opponent and locked. Perhaps he wasn’t done with Tristram after all. Without even glancing away, Bet struck the man in the belly and jaw. The opponent, whose name Tristram couldn’t remember, crumpled to the floor, and the people of the court cheered.

It was horrible how they enjoyed the spectacle of violence without purpose. They cheered Bet in this when they all feared him in private. Not a one of them would agree to be alone with him.

Excepting Tristram. He wondered if his lust was blatantly obvious to everyone who watched them. He felt so.

“Perhaps the loser’s life should be forfeit?” Reynold suggested, as though such a thing were to be considered. Something commonplace, that a decent nation like Llangard did.

Tris looked away from Bet finally to stare at Reynold. His Majesty had one corner of his lips turned down, and he was staring at Rhiannon, who looked vaguely disinterested.

Moons above, was he trying to impress her by offering to have a man murdered?

The crowd had gone deathly silent, waiting for someone, anyone, to respond. Laurence Cavendish leaned forward on his knees to stare at his nephew. Tristram had the ugly feeling many would enjoy seeing the man die, but perhaps that was ungenerous of him.

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