He jerks forward to find chains encircling his wrists and fastened to the wall at his back with zero slack.
“I cannot protect you here. The childish games you play in that naive brain of yours must cease! He is a mindless killer–a beast.” Sigvid now realizes the regal man must be King Ceowald Bloodstone of the Ridge.
And Avina’s father.
“I shall leave my men. I do not trust his berserker not to come out and play.” King Ceowald pats a hesitant hand on the cloaked figure’s shoulder before leaving. As if providing even a slim amount of comfort to his only child is too much for him.
Queen Avina.
Sigvid feels himself quivering in anticipation of tugging her body at the seams until she screams. Even chained across the room in rusty irons, he can almost taste her on his tongue. Oh, how he would savor the sweet flavor of his vengeance.
“We finally meet, my little Queen.” His voice strains against the non-use.
She shifts her hooded head. He could meet her concealed gaze if the flames from the sconces were a tad brighter.
Remove your cloak and let my eyes feast upon you. Give me the satisfaction of selecting which part of your body I will darken first.
“Good day, Sigvid Thordsson.” The torturer addresses him with a slimy smile. “Prince of the Salt Province, first son of the late King Thord Hilmirsson, and Lord Commander of the Salt Province troops. Forgive me if I do not call you Prince here. You’re nothing more than a canvas for my cold steel.”
Sigvid does not deign the man with a response. Instead, he keeps his eyes fixated on the cloaked Queen.
How did she surprise him? The Azure Bloom trick is not well-known outside of Salt. He is known to be a sore loser, and her win settles like curdled cream.
“Her Royal Highness Queen Avina of the Timber Province has questions for you.” The torturer continues.
Oh, does she now?Sigvid snarls. “And why does she not ask me herself?”
Before the torturer can respond, she leans off the wall with a hand extended toward her lackey, signaling him to wait. She steps forward until she stands in the center of the room, yet her entire form remains frustratingly hidden from him.
“She intends to, Lord Thordsson.” The same soft, firm voice that addressed him when he entered the castle's bowels now speaks to him.
But he had heard her voice before. But, dammit, where?
“Let us start with a simple question. Why did the Salt Province break the Peace Concord and attack the Timber Province? You decimated two villages, forcing King Rendel to declare war. Why? Why break from over five hundred winters of peace among us?”
A haunted laugh erupts from his chest at her formality. How would she respond if she knew the truth?
She hides from me, as if she knows her fate already. What a naive woman. She is adorable, yet she is not able to handle my answer.
“I asked you a question, Lord Thordsson!” Her voice wavers ever so slightly at the end.
He can fucking smell her fear rolling off her in waves, beckoning him to dive in and wreck everything she holds dear.
“Shall I?” The torturer asks, a little too eager.
“No!” She flips from stately to furious, “After everything he has done to the Timber people... he will answer for his crimes.”
Sigvid chuckles darkly at the emotion permeating her tone. “Timberpeople? Interesting, they are notyourpeople.”
“You will not answer my questions, but you pick apart my word choice?” She hisses, almost catlike.
Anger looks good on her. I intend to savor this.
“Just interesting you distance your Ridge roots from the married Timber. I cannot imagine why.”
Now, it is her turn to remain silent.
“Come closer,QueenAvina.” Sigvid snarls around her title.
