She ran into the kitchen. Alifair stood still, sure that she should only move when told.
He glared at her. “Well? Where is the food?”
“We are bringing it out next, sir. We’re normally on time when we start early. We—”
“Shut up and bring us food,” Krol ordered. His guards filled in around him.
Dipping her head as she assumed a servant would to a king, she hurried to the kitchen. Such a joke to pretend she would bow to any of those monsters in earnest. Thankfully, Hessie had loaded trays for them to carry out.
Not that any of the servants had been fed yet.
Alifair whispered to Linota, “Don’t let his bark bother you. Wipe your face and come back with me. Never look like prey to them.”
Nodding quickly, Linota lifted her skirt to wipe her eyes.
Once she, Linota, and another woman had distributed the trays of fried rabbit with carrots, a strange potato salad, wine for their cups, and bread to fill the table, they backed away to stand against a far wall.
Krol liked to have them near, so when he lifted a finger, someone came running. To him, that was true power.
His arrogant act was standard at the meals, which was why she’d tried to endear herself to Hessie. Not a simple task when dealing with a woman who liked no one and had a face no mother could love. Correction. Hessie lived to keep Krol happy. To do that, she needed everyone to pull their weight.
If Alifair had not come here specifically to rescue Rez and hopefully get out as well, surviving this place would be even harder. If she did manage to make it home to America, she was going to find a way to send help for the other captives here.
She pretended to listen to the two other women standing next to her and whispering to each other, but she cared nothing for their gossip. She needed to hear what had happened to Bosse.
One of the guards finally asked Krol, “How long will the hunters pursue the wolf shifter?”
How many hunters?she wondered.
“Until they find him if they wish to be paid and keep their heads.”
Several burly guards paused long enough from eating to snort a laugh, which pulled a smirk from Krol.
Another guard asked, “Are they to bring Bosse back alive?”
Shrugging, Krol said, “I have offered more money for him to be returned alive, but if it comes down to killing him to survive, I have agreed as long as they bring me his head.”
Alifair did her best not to react. She had to clamp her lips shut tight, or she’d have thrown up. She hadn’t considered that Krol would allow anyone to kill Bosse without his being able to watch. She never wanted Bosse to return, but she had thought that if they captured him, he’d have another chance to escape.
Of course, he said he would outrun them or fight to the death.
“What of your new... creature? Will it kill him as well?”
Krol bragged, “My Lammogo has the exceptional ability to retrieve anything I wish brought here without harming what it carries.”
“But it paralyzed the sheep,” another guard mentioned.
“Only for a short while,” Krol countered, waving his fork. “That sheep was active before you slaughtered it, right?”
The guard nodded, raising his eyebrows. “It was.”
Krol swung a rabbit leg around when he said, “See? No damage, but I told my Lammogo to return to the castle by one o’clock today. Unfortunately, I have another task for my pet that takes precedence.” He ate the rest of his rabbit and put his fork down, which drew the attention of every guard sitting with him. They usually ate fast with no idea when Krol would call an end to any meal.
Leaning back against the heavy wood chair, Krol announced, “I will be leaving as soon as it returns. I want the castle locked down. I will allow game to be delivered to the kitchen again. You are responsible for anyone who comes on these grounds. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.” All the heads nodded.
His lead guard, Eriko, asked, “How long will you be gone, sir?”
