Page 45 of Ryld's Shadows
She leaned back on her throne, drumming her fingers slowly on the armrest. “I see. He doesn’t fear all his kind though, or you wouldn’t be allowed near him, either. So, either a queen or some other woman abused him. What do you fear will happen if he did come before me?”
The urge to tell her everything was nearly overwhelming. Nearly. “Disaster, my lady. Destruction.”
They both fell silent, sharing a moment of things said without being spoken. Kai knew of the particulars of Ryld’s birth now, most of them anyway. She might not have the same information, but most drow had heard something or other of the silver born. She would know Ryld was rare, that of those who were born with his genetic traits, most didn’t survive to adulthood, and of those that did, they had a high chance of both enormous power and madness. Ryld might not be neurotypical, but he wasn’t mentally ill. If there was another drow like Ryld in either this world or the one Kai had come from, he didn’t know of them.
“He must indeed be very powerful then,” she said at last. “My offer still stands though, as does my promise not to force him to come to me. I still extend my hospitality to you, Kai. Drow are not as common in this world as the aelfe. We should be able to gather civilly together.”
You have neither the power nor the right in this world to force anything, my lady. But that, Kai prudently kept to himself. He swept her a formal bow. “I do thank you, my lady, and will attend you upon invitation. Perhaps to regale you with tales of this world and the drow I have met.”
This time the smile she bestowed upon him was genuine, and even held some warmth. It hit him like a shock to the system and he had to force his own smile.
“That would be lovely. Thank you for your company, Kai. I do believe the young aelfe outside has worked himself into a nervous lather while we talked and might be about to bolt like a scared rabbit. Until we meet again…”
He allowed a small chuckle, since his guide would definitely find offense in being called a rabbit. “Until then, my lady.”
Kai backed three steps from the throne as was proper, before he turned and strode out. Relief and wars of allegiance raged in his blood and his knees were weak when he reached the surface, though he hoped to all gods it didn’t show. He couldn’t put his finger on it yet, but something was…odd. Best to keep lines of communication open until he knew more.
* * * *
“A short visit and not a dreadful one.” Kai waved his fork vaguely before spearing another asparagus. “And I am safe, as you see.”
He’d joined them in their suite for breakfast, much to Hank’s relief. It just felt better to have them all in the same place. The whole place made him uneasy, lovely though it was. Probably the woods or the presence of royalty or sleeping in unfamiliar beds. Or all of the above and just being worried about…everything.
The bed had been wonderful—soft and big enough for several of him with several Rylds snuggled up close—but he’d hardly slept, listening to night birds calling, ones he couldn’t name.
“Good. Didn’t make me happy, you going off on your own.” Hank sipped his coffee, another surprise since he’d assumed the elves would only have tea, and tried to convince himself he had an appetite. The bread was excellent, and there was honey. He’d stick to that. “I know. You’re used to getting yourself out of bad spots. Still.”
“My apologies.” Kai inclined his head. “Though I may need to meet with her again. It’s all maneuvering. Nothing to fear in a physical sense.” His eyes flicked up toward the window where the sun was starting to creep in. “Ryld, are you ready to meet your prospective teachers?”
Ryld had eaten more of the food on his plate than Hank had, though he noticed he was also just picking now. He was probably more nervous than he looked.
“I am ready.”
He said it so solemnly, as if he were saying he was ready to go to his doom, that Hank had to smile. “It won’t be that bad,” he reassured Ryld. “They only want to help you.”
“Mm.” Ryld made a noncommittal sound, and Hank knew he was reserving judgment on that score.
Kai leaned back, toying with the handle of his coffee cup. “Do you wish us both to be there? Or just Hank?”
“Both, to meet them, please. Hank will see them one way. You will see them another way.” Ryld paused, then added as if for clarification, “I see more than most people think, but not everything.”
“Wise thought. Good.” Kai folded his napkin in that precise, fussy way of his, and stood. “Very well. Lady Jessamine has taken pity on our collection of night-adapted eyes, and we are to meet her mages in the room they use for weapons practice. It will be far less sunny since there are no windows. Half an hour, gentlemen, and someone should be up to collect us.”
Kai left for his own suite, probably to rethink what he was wearing. Hank sighed inwardly. Drow and clothes. Right.
“You all set with how you look?” he asked Ryld, though it didn’t need asking. If Ryld was going to pick something else, he’d start sorting through his clothes without prompting.
“Yes. If there is a test, these clothes are comfortable. Although they are not beautiful.”
“You look beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.”
Ryld smiled. “Thank you.” He was quiet then said, “If you were my clothes, I would only wear you every day.”
If Hank thought he was too grown up to blush, Ryld proved him wrong as the heat climbed his face. He knew what Ryld was saying, but it was a very drow thing to say. “Uh, thanks. That would be, um, interesting.”
It was exactly half an hour, somehow Kai had known, that a servant knocked on the door and bowed them out into the hall where Kai already waited. The servants all gave Kai extra space, and Hank couldn’t decide if that was respect or insult.
Down the stairs, through lavishly carved hallways, and down the stairs again to more utilitarian hallways, probably for storage and such. Finally, they stopped at a heavier, brass-bound door. The servant bowed them inside where they found a room with stone walls and floor, weapons racks along the far wall and lumps stacked in a corner that were probably practice targets.
