Though I am comfortable in this chair, I know I don’t quite fit in this scene. I never have. Not fully.
Right now, I am content to let Vesilane work while I think and wait for him to return. He’ll want to know about Mrath as soon as possible.
As if my thoughts call him, he enters the room with a flourish of inky darkness. Vesilane smiles at him, and he returns the gesture. She always made him so happy. Strange for a man of frowns and death.
“Forgive my late return. I had yet another meeting with the king. He grows desperate, and there is only one of his little trials left for his traitors.” He wrings his hands, pulling off black gloves before removing a thick black cloak.
He turns to his daughter. “How are you, my flower?” he asks joyfully, glancing at where I sit in the chair. His eyes make me stand, suddenly uncomfortable sitting in front of him.
“Good. Liana gave me all of these,” she gestures to the crystals.
He smiles. “I’m sure they will do well in your work.”
She smiles. “They already have.”
“Excellent,” he says, once again meeting my eyes.
Vesilane notices the shift in her father’s attention and smiles, going back to her work.
That’s when Castien crosses the room, approaching me.
My instincts to hurt this man are strong, but I resist them, clenching and unclenching myfists.
“This place seems safe enough,” I say, looking around the common room once again.
Castien smiles. “I know.”
“There was word,” I say before he can speak and say some utterly charming thing that puts me at ease. “Mrath is on the move back to the city. She will be here by tomorrow evening.”
His smile fades.
“And so the crown passes to another,” he murmurs.
I press my lips together. “I am not so sure. She’s failed against him twice now. She’s hemorrhaging troops.”
Castien nods.
“I have not fought yet,” he says.
Blood rushes in my ears. I remember very well what he is capable of. The death and destruction executed by his hand has haunted the world for centuries.
“Are you ready for that?” I ask.
He smiles.
“I have two very good reasons to return to the battlefield.”
Suddenly, he reaches out and grabs my hand. The contact zings through me, innocent and familiar and charged.
I suck in a breath.
“Father, I’ve never seen you fight. It should be a sight to behold,” Vesilane says from her table.
“And you won’t, my flower. You will stay here with Liana, where it is safe.”
She seems sad, but doesn’t push.
Hopefully, Mrath will win. I do not have the means to rescue Arlet and Vann myself.