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If he thought of a man as a bear, he knew to be just as brutal back. If the man was catty, he knew to be cunning and quick-witted around him. If he reminded him of a pig, all he needed was to direct a woman into his lap, give him meat, and he would be a good little piggy.

Women were the same. A mouse would mean he needed to be careful of her skittish nature. If she was a viper, he knew how to keep her in line. A gazelle would indicate to him that she must be treated properly to be compliant.

He had to know these things about the people of the court, since he was a rather... special guard for the king. His task was to keep him alive, as well as to council him.

Geryon had offered his services many years ago. After gaining Bradwick’s respect, he had allowed him to stand by the king at court.

Bradwick wouldn’t dare tell him what to do, and understood that although he protected him, the king didn’t rule him. Geryon wasn’t like his servants or other guards. He wasn’t on the same level as the people here.

He also didn’t truly care about Bradwick, since he had his own reasons for being here.

Once again, Geryon’s eyes trailed over the woman being presented to them.

She was petite in bone and body, but not in stature. Even though they weren’t on the same ground level, he thought she may be a little taller than him – a feat all on its own.

She does not appear weak.He could see the press of feminine muscle through the sleeves of her long dress, despite her slim figure.

The features of her face were soft around her pointed chin and jaw, but her cheek bones were high, her brow bone prominent. Her eyebrows were dark like her hair, arched with a defined point at the end. Although she obviously wore make-up around those cold, pale green eyes, it wasn’t overdone on the rest of her face.

Something dangled from her ears, but he couldn’t see them with her hair in the way.

The other women are prettier,but they didn’t hold his attention as well.Perhaps she will be boring like the others.

When she was dismissed, Geryon took himself from the rise he was on to follow.

He’d done this with each of the newcomers, wanting to understand them, since they were strangers.

She turned her back to a pillar, and he brought himself to the side of it, leaning the bottom of his boot and back against it. He kept himself out of view, listening to the conversations of her and the man who travelled with her.

Her uncle was as he expected: calm and intelligent, easy to stir to laughter by other men. The conversation hadn’t once brought up the king, but his brother was readily tossed into the conversation. They made fun of Duke Grayson until the conversation turned darker, speaking of the strange illness that had overcome the duke’s wife.

He reminds me of a tiger, cunning yet sharp fanged.He’d seen muscles under his suit, even though he had a small, fat gut. He obviously trained and had fought many battles in his life.

As a man, Geryon should have been offended by the conversation of the women, as well as with the things Lady Cecily had freely said. He wasn’t, although it did cause his brow to raise.

She has wit and is well-mannered, yet insolent.He brought his hand to his chin to rub his jaw thoughtfully.If she speaks so forwardly with Bradwick, I am unsure if he will like her.

The king was arrogant. He liked to surround himself with men of high intellect, but Geryon was unsure what kind of women he preferred, since he rarely took the time to speak to them. He didn’t care if people laughed at his jokes, so long as he found them hilarious, but he did like people to be entertaining.

He wasn’t sure if she hated men or if she just understood the unfair justice of her place as a woman.If she does understand and adhere to the hierarchy, then she would be a valuable person at court.

He’d thought the same thing of Wyetta.

“I do believe karma is a wonderful medicine,” she answered to Wyetta’s question.

She had said it so calmly, no undertone of humour or snarkiness, but he understood the warning behind it.She will not tolerate being ill-treated by anyone.Knowing that made Geryon grin.

If she does not entertain the king, she will surely entertain me while she is here.He hoped to overhear further conversations.I hope someone crosses her; I am interested to know how she reacts.

That spark of enjoyment from his eavesdropping was stolen when she was taken away to dance with her uncle.

With a scowl, he returned to stand next to the king.

“How were they?” Bradwick asked as he rested his cheek against his enclosed fist.

“You will enjoy conversing with Duke Vermont. He laughs easily but speaks with intelligence.”

“His niece?” This wasn’t the first time Bradwick had asked him questions about those he snooped on.