Page 54 of The Night Prince

“What else would I say?That is what I hired him for,” Helgrom answered stonily.

“At least, will you tell me if he is intelligent like Finley?I know he’s strong as the General told Aquilan and I all about his fight with the orcs.Unless that was an exaggeration or Snaglak actually figured out that ingratiating himself with humans would get him free beer and food for life,” Rhalyf said with a sigh as he saw the General buy the orc a whole roast chicken for himself.

“Declan keeps the peace as any good bartender should,” Helgrom answered in a clipped tone.

What is going on here? Why is Helgrom being so cagey?Rhalyf wondered as he studied the suddenly taciturn dwarf.It’s almost as if… Does Helgrom know what Declan is?No, no, he wouldn’t shield a Kindreth from the Empire.Considering what our people did to his… Well, if he thought he had a Night Elf under his roof, he’d draw and quarter them himself.

Rhalyf felt the magical approach of their king before the door to the bedroom was opened.His head turned.His chest felt tight.He saw Finley jump up and down like a popcorn kernel in hot oil as Declan and Aquilan appeared at the top of the stairs.

Declan looked completely well again.And he was disturbingly lovely.Black hair.Green eyes.And skin as pale as the moon.There were many in the Kindreth with skin that was pearlescent white and some with skin as dark as midnight and everything in between.All beautiful.All alluring.All dangerous.

But there is something about him… I can’t put my finger on it.But he does remind me of someone.Strange. Can’t place it.

Rhalyf’s eyes darted to his king.Aquilan was gazing at Declan’s back.There was such a look oflongingon his face that Rhalyf nearly jerked away from it. His heart thundered in his chest.Aquilan hadn’t discovered Declan was a Kindreth–thankfully–but his increased interest in the young man would make Rhalyf’s determination to cause him to disappear that much harder.

I really must find Aquilan a love interest.A lot of love interests.Anything to keep his attention away from Declan Wilde!

“NowthatI did not foresee,” Helgrom muttered, having seen the king’s regard for Declan just as clearly as he had evidently.“But I suppose…”

“You suppose what?That the king will take up with abartender?”Rhalyf hissed his displeasure.

Helgrom turned that steady stare upon him for the third time.Rhalyf’s reaction was ridiculous.Aquilan could take up withanyoneandeveryonehe wanted from bartender to military leader and all inbetween.He was king.They were all his subjects.None were beyond his reach.And it wasn’t like Rhalyf to judge people on their professions.Helgrom knew that.So his reaction was nonsensical in the dwarf’s eyes.Unless Helgrom guessedwhyhe might not want the king to truly take an interest in Declan Wilde.

He would never help a Night Elf.So Helgrom can’t possibly know what Declan is.

Aquilan had stopped at the bottom of the stairs, tracking Declan as the young man embraced Finley.Finley clung to him.He ran his hands up and down Declan’s shoulders, seeking any hurts.Declan gave Finley a tender smile that no Kindreth would ever be caught dead giving.Such open affection would mark Finley as someone who could be used against Declan.Rhalyf’s eyes narrowed.Finley already interested him.So getting nearer to the boy wouldn’t be a problem, especially if it gave him power over Declan.

The General also fussed over Declan who endured it all with good humor while Aquilan looked on happily.It was clear that Aquilan was touched by how much Declan was loved.Very loved.That was such a strange thing if he were really a Kindreth.Aquilan had taken to Rhalyf, but Rhalyf prided himself on being personable, far different than the rest of his kin who would rather stab someone than smile at them.Declan evidently had found a way around his Kindreth instincts to keep himself to himself and had earned their love.

Finally, Declan eased away from the loving touches and vaulted the bar.He immediately started to serve the customers as if he hadn’t been overcome by the Sun.He didn’t give the king one backwards glance either.That was the smartest decision he’d made that day in Rhalyf’s mind.Aquilan finally turned towards him and Helgrom, only reluctantly withdrawing his attention from Declan.He smiled broadly though when he did finally catch sight of them and headed towards their table.

Rhalyf was amused as always by how the people at the tables tried to rise and then bow to the Sun King.But Aquilan smiled and made a gesture that they should remain where they were.The king gracefully made his way past the packed house to their table.It was only when Declan was certain that Aquilan’s back was turned that he looked over at the king.His eyes showed nothing of what he felt.Helgrom had already lifted a hand to the young man to bring them food and drink.Declan nodded his understanding.He showed no interest in Rhalyf.Clearly, he didn’t recognize Rhalyf as anything other than what he presented himself to be: the Aravae best friend of the Sun King.

That’s good.Foolish.But definitely good for me.

When Aquilan reached their table, both he and Helgrom rose.They were Aquilan’s friends, but he was their king.Aquilan pressed a hand on both their shoulders and eased them back down.

“Sit, my friends!Please sit.For I intend to do so.”Aquilan gracefully lowered himself into one of the chairs with a moan of pleasure.“Good to be off my feet.”

“Is that…duston your front?”Rhalyf frowned as he reached over and brushed the offending material off the Sun King’s white shirt.Aquilan had taken off his heavy, hot breastplate, too and left it up above or so it seemed.What had he and Declan been doing upstairs?

It couldn’t have been much.The boy was Sun Sick.He wouldn’t have been up to doing anything at all.

“Oh, yes, I suppose it is.” Aquilan glanced unconcernedly down at his soiled shift.“Declan lost his knife.”

“Knife?!”Rhalfy’s eyebrows rose.

“Yes, he… he was having a nightmare.Didn’t know where he was when he woke.Maybe he didn’t know who he was–”

“Are you trying to say he pulled aknifeon you, my king?!”Rhalyf was rigid in his chair.

“It was nothing–”

“Declan wouldneverhurt you,” Helgrom said firmly.“Whenever he speaks of the war–and it isn’t often–he speaks ofyou, King Aquilan.How you arrived and killed the creatures that had slaughtered his adopted parents and everyone else he cared for except for Finley and Gemma.”

King Aquilan’s blue eyes grew dark.“He thinks I did enough.He thinks I didn’t have to come to save… anyone.”

“You didn’t,” Rhalyf reminded him firmly.“But if he’s supposedlygratefulto you then why did he pull a knife?”

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