Page 26 of The Night Prince

“Sevren, I’m here.Nothing will happen.Especially not with the Sun so bright and Tyrael so peaceful,” Rhalyf assured the commander.

Sevren hesitated a moment, but then nodded.He knew Rhalyf’s fighting prowess, having been saved by it many, many times.

“Everything will be fine, Commander Sevren.Please get the Protectors to the palace so that they might rest and recover,” Aquilan added.

While he might have no desire to set foot there at this moment, the Battle Mages were exhausted and deserved to go home.

Home.Is Eryas Palace to be my home?The Shadow will be there…

Another nod and smile from the commander.“Thank you, your majesty.”

“You should join them, Sargent Emory.Bring Lee and Jacobs with you,” Baston said to the three soldiers with him.

Unlike Rohannan’s people, Emory and Lee were women while Jacobs was a man.They all saluted smartly and rode their horses over to where Elasha was hopping up into her saddle.The three of them watched as the others rode off towards Tyrael without looking back.

Aquilan was certain that Elasha was going to breathlessly tell Vesslan what had happened and beg her father for forgiveness.But it wasn’t Elasha who had failed in ferrying him to a place where Vesslan thought he could control things, it was Aquilan’s failure for ever allowing Vesslan to think he had any say over Aquilan at all.

Aquilan lightly mounted Erendiel and Rhalyf did the same with Silveril.The three of them started at a brisker pace towards the city.Perhaps it hadn’t been the thought of politics or the Shadow that had caused him to delay his arrival. Maybe it had been Vesslan all the time. Now he wished to get to Tyrael and sort out what had been happening in his absence.

“General Baston, as I’m sure you’re aware, I wished us to have aplaindiscussion,” Aquilan said.“Without artifice or the need to shade our words based on who could overhear us.”

Baston nodded.“I did get that.”

“Lord Rhalyf Neres is my most trusted advisor and constant companion.His discretion is unmatched so you may say anything in front of him that you would just to me,” Aquilan told him.

Rhalyf grinned.“Secrets die with me, General.”

“Handy.”Baston’s dark eyes slid to Aquilan as a faint smile played on his lips.“I have to say that I am glad you are open to such a conversation. Your brother has found little call to discuss anything with me. Plainly or otherwise.”

“I have had certain reports from my brother, Vesslan, but as in all things, that is onlyhalfthe story.Possibly less,” Aquilan added the last with a bitter twist of lips.“I would hear the rest from you.”

“Emissary Vesslan is dealing with various factions whose needs and wants are not perfectly aligned,” Baston said generously.“Hell, some of them are directly opposed.”

“And how has he handled them?”Aquilan asked, then added as he remembered his own stricture to speak plainly, “Has there been violence used against humanity?”

Baston grimaced.“Close, but both sides have backed off.Officially anyway.”

“Officially?”Rhalyf focused on that word as did Aquilan.

“While there has been no violence between guards and human citizens or the Separatists, there have been growing instances of altercations between humans and other species generally.Further, I’ve heard reports of humans being barred from stores run by other species,” Baston explained, his expression darkening.“Prejudice is growing.These things are done by citizens, not officials of any sort.Yet these crimes are not looked into carefully and I’ve yet to see any of the perpetrators punished by anything but slaps on the wrist.If that.”

“I see.” Aquilan’s hands tightened on the reins.“If such acts are tolerated, they flourish and grow.”

“Like weeds in a flower bed,” Baston agreed with a nod.“I’ve brought those concerns to Emissary Vesslan, but he has not seen it my way. He believes I am exaggerating and that humanity must simplyadaptto the ways of this new world where we are on the bottom and others are on the top.”

“Of course, he thinks that,” Rhalyf muttered.

Aquilan knew he had rolled the dice by giving his brother power here.He had hoped–foolishly–that his elder brother would behave differently.But Vesslan viewed even other Aravae who might or might not have “too much” Kindreth blood as lesser beings. What should he have expected Vesslan to view humans as?Mortal and without magic, they likely appeared as grubs to his elder brother.

I thought he would behave differently for me. That is the truth of it.

“This will be addressed.The guilty will be punished and a message will be sent,” Aquilan stated firmly.

Baston cast him a curious look.“Forgive me, King Aquilan, but I’m used to a democracy where leaders have to bargain to get other parts of the government to act.But I suppose as a king you do not. What you say goes.”

“The Radiant Council has some say in limited matters such as war, but my word is law for the most part,” Aquilan said.

“I see.Well, I look forward to witnessing this particular law change,” Baston said.He chewed his inner cheek before continuing, “But there’s more I’m hoping you can assist with, but it might even be beyond a king’s power.”

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