Not to Cause Offense Ch. 01

"I do a great deal of traveling," Terin tried, awkwardly backing away from the woman curled up by his feet and hoping he didn't look too conspicuous. "You must understand that the routes I take are often treacherous and the work I do very dangerous. Although I am in awe of your magnanimity, it is not feasible for me to own a slave. I could not take proper care of her."

"Nonsense!" Lord Vareill laughed. "Before a month is up, you shall the realize the true value of a gift slave from my stables and you shall find that it is well worth any perceived inconvenience."

"You misunderstand me," Terin protested, being sure to choose his words carefully. "This is not a matter of inconvenience, but one of practicality."

"It would be impractical of you to refuse my gift, Monster Hunter," Lord Vareill replied, and Terin noticed that his eyes had suddenly grown dark. "I know that in other regions, it is considered rude to accept a gift without rebuffing it first. But here in Loroathe, we do not play those games."

"I am not playing games with you, my lord—"

"Aren't you?"

"—and I don't intend to cause offense."

"Then don't."

"My lord," Terin sighed, exasperated. "I am not ungrateful, but where I come from—"

"Where you come from they sleep on straw mats laid out on dirt floors. Will you refuse the warm bed I offer you, too? And the food I put on your plate, simply because it is not of that region? Is our hospitality not to your standards, Monster Hunter?"

"Lord Vareill..." Terin growled, struggling to bite his tongue and still talk. "Thank you, but I—"

Suddenly, Terin felt a tug on his sleeve and looked over to see that Thaddeus had latched onto his shirt and was subtly shaking his head. This was obviously more than a formality, then. Terin could see that Thaddeus' eyes were screaming, but it didn't matter. He would not take a slave and violate the laws of his homeland just to sate some blue blood's bitter ego.

"My lord," Terin tried again, wrenching himself free of Thaddeus. "Thank you for your offer, but I must humbly insist that you—"

Terin was midway through his sentence when he could suddenly feel Thaddeus press up against him and then a puff of hot breath on his ear. To everyone else in the room, it merely looked as if Thaddeus had stepped in closer and was tilting his head curiously toward the slave girl. But then Terin head it—the lowest and most anxious of mouse-like whispers. "Take her!" Thaddeus hissed, and Terin felt his eyes grow wide. Any attempt to speak within the throne room was a massive risk. The weight of those words stopped Terin dead in his tracks and he found himself questioning everything he had been certain of just moments before.

"You were saying, Monster Hunter?" Lord Vareill enquired, and Terin could see that his eyes had somehow managed to grow still darker and his voice was tinged with just the tiniest hint of warning. "Well?"

Terin didn't like his options one bit, but he could always accept the woman now and try to give her back later, right? At the very least, he needed to hang on to her until Thaddeus could speak freely again and explain why Lord Vareill was so determined to impose this "gift" on him.

"Th-thank you, my lord, for this, uh, fabulous present," Terin quickly sputtered, and he offered up a grin that he hoped would look sincere. Or, at least, sincere enough. "I shall graciously accept it, but only if you're certain I'm worthy."

"Is that why you're hesitant?" Lord Vareill laughed, his eyes alight with mischievous glee—eyes that were starting to make Terin immensely uncomfortable. "The Great Lancet Slayer isn't sure that he's worthy?"

"I'm only trying to be polite, my lord."

"In excess, even modesty can become obscene," Lord Vareill replied curtly. "But I get ahead of myself and I'm sure you've had an exhausting journey. I'll have Thaddeus take you to your room now and we can review the details of your job in the morning."