Master of the Dance Read Online Free PDF Page A

him to his knees with a savage thrust. Trelath caught himself with his hands and tried to jump up, his face twisted with rage and hate. Kerrion punched him in the side of the head, sending him sprawling on the cushions. Trelath rolled over and sat up, glaring at his brother.
    "Trelath is here to apologise, Minna-Satu, and listen to whatever it is that you have to say to him," Kerrion stated.
    Trelath spat blood. "I would rather rot in Damnation that apologise to your Jashimari whore!"
    "You will rot in Damnation, of that I am certain."
    "Not before you do, you bastard."
    Kerrion punched the Prince again, and blood sprayed from his nose. "My wife is waiting for your apology, Trelath!"
    Trelath spat at Minna, who whipped her skirt out of the way in time. Kerrion took hold of Trelath's tunic, jerking him away. As the King drew back his fist, Minna cried, "Enough! My chambers are not a place for your brawl. If you have not finished your fracas, go and do it elsewhere."
    Kerrion growled and released Trelath, who glared at the Elder Queen. "I shall never apologise to you, slut! I enjoyed your humiliation, and I would have enjoyed killing you. I still may."
    "I am certain that you would have, Trelath," Minna murmured. "You are a man of no breeding, and unworthy of your title. I have met commoners who are more honourable than you will ever be. As for my humiliation, it is you who were belittled by my treatment. I was merely distressed by it."
    Trelath swore and jumped up. "I am not listening to your insults, trollop!"
    Kerrion knocked him down again and stood over him. "Yes, you are, Trelath. You are not going anywhere until Minna has said what she wishes, unless you go through me."
    "I would enjoy that, brother. Let me catch my breath first."
    Minna rose and walked away, disliking his proximity. "I have little else to say, in any case, Trelath. This is not my vengeance, that is still to come. This is only a prelude to it. Your father was such a man as you, which is why I ordered his death, and that is one decision I have not regretted. Some people are suited to the task of wielding power, others only abuse it. There are far worthier men than you living in squalor, which is where you belong."
    Trelath glared at her. "Whore!"
    "Your insults mean nothing to me. Such words only carry weight when spoken by one who has earned my respect, and whose opinion I value. A man like you lacks the intellect to think of a suitable response, and therefore resorts to insults. Just as your traitorous actions belittled you, so do your foul words demean you in the eyes of your betters."
    "You are not my better, harlot!"
    "I am the Elder Queen of Jashimari, and therefore superior to a Prince. Now you may leave."
    Trelath spluttered, opening his mouth to vent fresh insults, but Kerrion gripped his arm and spun him about, marching him from the room before he had the chance to loose his spleen. When he had pushed Trelath into the corridor and closed the door, he turned to find Minna standing beside him. She stroked his bruised cheek, her eyes filled with concern.
    "He hurt you. I did not think he would fight back."
    "I knew he would. He is an arrogant bastard. It is just a few bruises and a bloody nose. He is hurt worse than me."
    She smiled. "I am glad you won."
    "Naturally. It would have been rather humiliating if I had lost."
    Minna walked back to her cushions, sinking down on them. "Perhaps Blade should kill them both tonight. Otherwise Trelath will be warned by Chaymin's death, and that will make it more difficult for him."
    Kerrion dipped his handkerchief into the basin of water on a table by the wall and wiped the blood off his face. "Do you think he could? And if he did, would it have the same effect on the others?"
    "We should ask him, I suppose."
    Minna tugged the satin cord to summon her maidens and sent one to fetch the assassin, dismissing the rest, then patted the cushion beside her, inviting Kerrion to sit. He studied the blood on his