Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (best adventure books to read .TXT) 📗

you, I wanted to greet you personally. My name is Valandra Sesaude. I am the King’s Shield, and the commander of the Trinity Guard. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Lia hopped up from the bed and crossed to meet her in the center of the room. “My name’s Lia. It’s nice to meet you!” She offered out a hand, which Valandra shook firmly. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you while we travel together!” After a brief pause, she looked back at me. “You should introduce yourself too, you know.”

“There’s no need. The King’s Shield already knows who I am,” I called out with a dismissive wave of my hand.

“That is correct, Lux,” Valandra replied. Her voice was deep and even, with a steely timbre that evoked a strength to match her imposing frame. “In addition to the mission briefing, I was informed of your past encounters with the city guard and given a summary of your abilities.”

I let out a derisive snort. “Oh? What, pray tell, are my abilities exactly? I’m interested to hear just how far off base the king’s informants are.” I stood from the bed and stretched my arms over my head. “By the way, you may not want to believe everything you hear about me from the city guard. They don’t seem to be an organization known for their investigative work or for following due process.”

Valandra scanned me for a moment, then nodded. “It seemed to be a very one-sided report by my estimation. Your described predilection for violence stood out as particularly odd, given that you arrived with a young woman who, by all accounts, was given multiple chances to leave. Based on their word alone, I did not expect her to be as healthy and whole as I find her to be now.”

Her candor blindsided me. Between the pleasant surprise of being given the benefit of the doubt, the stinging rebuke of being labeled a vicious sadist, and the absolutely neutral delivery of the information, it was all I could do to stand and keep my jaw from falling slack. I looked to Lia to gauge her reaction, but she was locked in an intense staring contest with the rug. Her cheeks burned bright red, which contrasted against the white of her knuckles clasped tightly behind her back.

“Now that I have had a chance to take my own measure of you,” Valandra continued, “I do not believe you are capable of that type of violence. A man like that would not look embarrassed as you do now; he would show pride in being recognized or anger in being dismissed.”

Embarrassed? The warmth in my face registered in my brain, and I realized I was also blushing red alongside Lia. The realization only caused me to blush further, which made my clench my jaw uncomfortably hard. I’m being played as easily as Virram.

“I’m glad I’ve passed your test of character,” I shot back, forcing an unsteady waver out of my voice. “I was worried that my chaperone might not approve of who I am as a person, but you’ve put those fears to rest. Now, do you have any other tests for me, or can we finally get out of here?”

Valandra cocked her head to one side. “I am not here to be a chaperone for you, Lux. I have been instructed to represent the interests of the Golden Throne in the coming mission to Attetsia. We will be working together to solve any issues encountered there. I am not your keeper.”

“We both know that isn’t true,” I countered, my confidence returned to me. “You’ve been ordered to make sure I don’t run off and abandon your king’s mission. You’ll follow me wherever I go so you can...how did Virram put it? ‘Deal with me, should the need arise’, I believe it was?” I crossed the room and stood face to face with her, my arms crossed in front of me. “We are not all comrades-in-arms fighting for the glory of the Golden Throne. I am cleaning up your country’s mess under threat of imprisonment or death, and you are my royal handler. End of story.”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as we stared at each other. Valandra’s olive eyes were impossible to read, though whether it was from years of training or a complete lack of emotions, I couldn’t tell. A small sniffle finally pulled my gaze away from Valandra and down to Lia. Her face was wet with tears as her shoulders shook softly from quiet, repressed sobs. I ran a comforting hand across her shoulders as I cursed myself silently. I can’t keep doing this to her.

“Our equipment will be ready in three days,” I said absentmindedly, not taking my eyes off of Lia. “Until then, we have other matters to attend to that don’t require a babysitter.” Circling around her, I placed an arm over Lia’s shoulders and moved to head for the door. “Though, you’ll follow us regardless, I’m sure.”

Lia coughed and wiped her face quickly with the back of her hand. “Where are we going now?”

“Well, I’m feeling a bit peckish. I’ve been craving asperfruit jam for weeks now, and I happen to know a little place in Tolamar that serves the best toast with homemade jam I’ve ever had.” I looked down to her out of the corner of my eye as I opened the door. “I suppose it’s the only place I’ve ever had it, but my point still stands.”

Lia’s face lit up with a brilliant smile. She clamped her arms around my torso in an awkward sideways hug and buried her face in the side of my arm. After a tight squeeze, she pulled away to look up at me. “Thank you,” she said, her voice cracking.

“Of course. It’s not like we were really going to stay here,” I chuckled, pointing a thumb back over my shoulder at Valandra and the small bedchamber. “A bit too crowded if you ask me.”

Tears rolled