So I turned, bowed, and waved before climbing in. I could still hear them cheering a block away. If the Sea King had been there, or even one of his knights, I would have been embarrassed. But as it was, I started to grin. Those crazy morons had thrown a party because I was about to fuck a king. How could I not love them for that?
Under the sea, it was an honor to be selected as a tribute to one of the Sea Dragon Kings. So, I guess the party wasn't so silly. Tributes weren't selected by the Kings, so it was even more special if the King chose you from among the tributes to be his. I didn't want to be anyone's bed slave, not even temporarily. And not even a Sea Dragon King. Still, I couldn't help but feel honored to have been chosen by one of them. Especially that one.
“Calm yourself,” I whispered as I looked around the carriage.
It wasn't a royal carriage, but it was really nice, with plush velvet seats and curtains over the windows. I had to stop myself from stealing one of the crystals that hung from the lanterns. Just for a memento, you know? Clenching my hands to keep them from doing just that, I sat back and pretended I was honorable, or at least respectable.
I snorted. One look at me and anyone would know I wasn't either of those things. Even without my tattoos showing, only sailors dressed as I did, with a collection of styles. And sailors were rarely respectable, even the ones on real merchant vessels. Still, I could pretend. I leaned against the wall so I could stare out the window without looking as if I were gawking.
The neighborhoods got nicer and nicer as we rolled through the city. I started to frown. I expected to be taken to a hotel. A nice one, of course, but a hotel nonetheless. But we passed by the nicest hotel in Renris and kept going. I'd scoped the city with a few of the crew, so I knew that the only thing beyond this neighborhood was the castle. It made sense that a visiting Sea Dragon King would be staying with the Dragon King of Gavemor, but would he really bring some unknown Neraky sailor into the King's house to fuck in his pretty guest bed?
The carriage pulled up to the gates of the castle.
“Holy fuck,” I whispered.
“I've got that visitor I mentioned,” the driver said to the guards.
The guards snickered and sauntered over to the window to have a look at me.
Putting on my best pirate leer, I leaned out and winked my nictating membranes. “How's it going, fellas?” I drawled.
“Shit!” one of them exclaimed.
“Fishfucker!” the other said.
I don't think he meant it to be an insult. It was just an automatic reaction. More an expletive than a slur.
Still, it annoyed me enough to say, “Care to repeat that? I think the Sea Dragon King—you know, the guy I'm going to fuck tonight—might be interested in hearing what you think about his choice of bed mate.”
“Uh, I didn't mean anything by it, sir,” the guard—a big Hulfrin with beautiful face stripes—stammered. “I was juststartled to see a pi—uh, I mean, a sailor. We don't get a lot of sailors visiting the castle.”
“No, I imagine you don't,” I said with a smirk. “Relax, boys. I'm from a merchant vessel, not a pirate ship. I haven't brought any weapons with me tonight. You know, beyond my dick.”
The other guard, a Deldin with long silken ears, snorted a laugh before smacking the side of the carriage. “Go on in.”
“Thank you kindly,” I said and sat back.
Honestly, I wasn't the kind of man to say things like to strangers. But there was a certain image that needed to be upheld when a Neraky was on land. We didn't have large physiques as a whole—I was much smaller than both guards—but we could be vicious. If necessary. Maintaining our fierce reputation ensured that we rarely had the need.
The carriage stopped before the main doors of the castle.
“Holy fuck, they're taking me in through the front?” I whispered.
The driver jumped down and opened the carriage door for me. “Just go on in, sir. One of His Majesty's knights is waiting for you in the entry hall.”
“Thank you,” I said and jumped out, then climbed the steps to the Royal Castle of Gavemor.
Holy. Fuck.
Two guards stood outside, one on either side of the enormous double doors. They opened the doors for me without a word. I smoothed a lock of hair back behind my ear and glancedup. The castle loomed over me and, for a second, it felt as if it might fall on my head. I hurried in before I lost my nerve.
“There you are,” a man said. It was the same Sea Dragon who had spoken to me earlier. “This way.”
“Yes, Sir,” I said. That whole reputation thing wasn't meant for Dragons—not land or sea. Neraky were smarter than that. Attitude with Dragons only got you killed.
I followed the Sea Dragon knight through magnificent corridors full of wealth I'd never dreamed existed, my jaw threatening to drop every few seconds. I'd seen grandeur before, but this shit was on another level. There was enough treasure strewn carelessly about to set me up for life. My hands itched to take something. Anything.
Courtiers and servants alike gawked at me. I was glad I'd worn my hair down. Up and those gawks would have turned into gasps.
