Kinan looked strained, but he smiled, “That would certainly be much better than accidentally draining my sister. What else? You said two things.”
Trill grimaced. “Well, my other worry is that although nothingphysicalcan touch you, you may in fact be very vulnerable to demons. Wraiths and nightmares, I mean. Well, I assume that a carnalion would be pretty tempted, too.”
Kinan raised an eyebrow and managed to say lightly, “Are you saying that I look good enough to eat?”
Trill laughed, and it sounded a bit incredulous. He looked like he was searching for words. “Your Highness, you look like afeast, um, heaped on a table, laid bare with nothing to contain you.”
Cormal could feel the blood draining from his face, and everyone looked alarmed. “You’re saying I led an extremely vulnerable man through the countryside for two days?”
Kinan looked shocked, too, but he immediately protested, “I chose to come! You didn’t lead me anywhere.”
Carefully, Trill said, “I think it would be a risk to travel unprotected. Like I said, I might be wrong, but I would hate not to have warned you and then have something happen.”
“We will travel together,” Molun offered immediately. “We’ll keep you safe.”
Brannal and Perian exchanged glances, and Perian offered a slight nod before Brannal said, “I can go, too, at least to the city entrance.” He eyed Cormal. “AmI banished, by the way?”
Cormal shook his head, sighing. “Only Perian. You’re to be reported immediately if seen, though.”
Brannal simply shrugged, like he expected nothing less.
Trill licked his lips, swallowing visibly. “About going back…”
They all looked at him. He sucked in a breath, tucking his head a little. Molun and Arvus squeezed his hands, and he squared his shoulders, looking at Kinan firmly. “I do, uh, have one more idea. I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up, but I have a, uh, friend. It’s possible they might know more about this. They told me a lot of what I know aboutme, so…”
Perian looked hopeful. “I’ll take any advice I can get.”
“Please,” Cormal confirmed. “Anything that could help.”
He’d vowed that, and he meant it.
“The thing is,” Trill said cautiously, “they, uh, really don’t get along with Mage Warriors. I actually already wrote once, when I saw the Prince for the first time and realized what the problem was. They wouldn’t come. But there’s a chance, if I tell them that you all accept me and Perian and that the Prince is here rightnow,notin the castle… There’s a chance they’ll come if I can solemnly swear that you’re not going to hurt them. No matter what.”
It was Perian who said, “They’re a carnalion, aren’t they?”
Trill carefully didn’t say anything.
Perian straightened his shoulders. “Well, I can state categorically that they’re welcome in my home, and I would value any advice they can give. If anyone doesnotfeel that way, they are welcome to leave.”
Brannal immediately agreed. “I will vouchsafe their safety as long as they don’t try to harm us.”
Slowly they all looked at Cormal. He raised his hands, palms out.
“I swore I would do anything to help Kinan, and I meant it. I won’t harm them.”
“Uh,” Trill said, biting his lip.
“What is it, honey?” Molun asked, slipping an arm around him.
“Our, uh, monetary situation is not always… super abundant,” Trill admitted slowly, a flush burning up his cheeks.
Perian brightened. “Oh, is there a better chance they’ll come if we provide the means for them to get here? We can do that. And a consultation fee, of course. They can keep the money, just for considering.”
“Oh,” Trill said, looking surprised. “That would be helpful.”
“And we’d be happy to provide a reward for information,” Perian added, “should they choose to try to help.”
“Are you trying to bribe Trill’s friend, dear heart?” Brannal asked, sounding amused.
