A thin sliver of the Salt Prince grapples with a violent need to disembowel anyone who has ever touched his little Queen, even if the more significant portion of him wants to strike her down.
What happened to only wanting to kill her with my bare hands? The thought of sinking into her fucking eyes like they were the path to the Depths breaks me to my core. Damn this fucking woman. She deserves to die!
“What does it mean to be a lackey of Rendel?” Sigvid is rigid.
Face’s smooth features twist into a sideways smirk that features his all-too-pink lips.
“Where oh where to begin?” He chuckles as he settles his back against the fencing, dividing the archers from the targets. “Rendel hand-picked myself and another man to serve his darker tastes, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I do not.” Sigvid found everything about Face irksome, fromhis scarless skin to his boyish features and haughty demeanor. He looks like a man who needs a solid punch.
“Rendel enjoyed playing with women of various winters. Our job was to bring them to him and dispose of them.” Face looked at Sigvid as if he should understand.
He did not.
Sigvid found anyone who exploits those who can not defend themselves to be despicable. “You served a monster who enjoyed abusing women.” He growls, feeling his blood boil.
Face tosses his shiny brown locks over his chiseled shoulder with a head jerk. “We served only in his private chambers, ensuring the women he chose did not misbehave.”
Like running away.
“Rendel hired us halfway through his marriage to his second wife. Yet, somehow, my favorite was always Avina.” He licks his lips and closes his eyes in a sick display of savoring a memory.
Why am I so godsdamn furious?
“She fought him every breath of their marriage, tooth and nail. He would frequently have us hold her down so he could fill her barren womb with his seed. My favorite instance was when we held her still for his seed to take while he plowed three other women over top of her.” Face shivers in apparent glee.
Sigvid’s knuckles turn white.
I will bleed you dry. You will die with scars on your smooth skin. Why is this inciting me? Fucking Abyss!
“He ended up tossing her in the dungeon at the end. But, after that barbarian prince brutally murdered Rendel, the Council demanded to know the location of the missing Queen.” He shakes his head. “She sold us out like the little ungrateful bitch she is. The rest of the Manchineels placated her by sending us here. I think partially to hide his true nature.”
Sigvid releases his fists and smiles at Face. “And what was his true nature?”
Face sighs. “The Council wanted to call him a monster, but he was a genius. If only he had killed Avina instead of imprisoning her for two weeks, maybe I wouldn’t be here.”
“From how you talk, you deserve to be here.” Sigvid imaginesstrangling him to death. No, having him drawn and quartered might be nice. Feed his penis to him while he is still alive. Or rip his lungs out through his back.
Endless possibilities.
“Because I followed instructions and had to put up with a whiny bitch of a Queen? Which Province did you say you were from?”
“Salt. I waged war with Timber for two long winters.”
“Wait a second,” Face steps closer, raising his voice. “Are you Sigvid Thordsson?”
Every combatant in the surrounding area stops their actions.
“The one and only.” Sigvid cracks his neck.
Face bends over laughing. “You had me going there. Who could loathe her more than Sigvid Thordsson? Welcome to the group, man. Here’s to the death of the Queen.” Face extends a hand in greeting with a broad smile.
Sigvid grabs his hand and squeezes until he feels bones shatter beneath his grip.
“What the shit!” He screams, backing away with his withered, limp hand clutched to his chest.
Champion even looks confused, glancing back and forth between them. “Beast is still acclimating.” He says nervously.
