A TOAST

Written on October 29, 2021 (♏︎)

Author's Notes: Written for Whumptober 2021 for prompt No. 23: You Break It, You Buy It! (Ransom).

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Gustav knew that no ransom was coming—nor the original payment. He'd bluffed, and he'd failed, and he was left with naught by the master of Limberry and nobody to save either of them.

"Sorry about your boys." He offered the Marquis the bottle he'd been nursing, letting some liquor pour over his cracked lips. "If it comforts your grace, I'll probably be longer at dying than most of them."

Even before he heard the door open and steel drawn, he quaffed the rest of his drink. He hoped to be a little numb when he met the coming blade.

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