A Dream of Embers (A Tempest of Shadows Book 3) by Jane Washington

Author:Jane Washington [Washington, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-08T04:00:00+00:00

Ten

Promises

Sune and Njal hurried to my side, Njal going as far to edge himself between Fjor and me.

“Everything okay?” he asked, eyeing off the masters.

I had liked them before, but I liked them even more now. I smiled at Njal, but Fjor frowned down at him.

“What happened there?” Sune asked, pointing to the small wound on my ribcage. It had already scabbed over.

“Let’s get started,” Helki said gruffly, stepping in front of me. “Where do you want us?”

“I have to ask…” Elrik cleared his throat, looking over his shoulder nervously.

Sune gave him a “get it over with” look, which got him an admonishing glare in return. I hid a smile.

“Are you sure you have to?” Fjor responded, stroking one of the knives tucked into his belt.

I watched Elrik’s throat bob as he cleared it again.

“Y-Yes,” he forced out. “I have to ask … is the Tempest a willing participant in this marriage?”

Helki snorted. “You think she’s the one being forced into this? She’s asking for five damn husbands. And I have to sleep in a different guard tower every night just to escape the women chasing me. You think I’d have to force some wench to marry me?”

My smile broke free, and Vidrol caught sight of it, narrowing his eyes at me.

“The beast is a little sensitive about his appeal,” I mock-explained to Elrik, causing Helki to snarl.

“I … I need an answer,” Elrik stammered back. “It’s part of our code.”

“Is it part of your code to ask if the men are willing?” Vale asked, sounding so bored I almost thought he didn’t actually want an answer.

“I … yes,” Elrik answered quickly. “Are you … each … willing?”

“Her proposal wasn’t very romantic.” Vidrol was pretending to ponder the question. “Quite mouthy and bossy, actually. A little threatening, too, now that I’m thinking about it.”

“I’ll show you threatening,” I muttered beneath my breath, but Vidrol still caught it.

His eyes twinkled with amusement before all expression was gone from his face.

“We’re willing.” He turned his eyes back to Elrik, his voice sharpening. “And impatient.”

Elrik turned to me, and then suddenly, all eyes were on me. Njal’s hand dropped to my shoulder. Reassuring me or offering me support—I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t mind the gesture.

Fjor, on the other hand, didn’t appreciate it. I caught the tightening of his jaw and the way his eyes wavered, flicking to Njal briefly before refocussing on me.

“They’ll do,” I shrugged, and then just for good measure, I added, “For now.”

“Fidelity clause,” Fjor and Vidrol said, almost in exact unison, their voices booming through the room.

“Fidelity clause,” Helki agreed, baring his teeth.

Before I could say a word, Vale was striding over to Fjor and snatching the skilti pen from his hand. He tossed it to Andel, who tucked it into a pouch without a word.

“Later,” Vale muttered. “Or the damn wedding will never happen. She’s got a whole rib of clauses coming her way.”

“She disagrees,” I grumbled.

“So she doesn’t consent?” Elrik quickly inserted, sounding confused.

“I consent,” I sighed out, rubbing my forehead.

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