Page 40 of The Night Prince 6

“Yes, yes, he is. A man of the people,” he nodded and smiled as if that was a good thing. “How are you… you enjoying Tyrael and Earth?”

She was new to the staff. She had not been brought over from one of the Lieran Plane’s palaces, but was new. The old, loyal staff was more than willing to come, but with the war on and the uncivilized, polluted nature of Earth, Vesslan determined that they should remain behind. Vesslan had gained quite a bit of loyalty from that move. But now that Earth was being retaken–and the benefits of this plane were becoming more evident–it was turning into a sought after post.

“Oh, Tyrael is stunning! As is the Eryas Palace,” she added almost as an afterthought as if maybe she didn’t think that. “You’ve done an incredible job with the design and planning, Emissary.”

“Yes, indeed, it was quite a bit of work.” He smiled genuinely.

Tyrael had been a labor of love and the Eryas Palace was designed to be the greatest of all that had come before. Aquilan didn’t seem to appreciate it either. But he hadn’t built these things for his brother. He’d built them for himself and for the ages!

“And you find your duties here agreeable? You aren’t being overworked in any way, are you?” He pretended to be concerned about this last part. In truth, he didn’t think the servants worked enough! But they were naturally lazy so one had to act as if one was concerned about their work-life balance.

She shook her head almost a little too quickly. “Oh, no, the duties are not at all too onerous! People are so kind and thoughtful about balancing our duties and giving us time for ourselves, which truly allows us to do our duties better.”

He blinked slowly. “Well… that sounds… good? I am all for doing our duties more effectively, but, of course, I am very glad you are given time for yourself. So important to take care of oneself.”

She smiled brightly. “I hope you allow yourself some of that, too, Emissary. You are so tireless about your duties.”

He blinked more quickly this time. “That’s… that’s kind of you to say.” She recognized his hard work? He was so used to his brother and children thinking all he did was shuffle papers that it was strange to be noticed. “I do take my position very seriously. The Empire requires it!”

“Yes,” she nodded.

More so than swanning about town eating muffins and getting romance books!

He leaned back in his chair. “But without taking time for oneself… Well, I realize that I haven’t truly done that. Especially with the war over, I want to perhaps relax a little and… Did you know… ha, I’m sure that you do that Aquilan spends time at–at that dwarven tavern in town–”

“The Sudden Dawn Inn?” she offered in what she clearly thought was a helpful manner.

He nodded. “I’ve never been myself, but I hear that it is quite well known for…”

“The food is magnificent and Helgrom gets the best wine and beer,” she enthusiastically endorsed the inn. Hearing herself, she quickly added, “Not that it equals the food here–”

But he held up a hand to stop her. “That goes without saying! But everyone has preferences. And my brother–my delightful younger brother–has his to be sure. Do you suppose…” Here he touched the gold spoon by the side of his plate, moving it so that it was perfectly straight. “Do you suppose he is there tonight? At the Dawn?”

It was almost as if a shade was drawn across her face. Her expression was still as outwardly friendly and attentive, but he knew that he had lost her. “I do not know, Emissary!”

He bit back the grimace that wanted to cross his lips. He had pushed too far. She clearly was loyal enough to Aquilan–or perhaps even knew her job well enough–that she realized telling anyone the Sun King’s location was inappropriate. He noted that discretion. It would make her harder to crack, but it also meant that once he did that he would have that discretion for himself.

“Yes, yes, of course, and even if you did–especially–if you did, keeping it to yourself is best,” he said with a toothy smile. “I was just wondering if I… I wandered over there myself this evening if I would find a friendly face.”

“I am certain that everyone would be happy to see you, Emissary, and the Dawn’s staff would make you feel welcome,” she assured him neutrally.

The staff? That included Declan Wilde. That young man had absolutely no respect and thought himself their equal or even above them! Above him. Vesslan could almost imagine how Declan’s jaw would clench as soon as he saw Vesslan enter the Dawn’s tap room. Those green eyes would narrow and track him. Though Declan was just a human, Vesslan felt he was dangerous on some level. There was just this way that Declan looked at people as if he were a hunter and they were prey. Needless to say, he highly doubted that the staff at the Dawn if it were Declan would treat him well.

And maybe she knew that, too. No longer was her expression open and honest as it had been when pronouncing his brother wonderful.

He tapped each finger of his right hand against the tablecloth. “You are too kind. Perhaps I will take a walk later and enjoy an after dinner drink.”

She nodded and smiled too brightly. “I hope you enjoy yourself.”

She stepped back to her place, rightly intuiting that their discussion was over since she wasn’t going to tell him anything he wished to know. He picked up his silverware again to continue his meal when he felt the wave of cold flow down the length of the table.

“Sitting in your brother’s chair again, are you? Do you play dress up with his crowns, too?” The mocking, sultry voice rolled over him like hot honey even as he stiffened.

His head jerked up. The light in the dining room, which came from three massive, multi-leveled crystal chandeliers equidistantly placed above the dining table dimmed until there was no more light in the room than a guttering candle. The far end of the room was shrouded in darkness. He couldn’t see the oil painting of the rising Sun that adorned the wall. His eyes darted towards Cellica and the other servant whose name he didn’t know at all. But they were standing there like toy soldiers, eyes forward, unblinking and seemingly even not breathing.

“So worried, Vesslan,” she mocked and he heard the click of her heels on the marble floor even as he could not see her. “About servants no less. But, I suppose, the Aravae are too civilized to bleed them if they become liabilities.”

He strained his eyes to see anything moving in that smothering darkness. Something moved. Sinuously. Then she appeared. She wore black leather, but little of it as was the Kindreth way. A leather bra-like top that barely contained her creamy, white breasts and a skirt that was slit all the way up to her hip that clung to her voluptuous curves and wasp-like waist. Boots that were more straps than actual boots were laced up to mid-calf and he could see her long, muscled legs as she strolled towards him. One long-nailed hand running along the tops of the chairs. Her shimmering white hair tumbled down her shoulders and nearly reached her waist. Her smiling lips were as crimson as her eyes.