Fuck, he’s not wrong.
Has she set them up? Is her deal to stay willingly all a ruse? Did she recommend he take Grim and Slode to deliver them all to Timber?
“Gentlemen,” Grim places a hand on each of their shoulders, “let us recall the nature of the lady in question and the motive for betrayal at this juncture.” He looks between them.
Slode’s shoulders slump, and he nods. “She brought closure to Kar’s family.”
She has been pivotal during the water crisis, uncovering Sven’s remains, killing Ives, and caring for his farm.
And, of course, Thora.
Then again, she had tried to escape him. Perhaps his decision to have Kar and Helga monitor her while he was gone was best.
“Happy morning!” A high-pitched, bubbly young woman hollers into the room. They can hear her bouncing into the study. “Mistress Brigitta?”
Again, Slode is the first to move. The young servant woman’s back shoves against his chest with his axe pressed at her throat. In terror, she scatters the fresh linens to the floor.
“Don’t yell. We just have a few questions.” Grim maintains a charming smile that has her swooning.
“Y-yes.”
“Is this not Queen Avina’s room?” At Sigvid’s gruff question, she jerks in Slode’s arms.
“It was, s-sir. Duke Samson requested that most of Her Majesty’s belongings be moved to storage to make room for his mistress.”
Well, that explains things.
“I need to know where Avina’s cat is kept?”
The servant shakes her head. “No. You will not hurt Nellie like you hurt Her Highness!”
He grumbles so loud he sounds like a damned animal growling at her. The girl’s eyes widen even more, and her struggles against Slode amplify. She is like a mouse attempting to thwart the clutches of a snake.
They are running out of time before someone discovers their presence in the castle, and despite their individual might as fighters, he is cautious about leading two men to confront the entire Timber army–the biggest in Treland.
“Avina is safe. We are rescuing her cat and need to locate Duke Samson.” Slode grumbles in her ear.
“You are Salt warriors. Drengr. Rumors out of the Treland Arena say Prince Sigvid captured Her Highness.” Her cheery tone wavers to the fear she should have felt in the first place. “You are here to kill all of us, aren’t you?”
The Salt Prince is in her face in a flash, forcing herto lean shakily away into Slode’s chest. “IamPrince Sigvid Thordsson. I took Queen Avina from the Arena, naked and screaming. But if you can believe it, she is safe and chooses to remain with me.”
There is no need to mention her current situation is temporary.
“What is your name?” Grim asks the servant girl whose ‘wrong place, wrong time’ situation seems to be breaking her quickly.
“Joetta.”
“Joetta, I sense you are loyal to Her Majesty.” Grim’s voice lulls even Sigvid to make him want to believe anything he says.
Does this man have a Sacred Stone power?
She nods. “She is wonderful. All the servants love her. She treats us respectfully and has done much to help the little people of Scarwood. I-I am even attending the school she developed for women.”
Sigvid cannot help but smirk hearing her talk about his Avina.
“And Nellie? Do you know who has been caring for her?” Grim coaxes.
“Oh, we have been keeping her down in the kitchen, in a small cupboard. That way, she is safe until our lady returns.”
