“You think Magni would let you go?”
Her shoulders dropped. “No. He’s very protective.”
“I would call it possessive,” I muttered. “He sees you as an inferior, you know.”
She frowned. “But men are by definition stronger than women.”
I scoffed loudly. “Women are as smart and capable as men. Don’t for one second believe otherwise. I’ve seen women compete with men and win plenty of times.”
“You have?” Laura sat up on her knees and leaned forward. “How?”
“I’ve seen women and men apply for the same job and the woman get it because she was better qualified. I’ve seen women and men race in track and a woman was the fastest. It happens all the time, Laura.”
Laura’s eyes were shining but she was shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe it. “Incredible. I would love to beat Magni at something but he’s so good at everything.”
“Yeah, especially at bossing you around.”
She looked down. “He can be a bit much sometimes.”
“They all can. Not least his brother,” I said dryly. “Khan tricked me and I don’t think he even feels bad about it.”
“No, I don’t think he does. Khan is very intelligent and known to be superior in intellect. That’s why he’s such a good ruler.”
“Is he now?”
“What are you talking about?” a deep voice asked and we turned our heads to see Magni and Boulder approaching.
“Oh, just what a good ruler Khan is,” Laura said innocently.
Boulder gave me a questioning look but I nodded my head, confirming what she had said.
“He’ll be glad to hear you think so,” Magni noted and crossed his arms. “Laura, it’s time to pack up. I have business to attend to and we need to go.”
She looked down at her half-eaten pie and gave me a low sigh. She clearly didn’t want to challenge him so I did it for her. “We’re almost done eating; just give us a few more minutes and Laura will be right with you,” I said.
He muttered a grumpy “hurry up,” and walked away with Boulder.
“I couldn’t stand someone bossing me around like that – you have to set your boundaries, Laura,” I whispered.
Laura took a big bite of her pie and looked after Magni with her eyes narrowed and a thoughtful expression.
CHAPTER 14
Spies
Boulder
“So, how was the wedding night?” Magni asked me before stuffing his mouth with a large piece of chicken.
“Good,” I said and popped a meatball in my mouth.
“Did she submit to you willingly?”
“Sort of.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“We kissed and fooled around but she didn’t want to go all the way.”
