Chapter Forty-Four #2
‘Lillienne?’ I look around me in the empty hall. ‘Why the secrecy? There’s no one here.’
‘Just get in here,’ her hand pops free and grabs mine, pulling me inside.
‘What are you dong?’
On the other side of the door, there are five sets of eyes on me. ‘Ah a secret meeting, I like it. How thrilling,’ I joke. No one laughs.
‘Eira, sit down,’ Eliaz gestures to the edge of the bed where he sits. ‘We must discuss our next move.’
‘Our next move?’ I ask, taking a seat cross-legged on the floor next to Calli.
‘It is simple. We dine with the man, then I ask him the questions we came here to ask. What more is there to it?’ Cole scoffs, from his place leaning on the wall nearest the door.
‘My father is as unkind as the day I left him. I wouldn’t trust a word.
’ ‘Well why let us come here then if you knew what kind of reception we would get, or if you could’ve predicted the way he was going to treat you? ’
He clenches his jaw. ‘I had to face him at some point or another, and believe it or not, I too am here for the same cause you are. Valtayre has become my home, and I will do anything to protect it. Even if that includes further ridicule from my father.’
‘He was kind to you, Eira,’ Eliaz says quietly.
‘We can use that. Perhaps he will be willing to share a great deal more with you.’ ‘On the topic of sharing, you neglected to tell me that the very emperor we came here to see was that prick’s father.
If I’d have known about the relation I wouldn’t have put so much hope on his willingness. ’
‘Eira, you can’t—’
‘I can’t what? Expect us all to be open with each other?
To tell each other all the crucial information that make or break our mission here?
No, you’re right, it would be so ridiculous of me to want to know how the emperor is still living without the Relic, or Neyktar.
Of whether Cole is half demon or a descendant of an abomination. ’
‘That would explain his behaviour,’ Lillienne mumbles under her breath.
‘Yeah, and what about the fact that you kept it to yourself all this time that your murderer of a brother has been loose this whole time?’ Cole shouts at me.
‘Cole,’ Eliaz cautions him, but his warning falls on deaf ears.
‘How can we expect to trust a girl who comes from a family so prone to murdering each other? Does not exactly bode well for us, does it? My father is sustained by something I do not know. As far as I am concerned, I am a mere human, a mortal of four-and-twenty, who cannot believe his shit luck when it comes to the human existence.’
‘I think we all need to take a moment to compose ourselves, before we further say things we might regret,’ Calli suggests, her posture slumped, her eyes closed.
‘I think you might need to think about removing your head from where it does not belong, Calli. You might do better to stay home next time, and leave those who are more capable to handle things,’ Cole spits. A single tear rolls from Calli’s closed eye. She sniffles.
‘Out,’ Eliaz orders, his voice low and sharp.
Cole surveys his best friend, face red and eyes dark, his breath quick. ‘Eliaz, you cannot even bring yourself to defend me. What value you place upon our friendship.’
Eliaz gets to his feet and levels his eyes with the raven-haired son of the emperor. ‘You seem to be doing a fine job defending yourself and insulting my sister and the princess in the process.’
Cole’s face twists, mouth tight and primed to shoot venom. ‘How dare I spit truth to those too delicate and sensitive to hear it. I might have better luck talking directly to you, their spokesperson, next time.’
‘I suggest you go and calm yourself down, Cole. I will come and find you to talk later.’ Eliaz puffs his chest, staring into Cole’s angered eyes until he relents.
And he does, whether willingly or not, slamming the door shut behind him.
Eliaz runs his hand through his hair and turns to me. ‘You are certain you’re comfortable with speaking to the emperor alone? Maybe we can convince him to let me join you, a meeting of the kingdoms.’
‘From the way he acted back there, I do think he might be reluctant to share anything with you in the room. He seems to have a softness for my mother’s daughter – I will have to be careful in my questioning so as not to anger him by speaking ill of her.’
‘Then we’re doomed,’ Lillienne sighs, shaking her head.
I nod in agreement, my eyes flitting to the corner of the room, where I could’ve sworn Diarmid was sitting as silent onlooker.
‘Where’s Diarmid?’ I question, distracted by his absence.
The three remaining occupants of the room all give me the same concerned look. Lillienne’s hand find’s my elbow. ‘He went to his room for a lie down before dinner, after being tended to by the palace physician. He said he’s not used to so much excitement.’
Eliaz swallows audibly beside me. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Because he was just here with us. He was here one moment and then gone the next.’
‘It sounds as though you could use a lie down too, Eira,’ Calli pipes up. ‘I think you’re getting a little confused.’
Confusion is an understatement.
I am descending into madness and I fear I am the only one on this journey into the imagined.