20. Chapter 20 #3
The man paused, humbling his smile. He swallowed as his eyes darted to Hephain, but Hephain’s gaze was locked on Kord.
“I invited him,” Cyrus said. “He’s visiting from Pryam.” Cyrus silently prayed Hephain would make an introduction and spare him from having to ask the name of his invitee, but Hephain stood frozen with his stare still on Kord.
In seeing he wouldn’t be getting the introduction he’d also hoped for, the man quickly stepped forward. “Yes, of course, I’m so sorry. I’m Corwin Lewis.” He gave another bow.
Corwin. Yes, that was his name.
“Corwin is a friend of mine,” Hephain said, finally finding his voice.
Kord’s eyes shifted to Hephain now, acknowledging him for the first time. As if he hadn’t noticed him. As if he felt nothing. Did he feel nothing?
If only Hephain could do the same, or at least not be so obvious about it.
“Forgive us for being late,” Cyrus said. “I’m starving.” He motioned to the table. “Please.”
Everan moved and greeted Visa with a warm kiss on her cheek, then everyone took their seats at the table. Hephain resumed his place next to Essandra, with Kord directly across from him, and Corwin next to Hephain.
Cyrus sat in his usual place, at the head of the table, with a full view of what would surely be an awkward dung fire of a dinner. It seemed time had mended no wounds with Hephain. Neither had a new friend .
Meanwhile, Kord sat completely unaffected.
Or perhaps not.
Cyrus caught his friend’s stare on Corwin.
“So, Essandra was sharing how things were coming along with the schools,” Visa said.
Thank the fucking gods someone knew how to start a conversation again.
Corwin’s smile returned. “It sounds like things are going w—”
“I’ve spent a lot of time in Pryam,” Kord interrupted. “I don’t remember ever seeing you at court, Lord Corwin.”
Corwin’s smile faded slightly. “Not Lord ,” he said. “I’m not a man of court. My father is a mason, my mother a baker.”
The table grew quiet.
Corwin swallowed again as he looked around.
“Well, we all used to be chattel,” Cyrus said, trying to lighten the air.
No one laughed. Not that it was intended to be funny, but it was the lightest he’d ever been able to say it. Visa winced.
“Corwin makes music,” Hephain said.
Essandra leaned forward in her chair. “Really?” she asked, with the first smile coming to her lips in weeks. “What do you play?”
“Pretty much anything.”
“Anything?” Kord asked.
Corwin shrugged. “Yes, I’ve been playing instruments since before I could walk.” He gave a light laugh as he glanced at Hephain. Hephain smiled back.
“A tempir?” Kord asked.
Corwin nodded. “Yes.”
“A lyrar?”
“Uh, yes.”
Kord’s eyes narrowed. “I’d love to hear.” He turned to a page. “Can you get us a lyrar?”
“That’s not necessary,” Hephain interjected.
“Kord,” Cyrus said in a low voice.
“What? It would be nice to hear a tune with dinner.” He looked around the table. “Do you not all agree?”
Hephain looked at Corwin. “You don’t have—”
“No, it’s fine,” Corwin said quickly. “I’d love to play for you all.”
Or make a fool of himself in front of them all.
Cyrus didn’t play any instruments, but back when they first took the palace, he and Everan and Kord had goofed off a bit in the adjoining room, where a number of instruments were stored.
Kord could actually play a few of them half decently.
Cyrus didn’t know what a lyrar was, but he knew there was absolutely nothing in that room he could personally use to produce anything that remotely resembled a song.
And, aside from Kord, he expected most people to be the same.
The page quickly brought the complicated stringed instrument to Corwin, who slid his chair back to allow it to lie across his lap.
He paused and nervously looked up at them all.
“The lyrar is typically played with two people, and it’s been a long time since I’ve held one, but I’ll try to do it some justice. ”
There it was—the disclaimer. Cyrus almost grimaced. Why did he feel nervous for this man?
But that nervousness evaporated as the most beautiful melody filled his ears.
Cyrus had never heard anything like it. He almost wouldn’t have believed it was a sound that could be created by a man if he weren’t watching it with his own eyes.
Corwin’s fingers danced across the multitude of strings, playing even faster.
It was mesmerizing. They all sat in a trance, not eating, not drinking, simply listening.
Then the tune ended, releasing them all, and Cyrus laughed in amazement.
“That was beautiful,” Essandra said, nearly breathless.
“Pure magic,” Visa added. “You had us all absolutely under your spell.”
Corwin laughed. “Sadly, it is my only talent.”
“He’s too humble,” Hephain interjected. “He teaches music and is opening a proper school for music back in Pryam.”
Visa clapped her hands. “How exciting!”
“Agreed,” Essandra said. “You have to let me know if you need anything with the school. I’m happy to help however I can. If you’re teaching others to do that , you’re giving a gift to the world. I could listen all evening.”
Corwin smiled. “Thank you, Lady Essandra. And I am happy to play anytime, anywhere, for whoever will listen.”
“He should play for us tomorrow evening,” Everan said, “for the dinner with the new leader of Serra.”
Essandra’s brows dipped. “The what?”
The table quieted.
“What did you say?” Essandra asked Everan again.
Everan took a drink from his chalice. A long drink.
“Serra has a new king?” she asked. “And he’s here?”
Kord chuckled. “The irony,” he said as his gaze settled on Cyrus. Kord wouldn’t dare. Cyrus shook his head, warning him.
“Cyrus here is the new king of Serra,” Kord said anyway.
Kord, you bastard.
Essandra’s eyes widened as they darted to him. “You? King of Serra?”
Now it was Cyrus’s turn to take a drink. A long one.
“You didn’t even say anything,” she said.
He slowly sat down his chalice. “Well, it just happened. Also, you’re not talking to me… so…”
The daggers in her stare could have cut him.
“What does the council think?” she asked.
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t told them.”
The table grew quiet again.
Corwin stood slowly. “I think I should leave for you to discuss this.” He bowed. “Thank you, King Cyrus, again, for the invitation. It was an honor.” Then he quietly made his way from the room.
Visa stood as well. “I’ll check on dessert.”
“I think we’re all done here,” Essandra said as she rose too. “It looks like someone needs to inform the council that we have two kingdoms now.” She didn’t give Cyrus another look as she swept out of the room.
Only Everan, Kord, and Hephain remained.
“What do you want us to do?” Everan asked.
Cyrus shook his head as he sighed and sank back in his chair. “Nothing for tonight. We’ll figure it out tomorrow.”
Everan nodded and followed after Visa.
Hephain cast a last glance back to Kord, then took his leave as well.
Kord watched him go, not rising from his chair.
“Kord,” Cyrus called to him.
But Kord’s gaze stayed on the empty doorway.
“Kord? Are you all right?”
Kord’s attention snapped back, and he cut him a sharp glance. “When is anyone all right in this fucking place?” Then he rose and strode from the room, leaving Cyrus, once again, at a table by himself.