Book 3: Chapter 80: Proclamation
The four of us, brewers all, walked in lockstep towards the Royal Box. The King beamed down at us when we stopped a respectful distance away, his pleasure evident.
I felt my knees grow weak, and arms go heavy, and beside me Lapis actually stopped and quivered. So this is what max mortal Charisma felt like! It was nothing to the absolute fear and awe I’d felt looking at Barck. It wasn’t anything so trite as mind control, and I’d felt similar when talking to powerful CEOs and businesspeople when they’d come to visit the winery. So, I steeled my will and hooked my arm through Lapis’s, practically dragging her along.
The King watched us with amusement, his mouth ticking up on one side.
“You may approach Us.” He said. “Speak your clans that they may be heard and recognized.”
“I’m Brewer Peter Roughtuff, Yer Majesty.” I did my best to nail those capital letters, but dang it was hard.
“Carrotson.” Lapis squeaked.
The King looked her up and down once, then continued as though he hadn’t noticed a thing. “You stand before me as the two greatest Brewers in Our country. Is this true?”
“Y - Y-” Lapis attempted.
I took a step forward. “We can nae claim that so easily, Yer Majesty. We may have performed tha best in this contest, but there could be a better Brewer somewhere out there. Because aren’t the greatest craftsdwarves on Erd held here within our borders?”