Page 1 of The Night Prince 6

The look of horror and pain on Aquilan’s face had Declan’s jaw tightening and his hands fisting at his sides.

Are you thinking of getting involved, Rahven? In Aravae and Separatist politics? His father’s voice slithered through his mind with that hint of a chuckle. Unwise.

Declan said nothing. Vex had scarpered off somewhere leaving Aquilan to deal with this even though it had been his idea to come here. His father had no idea who Rohannan was. And even if he’d dabbled with humans in the past, he didn’t really understand what it was like to truly be among them, live among them, believe he was one of them. But an outsider among them, too.

“They were trying to get wood to build their homes and keep their families warm. Woods nearby to where these people have lived their whole lives,” Rohannan continued. “Can you imagine not allowing that? Chasing off children for that?”

He is laying it on a bit thick, Vex murmured.

But Aquilan wasn’t seeing it that way. Not from the way his shoulders curled forward in empathy and one hand fluttered up by his face. Scaring a child would never be acceptable in his view. And, in truth, it wasn’t right. But this wasn’t the whole story. And the whole story needed to be told.

“There must be some mistake,” Aquilan began.

“There was no mistake,” Rohannan countered. “He made it clear that those woods didn’t belong to us. That we had no right to take wood from there. If they don’t belong to us, who do they belong to?”

Ah, well, likely the large Houses Aquilan had to bribe with the land to get them to come here in the first place, Vex chuckled.

Declan’s gaze slid up the street as he noted people moving against the flow of traffic as if to take their places in a play. To pop out on a mark. For the Sun King to notice. And then another sad story to be told. Declan’s lips flattened into a tight line.

Ah, it looks like he’s arranged a show here for Aquilan. And on short notice, too. To start with that little boy was a nice touch! Really gets the tear ducts flowing. Rohannan is a more clever man than I thought, Vex said with a touch of approval.

That just had Declan’s anger flaring hotter. That his father had any admiration for Rohannan was galling. It, again, just showed what Vex did not know. What he was so above he didn’t even see from his perch on his throne.

I wouldn’t admire him, Father. He’s not who he pretends to be, Declan suddenly spoke.

He had very good reasons to actively dislike Rohannan. Ones that only he knew, because he had kept them to himself. But that had just changed. And words, which were never his friends, suddenly felt like weapons–like arrows–that he could unleash in a torrent.

Oh, I don’t admire him! I’m just pleased he’s not a complete idiot, Vex responded.

I wouldn’t go that far. Just wait.

I defer to you, my son. I am fascinated to see your first foray into politics.

Rohannan continued, “So you see, your brother has made clear that we own nothing on our own world and–”

“Tell the rest,” Declan cut in. He didn’t raise his voice. He never did. He never had to.

Rohannan turned his head towards Declan, his lips parting as if with confusion. Aquilan, who appeared stricken like a graceful fawn, turned towards him as well, blinking. Declan’s rage flared hotter. Aquilan believed Rohannan, because he had no reason not to. Aquilan loved people and children. He would immediately feel sympathy for the Separatists especially after witnessing a cherub-cheeked child back away from him in terror. He would seek to help them. He would bring this tale to Vesslan, but since he wouldn’t know the whole truth, his brother would demolish it and him. Any wrongdoing would be consumed by Aquilan looking like a fool…

“Tell the rest, Rohannan,” Declan repeated, but this time using the Separate leader’s name.

Rohannan put his hands on his hips. The three troglodytes with him clustered closer. They jostled each other, but there were no more smiles on their faces. Declan wasn’t surprised. He knew their type. They were the same ones who had attacked Finley on the playground, three on one, until he had come and evened the score. He had commanded them against going up against orcs, but part of him wished they would. Except he wouldn’t want the orcs to get in trouble after they creamed these three idiots.

“Are you saying our leader is a liar there, Declan?” Warren hitched his pants up.

“Finley, let’s refresh Rohannan’s memory on this,” Declan said coldly, ignoring the big boy. He would deal with him when he had to. Not before. Violence with Aquilan here was to be a last resort. He needed to keep things civil. Until they couldn’t be anymore. “Are the Separatists unable to collect wood from the forests?”

Finley, who had been frowning and clearly debating whether to speak up, stepped forward, pushing his glasses up his nose. “They are. They just need to apply for permits.”

“Permits? Paperwork? For our own forests!” Rohannan attempted to wiggle out.

But Declan saw the hurt lessen in the Sun King’s beautiful face and confusion begin to bloom.

“Did they get those permits, Finley?” Declan continued.

“No, they did not,” Finley answered, a slight smile forming on his lips. “They refused to follow the rules.”

“Wait, wait,” Rhalyf said, coming over as well. “Finley, you told me this story the other day, didn’t you?”