Chapter 63. Dealing Out The Punishment

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TW: attempted rape

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'We should have a picnic at Dragonmont someday,' Diane said, lying on the blanket and looking at the sky. 'It's as peaceful as here but with dragons.'

There was a small pause.

'I cannot tell whether you are joking or not,' Otto said, sitting beside her and popping a grape in his mouth. 'Because who puts the words "dragons" and "peaceful" in the same sentence?'

Diane laughed and sat up, stretching her arms up and allowing her untied dress to slip further off her shoulders. It was definitely a good idea to whisk Otto away for a private picnic. Not only were the food and the quiet good, but sex was also a nice bonus.

'Come here, let me tie it.'

'You know how?'

'Diane, I am not inept.'

Diane raised an eyebrow.

'I have untied your dresses numerous times. I'll just do that but backwards,' Otto added, making a waving motion with his hands and urging Diane to scoot closer. After some consideration, she did so, allowing Otto to try his hand at tying the dress. After all, the ties weren't always as simple as they might look at first glance.

Diane watched the river flow past them, disappearing where the hill declined. The sun was starting to set, and they should probably come back to camp before it was dark and someone noticed they were missing... but she did not wish to disturb their peace. Not yet.

'All done,' Otto said a little bit more proudly than the tying of a dress required.

Diane smiled, 'Thank you.'

He pulled her closer, kissing her neck, and Diane let him do it, allowing herself to relax in his embrace. Who would have thought she would feel so safe with him? Otto was still very much her opponent as he hadn't renounced his plans to put Aegon on the Iron Throne... yet. He could be a danger on a political level, but on a personal level, he was safe. Diane didn't let her guard down, not fully anyway, but there was a belief somewhere at the back of her mind that Otto wouldn't try to hurt her when they were together as they were now. She could allow herself to turn her back on him, even if just for a moment.

Diane's eyes suddenly flew open, and all of her body tensed.

A creak of a broken stick under someone's boot.

The smell of cheap wine.

The croak of a disturbed crow that flew away among the trees.

Not a feeling precisely. Not something she saw. Or heard. Or smelt. But it was here. A threat... no, a warning. As if the forest itself tipped into her mind just for a second to warn her about incoming danger.

Aliyah said that Molfars were supposed to be one with nature. Diane never considered that it meant that nature might talk back... in a sense, anyway. She was no Molfar, but her mother was. And this connection, albeit not as strong as it could have been, was inherited.

And a forest just warned her that someone was coming.

'Get up,' Diane said.

'What?' Otto asked in confusion.

'Get up. We are leaving now.'

'Why?'

'Just do it!' Diane exclaimed, pushing herself back to her feet. Perhaps it was the way she said it or the look in her eyes, but Otto's gaze became alarmed, and he did exactly what he was told.

They were halfway to their horses when three figures stumbled out of the trees. All young men, clearly intoxicated and armed. If Diane had to guess, they were part of the Royal Hunt in one way or another.

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