Queen Of Glass

Chapter 32

The King of Adarlan smiled. How convenient that Chaol had chosen now to submit to the lusts of his body.
Duke Perringtonn twirled one end of his moustache. "With all due respect, your excellency, do you think that both the assassin and your son will buy it?"
"They'll have to buy it," the king growled deeply. "Because either way, I'll cut the boy's throat if she doesn't return."
"He's Captain of the Guard though—how would it look if you suddenly slew him, your highness? It would reflect badly on your image..."
"I won't be the one to kill him, Perringtonn. There are plenty of other assassins out there looking for a well-paying job. And if we can't find one, which I highly doubt will happen, I believe that not even Chaol Wydrael will notice a vial of poison slipped into his drink."
"How can you be sure of the bitch's affections though, your majesty? Celaena Sardothien is a crafty wench—she could easily be using him for her own purposes."
The King of Adarlan laughed. "As my son pointed out to me the other day, she may be an assassin, but she's still human. She's attached to both my son and the Captain of the Guard."
"But—"
"Chaol Wydrael spent the night in her bedroom two nights ago."
Perringtonn's eyes widened, but he calmed himself quickly. "That whore seduced him?"
"He's a male—she's an attractive woman...of course he'd succumb to his body's wants."
"But your son..."
"Knows nothing of it. Nor will he know anything of this, is that understood?" the king commanded. Perringtonn nodded his head submissively.
There was a knock on the door and a sentry walked in. "Celaena Sardothien is here to see you, my Lord," he said. The king nodded and motioned for him to bring her forward. The guard beckoned behind him and in walked the assassin, her golden hair shimmering in the bright light of the chamber.
A feeling of repulsion swept through him. This was the first time he had actually had a meeting with her without his council present. She was a monster—and she disgusted him.
The guard closed the door behind him and stared forward, his face blank and ears closed. Better safe than sorry.
The assassin approached his throne, gave him a very stiff bow (for she was wearing pants) and stood before him, her hands clasped behind her back, ignoring Duke Perringtonn. Who was she to wear men's clothing, though fashioned for a woman, in his presence? Who was she to stand in such an informal, condescending manner? Disgusting demon from hell.
"Your boat leaves in two hours—is everything ready?" he snarled at her, his lips curling in revulsion. "Yes," she said bluntly, but quickly added in: "your majesty."

He gave her a long, cold look. He saw some sort of emotion pass over her face—fear, he hoped—but then she quickly hid it behind a cool mask of indifference. He wanted to strangle her.
"You understand that once you transfer boats, you are completely beyond our aid, correct?"
"Yes, your majesty."
"Wendlyn's 'Great Celebration' as they call it is only four months from now. That gives you plenty of time to get there, disguise yourself, and find a suitable place where you can secretly hear of the goings-on in the kingdom. Since refugees are not allowed to carry more than ten gold pieces on them, I won't be paying for your food and board. That means that you'll have to work to stay alive there, assassin."
"I know," she said with a bored tone that made him grate his teeth, "Your council already told me that working as a servant would be the most beneficial way to gain information and remain hidden." Pause. "Your majesty."
The king sneered at her, feeling his temper boiling. "It's about time you found a profession that suits you."
She said nothing, but he could see the anger flashing in her eyes. All she had to do was show any sign of physical aggression...just one sign and he'd hang her.
"Before or during the Great Celebration in Wendlyn, you are to retrieve Wendlyn's defensive plans—on paper—and fully exterminate their king. If you have time, kill his bastard son as well. The boy isn't much of a problem—he can be easily conquered once his father is six feet below."
She stiffened, but said nothing.
"Understood?" he barked.
"Perfectly," she said calmly.
"Perfectly, your majesty!" he bellowed at her.
"Perfectly, your majesty," she repeated with sweet venom.
The king stood up, almost bursting with hatred for the young woman, and stepped down from the dais on which his throne sat. He got within six inches of her before he stopped, intimidating her with his size. His cold, hard eyes stared down into her bright sapphire ones. "Now understand this, assassin. Should you fail to return, should you forget to return, you will pay dearly."
She raised her eyebrows. "If I'm far away from your clutches, who's to say that you can harm me?"
A shiver of pleasure ran down his body. It was time to bind her in shackles once more.
"If you don't return within five months, Celaena Sardothien, I'll have Chaol Wydrael killed."
She paled then, her mask fading into open shock and fear. "You...How could you do that? He's your Captain of the Guard!"
"He's easily replaceable. I have no use for a Captain of the Guard who sleeps with criminals anyway."
Her disbelief and hatred fueled him. "If you do not return within six months, I'll execute Paulehmen Ytger, brother to the princess. Seven months, I'll kill the former queen of Eyputiusunn. Eight months, I'll bury her husband beside her." He smiled wickedly at her, his eyes gleaming with malice. "You get the picture, don't you?"
She clenched her teeth and bit back on a snarl that was trying to break free of her throat. "Of course, your majesty. I'll have Wendlyn on a silver platter for you in no time at all."
Her impertinence made him seethe with rage. He wanted to pound her pretty face into a bloody pulp—he wanted to break every bone in her body. But she was his only chance at securing Wendlyn. Stupid bitch.