I Married the Emperor to Kill Him novel · Chapter 18 of 24
Chapter 18: Salt and Charcoal
"Nightbell," Cassien said.
He was already on his feet.
The black crept down the silver cup.
Isandor looked at it, then at Cassien, and his lips moved.
"Honey," he said.
"Don't you dare make a joke."
Cassien kicked his chair back, got his arm around Isandor, and hauled him up out of his seat.
Isandor was heavy, and his knees did not want to hold him.
"Salt," Cassien shouted at the room. "A jug of water and every grain of salt in the kitchens. Now!"
Nobody moved.
Twelve dukes sat around the table staring at him with their mouths open.
"Now, or he's dead in an hour!"
A young servant bolted for the door.
"Charcoal," Cassien said to the white-bearded duke, because he was nearest the fire. "Out of that hearth. The black pieces, not the hot ones. Grind them in a cup."
The duke stared at him.
Then he got down on his old knees on the hearthstone and began picking cold charcoal out of the ashes with his bare hands.
Isandor's head dropped onto Cassien's shoulder.
"Don't sit," Cassien said into his ear. "Whatever you do, don't sit down. You walk."
The rest of this chapter is part of the paid portion of the series. Chapters 1–6 of I Married the Emperor to Kill Him are free to read — start from the beginning, then unlock the rest with coins in the app.
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