Page 121 of Adversary to the Villain
“Allow me!” Benedict stepped forward, sweeping his fur cape behind him, gilded crown atop his head shining in the sunlight. “I made a deal with Captain Jones. Allow me to join in the funeral festivities or I’d await your arrival at the docks with an arsenal behind me—one I would not hold back from using.”
Captain Jones let out a ragged sigh, the immovable confidence in the man seeming cracked, but Trystan felt his anger in the narrowing of his expression. “They agreed to a temporary stay of violence if I allowed them aboard for the celebration-of-life dinner. I thought it safer than allowing you to be ambushed at port.”
Tatianna sighed, rubbing at her eyes. “I’m sorry they pulled you into this.”
“How?” The graveled voice cut in, and all eyes went to the man who stood tall, shoulders back, an air of princely royalty in his stance. Alexander was resembling his portrait more and more every day. His hair was tamed, his attire simple but clean, gold crown no longer atop his head but shining as a ring on his finger. Its original purpose before his curse. “How do you know they won’t be violent?”
“Well, if it isn’t Prince Alexander!” Benedict crowed. “My, you’re looking well. Is this the work of your girl, Amara?”
A flash of drab gray was dragged through the crowd, a small woman tossed into the middle of the confrontation. Winnifred Erodina. “Here she is.” Amara practically sneered through her smile. “Winnifred was nearly as effective as her mother is.” Amara paused with lethal intent. “Forgive me.Was.”
Winnifred’s shoulders shook, but her spine straightened, a determined set to her large green eyes. Putting a foot down, she made to stand but instead stepped on her skirts. She would have fallen if Alexander hadn’t appeared at her side, holding her elbow with a barely there touch, helping her steady herself, a dark look upon his face when he stared at the men who’d thrown her.
“I am at your service.” Winnifred moved her arm away from Alexander, curtsying before Benedict. “Your Highness.” Her words were meek and small, but her fists were clenched.
Benedict tipped Winnifred’s chin up, leering at her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Sage didn’t let that stand. Trystan knew she wouldn’t. Shoving Winnifred behind her, she shielded the girl with fire in her stare. “I didn’t agree to any such stay of violence. Touch her again and I’ll skin you alive.”
Benedict was merely amused by her threat. “I’m afraid it isn’t a choice, Ms. Sage. The moment you boarded the boat, you entered into an enchantment. There will be no possibility of violence against any aboard the boat, and if you try, the only one hurting will beyou. Isn’t that right, Lord Charles?”
A man to Benedict’s left nodded, his hair long and slicked back with an aggressive amount of hair oil, his small mustache curling up at the ends.
He looked like a caricature ad for the role of creepy sidekick. And then Trystan realized something. “You’re a magical specialist, aren’t you?”
Lord Charles’s beady eyes squinted. “Not any longer. My days of diagnosing people with their magic type are gone. I now work for my king. Gideon Sage left some of his blocking magic behind, and we were able to cast it about the boat, therefore turning a violent act on the other person. Like the rebounding of a shield.”
Creepy Sidekick spoke too much.
Sage shut her eyes tight. “Why? Why wouldn’t you just wait and ambush us?”
Benedict shrugged. “Because I desired a calm conversation, and my new chancellor advised this was likely the only option not ending in bloodshed.”
“But I do so love happy endings,” Sage drawled, folding her arms, that wicked gleam in her eyes telling Trystan she was thriving on the possibility of a fight, the wheels in her mind already turning. Thinking of all the ways she’d make Benedict pay.
Trystan didn’t believe in having “types” for partners. But that was his. Maniacal woman plotting murder.
So distracted by how her cheeks burned red beside her lips, he nearly missed the offhanded comment. “What new chancellor?”
Benedict appeared pleased when he swept out an arm. “Now, this is the very exciting part. Come, Chancellor. They’re eager to see you.”
A man moved through the array of bodies to stand beside Benedict—a knight whose face was covered with a helmet, but when he took it off…
Sage’s cheeks went from reddened with anger to pale with shock and fear.
“Hello, Evangelina.” The man smiled.
Sage’s voice wavered, but her stance was strong when she said, “Hello, Papa.”
Griffin Sage.
Chapter 61
Gideon
Meanwhile back at the manor…
When Gideon was young, the world had praised him for how like his father he was. Griffin had always been well admired in their village. A former Valiant Knight, the local butcher, devoted husband and father.
