Page 5 of Path of the Dark
Nathan’s mouth curved, although his dark eyes remained sharp. “Elias of Anthor.” His voice was a low, deep rumble. “This is a surprise.”
The corners of Elias’s mouth lifted. “I thought it would be.”
“This must important … if Reoul sends his son.”
“It is,” Elias replied. He wouldn’t waste time on greetings—best to get straight to the point. “My father wishes for an alliance between us.”
Nathan of Rithmar snorted. He then leaned forward, elbows resting upon his muscular thighs. His gaze gleamed. “Now I’ve heard everything.”
This comment drew laughter from the men surrounding the king. The sound echoed high into the domed roof of the throne room.
The jeering didn’t bother Elias in the slightest.
Let them have their fun.
He waited till the laughter died, before he spoke once more. “It’s the truth.”
Nathan’s mouth twitched. “Excuse me, if I’m skeptical.”
“Our goal was to take Thûn,” Elias replied, ignoring the king’s mirth. “Lands that once belonged to Anthor. We have no wish to expand our territory any further.”
“That’s not what I heard. Word is that you plan to attack us late spring.”
It was now Elias’s turn to snort. He’d been expecting this. “Whatever rumors you’ve heard … they’re wrong.”
“I trust my sources.”
“And I’m here to put you right.”
The response was arrogant, and for a moment Elias wondered if he’d gone too far. He wasn’t used to meetings like these. He’d never had to make compromises with anyone except his father.
Nathan’s gaze hardened. “Reoul’s had a taste of real power. He’ll not stop with Thûn.”
Elias shook his head. The urge to cross swords with Nathan of Rithmar reared up; he was a soldier after all, not a diplomat. Elias wanted to bite back—the words were on the tip of his tongue—and yet he reined them in. Angering Nathan wasn’t going to help him. “What we need now are allies … not enemies,” he replied after a pause. “We wish to draw up a treaty between us, one that will benefitbothRithmar and Anthor.”
Nathan leaned back in his cold, white throne, his gaze never leaving Elias. His mouth twisted. “I find that hard to believe.”
