Page 8 of Path of the Dark
Ryana turned to see Asher standing behind her, Mira on his arm. She hadn’t even seen them make their way across the floor toward her.
“Aye,” Ryana replied, raising an eyebrow. “I take it you know who he is?”
Asher nodded, while next to him Mira stared across the hall at the stranger, her gaze narrowed.
“Unfortunately, we’ve both met him,” Asher replied after a pause. “That’s Elias, Prince of Anthor.”
“Saul’s brother?” Ryana glanced back at the stranger. No wonder she felt she’d seen him before.
Elias was bigger in build than his younger brother, with a harder demeanor, but the family resemblance was there in the sharp features and arrogant bearing. “I thought there was something familiar about him.”
Asher huffed. “I had the same reaction when I met him months ago, but I didn’t make the connection until he revealed his identity.”
Ryana glanced back at Asher. “Why’s he here?”
“The rumor is he plans to negotiate a peace and trade treaty between Anthor and Rithmar.”
Ryana choked on a sip of wine. “Really?”
“Exactly,” Mira replied. “We were as surprised as you.”
“And the king believes him?” Ryana asked, incredulous.
“Nathan’s no fool,” Asher replied. “He’ll have his reasons for tolerating the prince’s presence here.”
Ryana looked across at where the king lounged in his throne. Despite that tonight was a special occasion, Nathan was dressed as usual, in dark leather and his fine fur cloak. He accepted a goblet of wine from a servant and passed it across to his wife. Eldia took it with a soft smile. His wife tended to, Nathan settled back to watch the crowd. He didn’t even glance in the direction of his Anthor guest.
Ryana frowned, and she searched the crowd for signs of the King’s Guard. She spotted a number of them, standing in the shadows of the pillars behind the prince, apart from the revelers. The king was being cautious after all.
She glanced back at Asher. “You’ve spent time with Elias,” she said, remembering the harrowing tale that Asher, Mira, and Ninia had brought back with them from the Forest of the Fallen. “What do you know about him?”
“Little … unfortunately,” Asher replied, his gaze riveted upon the prince. “Other than he’s stubborn and ruthless.”
“And loyal, don’t forget,” Mira added, taking a sip of her wine. “He’s his father’s hound.”
Asher nodded, his mouth thinning.
“We need to know more,” Ryana announced. Suddenly, she was pleased she’d attended this ball after all. “I want to see the lie in his eyes when he talks of peace.”
Asher’s mouth quirked. “Stand in line … we’d all like to corner him.”
Ryana pushed herself up off the pillar and stepped past her friends. That man had hunted Ninia down and would have killed her if fate hadn’t intervened. It was an outrage that the king had invited him to a royal gathering. She intended to get to the bottom of this.
“I’ll see you both later.”
“Where are you going?” Mira asked.
Ryana tossed her a smile. “To talk to him.”
