Read Broken World Book Four - The Staff of Law for Free Online Page B

it? I was trying to pluck up the
courage to give it to her, but I was afraid she’d try to beat me to
death with it.”
    Merina’s brows
rose. “You bought her a tonic?”
    “ Is that so strange?”
    “ From you, yes.”
    A bitter smile
curled his lips. “I couldn’t imagine Tyrander buying tonic for his
wife, I suppose.”
    “ And you couldn’t pluck up the courage? It sounds as though
you’re afraid of her.”
    “ I am. Talsy doesn’t like being told what to do.” Kieran’s
smile widened and Merina stared at him in patent astonishment,
which puzzled him until he remembered that Tyrander had had yellow,
decayed teeth while his were white and even.
    “ I suppose you’d have me believe that she’s hit
you.”
    “ Hit me?” He chuckled. “She’s given me a black eye, maybe two,
I can’t remember.”
    “ You’re lying! You beat me!”
    Kieran rolled
onto his side. “Ask her then. I didn’t beat you, Princess, I only
met you yesterday. I’ve never lifted a hand to a woman; my father
taught me better than that. And I don’t pick on anyone smaller than
me.”
    “ That must be hard,” Merina retorted. “There aren’t many bigger
than you.”
    “ Well, they don’t have to be bigger, just not a foot shorter
and less than half my weight.”
    “ That didn’t stop you before!” Her eyes glittered, her fierce
expression at odds with her gentle features.
    Kieran rolled
onto his back again and covered his face with his hands, driven to
distraction with frustration at the unending disbelief. “Aargh! Go
and talk to Talsy, Princess, maybe she can remember how many black
eyes she’s given me.”
    “ I’m sure you’ve coached her well.”
    “ Oh, god.” Kieran lowered his hands and stared at the roof.
“Don’t condemn me for my brother’s sins, please. It’s bad enough
that he tried to kill Talsy and me. Don’t let his curse live on
after his death. Wouldn’t it be ironic that you might do the very
thing he wanted to, because he hated me for being the brother he
never knew? I think he was so twisted because he knew he had a
twin, but never met me, while I was ignorant of that. It’s as if
his hand is reaching from the grave to try to drag me in there with
him.”
    “ Tyrander -”
    “ Kieran.”
    “ Changing your name doesn’t convince me of anything, but you
spin a good yarn.” Merina turned to leave.
    “ Princess.” Kieran sat up.
    She paused in
the doorway. “Yes?”
    “ Please tell me if Talsy gets any worse. I worry about
her.”
    “ How touching.” Merina vanished through the door, which slammed
in her wake.
    Kieran lay
back with a sigh. “Of course, you don’t believe that either.”
     
     
    Merina handed
Urlik to his nanny and marched to Talsy’s room, finding her picking
at a plate of roast fowl and steamed vegetables smothered with
gravy.
    Merina settled
on the bed beside her. “How are you feeling?”
    Talsy
shrugged. “Rotten.”
    “ Which is Tyrander’s pack?”
    “ Tyrander’s dead, but Kieran’s is over there in the
corner.”
    Merina went
over to the three satchels and found two dark bottles in the first
one she opened. Taking one back to the bed, she uncorked it and
sniffed the contents, her eyes watering at the powerful metallic
scent. It certainly smelt like a tonic.
    She handed it
to a hovering maid. “Take this to the doctor and ask him what it
is.”
    The maid
bobbed and departed, and Talsy eyed the Princess. “What was
that?”
    “ Tyrander says that he bought you a tonic.”
    “ Have you been talking to the dead?” Talsy said, becoming fed
up with the situation. “Kieran’s got a cheek. Does he think I look
so dreadful?”
    “ You are a little pale.”
    “ I feel a little pale. If he was here, I’d make him drink the
foul stuff himself.”
    Merina
frowned. “You don’t respect him?”
    “ Sure I do, when he doesn’t trample on my toes.”
    “ He has hit you!” The Princess looked triumphant.
    “ Did I say that?” Talsy laughed.