Chapter 35
Bargaining
"That was quite... entertaining. Was it not?" The lord nervously laughed and avoided the prince's fiery eyes.
"You asked them of my arrival. Tell me, Morvin, why the need?" the prince questioned the lord by his name.
"Why, to create a soirée in honour of your name." The lord seemed like he had more to say but the prince cut him off.
"Cut the pretentious bullshit, Morvin, and speak to me as if you were speaking to my father," the prince growled. Any look of welcome and gracious behaviour that was previously portrayed wiped the lord's face. It was as if he had been wearing a mask all along, it was mildly unsettling.
"Let us discuss these matters in private," Morvin said.
***
Morvin had five guards stationed in his private study, and I had taken note of two guards stationed outside, whereas it was only Inanov and I who accompanied the prince.
Two lanterns were hung up by the doorway and one had been placed upon Morvin’s desk where the prince and I sat.
I tried hard to concentrate on the meeting and not think about the close proximity of the prince.
Of how his knees had brushed against mine, or how I could feel the heat of his body radiate from him.
"Tea?" Morvin asked while pouring himself a cup, its steam slowly trailing up.
"Are you going to answer my question, Morvin?" The prince didn't need to voice out his threats in order for the lord to understand what the fire in his eyes meant.
"I needed to prepare my side of the bargain for when you request my land to be put under Apollo." The lord blew on his tea and then sipped.
"That is wise of you. But what did you do in exchange for that information?
Abraax demons do nothing for free." The prince asked good questions and had good suspicions.
It made me imagine him being very disciplined and intuitive during his classes with his royal tutors.
Being thrown into a sudden political whirlwind with the prince had opened my eyes.
"The demons visited Abdera on their own accord, not really expressing what their business was, I granted them leisure, parties and grand rooms. I felt the least they could do was grant me an indication of your arrival from their talents.
" The lord gave a shrug and settled into his large, high back chair.
"And tell me. After wining and dining the demons, were you able to come up with your side of the bargain?
" The prince kept his face emotionless, tracking carefully with the discussion.
It was different from how he bargained with the vampyre king.
Definitely different than how he wanted to deal with the Lord of Litara.
He was about to bargain with a man who was already well connected with Apollo and traded daily with them.
"Abdera has magnificent cultivations on our crops. The blood rubies we mine and send daily to Apollo is another factor. As you already know, we have everything we need. However, there is something I need. I want to be the king’s advisor.
" The prince did not show his surprise, and neither was he pleased.
"We already have a royal advisor." Adrion rolled his eyes at Morvin, no doubt referring to Colfe.
Morvin shrugged. "Kill him, then you'll be needing a new one. Or make me your advisor when you become king." The lord smirked.
The prince arched a silver eyebrow at him. "My father is rather... attached to our current advisor and when I am anointed as King, it will have to be done as a vote by the royal council for the next."
"Then unfortunately, Abdera will be the only land not under the king's rule," the lord plainly said as he drained the last bit of tea that was in his cup. The prince darkly chuckled.
"You rather risk a war? A war you will lose now that we have vampyres on our side?” Morvin looked like he might combust. “I might not be able to make you the royal advisor, but I can make you a member of the royal council," the prince thoughtfully brought the deal onto the table with his words.
Morvin did not have to think much before he said, "Deal."
"Uh-uh, wait." The prince raised a finger up. "All members of the royal council are there to aid Apollo. So this means you will be subjected to provide us with soldiers if need be." There was no way Morvin was going to accept that.
"Agreed. As long as I have direct contact with the king. I am at your service." The lord had a smile on his face that did little to ease me. It concerned me gravely.
"Yes. I am sure the king would like that, given that you two are currently working together on a project.
" The prince eyed the lord. This bargaining deal seemed too easy, I felt it in my gut just then.
An awful feeling, something devastating.
An oily feeling, like the one I had gotten in Litara. Filled with bloodshed... and savagery.
"Yes, I have been prohibited to speak on it."
The prince frowned. "I am well aware. It's a deal then. I will have Colfe draw up the contract before we leave in the morning." The prince rose from his seat and I followed closely behind him.
"I am happy to have come to a fair bargain, Your Highness.
" Morvin answered from behind us and as we walked out I took notice of the books the lord had in his study.
My eyes immediately caught the name of a particular book that stood out.
Extraction of Blood and Power. The shadows inside me whispered, urging me to grab the book, but I was already out the door with the prince and Inanov who were now in a heated argument.
The prince caught my eye and Inanov kept talking, but all the prince did was keep his gaze upon me.
Inanov noticed this and then huffed, dragging a frustrated hand through his hair.
I did not want to get in the middle of their argument which was no doubt going to be about me now.
I began my walk to my room until a warm hand caught my arm.
I knew who it was by scent and slowly turned to meet his eyes.
"I have matters to discuss with Inanov and Colfe. But at midnight, I want you in my room. Alone. To myself." His hand on my arm felt hotter by the second. I remembered our kiss, how it all felt. I wanted that again, selfish as it was. "Midnight," I confirmed.
***
To my surprise, everything from my horse had been unpacked into my room.
Even the fire blades and weaponry that I had emptied out onto the table outside were neatly placed on the desk.
The shadows inside me purred when I spotted the black box that held my violin.
I rolled my eyes at the eagerness of the shadows inside me and stepped further into the room.
I froze. Something was different. A scent lingered in the room.
I immediately lifted up the mattress to where I had hidden the green gem.
It was gone.
Panic enveloped me. Someone had come into my room and stolen it. They had not touched anything else. But that stone... They had taken it. I breathed in that scent. My shadows did the work for me and flashed an image of the culprit in my head.
The she-demon.
I felt like screaming. It had made so much sense, how I had only seen her when they were departing.
And I watched them leave like a fool with a powerful stone in hand.
I needed to tell the prince. Especially if there was a chance they would use the stone against him or anyone else.
I moved to open the door until my shadows froze me into place.
Take it.
They urged.
“Take what?” I nearly asked them back until I heard that alluring voice.
Sing me, play me, string me. Unleash havoc upon them.
It came from my violin. I ignored it as I strapped my fire blades onto me, it made me feel safer by a tenfold but my shadows weren't having it.
From whispers they began screeching and snarling so loud I had to hold my head in my hands.
I frowned deeply and grit my teeth as I went to the box that was laid on my bed and opened it.
As soon as I had opened it, the noise stopped.
I slowly closed the box again, to test if—
Immediate screeching and snarling came back even louder.
I quickly opened up the box and took the violin out.
These shadows were becoming more of a menace day by day.
And I had no indication of an answer as to why.
I knew that if Fala was here, I'd have been able to confide in her.
My heart clenched at the thought of her as I stepped outside of my door into the dark corridors of the castle and began my journey to the prince's room.
Everything was so... quiet. I turned around slowly to check my surroundings—spotting nothing out of the ordinary.
I was being paranoid. I turned and continued to walk until a sudden hand and a black sheet came into view.
Putting the sheet over my head and cutting me out from the world.