Page 80 of Sunsplitter

Avroz watched from the threshold. Expression unreadable.

“It’s fine,” Fionamara said. “I’ll wait out here.”

She spoke light, unbelligerent.

Suspiciously so.

Antal narrowed his eyes. “Fionamara, there’s no need to—”

“It’s fine. Go.” She made a shooing gesture.

Antal weighed her firm stance, the gleam of her eyes. Good things rarely happened when he left this woman alone.

With two daeyari at his back, he couldn’t risk arguing. He passed her an entreating look, begging that she not find any trouble in his absence.

Fionamara’s brow quirked in reply.

Antal let his tail brush her ankle as he turned, following his father and Ixli into their meeting with this territory’s Lord Daeyari.

The meeting room was nearly pitch black.

Antal’s vision shifted to greyscale in the dim light, easier on his dusk-honed eyes. Tall windows lined the wall, shuttered against the Summer sun. The smell of the sea receded, replaced by spiced tea.

“Ah, there you are. Welcome to the Summer Plane.”

The daeyari of this territory, Jazst, approached on gliding strides, flint gray skin and a tunic of long, airy fabric. His pale hair was braided and bound in a bun. Silver beads dangled from his antlers.

He held his arms out, palms up. Daeyari, not inclined to casual touch, reserved such gestures for the most distinguished visitor. Avroz laid his arms atop their host’s.

“An honor to see you, Councilor Avroz.” Jazst nodded sideways. “Ixli.” A subtle narrowing of scarlet eyes. “And Antal? What an unexpected surprise.”

He didn’t speak the name in apleasantway. Antal couldn’t recall them interacting beyond passes in hallways, Jazst’s occasional visits to council meetings.

But wasn’t it appropriate? Teeth everywhere, even where Antal didn’t expect.

“Please, let us speak.” Jazst gestured to cushions on the floor.

Avroz settled in a central seat, Ixli beside him. Antal sat as far from her as possible, his father an effective, if equally treacherous shield. Jazst sat across from his visitors, pouring tea into ceramic cups.

Six points marked his antlers. Old enough, he’d look down his nose at Antal’s meager curve. Antal accepted his tea and resigned himself to silence, letting Avroz handle the talking.

“I’m surprised to see you, Antal,” Jazst said. “I thought territory business would keep you occupied.”

Antal huffed a quiet curse at the attention. Truly, where had they crossed paths? Avroz sipped his tea, awaiting a reply—something thoughtful, to begin this meeting well.

“Finding this aedari will benefit all our territories.” Antal drank his tea, withholding a grimace. He’d never liked tea.

“Oh, not that.” Jazst clicked his tongue. “An aedari is concerning, but I have every confidence the council will see it hunted swiftly. I was referring to Tyvo’s decision to abdicate.”

Antal nearly spat out his tea. He forced himself steady, tail confined to a single twitch. Tyvo abdicating? When had that happened? They’d just argued a few days ago.

Avroz’s cup paused halfway to his mouth.

“And where have you heard this?” he asked mildly.

“Word travels quickly.” Jazst grinned. “Across the territories first, before it reaches you on the Twilit Plane. Now, this is just what I’ve heard, but supposedly, Tyvo claims he wants nothing to do with aedari. That, anddifficult neighbors.”

His glance at Antal was as pointed as Veshri’s antlers.