Page 230 of Blade of the Nightking

"Lucky male." Thalassis directed the words at Rìan, but his gaze lingered on me. Something shifted behind his eyes.

"Don't I know it," Rìan replied, the smugness in his voice so effortless it scarcely sounded like him at all.

Thalassis sighed, shaking his head. "Thank the gods you had the good sense to wipe out the Eidrae when you did.” My blood ran cold at the ease with which he said it. “Had there been any left to free when the Veil fell, we'd all be dead by now."

Rìan gave him a pointed look before inclining his head toward me. Thalassis winced.

"My apologies, Elowen," he said immediately. "That was thoughtless of me. I don't blame you for what happened with the Veil. I know better than most how easily one can fall prey to the Dark Prince's manipulations." He cast Rìan a meaningful look. "He's a cunning monster."

"Indeed." Rìan's lips quirked. He gestured toward the table laden with crystal decanters. "Now where's that infamous Pelagan hospitality?"

"Don't worry." Thalassis batted a long-fingered hand. "I've prepared well for your arrival. My bar is fully stocked and ready for the High Lord of the Bottomless Decanter."

Rìan laughed loudly.

Thalassis crossed to the table, selected three crystal flutes, and poured amber liquor from one of the decanters with a theatrical flourish. I narrowed my eyes at Rìan's smile. For all its breadth, his dimple failed to make an appearance.

Thalassis returned, handing each of us a glass before sweeping a hand toward a cluster of armchairs gathered around a low stone plinth. We took our seats. I studied my flute for a moment before setting it aside.

"Well?" Thalassis gestured toward the plinth. "Will you do the honours?"

Rìan sighed dramatically. “You reduce me to cheap parlor tricks."

Thalassis pressed a hand to his chest. "Ah, but what a luxury for an old water-wielder such as myself."

Rìan snorted and flicked his wrist toward the stone. Nothing happened.

Still, Thalassis immediately leaned forward, holding his hands out with obvious delight. "Perfect."

Rìan settled languidly back into his chair, swirling the liquid in his glass before taking a slow, measured sip.

Thalassis straightened, crossing one leg casually over the other, his expression suddenly sober. “I heard about Solmire.”

Rìan said nothing, just stared straight ahead of him at the empty plinth before him. He just nodded.

Thalassis tutted darkly, a mournful look on his face. “A tragedy.”

"Yes." Rìan lowered his eyes.

I stared at him. What was happening?

"You were there, Elowen?" Thalassis asked, turning to me. Concern softened his features.

Over the rim of his glass, Rìan fixed me with a hard look. Answer.

"Yes." My voice cracked on the single word.

Thalassis waited.

"I think..." My throat constricted. "I think I'll carry those screams with me for the rest of my life."

Rìan’s glowing eyes settled on me with that same unreadable intensity.

"Terrible," Thalassis murmured, shaking his head, the shells and beads woven through his braids tinkling softly. "Truly terrible."

I didn't understand any of this. Thalassis had stood beside Aedric before the Full Circle. He'd spoken to him as an ally, perhaps even a friend. Yet he welcomed the Dark Prince into his home with open arms, sharing drinks and speaking of Solmire as though they had always stood on the same side.

It turned my stomach. How many members of the Full Circle had betrayed their own?