CHAPTER 51 Today Was a Good Day for Vengeance

CHAPTER 51

Today Was a Good Day for Vengeance

Rufus

I stared at the troll for a long moment.

“Actually,” Gerda corrected, “I’ve never crossed a bridge in the Empire of Sands, or the Untamed Ice Fields to the north. Or anywhere that doesn’t have a bridge, like Tevl or Plittsmouth.”

She named the underwater kingdom off the coast and the underwater city in the Dark Enchanted Forest. Plittsmouth was under Lake Loria, and was probably a short distance south of where we currently stood … or a great distance. I couldn’t be sure where the forest had put the lake today.

Granted, the Empire and the Ice Fields would take weeks to travel by foot; they probably weren’t worth it. But then the troll emphasized, “ Yet .”

The idea of having to file and register all of those bridges was daunting.

Then I had a thought. “I see. Well, we’ll meet you at the Black Fortress shortly, and I’ll have to arrange another audit.”

Gerda’s face fell as we trundled off. Today was a good day for vengeance.

“Why are you smiling like that?” my travel companion asked, curious. She picked up Donna’s reins, but it was merely for show.

I leaned back into the seat, satisfied, as I said, “I can’t stay long, so our dear king is going to have to process Gerda’s paperwork by himself.”

“What about Henrietta?” Bronwynn asked. “I thought she was helping out these days?”

“True.” The reminder dimmed my joy a bit, but I held out hope. I’d barely teased my king about his love life and the Dark Lord had sent me on a bunch of boring kingdom-level quests. With exquisite company I might add, but still … “I’ll take small pleasure in the extra work anyway. I’m being sent across the continent while my king stays home and enjoys a relaxing honeymoon. I’m allowed a bit of petty revenge.”

“Well, I enjoyed having you along for the ride, so maybe I’ll thank King Keith while you’re busy wishing him mild discomfort,” Bronwynn told me. Her relaxed shoulders and playful smile made my heart beat faster, and my tail started thumping violently, so much so that I reached back with my hand opposite Bronwynn so I could hopefully grab the offending limb with stealth.

“If there’s one good thing that came out of this,” I told the half giantess with a fierceness that burned in my chest, “it’s the time I’ve gotten to spend in your company.”

There was a pause while we both stared at each other. Her cheeks were touched with a slight blush … and I felt the heat rising in my ears.

Donna snorted at us, breaking the tension. We had just passed where the Gread Roads came to a crossroads. And then, on top of my notification tab that had been blinking incessantly for some time, a familiar feeling of overwhelming pressure climbed up my spine that was harder to ignore. We were home.

It was a beautiful late spring day, birds were buzzing, and flowers were in full bloom as Minstrel Bronwynn and I rode up the road to the Black Fortress, returning to the capital of the Dark Enchanted Forest.

The peaks of the castle came into view above the skyline. There weren’t any obvious signs of distress, just the usual army and merchants and civilians bustling about. I decided to continue ignoring the growing tension from my notifications.

They could wait until I was inside, bathed, and lying in my own bed.

There was a brief moment as we reached the drawbridge when I wondered if I should save Gerda the experience by making my way into the castle by some other route … but I decided otherwise. If the bridge troll wanted to control the most highly defended drawbridge in the entire Dark Enchanted Forest, then she could afford to pay the price. I was mildly curious how her penalty worked since I didn’t receive any experience points, but there was no way to know without asking her—and she didn’t seem open to sharing.

We wandered through the market and passed the inn.

Donna was immensely pleased to arrive in the royal stables. Even I could tell, and I didn’t have a magical bond connecting us like Bronwynn had. I took some time to help settle the mare and her mistress by unpacking the wagon and administering pets.

To Donna, not her mistress.

The mare seemed to like it when I rubbed the arch of her nose and scratched under her chin. She was a beautiful horse, and a very happy one after I ordered her the best oats and two bushels of enchanted carrots to be delivered to her stall .

“Commander General!” a voice squeaked from the stable entry, and I peeked over my shoulder. The ratkin Tuktuk stood there, his impressive frame a surprising contrast to such a high-pitched voice. “I’ve come to let you know that the king and queen wish to see you at dinner on the hour.”

“Tell me I have time to shower.” I grimaced.

Brownie stuck her head up from behind the wagon. “Did someone say shower? Who do I have to pay to get a bath as well?”

I grabbed my tail so fast that my claws grazed my skin. The ratkin bowed. “We started preparing the second you crossed the drawbridge. Hot water is awaiting you both upstairs.”

“Thank the gods!” Bronwynn exclaimed, dropping back down behind the wagon. She finished whatever she’d been doing back there and hurried out to join us. “Is it my usual room?”

“Yes, Minstrel.” Tuktuk bobbed again.

“Then what are we waiting for!” Bronwynn marched toward the stable exit. I smiled and followed the woman—only to stop short of running into her when she paused in the entrance. She glanced back at Donna and pointed threateningly at the mare. “Don’t do it.”

Donna made a sound not unlike a sigh. If horses could give exasperated sighs, it would sound like that. Since that is what I imagined it was.

“I’m sure Donna will be so well taken care of that she won’t think of anything except enjoying her stay,” I assured, exchanging meaningful looks with Tuktuk. Despite his size rivaling Bronwynn or myself, the ratkin was timid, and I could see him sweating from my fierce look. But he dabbed at his temple and nodded to show that he’d caught my order.

“We’ll make sure your horse is given nothing but the best, Minstrel Bronwynn! I promise!” Tuktuk squeaked. I almost felt bad … but I also knew that distracting Donna was the best way to give Bronwynn a relaxing evening. She deserved a relaxing evening after getting chased by murderous bandits. Between them and Gerda, that was two encounters in one day … which meant we were still in for one more between now and our arrival in Peldeep.

… Unless the fact that Gerda didn’t actually give us a riddle for her portal bridge meant it didn’t count as an encounter?

I should clarify with Bronwynn later.

Personally, I wanted to count dinner with the Dark Lord and the Dark Lady of the Dark Enchanted Forest as an encounter … but that was for me to face, not Bronwynn.

Of course, it was the after -dinner conversation I wasn’t looking forward to.