Page 37 of Path of the Dark
Wheezing a curse, she rolled onto her side.
“Shadows, Ryana! I’m so sorry!”
The quick pad of approaching footsteps followed. Ryana looked up to see Ninia standing over her. The girl’s face was creased in concern.
“You nearly knocked me off the roof,” Ryana muttered, pushing herself up onto her knees.
Ninia’s face paled. “I didn’t mean to,” she whispered.
Ryana cast her a rueful look and, grasping the balustrade, pulled herself to her feet.
They stood atop the House of Light and Darkness—a vast flat space that was ideal for training. Below them, the city was awaking to a misty dawn. However, the warmth in the air promised that the sun would soon burn the mist off and bring a hot summer’s day.
The aroma of baking bread wafted up from the kitchens, reminding Ryana that it was almost time for breakfast.
“I know you didn’t,” she admitted, rubbing her hip. She’d hit the roof hard and would need Asher to take a look at her hip later. “That was partly my fault. I pulled my shield up too late … however, you don’t know your own strength.”
Ninia’s gaze narrowed. “You’ve been distracted all through practice,” she observed. “Is something wrong?”
Drawing in a deep breath, Ryana continued to rub her bruised hip.
If only you knew.
“These peace talks worry me,” she said after a pause. That wasn’t a lie—not exactly.
Ninia’s frown deepened. “Why? I thought they were going well.”
“I don’t trust the prince of Anthor.” That was true enough.
“Nathan doesn’t either,” Ninia replied.
Something in the girl’s tone made Ryana tense. “And you do?”
Ninia’s brow smoothed, and her mouth curved. “He’s ruthless and driven … yet I believe there’s good in him.”
Ryana snorted, folding her arms across her chest. “I’m sure there was good in his brother too, if you looked hard enough.”
Ninia shrugged. “I never met Saul … so I couldn’t say.”
“Well, after talking to both brothers, I can tell you the men of that family are trouble.”
Ninia inclined her head. “Have you been spending time with Elias?”
Ryana tensed, inwardly cursing her slip. The girl had a mind like a whetted blade—little escaped her. “No,” she replied curtly.
“I saw you talking to Elias at the ball,” Ninia pressed on, “but have you seen him again?”
Ryana wet her lips nervously. She suddenly felt as if she was under interrogation and considered lying. Yet Ninia’s sharp gaze speared her, demanding honesty.
“I spoke to him briefly after the first peace council,” Ryana finally admitted, “And then I saw him again inThe Black Boar Inna couple of days ago.”
Ryana stopped there—she wasn’t about to reveal what happened later that evening. There were some things she’d never share with Ninia.
“The king allows him to wander about the city?”
Leaning back against the balustrade, Ryana raked a hand through her hair. She wished she hadn’t let Ninia corner her. “I don’t think Nathan knew Elias had slipped out of the palace,” she admitted.
Silence fell between the two women then, and Ryana became aware of the sounds of the morning rising up around them: the calls of hawkers at market, the clang of weapons being forged, and the shouts of soldiers at training.
