by Tamryn Tamer
“Brynn Hilde,” Herald Law spoke sternly. “If you just indulge me this once, I promise it’ll be the last time.”
“Are you willing to say that while holding the ring?” Brynn asked while presenting him the ring. The herald didn’t even move as she waited for him to take it. “That’s what I thought.”
“I understand your frustration my little songbird,” Herald Law said. “But please…”
“It’s fine,” Brynn said while shaking her head. “Ask what you want to ask. I’m used to you not trusting me.”
“Were you aware of the escape before this morning?” he asked.
Brynn paused and looked away, unsure of how to answer the question.
“Brynn Hilde,” he said sternly. “Were you aware of the escape before this morning?”
“I admit that I thought Fiora might be up to something!” Brynn as tears streamed down her face. “But she’s always up to something and I swear that I didn’t know her plan!”
The ring glowed green in her hand, indicating she was telling the truth as Herald Law scowled at her.
“You’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?” Brynn cried while looking down at the floor. “You hate me now, don’t you?”
“I don’t hate you,” Herald Law said, gently stroking her hair. “But why didn’t you tell me that they were scheming?”
“What would I have told you?” Brynn asked while looking up at him. “Even if I had told you that I thought Fiora was going to do something, I had no evidence!”
“But I might have been able to anticipate it,” Herald Law sighed as he stared at the ring. The glowing relic continued to confirm Brynn’s integrity. “Do you really believe that Princess Fiora planned the escape.”
“Yes,” Brynn nodded.
“So do I,” Herald Law said while stroking her hair. “I figured that Fiora was involved already. Baron Slade couldn’t have been involved without Fiora’s knowledge.”
“So, what is this about then?” Brynn asked while staring at the ring. “If you knew it was Fiora, why did you yell at me and why don’t you trust me?”
“I need to find out if you were involved as well,” Herald Law said calmly. “Just because one person is involved doesn’t mean another person isn’t also involved. Plots typically have multiple conspirators. So, my little songbird, were you involved?”
“I wasn’t involved in Fiora’s plot,” Brynn whispered as the ring continued to glow green. “I wish you would trust me more.”
“Are you loyal to me, my little songbird?” Herald Law asked, running his hand through Brynn’s hair.
“I have always been a loyal follower of Ziralia!” Brynn said while looking up at Herald Law, scowling at him as tears streamed down her face. “You are the herald of Ziralia!”
“I know,” Herald Law sighed disappointedly. He clenched his teeth and turned around, muttering to himself before turning back toward her.
“Why are you angry with me?” Brynn asked. “Do you still not believe me?”
“It’s not that,” Herald Law said. “It just would have been easier if you were a traitor. It would have made more sense.”
“What would have made more sense?” Brynn asked while wiping her face. “My herald. Tell me.”
“Fine!” Herald Law snapped as he turned to face her. “Why did you have to marry him! You are the wife of an enemy of Zira!”
“Frost is a herald and he’s powerful and I was suspected of killing my brothers!” Brynn said, the ring continuing to confirm her honesty. “He’s a horny degenerate that loves sleeping with women! Do you think I wanted to marry him?”
“You could have come to me!” Herald Law snapped. “You should have come to me!”
“You are the Herald of Ziralia and I was suspected of murder!” Brynn said as the ring continued glowing.
“I would have protected you!” Herald Law insisted. “You of all people should have known that but instead you gave yourself to him! And you have the audacity over the last few days to continue to spend time with me while knowing that he’s the one that gets to take you home!”
Brynn’s heart was pounding in her chest as she realized how close she was to getting what she always wanted.
“Then kill him and take me for yourself!” Brynn shouted.
“What!” Renna yelled.
“You don’t mean that,” Ena said, growling through clenched teeth as she reflexively reached for a club that wasn’t there.
“He couldn’t kill Herald Frost even if he wanted,” Fayeth said as the others nodded in agreement.
“I could kill him,” Brynn said, snapping at the elves.
“Hm,” Herald Law smirked as he stared at the glowing green ring. “He’s really that weak?”
“He would have already died if I hadn’t saved him from the Slayers of Blackwater,” Brynn said, the green ring confirming her statement.
“If I were to kill him?” Herald Law asked. “Theoretically, what then?”
“If you managed to kill Herald Frost then I would be a widow,” Brynn said while gripping the herald’s black robe. She looked up at him like a starving animal begging for food. “Widows can remarry whoever they please.”
“They can…” Herald Law said, staring at Brynn. She could feel his heart pounding with excitement as she pressed her body against him. “No. Your father would never approve. Everything from last night implicates Baron Slade and possibly a few random soldiers who I’m sure wouldn’t speak against Fiora. Even if they were willing to, I can’t imagine they would live long enough to speak at trial. And still, nothing implicates your husband.”
You have thousands of royal guards,” Brynn said, tugging on his robe desperately.
“If I marched on Herald Frost your father would have me executed,” Herald Law said, his heartrate increasing as Brynn continued to press her body against his.
She gritted her teeth in frustration as she felt her opportunity slipping away. She needed to give it everything she had.
“Don’t be a coward!” Brynn said angrily, her heart racing as she whipped the ring at Herald Law. She was so close to getting everything she wanted and she was going to push the man to action if she had to. “You act as though you love me but you’re too terrified of my father to save me!”
“Save you?” Herald Law’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean save me!” Brynn yelled with tears in her eyes, causing the herald to take several steps back. “I live in a village surrounded by animals! Forced to watch as Herald Frost sticks his filthy pricks in beasts and then demands that he be able to do the same to me! Do you know how many times a day I bathe? Yet you do nothing! It’s been months! Even after that farce of a trial you did nothing!”
“Your father commanded…”
“Herald Frost wouldn’t care what my father commanded!” Brynn shouted. “You are strong enough to kill him and you have thousands of soldiers at your disposal! His territory has a handful of high-level traitors!”
“Obviously I can kill him,” Herald Law snapped. “But your father will kill me!”
“Not if I ask him to approve it!” Brynn said while wiping way her tears. “I’ll go upstairs and contact my father using the communication orb and ask for him to approve it!”
“You believe King Leaucault would approve such an action?” Herald Law said, picking up the ring from the ground. “You believe you can convince him to approve an attack on Herald Frost?”
“Yes,” Brynn said, sniffling as she stared at Herald Law. “But it won’t matter if you’re too much of a coward to fight for me.”
“I understand that you’re angry,” Herald Law said, approaching Brynn and taking her hands in his. “Being trapped with that disgusting man for months must be hard for you. But I assure you I am not a coward. If you can get your father’s approval, I will kill Herald Frost.”
“Do you really mean that?” Brynn asked, staring at the ring, glowing green in his hand. “You’ll kill him?”
&nb
sp; “Absolutely,” Herald Law answered. “I’ll march on him as soon as you convince your father to allow it.”
“I’ll do it now!” Brynn said, nodding excitedly. “Thank you! If you do this, I’ll finally get what I always wanted!”
“I’ve always wanted you too,” Herald Law said, stroking her dark hair.
“Brynn…” Renna said, tears filling her eyes as she watched Herald Law lean down and kiss Brynn’s forehead. “I’m…I’m…”
“About your handmaidens,” Herald Law said, gesturing at the women. “It’s probably best if we place them in a cell.”
“No,” Brynn said, turning to face the elves. “They can either stay with me or return to Herald Frost. It’s up to them to decide.”
“They’ll warn him…”
“Good!” Brynn said while pressing her hand against Herald Law’s chest. “Maybe then he’ll meet you on the battlefield like a man!”
“If that’s what my little songbird wants,” Herald Law sighed, leaning down to smell her neck. “You can do what you wish with the elves.”
“I’ll kill you,” Renna growled through clenched teeth as she stared at Brynn. “I’ll cut you up into little bitty pieces and…”
“Renna,” Fayeth grabbed the furious thief’s arm and pulled her close. “She’s not worth it.”
“I thought we could trust her,” Ena scoffed. “I thought she wasn’t like other nobles. But the only thing she’s interested in is becoming Queen of Zira.”
“I take it that means you intend to return to Herald Frost,” Brynn said politely. “Fine. Tell him that if he’s not a coward he’ll meet Herald Law on the battlefield for one on one combat!”
“Brynn,” Herald Law smiled at her. “I have an army…”
“Oh,” Brynn said, covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It’s just…if Calamity Cassia were to get involved…”
“Cassia, right. You have a point,” Herald Law said pensively. “That would cost me quite a few soldiers. A duel is a rather good idea. I can kill him and avoid a fight with that wretched witch.”
“Wonderful,” Brynn said, smiling at the elves. “Tell Herald Frost that he can either meet Herald Law on the battlefield or his troops will march through Pluma, killing everybody in their path!”
“I hate you,” Renna said angrily as the other two elves held her back. “I’m never going to forgive you! And Herald Frost is going to kill your stupid herald!”
“They certainly do believe in their herald my little songbird,” Herald Law chuckled.
“They do indeed,” Brynn said, gesturing at the elves. “Guards, please escort these elves to the stables for their horses and then out of the city.”
“Herald Law?” a royal guard looked to the herald for confirmation. He nodded his approval and the guards quickly converged on the elves. “Come on now.”
“After Herald Frost kills your stupid herald, I’m going to kill you Brynn!” Renna shouted angrily as the guards led the elves out.
“Now,” Herald Law smiled. “Why don’t contact your father.”
“It would be my pleasure,” Brynn said, heading up the stairs to Fiora’s office where she kept her communication orb. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Hopefully with good news,” Herald Law said.
As she made her way to Fiora’s office, Brynn found herself wondering what Queen Henrietta would think of her performance. She betrayed everybody she ever cared about in order to achieve her goal. She wondered if her mother would be proud of her or disappointed. Brynn also had one more thing she wanted to ask Queen Henrietta as she struggled to hold back her tears.
“Does it always hurt this much?” Brynn whimpered as she held her chest.
CHAPTER 23
Frost laid in bed several hours longer than the women.
Madam Gardenia was the first to wake up, heading out to check on all of her girls. Desdemona and Lysandra followed soon after. Desdemona to make sure that the village operations continued and Lysandra had several therapy sessions planned with new villagers.
Frost simply decided to enjoy being alone as he debated whether or not he should head to the bathhouse or just wash his face and hands in a basin. In the end, he opted for the basin since he’d bathed the night before and it wasn’t as though he was out monster hunting the day before.
He grabbed one of the new suits Lishri made him before heading downstairs. The pants and long coat were both red with black accents while the boots, undershirt, and gloves were black with red accents that matched the coat. He glanced at the mirror and realized that he looked like he was heading to a vampire formal but it was too late to change.
Frost walked downstairs to see various demihumans gathered around the tables, eating their lunches as they talked. He greeted them and chattered briefly as he filled up on finger food and small pieces of their lunches that they offered up.
“About fucking time that you woke the fuck up you dog-fucking cunt,” Slade snapped the moment Frost stepped outside. “Do you have any idea what the fuck kind of trouble I’m in because of you?”
The silver-haired man was significantly underdressed compared to his usual look. He was wearing a pair of black pants, workers boots, and a sleeveless grey shirt that Hestia likely picked up from one of the tailors. His arms and neck were covered in dark bruising with mild swelling, as if he were suffering from a series of painful sprains.
“Darling,” Hestia grabbed his arm and placed her hand on his chest, as if to hold him back. The redheaded alchemist was wearing a green sundress that barely contained her large chest. “You’re in no condition to fight. You’re going to need at least a couple more days…”
“I feel fine,” Slade said. Hestia glared at him suspiciously and moved a hand to his forehead to verify. “I told you I’m…”
“You still have a fever,” Hestia said in a huff. “You should go back to bed and just let me take care of you.”
“I said I’m fine!” Slade growled while gently removing her hand from his head.
“You look like shit,” Fiora said, approaching them with her mother and King Asmund. The trio was immaculately dressed in clothing fitting royalty. Fiora and her mother were both dressed in vibrant teal gowns with low cut tops, although Fiora’s mother had much more to show off than the blonde princess. King Asmund wore a black suit, more fitting for a funeral than engagement talks. “Now that you’ve given your report you can rest. It’s not as though you’ll be allowed back in Zira anytime soon.”
“Hssss,” Hestia literally hissed at Fiora while tugging on Slade’s arm possessively.
“And make her stop that already,” Fiora said, clenching her teeth as well as her fists. “It’s irritating.”
“Hsss!” Hestia hissed louder, like a feral cat driving away a predator.
“Hestia,” Slade chuckled. Frost noticed him momentarily wince and realized he was in much worse shape than he was letting on. “If you’re going to hiss at anybody you should be hissing at the bug-fucking herald. He’s the reason for all of this.”
“She’s the one that made you do everything all on your own!” Hestia said, refusing to back down. “She didn’t have any of her soldiers help you and I…”
“I work better alone,” Slade scoffed. “Just stop the hissing. You’re not a fucking animal.”
“Hss,” Hestia’s eyes narrowed on Fiora as she grumpily hissed at her one more time.
“Hestia,” Slade groaned.
“I’ll stop hissing when you go back to bed,” Hestia said petulantly pointing at her cottage. “Or you can keep yelling at Herald Frost for no reason.”
“Fine,” Slade said as he turned toward the cabin. He glanced back at Frost. “This isn’t over you dog-fucking degenerate.”
“You’re fine you big baby,” Frost said. “And don’t act like you don’t love Hestia doting on you.”
“Fuck off devil-fucker!” Slade snapped back as Hestia pushed him toward her small house.
“What
about the rest of you?” Frost asked while staring at King Asmund. “Is everything settled?”
“I believe so,” King Asmund said, smiling politely at Princess Fiora. “I can’t imagine King Leaucault objecting to the arrangement.”
“You’re awfully forgiving of the fact the man had his herald pressure me into executing you,” Frost chuckled.
“Politics,” King Asmund sighed. “I never much cared for them. Give me a battlefield over a ballroom any day of the week.”
“A ballroom is just a different type of battlefield,” Fiora said smugly. “Where everybody is a potential enemy and the killing blow is delivered with words.”
“Well,” King Asmund laughed. “I’m hoping that having you at my side will make them far more interesting. Have you put any thought into when our next meeting should take place?”
“Next meeting?” Frost asked. “Isn’t it all taken care of?”
“There’s a proper process,” King Asmund said. “A princess needs to be publicly wooed while she considers the suitor. A marriage in under a year would give the public the impression that the woman is without morals and…”
“Dari!” Desdemona stomped, popping up behind King Asmund. “You gave me to Herald Frost on the spot!”
“Des!” King Asmund nearly jumped out of his skin. “How much of that did you hear?”
“Does that mean everybody in Rilia thinks that I’m a woman without morals?” Desdemona said worriedly. “Am I reflecting poorly on Herald Frost?”
“The only person reflecting poorly on Herald Frost is Herald Frost,” Fiora joked.
“Your situation was unique,” King Asmund said, patting his sister’s head. “I can promise you that nobody thinks poorly of you. Princess Fiora is the daughter of a neighboring country and they have traditions that must be adhered to.”
“But Brynn married Frost quickly,” Desdemona said insistently. “She only knew him a month before they were married.”
“Brynn Hilde was suspected of murdering her siblings and Herald Frost murdered Prince Erik at her behest,” Fiora’s mother said, glaring at her daughter. “She is not an example that a proper lady should seek to follow.”