Page 121 of Winter Gods & Serpents

I moved to follow her, and the latter put a hand on my shoulder prompting a halt on my step. “We sit and wait. You don’t want to be in front of her when she is this angry,” he said, motioning his head to the chair next to him.

She did not look angry or anything else at that, more than she looked amused and at ease, but I had never been able to read any shadows from her and her expressions usually were crafted from her to hide what she was truly feeling, she was extremely versed at that.

“Is that why she does that thing with her head? The tilt?” my brother asked examining her.

What tilt?

“Tilt of the head she is angry but only to the left. Right means she is thinking. Eyebrow up, she is amused, frown and pursed lips when she is hungry, though her stomach will let you know sooner. And that silly wide smile when she hates something,” Caiden explained calmly.

“Hands behind her back when she has something over you,” Nia pointed without lifting her attention from the pages and the two friends of the princess smacked their palms laughing. “Might as well know, so you can stay clear of pissing her off, though I highly doubt it, your faces alone succeed in that.”

It concerned me how they would let her do this, behave and prance around danger. However mighty she was, danger and risk never spared anyone. Whatever she was about to do, it would require either someone's blood or head at another’s dissatisfaction.

“Are the two of you morally mute? You find all that she does acceptable? Letting her run around and make decisions as if god—as if untouchable by one as well?” I asked the two amused faces in front of me.

“When you know her as we do, you begin to think she might as well be,” Nia said, lifting her gaze toward Snow. “Is it truly moral muteness if you have also seen what those she punishes think, what they have done to her and many others? So, is there truly such thing as morality, don't you find it awfully distorted particularly by those of your like?” she questioned, now turning to me.

It was hard for me to admit but her reasons were somewhat valid. All the conflict had sent a piercing headache across my temples. I turned my attention to the one who had just stood right under the net of blood hungry fishermen.

“At least help her, if not, I will.”

“She won’t allow us.”

“Why?”

“Long story.”

I leaned in on the table. “Paraphrase. Unless you intend to help her, then do not let me hold you up, feel free to do so.”

Nia let out a long sigh and glanced over to Caiden almost looking for approval before she begun, “Six years ago we had a group of Vrammetheni bandits on the loose on Fernfoss, raiding Myrdur for relics. She is particularly sensitive when it comes to Myrdur so the next day she fetched her sword and left to deal with them, she agreed to let me tag along, we told Cai nothing. They were not the unblessed but a bunch of Eldmoorian scavengers raiding the place for bones of Aura for summoning and what other god cursed magic they wanted to concoct. We walked straight into a nightmare veil. She’d seen worst in her nights so it didn’t affect her, but I almost died inside my own head. She had to kill thirteen crafters with only a sword before she could carry me out all the way down to Fernfoss. It took her a full night to get me to a crafter and a whole week to remove the veil residue. A thousand and one promises later here we are. She is cocky, but not a fool, if she thinks she can’t handle it she won’t go for it. My foolishness, my punishment she says.”

I understood her, surprisingly, but not in a way that would have me obey to her orders like her friends were. “If she expects you to care about her wishes for your safety, then you should expect her to validate yours for hers.”

“She does,” she said, pointing to Caiden whose eyes had stuck tight on her, his hands flat on the table. “But from a distance, it was what she made us promise. He can squeeze air out of everyone’s lungs in this room. Snow said you know.”

I studied the Zephyr. “Are there many left like you?”

He leaned back, challenging me through lowered lids. “Intending to collect the hefty price for my handsome head?”

“Cai,” Nia called sternly.

He tilted his head in my direction wearing a cold smirk, “Joking.” Yet he wasn’t dressed in any shadows of amusement.

“Well, well, well,” the princess said, crossing her hands behind her back as she faced the drunk lord.

She stood like she had him just where she wanted, trapped in her claws—like Nia had pointed. But I studied the surroundings and it looked like we were at the quite difficult stance.

“Told you,” Nia murmured in a cheery shrug.

The sailors agitated, a fear crept in me and I unsheathed my sword, but Nia and Caiden laughed, confused I threw glances between them and then at the princess who was getting closer to danger. Fear gurgling within my chest and I spread my shadows all around the room, under and over every soldier.

“How is it dear Lord, that you sit here so lavishly when your city—well my father’s city is starving. You drown in riches, yet none have gone to the people, not to mention none to the Isjordian treasure?”

He clicked his tongue wearing a full grin, eyes wide almost as if he just had a delicious meal served to him. “So you are the little princess everyone is raging about, quite the pretty whore you are. I could free you a seat in my lap and maybe tonight I could have you sat in my cock,” he said like he was addressing just anyone, no regard for her status and no fear of repercussions.

His words drew fire from me.

He motioned to one of his men who headed to grab her, and my breath grew rapid, magic of shadows sizzling around me preparing to shield her.