90
She can't hold back a laugh, no matter how hard she tries, even in the face of Logan's glowers. She ruled on the fate of Mistpeak today, naturally returning it to the Dwellers and aborting all of Logan's policies. The logging will stop, hunting will resume, and they will henceforth have dominion over the mountain and its resources. Sabine was pleased, to say the least, and pledged his support anew.
It would have been a successful day all round, had Sabine not accidentally (it certainly was not her design) run into her brother. There had not been much time wasted in the two men coming to blows. And Sabine pretty effortlessly beating Logan soundly. By the time Boulder had hauled his master off and out of the castle, Logan had a black eye, a split lip and a rather large lump rising on his right cheek, a gash from one of Sabine's rings along with it.
Sympathy—in between her laughter—ends up with her tending to him, in the privacy of his quarters. Like a boy trying to be brave, he tries to push away her tenderness with sulkiness and growls.
She persists. "Hold still, brother."
He hisses and draws away when she cleans the injury on his cheek with a damp cloth. "I would if you didn't press so hard!"
She rolls her eyes, puts her hand to his jaw and jerks him forwards again. "Stop being such a baby. I have some salve and healing potions -"
"I do not need potions," Logan mutters. "If I take potions my reputation will never survive."
Elsbeth stifles a giggle without much success. "Logan, you just got beaten up by an octogenarian. I am unsure your reputation is still intact at all."
He glares a little more, and Elsbeth decides to gentle her tone, speaking to him as she would to any child. "Hey—if it helps, you're my brave little soldier."
He pushes her hand away. "I think there are limits to what a man has to put up with from his Queen, Your Majesty."
She pulls back, satisfied that his face is clean and will heal well, and smiles softly, "Ah, but not from his sister. There I have all the right in the world to tease you."