"I should ask you the same about what happened down here," he countered.
Bala gave him a deliberate once over, and she finally turned. "We speak upstairs. Alone." Her gaze traveled back to Reverie and Corbin, almost as though she didn't trust them, and she walked away.
Dorian turned to the pair. "Keep an eye on the Infi."
He followed her up the steps and into Draven's home. He couldn't help pausing in the door to look at the changes. No more cot on the floor. The desk organized instead of in disarray as Draven had left it. The room tidy, and a few black flowers in glass bottles scattered around the room.
Bala's home.
She pulled the bottle of whiskey from behind the desk and two glasses as he sat at the small table. "Have you calmed down yet?" she asked as she poured the drinks.
Dorian didn't touch the whiskey when she handed it to him. He sighed heavily and pushed his hands over his face. The way he'd acted like a brat towards her made him hate himself. His friend. A King he should have trusted.
"Yeah," he said when he looked up. "Yeah, I'm sorry. I just... Are you sure she's okay and at the Umber?"
Bala didn't speak a moment, but she settled onto Draven's desk. "Positive."
"What happened?"
"That's not my story to tell," she insisted.
Dorian stretched his fist, staring at the ground. "I'm sorry I threatened you," he said as he met her gaze again. "I'm sorry for questioning you. I will not make an excuse for it. You are my King, and I should have trusted you. I'm sorry."
Her brows lifted, obvious with surprise. "That's very big of you, Prince. Thank you."
"It's new," he muttered.
Bala huffed, slight smile on her lips. "You going to tell me what's happened to you, or do I have to pry it out of you? And who's the girl?"
Dorian almost smiled as he leaned back in the seat. "So many questions," he mocked. "Luckily, who she is is at the beginning."
"Let's start there."
Bala didn't have many questions while Dorian spoke. She listened. Intently. Until finally, she decided she needed Corbin to tell her the truth in case Dorian was exaggerating. He hadn't even gotten to the part about his taking a crown from the Infi.
Corbin and Reverie were sitting on the steps, almost as though Corbin expected her to need confirmation.
"Corbin—“
"If he's telling you about his facing down the Ghost of Fire, he's actually not exaggerating," he called up, smirking at her over his shoulder.
Bala smiled, arms hugging her chest, and she shook her head. "Get up here. Both of you."
She poured them drinks as they bounded up the steps.
Darkness was beginning to settle in. The noise of the Ulfram sounded in the Forest, and Reverie paused in the door.
"What's wrong?" Dorian asked.
"I... I've never been inside the Forest during the Deads," she admitted, staring out into the twilight.
"Why does it not surprise me you needed two guards to keep yourself out of trouble up there?" Bala teased Dorian.
Reverie turned, arms across her chest, and she stared pointedly at Bala like the question she’d just asked was ridiculous. "Has he been lying to you? Because getting into trouble is the only thing he's been doing, and Corbin and I have not been able to stop it."
Bala grinned crookedly in Dorian's direction, to which Dorian shrugged and leaned back in the chair. "She's not wrong," he said.
Handing Reverie a cup, Bala gave her an upwards nod. "Balandria Windwood," she introduced herself. "Friends call me Bala."
