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I play with the stem of the wine glass. “I know that, but my heart does not.”
The tavern roars when the Graveleers score again. I lift my glass in the air and cheer with them, not knowing exactly what I am cheering for, but the hell with it. I am having a good time.
The door to the tavern bangs open and standing there are four of my guards. Taygen is in front, his sword clipped to his belt, and his spear in the other hand. Before I am able to say a word, Taygen throws his spear so fast and with such force, it is nothing but a blur.
Ockard bends backwards, the spear missing his face by less than an inch. The sharp arrowhead slams into the icy wall, but not before shattering a bottle of the wine I am drinking.
I stick out my bottom lip. “Damn it, Taygen,” I slur, pointing at the mess. “I really liked that wine.”
Everyone in the tavern stands abruptly, chairs screeching across the floor. Taygen and his men unsheathe their swords, and my lead guard crosses to the bar, pressing the tip under Ockard’s chin.
“You dare get the prince drunk. I should cut your head off where you sit,” he seethes.
“You…” I poke Taygen’s chest. “Will do… no...” I shake my finger in his face. “Such thing.” I flick the sword next, hiccupping. “Ockard is my friend. He has been kind.”
“He is using you.” Taygen lifts his elbow, pressing the blade closer to Ockard’s throat.
“For what? I am here drinking his wine, watching his illegal…” I cover my mouth with my hand and chuckle, slipping out of thechair. Taygen catches me in his arms. “I mean, not illegal. There I nothing illegal here. Also, I love this wine.”
“I make it myself, Prince,” Ockard states. “I will gladly send some to the castle.”
“No!” I stand on wobbly legs. “I will come here.”
“Prince Cailian, I suggest—”
“—You suggest nothing. Who is watching the castle?”
“Zyrl,” he answers.
“That’s a good choice.”
“It is the only choice, Prince Cailian, as you are not there, and you have no other brothers. He sent a party out to search for you when he saw that damn dragon in the sky.”
“That damn dragon is right.” I finish the rest of my glass of wine. “Hey, Ockard?”
“Yes, Prince?”
“I am going to pass out.” The glass falls from my hand and my body is weightless, falling against Ockard’s chest.
Ockard lifts me into his arms and a blurry vision of Taygen appears in front of me, angry and worried by how he is staring at me. His sword is still against Ockard’s throat, debating if he wants to kill him.
“He is royalty, but he is still an elf. He is a being like the rest of us. He deserves to blow off steam.”
“I have him. Give me the Prince.”
“I will once you take that damn sword out of my face.”
Taygen sighs and I know that sound. It is him relenting. The sharp scrape of him sheathing his sword has my ears ringing.
“There. Is that better?”
I am handed over like a child into Taygen’s arms. “I like it here. Ockard is nice.”
Taygen grunts. “I will get you back to your mates, Prince Cailian.”
“Why?” I whisper, my eyes closing from too much wine. I have so much to say about going to Nyx. My tongue is twisted from the wine, the velvelore berries still sweet in my mouth.
“Why does not matter,” Taygen answers, his boots thudding against the wooden floor.
