AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I don’t see why not,” I said. “I have a feeling a lot of us are going to be a little lost for a while.”
He nodded, and although it felt strange to leave our empty cups and plates on the table, I’d learned from supper that the staff would collect them later. They were so on top of things, given just how many people seemed to be in the palace.
The way Kai explained it, the entire court didn’t live within the confines of the royal grounds. Some had houses just outsideor even in other cities. But between guests, diplomats, and the parts of court which did live there, it was a pretty bustling place.
Together, he headed out of the hall to retrace our steps. I was still pretty overwhelmed by the luxury everywhere, but I didn’t think I’d lose my way. At least I hoped I didn’t. Luckily, I did have two companions who’d hopefully cover any gaps in my memory.
“You know,” Mad Dog said as we walked down another, wider hall, then headed down the truly oversized double staircase. “If they just sold a single one of their fancy art pieces in each hallway of this place, they could probably give a considerable pay raise to every single soldier and auxiliary staff fighting in the war. Maybe even a bonus to the front line’s personnel.”
Mad Dog wasn’t being overly loud, but I caught some dirty looks from people around us and some shocked glances from the staff. Somehow we’d already committed some faux pas, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.
“I’m just saying, they could win the war if they just sent their cooks to all the forts holding the line against Vekas. I know I’d be plenty motivated.”
“Hah!” Darla agreed. “Morale would be at an all-time high.”
Someone cleared their throat near us, and I knew we were rubbing some people the wrong way, but how? Were people not supposed to speak while they walked?
“Excuse me, I don’t mean to intrude, but you don’t seem to be from around here. I’d be happy to give some advice.”
Surprised, I glanced behind Mad Dog to see a handsome fae gentleman standing on the landing just behind us, pearlescent wings behind his back, and a pleasant expression across his features.
“Pardon?” That was Darla, probably the most adept out of all of us to answer whoever the cryptid was. He dressed in the fancy clothes of the capital, but he didn’t seem to have royal status.
“I’m aware you probably don’t know this, but we don’t speak of the war here in the capital. Not on palace grounds.”
I stared at him, certain I’d stopped understanding our spoken language. “What the fuck?”
I should have known better, though, because, though the fae didn’t have shifter hearing, he still had pointed ears and was able to pick up my utterance, judging by how the corner of his lips curled.
“We all have an inkling of what’s going on, and to most here, it’s a distant idea that’ll never touch them. To be reminded of such things is... unpleasant, so they avoid it entirely.”
That was possibly the stupidest thing I’d ever heard.
“I don’t mean to be a nuisance. I just thought you’d like to know being a touch more careful might afford you some friends here.”
Thankfully, Mad Dog seemed to agree. If there was anyone I could count on not to be taken in by social bullshit, it was the more grizzled, outspoken warrior.
“I’m not surprised these aristocrats want to keep their perfect little bubble all pristine, while the rest of us nobodies fight and bleed to maintain their lifestyle. Cockroaches contribute more to our society at this point.”
“Hey,” Darla said quietly, putting her hand on the big man’s shoulder. “I agree with you, but until we get our official orders from Kai, we shouldn’t stir the pot. Maybe we could be a little lessvocalabout certain things.”
Mad Dog nodded and begrudgingly agreed, but the fae’s head tilted to the side, and I realized we’d let a little too much slip.
“Kai?” he said, taking a few steps down so he was closer to us. “By Kai, do you mean our supposedly returned Prince Nikolai? Is it true he’s come back?”
Ah shit. It was such a simple thing, and yet I felt like we’d given away far too much. We had no idea who this cryptid was. He was pretty, as all fae were, but what if he was an assassin or someone else with malevolent intentions?
“Are you friends of the prince? From whatever mission he’s been on for all these years?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but we are friends of ourcaptain, who is here in the capital because of thewaryou lot apparently love to pretend isn’t happening.” Mad Dog said.
“But who areyou?” I asked, not wanting us to make things worse by mouthing off or giving too much information to the wrong person.
“Ah, forgive me. Sometimes my curiosity gets the best of me and I forget my manners.” He stopped when he was just a step or two away from us, then gave a deep, deep bow. “I am Aodin Louth, an ambassador from Verdana Isle.”
His words were silver-soaked and careful, sliding off the tongue in purposeful little waves. It made sense considering I knew fae couldn’t tell outright lies, so they either had to carefully watch their words or use them to draw attention away from their actual meaning. Most people thought they were a manipulative cryptid, but I admired how much they’d adapted to the modern world.
Naturally, the man caught my eyes on him as he sized me up, raising one meticulously sculpted eyebrow. Then again, as a fae, maybe he was just born with it. They did tend to lie somewhere between ethereal beauty and the uncomfortable uncanny valley.
