"Get your hands off me!"
Parisa had smacked him as hard as he had expected. He put his hand to his face as his lip swelled. He grinned and pulled his fingers away, blood forming in his mouth. "Great strike!" Terran praised.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Parisa demanded, putting her knife away.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you so. I merely wanted to apologize and wish you goodnight. It seems I struck a nerve."
The door swung open. A man with silver spectacles that wobbled precariously off his nose looked about the room for any threat. "What is going on in here?"
"M-Master Esmond," Parisa stuttered, out of fright or anger, Terran did not know.
"I heard yelling and came at the sound. I was on my way to do some late-night reading," Master Esmond muttered as he ripped Terran's hand away from Parisa's elbow. "Conduct like this will not be accepted in this palace. This kind of behavior may be acceptable in Sulphur, but not here."
Parisa glared at Terran with such spite he thought for a moment she would hit him again, but instead she stormed off. Master Esmond turned his enraged eyes to Terran and demanded, "You stay away from her."
"Rune Guildenhart," Terran said as he stuck a hand out for his colleague. "I know you. You're Esmond Middlestriker, aren't you? Councilman Middlestriker? You oversee the Dza'ya district."
"Yes," Esmond affirmed and brought his finger close to Terran's face. "I possess a good deal of power in this place and if you touch her, I will have you executed."
"I mean no harm," Terran sighed and sat back in the reading chair. "All I wished was to get to know her, and I had no idea she would be so touchy."
Esmond huffed, "She is none of your business."
Esmond left, slamming the library door behind him, and Terran let out a heavy sigh of relief. He knew what he had to do to understand people's positions in all situations and pushing people's buttons was one of the easiest ways to get into their heads. He wanted to know Parisa, but he would not bother her anymore. He now had learned more about Lord Talbot and the threat he posed. If Talbot really had killed his parents, he understood why. He was oppressive, greedy, spiteful, and full of contempt for all those who dared to stand in his way. Terran had to become just like him. If he wanted to become close to Lord Talbot, he would have to become like a son.
YOU ARE READING
Court of Snakes: This Desert Cage
FantasySome time in the distant future... In the city of Segeno, it's eat or be eaten. Someone has to rule the masses. A boy has lost his birthright. His parents killed. Dead and gone. A girl has lost her father. She means nothing to him now. The city of...
