King of the Seditious

You should wince. Savage thought. I caught you talking about me for all to hear.

You intend to try to evade me? Good luck.

Grimacing, Murah slowly turned toward the hooded figure in the corner, whom they’d assumed was half asleep over an empty tankard.

Me.

“Sorry.” Adrea winced. Ducking low to stay behind the bar, she crept around the corner and vanished under the stairs.

Hiding from me. Sharp girl.

“Coward.” Murah hissed after her.

You’re merely envious you’d not make it as far as she did. He rose, making the fabric of his long cloak whisper as he walked to the counter.

“Would you just go away?”

No.

“To your hut?” He offered. Lifting a hand to knock a hood back. Making the wood beads clink in the twisted strands of his light blonde hair.

“Have I expressed how much I hate when you’re here?”

You don’t. You hate that I’m in control when I’m here.

“You mean like a parent. Seeing what you’ve been up to in my absence and cleaning up whatever childish messes you’ve made without my approval?”

Typically mean.

“No, I mean being here trying to dominate me and the Lark!” She spat.

Trying?

“It’s every bit as much my dominion as yours.” He pointed out. “If you recall I was here long before you. When you were still just a tiny shit watching me with huge blue eyes. Begging for my attention.”

She gave him a withering look. “That’s not true!”

Yes, it is.

“Isn’t it?”

“It was only six years ago. I was not so little.”

No. You were a young woman already. One who’d endured much suffering.

More than a woman should…

“Perhaps not little. Perhaps only naïve.” He softened at the memory.

She tossed him a black look before refocusing on cleaning the tankards from a bucket of water sitting next to her. “You think you know so much about me.”

I do. What don’t I know, Murah?

“I know all about you, Barter Queen.” His eyes hungrily roved her. As they always did.

All about you.

“I know what you want.” She glared.

I’m certain you do!

“Of course, you do. I’ve made no effort in hiding it. Ever.”

“Belline would be more than willing to accommodate.”

Who’s that? He didn’t have the faintest idea which barmaid she spoke of. One of them, surely.

“Many women would.” He dismissed. Making her look up. “But they aren’t you.”

“You pretend you’re not gallivanting all over the country taking whatever woman strikes your fancy when you’re about?”

Pretending?

Who gave her this idiotic idea?

Belline? He glanced over his shoulder at the other two barmaids meandering Winter’s Haven. Which the hell one is that? Unable to decide he refocused on Dimurah.

They don’t matter anyway.

“Why do you think I’m always so hungry when I get here?” His voice dropped as he leaned over the counter toward her. Resting a boot on the chair, as though intending to come over the wood bar.

She leaned forward to meet his face, hoping to deter him from that action. “I think you’re always hungry.”

For you.

“Ravenous.” He grinned. Leaning back and slapping the counter. But assessing her still. “If you worry about what I do when I’m away. Come with me.”

“Aren’t you worried I’d get hurt?” She asked in an overly emphasized woman’s voice.

No. I wouldn’t let them get close enough.

His face turned to a scowl. “Less worried with you next to me. Then you back here getting into whatever scraps you do when I’m away.”

“I get in more scraps when you’re here and I have to clean up your messes.” She said bitterly.

Don’t invite the messes in, and I won’t spill them on your floor.

“Ah, you mean smoothing over any angst with your clientele?” He said boredly.

She set the last tankard down with a thump. And slapped both hands to the counter to glare at him. “I make a business of having as many contacts and customers in place as I can. Everywhere I go.”

I know. I point them in your direction.

And your skill makes them return.

“And why do you suppose they’re so willing to work with you?” His piercing eyes narrowed.

“Because I make good on my word!”

And because they respect you. I demand it.

“And when they’re unsatisfied and they threaten you. Whose name do you use to keep them at bay?”

Her mouth went dry, and she looked away.

That’s right. Mine.

“You’re welcome.” He turned and left the counter. Pausing as he opened the door. “Murah?”

“What?”

“I’ll be back tonight. And you’ll be here.”

Not at home pretending to be sick to evade me.

“Or I’ll hunt you down in your warm bed, in your hut, surrounded by your bodyguards…”

God knows they’re not enough to slow me down.

“I’ll find you.” He persisted despite her eyes rounding. “And if I find you there…Well, you’ll be right where I want you anyway…” He half-shrugged.

She shrieked and he closed the door to block the sound of her ranting. Walking away chuckling.

I love being back.