Page 48 of Court of Bone and Amethyst

“Remember,” I say, “you must be pleasant. You can’t glower at them the entire time if we want to win them over.”

“I am perfectly pleasant,” he says, scowl deepening.

I cross my arms over my chest and look at him until he relaxes his jaw. “That’s better.”

“Andyouremember,” Zyren says, “that if this dinner doesn’t go as planned, we’re leaving tonight. If I’m not convinced that they wish to ally with us, we’re not staying.”

“Well then,” I say, hooking him in my gaze, “I guess I’ll have to win all of you over, then. A dinner to decide the fate of Valaron. Are you ready?”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Zyren

The dining hallis a huge room, a roaring fireplace at each end, and a long wooden table running the length of it. There are doors on each side for servants to come and go, and a nook in one corner with a suit of armor. The ceiling is made entirely of huge panes of thick glass set between iron beams, letting in a view of the sparkling star-strewn sky. My gaze slides over every detail, checking for areas that someone could hide, and where we could exit should a threat arise.

The king and queen are not seated yet. The servant who collected us leads us to the far end of the table, and seats Sarielle and I on one side, and Owyn and Merla on the other. There are two seats at the head of the table, clearly reserved for our hosts. The servant bows and leaves us alone in the room. We are left for more than a quarter hour. The message is clear: we are guests here, and do not hold the seat of power. My jaw begins to roll, and my nerves burn with an edge of magic. This is not starting well if games and manipulation are already afoot.

Finally, the main door to the room reopens and a herald enters, announcing in a voice much too loud for a crowd of four, “I present Queen Esbella and King Viros Ethanas, sovereigns of the northern realm, and Baron Uden Ethanas.”

Sarielle rises as a gesture of respect, even though, as Queen of Valaron, they should bow to her. I grit my teeth and do the same, as do Owyn and Merla. Once the northern king and queen and baron have taken their seats, we do the same. I notice my fellow guardian, Rivald, enter the room silently, taking a place along the wall, still as a statue. Only then do the servants offer us wine, after serving the king and queen first. The queen takes a sip of her wine and turns to Sarielle, a smile on her face.

“I’m so glad you could join us for dinner tonight. That dress is lovely. I’m sure it’s nice to wear something more suitable for royalty after your long voyage.”

“It is a nice change,” Sarielle agrees. “We greatly appreciate your hospitality. I should hope if you ever fall on hard times, I can offer the same in return.”

“The hot springs beneath the castle are wonderful,” Owyn adds.

The king turns to Owyn, having already drained his first glass of wine. “I realized something, boy, after you were introduced earlier today. Owyn Saorsen, heir of House Saorsen, died in the slaughter at the Court of Bone two decades past. You claim to be this same heir?”

Owyn offers a small smile, nonplussed by the king’s bold question. “I arrived shortly after the slaughter and swore an oath to Renarys Otreyas to help her daughter when she came of age and came out of hiding. So, I told no one but my parents the truth, and I remained in hiding myself, waiting for that day.”

“That is quite the story,” the queen says, her tone wary. “So much drama when it comes to a fight for the throne. Lies, deception, people coming back from the dead.”

“No doubt you would do the same to survive,” Sarielle says. “Which is why having allies, such as the Saorsen family is to the Otreyas family, is so important.”

“Speaking of the throne,” I say, ignoring the look Sarielle shoots me. “Last I visited the Court of Memory, Lady Esmet and Lord Osten sat on the throne. They must have passed away. When did that happen?”

The northern queen wears a look of sorrow, as if she hadn’t had them murdered. “Just last year, sadly.”

“Both together…” I hang my head. “Such a tragedy.”

“Indeed,” says Esbella.

The servants reenter the room with food served on bone platters. There are several types of fish and meat, and an arrangement of cheeses. No vegetables or fruits, things that cannot grow in the ice and snow. They set everything on the table and then serve the king and queen before stepping back to allow the rest of us to make our own plates.

After we have all taken our first bites, Sarielle speaks again. “Baron Ethanas, you must be the nephew of the king and queen?”

The baron nods, his mouth overly full of meat. He not only looks like a bear, but has the manners of one, too.

“Alas, we do not have children of our own,” Esbella says. “The baron is our heir.”

“You, girl,” the king says, swinging his gaze to Merla. “You are the sorcerer’s apprentice? What is your story? No doubt you’ve never dined with royalty before.” His eyes already look bleary from too much wine, making me wonder if he’d started before dinner.

“I have been an apprentice for two years now, your highness,” Merla says, her eyes wide and her voice trembling slightly. It’s clear she doesn’t like being the center of attention. Especially not the king’s attention.

The king lifts his wineglass, slopping a bit of it out onto the table. “A fortunate accident, then, that you get to dine with those above your station.”

“I’ve always found the quality of the company more important than the rank of the company,” Sarielle says, smiling sweetly. “Luckily, we have both tonight.”

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