This love is like a curse (21)
When a pale shining naked muscular body appeared in front of her in the light of the fire, her tongue seemed to stick to the roof of her mouth - she could not move.
Swallowing hard, she slowly glanced at him. It looked like he had just washed off the dust of the road - his blond hair seemed darker than usual, water was dripping from it, and his shoulders, as if carved from stone, and his broad back glistened with moisture.
Thalia watched with her eyes as the drops rolled down the convex lines of tense muscles, and hastily looked away, feeling her face flush with heat. Even his loose pants were soaked through and stuck to his long strong legs.
The last time she saw him so defenseless was when she was fourteen years old and she, capricious, ordered him to enter the lake.
Thalia moistened her dry lips with effort and tried to collect the words scattered in her throat.
At this moment, a dry laugh was heard very close by:
“For the word “hierarchy” to come out of your mouth... It’s for dogs to laugh,” he said with poisonous mockery.
Confusion quickly gave way to irritation, and she, narrowing her eyes, snorted:
— Hierarchy is needed precisely so that the superiors order the inferiors. And you, knights, are obliged to obey me as a representative of the imperial blood. So make it clear to your people whose orders are more important. Unless, of course, you want them to be whipped for disobedience.
Longboat, thrusting his hands into the sleeves of his shirt, cast an icy glance in her direction.
Thalia tensed. She already knew how mercilessly this usually silent man could hurt if touched.
She closely watched his mouth, like a snake ready to bite, but Longboat only grabbed the cloak hanging on the wall and, without deigning her a single glance, left the tent.
Thalia, staring after him in amazement, immediately rushed after him. It would be better if he attacked her with hurtful words or at least an angry look - then she wouldn’t feel such rage. But the girl could not bear to be ignored, as if she were a roadside stone.
Having caught up with him, she shouted:
- Do you have to ignore my words in order to assert yourself?
Her sharp voice made the soldiers stop and look back.
But Barkas gave no sign that he heard. He walked forward, not paying attention to her, as if she did not exist. And this made her blood boil.
She tugged sharply at his sleeve. Apparently, not wanting his clothes to be torn in front of the servants, he finally stopped.
Looking into his arrogant face, Thalia said, pronouncing every word:
- How long have you been saving this in yourself? Now that you don’t have to obey the “annoying girl,” you’re probably very happy, right? That's why you don't even want to pretend to listen!
“If this even remotely resembled words, maybe I would pretend to listen to your speeches,” he said coldly, sharply shaking her fingers from the hem of her clothes.
Thalia clenched her teeth. He brushed her touch off his shirt as if it were something dirty. This humiliation hit her like a whip.
Maybe the world would be a better place if this person just disappeared? Then she wouldn't have to feel so sorry.
She flashed a hostile glance in his direction, and then suddenly burst into a rough laugh.
- Are my words not clear enough? Well, then, maybe we can switch to animal language? Like your barbarian ancestors? Maybe you'll understand this way?
The faces of the servants, who were watching in fear what was happening, turned white with horror. But Longboat just silently looked down at her. And Talia continued her nonsense:
- Do you want me to pretend to neigh? Anyway, you seem to get along better with horses. You love them more than people.
“Yes, chatting with a horse is much better than chatting with you,” Barkas grinned. “At least my stallion doesn’t whine all day long, driving everyone crazy.”
Thalia's shoulders shook with humiliation. Longboat, looking at this, only curled his lips, as if not believing what was happening.
“You blush even from such words,” he said slowly. “But don’t hesitate to hit below the belt.” Do you think others can't stoop to your level? Can't they be as cruel?
She gave him an angry look. The desire to object froze in my throat.
What do you even know about me?
Who, if not me, knows how merciless people can be? I felt their cruelty to the bone - and it made me become the same. If I don't trample you first, you'll trample me!
But such words only exposed her weakness.
She took a step back and, as if she had not just screamed, put a calm, detached mask on her face.
“I didn’t come to start meaningless squabbles.” I have already said: I want my camp to be moved to another place. Order the knights to pack their things immediately.
Longboat took a deep breath, as if gathering the last of his patience.
“I don’t intend to indulge your every whim.” Don't have any illusions. Go back to your place and rest.
“But I don’t demand that the entire camp be moved!” Why are you refusing?
“I don’t have to account for my decisions.”
- I am the emperor's daughter! If I order something, you must...
- Enough.
Suddenly a thick shadow loomed over her.
Thalia shuddered, her shoulders involuntarily tightened. Longboat, discarding even formal politeness, coldly threw in her face:
“My daily reserve of patience for you is exhausted.” It's time to understand when to retreat.
His face, despite the harsh tone, retained imperturbable sophistication. Even in anger he did not lose his dignity. And it was precisely this feeling of superiority that made him even more unbearable in Talia’s eyes.
“Take her highness to her chambers,” straightening up, he ordered the knights standing nearby.
The men watching their altercation immediately carried out the order.
- Please, Your Highness.
Thalia cast a furious glance at the knights blocking her path, then looked back at Longboat.
But he had already left. She watched his retreating figure intently - flawless, imperturbable - and clenched her teeth.
He didn't even bother to ask why she wanted to change places. Her thoughts don't bother him.
“It would be better if he just died.”
She was starting to feel sick of herself—of the one who had made a fuss so that nothing would happen to him.
Anyway, at the end of this journey he will belong to someone else. A man who will never be hers... Even if she sees his corpse tomorrow morning, what difference does it make now?
Turning sharply, Thalia left.