Bruno’s point of view
A low table was between the chairs where the king and I sat. On the table was a bottle and two glasses. I sat comfortably because I was tired, and my legs were heavier than they should. The king poured the drink for me, and pushed the glass toward me. I looked at it for a moment, then picked it up.
“You did what was required,” the king said.
“Don’t,” I said flatly, he looked at me with a slight grin.
“Don’t make it sound like honor,” I added. “ It wasn’t honor, it was a transaction and we both know what it was.” He said nothing to that, he drank, and I also drank.
“The woman you love,” the king said after a long silence. “ Is she recovering?”
My grip tightened on the glass. “Yes,” I replied.
“You haven’t been with her.” It wasn’t a question. I looked at hi
