“What is this?” Terena asked in an icy voice.
“Lady Luca,” Daris Antonius rasped. “The king would like a word with you.”
“What about?”Terena asked. Her heart thudded against her ribs. Stepping closer, she flicked her eyes to her brother. His eyes darted between the Liodari in front of him and Terena. She saw the way his hands trembled as he held them up, but his face didn’t betray him. Rydon’s face was red, and she knew from the way his chest rose and fell heavily he was a second away from engaging the soldiers.
Terena caught his eye and shook her head slightly. He pursed his lips but relaxed his stance. Gabriol edged closer to Croak.
“The king has… heard of your arrival in Sparta and sent me to bring you to him.” The commander’s face was impassive. Terena saw by the slight tightening of his mouth something was off.
She stared at him a long moment. He seemed stiff, uncomfortable.Good,she thought. She would not make this easy for him.
“How’d you find me?”
Daris parted his lips. A few seconds passed before he said, “This is my city, lady.”
Terena and Rydon shared a glance before she turned back to the commander. True, she needed to see the king anyway, and this was much better than wasting time trying to figure out a way to gain an audience. But she didn’t like the fact he’d been aware of where they’d been staying.
Nevertheless, she intended to make good use of this opportunity.
“Very well,” she said, feigning nonchalance. “I’m at your service.”
Daris Antonius didn’t move, and as the seconds ticked by, Terena became uneasy. He dropped his gaze to the floor, then looked back at her again.
“The young lady, too.”
Rydon and Gabriol moved then as Croak protested loudly. The Liodari stopped them with swords up. Terena’s pulse ratcheted up and her grip on Sonah’s wrist tightened.
“Why?”
The commander pursed his lips, his face dark. “I do not question His Majesty,” he bit out, his eyes boring into hers. “I’m commanded to bring you both to the castle. Please. Do so peaceably.”
Heat suffused Terena’s neck, rising to her face. “Or?”
A quick flash of exasperation crossed his face before his indifferent mask fell back into place. “There is no ‘or’.”
“If it’s all the same to you,” she said, her voice low, “I’d rather not endanger my friends, so I’ll come at your king’s command. But I’ll come alone.”
“Your friends are only in danger if you refuse to let us take you both,” he said, before looking over his shoulder at Rydon. “Or if they do something foolish.”
Terena heard the frustration in his voice before he pulled up to his full height.
He stepped closer, looking down his nose at her. “This is not a request.”
A few tense moments passed as she stared back at the commander. How blinded she’d been by this man’s face to see the brutality beyond. She’d forgotten he was a famous warrior for a reason.
Terena fumed for a moment longer before giving him a malicious smirk. “Well. Since you asked so nicely.”
She turned her gaze to Rydon and Gabriol. “You and Croak stay here. I’ll be back as soon as I can and then we’ll leave the city. The sooner the better.” This last she directed at Daris Antonius, putting as much loathing in her expression as possible, so he had no doubt she wanted nothing more to do with him.
Damn those moments of weakness when she had allowed herself to be flattered and excited by the idea a man like him might be attracted to her.
Idiot. Serves you right.
The commander thinned his lips and looked over his shoulder,giving a quick nod to his men. The others waited until Terena had turned, still holding on to Sonah.
When they reached the door to the inn, another Liodari opened it, an apologetic look on his face.
Terena started, realizing it was the man she’d fought in the pit. Jason.
