So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)(93)

Brigitta blinked. She could see the Loure River from her balcony. “Isn’t the river too wide for that?”

The general waved off her objection. “I jumped halfway across onto a moving barge, then jumped to the other side. Nothing to it.”

Mador snorted. “I once jumped off a cliff onto the back of dragon, slit its throat, then dove into a lake and swam ashore.”

The admiral shook his head. “That’s nothing. One time I harpooned a whale, and it dragged me off the ship and across the ocean, but I climbed up the rope onto the whale’s back and stabbed it to death with my sword.”

Brigitta frowned. “You killed a whale?”

The general glared at him, then turned to Mador. “One time I jumped onto the back of a dragon and slit its throat, too, but then another dragon attacked, breathing fire. So I leaped onto the back of the second dragon while I was ablaze and strangled it to death with my bare hands.”

“That seems rather unlikely,” Brigitta began, but Mador interrupted her.

“Oh, everybody’s done that. One time I killed three dragons in midair, while I was on fire, then hurtled to the ground and broke both legs, but I still made it back to camp.”

A movement by the entrance drew her attention, and she spotted Lord Argus arriving with four men. Rupert. He was keeping his face cold and expressionless, but she could feel his rage as if it stirred the air around her. He must have seen the painting of the battle.

Gunther strode toward Lord Argus and dragged him aside for a private talk, ignoring the four men who bowed as he passed them by. No doubt he was telling Argus that he wanted Leo to send back Rupert’s dead body, not knowing that the real Rupert was only a few feet away.

Rupert shot them a wry look. He must have heard the conversation. Then he turned toward the crowd and his gaze immediately fastened on her.

Her heart pounded. You don’t know him, she reminded herself. She turned back to the top three contenders, but they were so intent on out-bragging each other, they seemed completely unaware of her presence. She backed away slowly, then headed across the room. Courtiers parted as she wove through the crowd till she was standing in front of the last four contenders.

They bowed. A blond who looked Tourinian introduced himself as Five, and the others as Four, Six, and Seven.

She smiled at them, trying not to look at Rupert any longer than the others. He was keeping his gaze cool, though for a second, when their eyes met, she felt a surge of heat.

“I wanted to wish you good luck for tomorrow’s contest. It will be a horse race. Hopefully, you are all accustomed to riding.” She shot Rupert a questioning look.

He inclined his head. “I’m sure we’ll do well. Thank you for your concern.”

As the other men assured her they would do their best, her heart wrenched in her chest. Rupert had to win the competition. She didn’t want any of these men to be harmed.

“The stars should be very bright tonight,” Rupert said. “I wager they’ll look beautiful over the Loure River.”

Was he telling her to go onto her balcony tonight?

“Brigitta!” Gunther stormed toward her and grabbed her by the arm. “What are you doing with the losers?” he growled as he led her away.

“Oh, I didn’t realize…” she murmured.

Gunther led her onto the dais, and from there he faced the crowd. “Tomorrow morning, the competition for Princess Brigitta begins!”

The crowd clapped and cheered.

Brigitta’s cheeks grew warm as she stood there, feeling like the grand prize at a county fair. The top three contenders watched her with smug, self-assured looks.

“Let the feast begin!” Gunther sat down, and everyone else followed suit.

The top three were sitting at the first table close by. Her gaze drifted to the last table at the back of the room. Rupert’s eyes met hers, and she felt the longing between them sizzling through the air.

She focused on her food while her mind repeated the same thought over and over. Tonight she would see him.





Chapter Twenty-Four

“You look exhausted,” Sister Fallyn told Brigitta as she laid the midnight-blue silk gown on a shelf in the dressing room. “You should go straight to bed.”

Brigitta slipped a robe over her sheer nightgown. It was well past midnight, since the feast had gone on and on. By the fifth course, she’d felt stuffed, but there had still been five more courses to go. “I think I’ll go onto the balcony for some fresh air.”

She tied the sash and strode into her bedroom. Hopefully Rupert would spot her white robe in the dark, and then he would know which balcony was hers.

Sister Fallyn followed her into the bedroom. “I don’t think you should—” A bark interrupted her.

Brody was back? Brigitta hurried to the door that opened onto the sitting room and spotted the black-and-white dog sitting by the settee. One of the guards must have let him into her suite.

“What have you been up to?” She smiled as he trotted up to her. “Do you have news?”

Brody yipped in response, then headed toward the dressing room. Brigitta had stashed some clothing for him there.

Sister Fallyn sighed. “As I was saying, I don’t think you should go onto the balcony. The last time you did, Hilda fussed at you. And she could arrive any minute now.”