The Queen & The Assassin 3 - Gold by Marshall Lisette

Author:Marshall, Lisette
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2022-02-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Runo should have known he was in trouble the moment Kaarina emerged beside his breakfast table.

His mind refused to register trouble on this particular autumn morning, though. As a matter of fact, it didn’t quite manage to register anything – not the amiable grins and greetings of friends as they passed, or the cards they played between the breakfast plates, or the merciless defeat he was suffering at Orzin’s hands. Even the thought of Maiva’s threats seemed utterly futile to him with the memory of Tamar’s smile still bright on his mind.

That smile.

He’d kill a dozen people for just another glimpse of that smile. And he might not even have to – which was perhaps the most bewildering part of all.

So he barely even blinked when Orzin froze next to him and Kaarina’s exquisitely curved figure appeared from nowhere, that clever, feline smirk plastered on her face as if she never fled him and his questions in a silent autumn garden. Fine, Runo wanted to say. Let’s pretend you still have anything to say in this situation. You’ll be fleeing back to the Empire soon, and I’m happy it’s not me who has to give Maiva the news of the recent developments at the Red Castle.

Of Tamar marrying him. He had repeated the thought perhaps a thousand times to himself over the course of the night, and it still didn’t sound even close to true.

‘Good morning, Runo,’ Kaarina said as she sat down at the edge of the table, positioning her backside so demonstratively that Runo couldn’t even blame Orzin for the slightly intimidated glance he threw at it. Under his mind’s warm blanket of dazed happiness, it took a moment for the next observation to come through – that she hadn't spoken in Taavi this time.

Which meant everyone around her could understand every single word she said.

‘Morning,’ he said, and finally a first sliver of discomfort came through. She had no reason to suddenly start courting Redwood’s sympathy, did she? ‘Looking radiant and murderous as always, Kaarina. Anything I can do for you?’

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she sweetly said, ‘As old friends amongst each other, I was just curious to hear how you feel about all the trouble you’ll be causing Redwood soon.’

Oh. For fuck’s sake.

It was almost uncanny how quickly the warm, golden feeling in his chest could evaporate. Runo pulled up the corners of his mouth in a smile just as insincere as hers and said, ‘Are you sure that’s the kind of exchange you want to have in this provincial company, Kaarina? I might slip an unflattering word or two about you.’

She tittered. ‘I doubt they think very well of me anyway.’

‘Odd,’ Runo said, raising his eyebrows.

‘Oh, yes. Almost as odd as Queen Tamar’s decision to keep silent on something as disastrous as your staunch refusal to return home. Not what I’d expect from a woman known for her decency and honesty.’

It had suddenly become very silent around them. Next to Runo, Orzin threw concerned glances at him and Kaarina, his hand of cards forgotten.

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