Page 120 of The Hunted

The bell tolled once more.

Eryx had no more time to waste.

The galloping of hooves from the royal caravan accompanied the third and final toll of the bell. Eryx headed for the doors and didn’t even need to say a word to the guards before they opened them for him. He came to stand under the large enclave that led into the stable estate’s main house. There, he was able to watch the caravan come to a stop.

It was quite a show.

All four large carriages. He knew exactly what they carried without even needing to be told. Whatever his father might want and need, whether the king’s stay was for a minute, or weeks.

The heavy rain fell in sheets, creating a distorted curtain Eryx was forced to watch through while the men jumped from the caravans to ready for his father’s exit. They readied the makeshift cover they had created using one of his father’s seals embroidered on a flag that was tied at all four ends to golden poles. Standing on either side of the carriage with the gold trim, the men waited for the door to open.

Misael exited his carriage under the safety of the cover, hidden from the heavy rain. He even wore his crown—the large bulbous top nearly tall enough to touch the cover with its ruby jewel.

Behind his father came a man Eryx should have known would accompany him.

Mattue.

Because of course.

It was right then and there that Eryx knew exactly why his father was here. He’d suspected, sure, but Mattue’s presence only confirmed it further.

It didn’t take long for Misael to make his way to the safety of the enclave. Eryx, though his stomach clenched when he did it, gave his father a small bow.

“Your highness,” he murmured, “quite the weather to travel in, isn’t it?”

Misael eyed his son, a cold gleam telling Eryx all he needed to know. “I was told you were doing very interesting things here that I might find … curious. How much truth is there to that, my boy? And if there is something interesting here, I would certainly like to see it.”

Eryx’s gaze darted to the man waiting behind his father.

Mattue only smiled back.

He would kill him for this.

That was a promise.

“I’m not sure—”

“Is the house ready for my arrival?” Misael asked.

Eryx didn’t know how many passings of the two moons it had been since he’d last seen his father, but it was almost funny how things hadn’t changed a bit in all that time. Misael was still the same, rancid asshole he had always been. The only problem was, Eryx no longer had the motivation to care about keeping the king pleased.

“It is,” he said simply, “if you consider the lack of time you gave us to prepare.”

Misael smirked ever so slightly. “Perhaps, Eryx, that was the point. I would like to go inside.”

He had no other choice but to move aside when his father took a step forward. Misael entered through the opened doors, and because everyone else had to walk behind the king, that left Eryx with Mattue beside him.

“I warned you,” the advisor said quietly. “You gave me your word. We had a deal.”

His jaw clenched from holding words back. He had more important things to deal with at the moment than Mattue’s feelings.

Like the fact his father had already spotted Arelle. He didn’t even greet the guards at the doors like he usually would. Instead, he headed straight down the corridor past the servants. If he even seen their bows and curtsies, Eryx couldn’t say.

“Your highness.”

“King.”

“My lord.”