Page 85 of Haunted

“Aye, my lord.”

I follow him out of the room.

60

The man sits at a table in the great hall, with a warm mug clasped between his fingers. A plate of food is before him. He’s frozen, half in a stupor. He huddles under a woolen blanket. His sandy-colored hair is shaggy past his ears. It looks as though he’s had a rough go of it.

Despite his condition, I recognize him immediately, from his exhibition in the courtyard back in Talfryn as Niawen left him.

Kenrik.

The prince has come a long way. It’s been weeks since Niawen left his realm. He would have had to travel north, through snow and sleet, and cross the mountain range between our realms.

No wonder he looks half-starved and frozen.

But how did he know Niawen was here? Was it a hunch?

I sweep into the great hall after getting a good look at Prince Kenrik from the shadows. “Welcome to Rolant. I am Lord Caedryn. What brings you here?”

The prince looks up. Suspicion is evident all over his face. He does not trust me. “I seek Lady Niawen. Has she come here?”

Because of his mistrust, I decide to play with him. “Lady Niawen?”

“A goddess. A seductress. A lady who snares the hearts of mere mortals. If she’s here, you’d know of whom I speak.”

Humph. I don’t like his assessment of her, no matter how true it may be. “Who regards her so?”

“A lovesick fool.”

“Lovesick?” He openly admits this? Does he have no care for how weak it makes him appear?

“She has enamored me.”

As she has enamored me.

Prince Kenrik rises to his feet and lets the blanket fall. His clothes are in a state of disrepair. He holds his hands out. “I beg of you, tell me where she is. Tell her to come to me. I’ve pledged myself to her. She must come.”

He’s pledged himself to her?

I step back. No. I do not like this needy prince. I do not want him interfering with the progress I’ve made with Niawen. One look at his face and he will have her emotions knotted up.

“Lord Caedryn, surely she has come this way. I saw her fly north. She would have come to you, seeking refuge.”

How does he know this? I don’t answer right away.

“If you refuse to tell me where she is,” Kenrik says, “then I shall search your realm until I find her. Just point me to the nearest inn so I can find lodgings.”

“You are exhausted from travel, Your Highness. Please, let me give you a place to stay.”

He recoils. “You know me.”

“Of course I know you, Prince Kenrik.”

“Did your men not know me? They caught me crossing into your realm, and for the past few days, carted me up here in a cage.”

“A regretful mistake. We secure our borders most carefully. My men have orders to bring new arrivals to the citadel for me to interview. I shall have to work on their methods.”

Kenrik eyes me with loathing.

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