Chapter 38: Frenzy

Marion had taken great care to secure a knife for Eris before they entered the grand hall. The popping of champagne bottles echoed like the whistle of an arrow volley. The laughter that followed was hollow, almost uncanny. It sounded the way that Marion expected hyenas to sound, though the noise was too human for that. There was a sharp inhale as the elf glanced at the prince, offering a small nod and then their arm. It was back to playing fancy, pretending to scrape, bow, and grovel.

Marion hated all of the above. They hated that Eris had to do much the same, to grovel and snivel and play the part of a helpless puppet. Eris was not a puppet, nor was he helpless. Watching Eris dip his head and bow at the waist filled the knight with a strange anger. So much of this was fake. So much of this was staged. Eris had pleaded with Marion to wear their helmet and they had obliged him.