Elyria hummed thoughtfully, reaching out with one hand to smooth his lapel and adjust his token. Her touch lingered, like she was looking for the excuse to keep it there.
Cedric’s gaze dropped to the darksteel dagger still clutched in herother hand. To the wolven sigil stamped into the base of the blade, just above the crossguard. “Is that what I think it is?”
She nodded, a slow, solemn movement. “Cultists.”
Cedric blew out a breath. “Malchior.”
Kit sidled up beside Elyria. “Knightling,” she said, inclining her head at Cedric. “Wish I could say it’s good to see you, but I think we’ve already moved a bit beyond that tonight, haven’t we?”
“Well, I’ll still say it.” Thraigg joined them with a jovial slap of Cedric’s arm. “Itisgood to see you, boyo.”
“Yes, quite the reunion, isn’t it?” Nox said, that telltale tone of amusement in their androgynous voice. “What say you, Dentarius? Looking forward to writing home about all that occurred here tonight, are you?”
Behind Nox, the green-haired fae grimaced. “Not quite. Though I daresay His Majesty will be pleasantly surprised to hear about how well Lady Lightbreaker did this evening.”
Elyria blinked at Dentarius, her head tilting and lips quirking as though she was caught off guard by the compliment.
“Cedric.”
Lord Church had stepped down from the dais and was beckoning him over. Cedric tore his eyes from Elyria, tossed a grin at Thraigg and a nod to the rest of the Arcanians, then went to join him.
“I must find Portentia before seeing to ourunwelcome guestsin the dungeon, but you handled yourself well tonight,” said Lord Church, voice pitched low.
“Er, thank you, my lord,” Cedric answered, voice lilting up at the end, though he hadn’t really meant it to sound like a question.
Lord Church’s gaze flicked to Elyria, and something cold slid into his tone when he added, “I daresay our other guest of honor has had enough attention for one evening.”
Red flared at the edges of Cedric’s vision. “Lives were saved tonight. Who knows what would have happened if she hadn’t acted so quickly against our assailants.”
“Mm.” The lord’s eyes glittered. “And yet, were she not here, had they all stayed on their side of the continent, would there have been any assailants to act against in the first place?”
Cedric’s brow creased. “What would be the point of a welcomecelebration without anyone to welcome?”
“Exactly,” replied Lord Church. “Though I hardly condone the act, tonight was a clear result of the unrest and dissatisfaction the people are feeling. His Majesty has shoved these accords down our throats, so eager for access to the mana of the Midlands that he forgets not all are so quick to forgive—or forget.”
Cedric frowned. That wasn’t what he’d meant at all. “The people?—”
“Whatthe peoplewill remember tonight,” the lord continued, “is the dark power of the Revenant on full display in the center of the king’s court. They will remember that chaos erupted because of her.” He smoothed the front of his robe. “I reiterate my earlier point. Always such ashowwith them.”
Cedric fisted his hands at his sides, his muscles vibrating from the restraint it took not to speak further in Elyria’s defense. He knew it would be pointless.
As if he could sense Cedric’s rising ire, Lord Church raised a placating hand. “I do hope all this excitement won’t have you forgetting everything we discussed. My study. Tomorrow morning.” And with a final clap of Cedric’s shoulder, the lord walked away, chin up, head high. Unbothered. Like this whole affair was little more than an inconvenience.
Cedric stood stark still, his palms hot. He closed his eyes, just for a second. Tried to regain his bearings, to settle the beast locked inside him.
And when he looked back, seeking Elyria once more, she was gone.
11
STATUS QUO
CEDRIC
The morning came and went,and Cedric was not in Lord Church’s study. No, he awoke at first light rather surprised to find a summons from the lord waiting for him. One that not only reneged on his former command that Cedric report to his office but replaced it with instructions to attend a midday meeting with King Callum in the council room.
Cedric wasn’t about to complain. Swapping out the lord’s windowless, dark-paneled study for the bright, airy council chamber, with its long, polished table and bright golden banners, was a rather welcome change, in fact. And with the delay in his schedule, instead of spending his morning regaling an almost assuredly disappointed Lord Church with a boring report of all the useless informationhe and Tristan had dug up in Paideus, Cedric could go back to sleep.
Well, a greater man might have been able to do so.
