Page 131 of Spar of Hearts

“No ship is sailed alone. My Co-Commander and I must credit our fair-handed crew,” she said, gesturing to Roderick. He smiled but refrained from showing any teeth. “Although your compliment does beg a question, Your Highness.”

One of two queries that scared her the most.

“Do go on.” The Prince took a sip of wine.

The formal exchange was already exhausting Anya. It was astounding how a mere month aboard the Lupus Star had sickened her to high society. How pointless it all was. No one saying quite what they mean, sharpening their sentences between sips of splendorous drinks, bows and curtsies and hierarchies unspoken, but a lethal faux pas to overstep. The thought of returning to that world on Eteross made her want to heave, but leaving Cyrus to rule was still not an option.

Before anxiety could get a toehold, she glanced at Roderick. His lips quirked up in a lopsided smile, bearing a hint of fangs.

At least she knew who would hold her at the end of those bone-weary days.

She took a deep, steadying breath. “We would like to be reunited with our ship and crew, the Lupus Star. She’s a three-masted schooner with a claw mark flag. Respectfully, I am confident that if a foreign ship such as her was found off the coast of your lands, you would be the first to know about it.”

The Prince calmly impaled a piece of mutton, examining it on his fork before answering. “Your assessment is correct, Princess. The watchman on the western wall noticed your ship in distress and had it towed in.”

Relief rushed through her. The goblet nearly slipped from her fingers as the tension in her limbs eased.

“I trust the crew is unharmed?”

With a nod, the Prince said, “Yes. They were brought to the port of Fellenick’s Fjord, a little ways from here. They were put into a mana-induced slumber, of course.”

The table jostled as Roderick shot up. “You did WHAT?” His fangs were visible now, fully unearthed by his rage.

“A simple sleeping spell,” the Prince said, waving him off. He paid no mind to Roderick’s fanged display.

Anya sent a pleading look at Roderick. She was just as worried, but outbursts now wouldn’t do them any good. After a moment, he slowly sat, but the tension in his shoulders and worried brow remained.

“Your Highness,” Roderick choked out through gritted teeth, “there were children aboard. Surely they cannot go without food and water for that long.”

Laughing, the Prince held up his wine glass. “I wouldn’t expect one of your kind to know much about magic. The Vampires had the weakest mana affinity of all. So I can only assume it is nonexistent in their half-breed children as well.”

“We’re called Centarians,” Roderick bit out, tapping his goblet down with so much force the dishware clattered.

“Ah, yes. Noted. Allow me to explain then. The spell has life-sustaining properties. They will be in the same condition as you left them.”

“That is a relief, Your Highness,” Anya said. It wasn’t, but this was all part of the game. “We appreciate your hospitality despite our unexpected visit. I understand our appearance is most unorthodox. But I assure you, we would not be here if the situation were not dire. There are dozens of sick children, and nothing is working to cure them. Our healing mages are confident that they could heal them, but as the magic of Elf-descended Elvani is quite limited, they rely heavily on mana stones to supplement their abilities. I believe the people of Valeria could be most advantageous allies and trade partners to Aquillas, if only we could establish trade between our kingdoms. We have brought the finest Valeria has to offer on the Lupus Star.”

“Which is?”

His query boosted her confidence. She canted her head, picturing the inventory in the hull. “Three chests of gold, one of precious gems, six barrels of aged mead, ten sets of Kobold-forged armor, and a hundred yards of purple silk cloth.”

“I have no use for such things,” he said plainly.

“Perhaps your people do, if we could be permitted to trade with them directly.”

Raising a hand for silence, the Prince said, “Let us continue our meal. I will think about what I require.”

Anya took a deep breath. The question was out in the open now. The Prince seemed hesitant, but it wasn’t an outright no. And until she heard that, she would keep up all the auspices of a proper diplomat.

They continued eating with only the clink and scrape of forks and knives to break up the silence. Every swallow felt thick and forced under the Prince’s unsettling gaze. In this form, he looked every bit a human but still watched her with the viperous gaze of a hungry animal. She was so focused on avoiding his eye, she hadn’t even noticed the servants flitting about to clear the table.

The Prince stood. Anya and Roderick mirrored him. “I believe our negotiations may be more productive in my study, Princess,” he said. He stepped to her and offered his arm again. Anya hesitated, looking back at Roderick. His hands were clenched tight, but his eyes were rife with worry. He would be a nervous wreck, but it had to be done. If a few minutes ruler to ruler was what it would take to convince the Prince to trade, it would be worth it.

She accepted his arm. “Yes, I suppose. But what of my consort?” The impersonal term left a foul taste on her tongue, but formalities were formalities. Roderick started popping his knuckles again.

“He can wait in the courtyard. This won’t take long.”

Chapter 44