“Good. We will have the volunteers go to every border of Fourth. We may not have very much viable land for crops, but we can sure as hell fish—both here in the rivers and in the oceans.”
The three of them nod.
“It’s nearly time for the advisor to arrive for dinner,” Isalee points out. “And I for one am very interested to see how Third Kingdom plans to sway you.”
Slade’s expression hardens. “They can go to hell. I’m not sending Auren to a fucking Conflux.”
His snarled reply has the back of my neck prickling.
“Of course not,” she replies easily. “Let’s speak with him. I’m convinced there’s a way to politic and negotiate our way out of this that doesn’t lead to famine or war. We just need to find it.”
“Let’s hope so,” Slade says darkly, the roots spreading down to the backs of his hands like webs forming to ensnare. “Fortheirsakes.”
CHAPTER 52
AUREN
When the thick door ispushed open, I look up as Manu Ioana walks inside the room. He takes one look around before he turns to a man who must be his guard, dismissing him. Once the door closes behind him, Manu begins to make his way over, and we all get to our feet.
His long black hair is collected at the nape of his neck, the deep blue sleeves of his shirt swishing as he walks. The fabric is lustrous, and when the light hits it, it makes it look like the first weak rays of daylight hitting the surface of water.
The thump of his boots matches that of my heart, because as much as I liked Manu when I met him back at Ranhold, now his sister thinks I’m stealing magic and wants me to face some sort of formal trial.
“King Ravinger,” Manu says when he stops in front of us.
Slade says nothing and only tips his head.
His keen brown eyes sweep to the others. “Ah, you must be the Streahs,” he says in greeting. “It’s nice to put faces to the names signed on the correspondence.”
“Likewise,” Warken supplies.
Slade motions his hand toward the head of the table. “Please, sit.”
Manu hesitates when he realizes we mean for him to sit at the head of the table, but when he catches me watching his inward dilemma, he shoots me a wink before easing down into the chair.
I think the castle workers must have been peeking through the cracks in the door at the back of the room, because as soon as we’re all seated again, servers come out, laying down full plates of food. Steaming meat speckled with herbs, some sort of mash with a buttery gravy, and root vegetables are laid out in perfect precision on the plates that are set in front of us.
“Thank you,” I say to the woman who serves me.
Then, we start to eat, and the first ten minutes of the dinner is a lie.
It’s packed with pleasantries and trivial topics, while I skate the food around my plate with the fork and listen to Warken and Isalee open up the discourse with Manu with easygoing repartee.
Slade, however, is quiet. Watchful. It makes his presence that much more intimidating, but I have a feeling that’s his intention.
I’m about to take another tiny bite of the meat when Manu’s attention shifts to me. “Lady Auren. I have to admit, seeing you now compared to that first dinner meeting is quite a change. For the better, I believe.”
I’m not exactly sure how to answer, so all I say is, “Yes.”
“Not that I didn’t enjoy your harp playing,” he adds with a grin.
“I’ve gone off that instrument, truth be told.”
His keen eyes gleam. “I’m sure you have, Doll, and I don’t blame you in the least.”
My heart skips a beat, and I steal a sideways look at Slade, but he’s still watching Manu, his attention unwavering, his expression closed off.
“The dinner is delicious,” he says, sopping some of the gravy up with his bread. “Much better than that sugary glue that Fifth Kingdom seems to be so fond of.”
