“You would?”
Austin’s efforts to ‘save’ others in the past had neither been appreciated nor particularly successful. “I could just tell the ocean to bring you back.” Though the last time he’d commanded the ocean, he’d been exhausted afterwards, and it hadn’t exactly listened very well.
A look of awe crept across Eli’s face. “You can do that?”
“If I feel like it.” Perhaps his alarm and fear on the beach as he’d fled from Wilbur had lent him the strength to issue such a command? A feat of self-preservation. But he felt strongly that if Tristan’s household were swept to sea, he’d manage a similar command again. The trick would be making sure the ocean kept their headsabovewater. He doubted any of them were waiting for the right catalyst for gills to spontaneously erupt.
“You could conquer the world,” Eli said, awe-struck.
Austin thought of the empire Cessair had left in his hands back home. Resources and riches so vast there was nothing he couldn’t have if he wanted it. And yet he had felt empty. Brittle. Crumbling at the seams.
Right now, he felt neither empty, brittle, nor crumbled.
Austin tilted his head to check the braid. Not a single strand fell out of place, silver pins catching the light, the same as his monstrous, alluring silver eyes. Austin didn’t hate them today.
He felt the sapphire stones through his shorts, tracking their snug band around his thigh.
“I’d rather conquer Tristan.”
Staff were sweeping sand from the flagstones between buildings. Troop members were nailing outdoor sconces along the other walls, sacks of glowing blue stones waiting to be mounted. The wind had died down, but the grey sky hinted that the bad weather was not done with them yet. Austin detoured to see his nest and scowled when he found it halfway down the beach, almost entirely buried.
The dining hall was set for four. Tristan sat at one end of the table, an empty place setting waited at the opposite end, and Inx and Char occupied the other two spots. They were reporting the damage from the storm. A staff member stood at the wall, hands folded at her back.
Austin indicated to her, striding past his spot and dropping into the chair nearest Tristan.
Tristan looked at him in surprise, followed closely by delight.
“Why would you invite me to breakfast and then have me sit so far away? I might as well eat in another room,” Austin challenged.
“An oversight on my part, forgive—” Tristan caught himself. “Iapologise.”
Austin leaned back as the staff member efficiently moved his plate in front of him. He didn’t have the same hearty meal as the other men, but instead a selection of plain, carefully chosen foods. He sipped his tea, took a bite, and indicated for Char to continue his report.
Char obeyed the cue. “Prince Hal has requested that we clear the main road and help dispose of the debris in the lower quarters of the city.”
Inx frowned. “There’s another storm surge in a few hours, isn’t there? I can’t imagine he isn’t aware of that.”
“Indeed. But an Asar delegation is expected to arrive today, and he wants the way clear.” Char gave Tristan a particular look, and Tristan grimaced. “Chancellor Desor will be among them. As it happens, the delegation from the Zatic Empire is to arrive tonight as well. I think Prince Hal wants them to get to their assigned lodgings as quickly as possible so they don’t meet en route.”
Tristan caught Austin’s questioning look. “The Zatic Empire borders Asar. They have trade agreements and peace treaties, but they have been tumultuous neighbours for many years.”
Austin summoned the map Eli had shown him of Tristan’s home. He tipped back his head, recalling. “They’re landlocked?”
Tristan nodded.
Austin released an unimpressedhm.
“They are incredibly rich,” Char put in, casting a somewhat exasperated look between the two of them. “In natural resources and in, well, riches. The family the Zatics inherited the empire from were incredibly powerful.”
“Overthrew,” Inx corrected. “And what a fight that must have been.” There was a twinkle in his eye, a gleam of eagerness. “Though that was a good century or two back. I wonder how well they train their soldiers now? Are there many guards in the delegation?”
“We’ll know when they arrive,” Char said.
“Why would they come here?” Austin asked.
“Officially, they are consulting on justice practices,” Char explained. “Though everyone who wants an invite from Prince Hal says that—he never refuses a chance to discuss the function of his justice system. Unofficially, there can be any number ofreasons. He receives requests for everything from soldiers to seashells.”
“Seashells?”
