“Are you alright, my friend?” The king cut into his steak. “You’re not eating much.”
“What?” Hraesvelgr pulled himself out of his daydream. “Oh, I’m sorry. Lost in thought.” He quickly copied Talamaar by putting a piece of steak into his mouth.
“Don’t tell me I had the staff make this meal in vain. You usually eat your weight in steak alone.” He laughed heartily but dropped his smile, seeing that his friend was still thinking. “Is it your wound?”
The bullet wound in Melromarc’s shoulder throbbed painfully. He subconsciously rubbed his hand over it. “No, it’s not that.” He sighed, knowing the king wouldn’t stop badgering until he confessed what was wrong. “I just… I can’t stop thinking about her.”
Talamaar smiled. “That pirate? Are you irritated that she got the better of you?”
“She wouldn’t have gotten the better of me if that midshipman hadn’t been a fool. She took advantage of a sloppy situation.” Melromarc scarfed down a few bites of steak and mashed potatoes to ease his irritation. “It’s not that she won… It’s just… Her. Those thighs and those perfect child bearing hips. The way her eyes sparkle and her lips shine as if glossed. And that tail…” Hraesvelgr paused, remembering how touching the fur on Serenity’s tail had seemed to electrify her and how flustered she had been after.
His friend laughed, interrupting his thoughts. “It sounds like you’re letting the bedroom do the thinking for you again. Get down to the brothel and find a lass that looks like her. You’ll be fine by morning.”
Hraesvelgr got up in a huff and moved to the balcony. “It’s more than that, though. She was fierce but kind. I’ve rarely crossed blades with someone so skilled. But when I was shot, she was so gentle and caring. She went out of her way to make sure my wound was cleaned and bound properly. She could’ve left me to die, throw me overboard, anything other than helping me. And she went out of her way to tend to me herself.”
“Or helping herself. She knew I’d pay for my brother’s safe return.” Talamaar joined him. He put a hand on Melromarc’s shoulder. “There’s no need to mope, my friend. You’re Hraesvelgr Melromarc! You’re a protégé, you can have any girl you wish, and your best friend is the king. Nothing is stopping you from pursuing her.”
Melromarc laughed. “I suppose you’re right. Now, let’s return to this feast you prepared.”
“Yes, let’s. We’re celebrating after all!”
“What are we celebrating?” Both men took pints of ale from the servant.
“You’re safe return of course! And your promotion!”
“Promotion?” Hraesvelgr nearly dropped his drink in surprise.
“You are now Admiral Melromarc of the Royal Navy.” Talamaar took a long swig. “Though it won’t be official until after the ceremony at the end of the week.”
“Admiral Melromarc…?” Hraesvelgr was dumbfounded.
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