Ash-colored Despair (11)
But the shiny pupils still stuck to her face. The man, his face contorted with a mixture of confusion, anger and strange excitement, muttered, looking down at her:
- Who the hell are you...
— It’s not visible at first glance? “Talia grinned, lifting her chin high. - That same “illegitimate, evil girl” you were talking about so much.
The man's face turned purple. He seemed to finally fully understand the situation - his eyes, clouded with shock, cleared.
The man exhaled hot air and shouted with rage:
“But still, be that as it may, what kind of disgrace are you allowing yourself to do?!” I am a knight and a nobleman! Where has it been seen that a nobleman was treated like this...!
— Is there a law that allows you to openly insult members of the imperial family? “Talia cut him off abruptly and curled her lips in a grin. “You humiliated the princess of the empire in front of everyone.” And he raised his hand to the future ruler. Your head should have been cut off. So just say thank you that everything was limited to a baptism of wine.
- I spoke only sincerely and out of devotion...!
— Leave the barking of dogs to the dogs.
Her eyes flashed with a poisonous light, and she bitingly finished off:
- Devotion? Sincerity? Do you even know what these words mean? Don't be funny. All you did was take out your personal anger on me.
The man took a step back, as if overcome by her poison.
Talia, looking at him mockingly, deliberately lowered her voice to that soft, sticky intonation with which she usually drove people to white heat:
- If you feel so sorry for Ayla, why not run to console her yourself? Who knows. What if that same impeccable princess, whom the entire empire adores, will condescend to you?
She slowly looked him up and down and snorted:
- Although no, it’s not good for you. My sister's taste, you see, is quite selective. My sister is picky about faces.
The man's face turned crimson, as if it was about to burst into flames.
Longboat silently watched as excitement gradually gave way to furious hostility in the man’s eyes. Fascination quickly turns into hatred, desire into anger. Almost all the men Thalia came into contact with reacted the same way.
The man, engorged with blood, leaned forward slightly, as if he was about to rush at her. A little more and he will break.
Then Longboat threw a hood over Talia’s head, grabbed the back of her head with one hand, and with the other pressed her tightly to his chest. Thalia inhaled sharply in surprise and twitched, trying to escape.
He held her tightly, carefully studying the man's expression. He was burning with humiliation, but in his gaze there was a desperate desire to snatch the woman from his hands.
The man’s teeth were grinding, his eyes were burning, and he exploded:
- Release her immediately! - he roared, gritting his teeth. - I will not tolerate such an insult!
-Can't you stand it? So what then? Will you fight with me with swords? Or what?..” Talia twisted out of her arms and almost screamed in his direction, but then suddenly fell silent. She finally felt the ominous aura enveloping Longboat.
He lowered his gaze, covered her face with a hood up to her chin, and then began to carefully study the reaction of those gathered.
Many looked stunned. But there were also many in whose eyes one could read genuine interest and even excitement. However, there were also openly hostile views.
It seems that the idea of gradually enlisting the support of vassals and building a strong base was bursting at the seams.
Longboat held back a sigh and again turned his gaze to the enraged huge man.
“I’ll have to repeat the question my wife asked.” What are you going to do if you're not going to "endure"?
- I demand an apology for the insult caused to me!
Longboat stroked his chin with a thoughtful look, as if pondering his words.
Alec Gutvan was an influential figure in the southeast. Given the reverence for military prowess among the Kans, he must have had many fanatically devoted followers.
He commanded an elite cavalry numbering hundreds of fighters and built his power on force. No wonder he was confident that he could easily control some twenty-year-old upstart. Most likely, this whole performance is an attempt to seize the initiative right away.
Longboat smiled wryly:
- Do you really want an apology?
- Undoubtedly! I demand that you formally apologize to me for the mockery and humiliation in front of everyone!
Longboat turned his gaze to Talia:
- What do you think? Are you ready to grant this request?
He was immediately pierced by a look filled with a sense of betrayal. The light of the chandelier sparkled in the dark blue irises that always scratched his soul.
- No way. I'd rather bite my tongue off than apologize.
- Heard? - He looked at the man again. A sticky, ominous fire of anger flashed in his bloodshot eyes.
The man muttered through his teeth:
“In that case... I ask you, Mr. Heir, to apologize on behalf of your wife.” Whatever happens, I will demand retribution for the insult caused.
Convulsive breaths were heard from different parts of the hall. Even those who had just tried to test Longboat seemed to find the demand unnecessarily arrogant.
Longboat thought for a moment and only then slowly spoke. At that very moment, someone's trembling hand stopped him.
He looked down and frowned when he saw her pale face. Talia, clutching his hand, hoarsely shouted:
- Don't you dare. If you decide to apologize, I will not forgive you.
Again something stirred inside. Previously, he considered this feeling something unpleasant. But now the thought flashed: what if this is not so?
He carefully removed her hand, stepped forward and, approaching closely, exhaled to the man who smelled of wine.
- We are from the East. If you want something, take it by force.
- This is...
The man frowned, a shadow of doubt crossing his face. Barkas calmly added:
“We’ll decide everything according to tradition.” If you defeat me in a duel, I will apologize to you. Right here, in front of everyone.
The hall exploded with excited noise.
But contrary to expectations, the man did not rush to accept the challenge. He looked appraisingly, as if weighing whether it was worth it. It suddenly occurred to Longboat that half of all this bravado was a mask.
And yet, finally, he spoke:
- Do you even understand what you're talking about? Here in the East, a duel is not a child's game at court. For us, this is a battle for life and death.
Thalia grabbed Barkas's sleeve sharply. He ignored it and replied in a calm tone:
- Scared, it turns out?
A vein bulged on the man's forehead. He looked at Longboat again, and suddenly grinned:
“At least you have the spirit of a real oriental man.”
- Answer?
- Fine. I accept the challenge.
As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of excited hubbub swept through the hall again.
Longboat nodded to Daren, who looked dumbfounded by what was happening:
- Prepare your horses and armor.
- But the sun has already set... Maybe we’ll wait until the morning...?
- Why wait? - He interrupted him, looking defiantly at the man. “The Kans learn to fight on horseback before they can walk.” The sunset is not a problem for us.
“Indeed,” he growled in response. - Alive! Bring my armor and weapons!
“Mr. Gutvan, please, let’s discuss this in the morning...” the young assistant tried to stop him, but the man roundhouse punched him in the face.
- Don't make me repeat it!
The young man, clutching his bleeding nose, hurriedly ran out of the hall.
Now there was tension in the air. Even the man himself seemed nervous to the limit. He spoke as if squeezing out every word:
- The fight will take place in front of everyone. If I win, you will immediately fall on your face in front of everyone and ask for forgiveness. When lives are at stake, the reward must be appropriate.
- B-Longboat!
Thalia, who had previously been frozen with fear, suddenly rushed forward, blocking him. He looked into her face for the first time. Her voice was quiet and confused:
“I... I’ll apologize myself.” I'm sorry, really... Just don't need all this.
Her voice, trembling, seemed to pierce him under the ribs. He pulled the hood over her face and looked calmly at the man.
- Fine. Let it be your way.
The man's smile grew wider. He was confident of victory - his face shone with predatory satisfaction.
Alec Gutvan licked his lips like a bear before its torn prey:
- And if you win, sir? What do you want?
At that moment, the servants ran into the hall with armor. Longboat took the glove from the nimble boy and shrugged.
His answer sounded dry even to himself:
- I have nothing to demand from you.
He slowly inserted his hand into the iron glove and calmly added:
“If I win, you will never speak again.”