“You eat a man’s sausage?”
“Only if he’s lucky,” I mumble.
“Land dwellers are confusing.”
Coming from a creature that dumps her eggs and runs.
“I see. And is the sword safe?” the king asks.
“I believe so, but can’t speak to your security levels down here.”
“I would very much like to view it.”
“Sorry, first diurnal on the job. I didn’t realize it was a ‘bring your pointy weapon to work’ diurnal. My bad.”
The king throws his head back and laughs. “I believe you are here to brighten up our dull existence, Daphne. There’s something special about you I haven’t seen in a long time.”
Aww, shucks. He was making me all smoochy inside. I’ve got a cute nickname, and I’m special. Knights better step it up to compete.
“I’m Poseidon,” he announces. “I rule the seas, the lakes, and the ponds.”
“Water sports are your thing. Got it.”
“I need to talk you through the legend of the sword and ensure you keep its sanctity.”
“About that. I was wondering if I could do that from the land.”
He rears back. “Above the sea?”
I tuck a lock of my hair behind my ear, and it floats back out. Ugh. “Yes, you see, I have people up there who love me. Well, a sister and the capons definitely love me. The knights I’m working on.”
“The Lady of the Lake must remain here until a worthy knight claims the sword.”
I grin. “The knights are who I want to get back to.”
He groans and swipes a hand down his face. “Haven’t we learned this lesson? Water dwellers do not mix well with land dwellers.”
“Well, great, because I am a land dweller at heart. So shoot me up top, and I’ll do a daily check in.”
“Enough talk of leaving. I have arranged a feast in your honor. You will remain here until you feel the call.”
“After that, I perish. Glorious future.”
He grins. “But you will be forever immortalized. The Idols will reward you.”
Those swankers can kiss my pale peachy butt. I wasn’t abandoning my dream; it had only recently come to me. “I can see this is a tricky topic, so let’s get some sausage, then circle back to my place of residence.”
He rises, and I attempt to not glance at his short floaty skirt. “What is sausage?” he asks.
I have to get out of here.
Chapter
Three
This is a far cry from a Hallows feast. Where are the cakes? The berry wine? Where is the damn sausage? I can’t possibly survive here. My heart won’t take it. Perhaps before I was spoiled with orgasms and sumptuous sausage, I could have been happy here, but my knights have corrupted me, and now nothing else will suffice.
Poseidon leads the way around the edge of a grand ballroom, the sea creatures all finding cause to stare at me like I’m an attraction. I stick my tongue out at a lobster who retreats under the table like I might curse him. Silly crustacean. Even if I could curse, I wouldn’t throw it around carelessly. I would be a careful curser. Charming would be my first victim. I would curse him to forever wear the glass shoe he insists on shoving on the feet of helpless maidens. Just the one shoe, so he has to hobble around. My lips curve in a smile. I like that version of the Cinderella tale a lot. I should have been given control over the narrative.
