Page 27 of The Night Prince 6

“What can we do about that? What should we do?” Aquilan asked.

“He’s… we should maybe… I mean, could you make it so no one notices if we go up to him and ask him to step down from the stage?” Finley suggested.

Aquilan saw that Haera, too, was staring up at Vex and then back at them. She looked rather helpless. And alarmed. Very alarmed. But why? Because Vex was doing something unexpected? In truth, that seemed to be his usual activity.

“If anyone can talk him down off the stage, it’s you, Finley,” Rhalyf said.

“I… I could try,” Finley offered, flapping his hands. “But maybe he’s just there to–to play music?”

“You’ve made that a question,” Declan pointed out. But he was frowning. “If Father has determined to do this… none of us can make him stop.”

“Determined to do what exactly? What can we do against him even if it is bad?” Rhalyf asked and Aquilan could feel the magic rise in him as if to protect them all against an unknown threat.

He put a hand on his best friend’s arm to steady him. “He’s on stage. With a guitar. It looks like he intends to play music.”

“What he intends has been debated throughout the ages. One bets upon being certain of him to their peril,” Rhalyf nearly snarled.

Aquilan felt a stab of alarm at Rhalyf’s words. Not about Vex, but about his best friend. He seemed so certain despite what he said about betting upon Vex’s intent.

Something more is here than I know.

Rhalyf suddenly appeared as if he regretted saying what he did. “I mean… I’m guessing here… from what I read and such.”

“Yes, of course,” Aquilan murmured even as his words did not quite reflect his feelings. He shook himself. “But perhaps we should not work from our knowledge from books and their imperfect histories.”

Declan looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“So far he has done nothing to warrant suspicion or fear. And this,” Aquilan gestured to Vex on stage who appeared to be completely ignoring them despite, undoubtedly, knowing they were discussing him, “could be exactly what it seems. He wants to play music and he’s found… a band.”

“That could be.” Finley looked hopeful. “I mean… What could he do from a stage that he couldn’t do from the crowd? Isn’t that true, Rhalyf?”

Again, they all looked at Rhalyf as if he would know Vex better than anyone there.

“I… I have no idea. There’s nothing in the books about this,” Rhalyf answered, but wouldn’t meet Aquilan’s eyes. “I assure you that I never expected this.”

“He wants attention. Let’s not give him it,” Declan finally sighed.

“I agree. Let us treat this as nothing more than what it appears,” Aquilan said. “Go, eat your food. Enjoy yourselves. If anything changes we’ll deal with it.”

Both Rhalyf and Finley looked unsatisfied with this. But Declan nodded.

“It’ll be fine. I’ll keep an eye on him,” Declan said.

“We all will,” Rhalyf stated.

“It will be fine,” Aquilan said even as he studied Rhalyf’s face. “It will be.”

Rhalyf blinked slowly. Some of the anxiety that was simmering beneath the surface appeared to dissipate for a moment as if Aquilan had offered him a life vest.

“It will be all right,” he promised though he wasn’t sure what he was saying.

Rhalyf slowly nodded. Then he and Finley went back to their seats where the Bastons looked on with concern. But that quickly changed to relief when Finley and Rhalyf spoke to them, soothing their fears. Gemma glanced over her shoulder at Darcassan who was seated at Elasha’s table. Aquilan frowned. That was a strange friendship. But maybe it was a good one. Darcassan had no other friends than Elasha so…

“I really won’t let him do anything bad, Aquilan,” Declan suddenly said.

Aquilan felt a burst of warmth go through him. “We will ensure that.”

Declan lowered his head. But, finally, he nodded.