They nodded and signed to Flyka, their hands forming an intricate language. Flyka signed back before tossing a look Lia’s way. “Come on, then.”
Dahlia looked at the four Haunts, their white armor standing out in the darkness. She signed,“Thank you for your help.”
She wasn’t sure how much Asteran sign would translate over into Loriian, but she’d picked up some of the language during her travels with the theater troupe. One of the jugglers had a deaf son whom Cosmos had dearly loved. They’d become fast friends, which meant Lia had spent a lot of time with the two.
The shortest of the Haunts cracked a smile, revealing several of his teeth to be capped with gold points. With a bite like that, he could tear out anyone’s throat. The bite on her shoulder throbbed at the thought. She gave him a wide smile. She had nothing to fear from this warrior.
As long as you play your part.
Flyka’s gaze was shrewd as she held up the tent flap. “You are an annoying puzzle,Reilleve.”
The use of honorifics.
Time for the show to begin.
The warmth wasn’t overwhelming as she stepped inside a tent that was almost identical to the one she’d been staying; thenotable differences were that the table was lined with chairs and filled with faces both familiar and unfamiliar.
Don’t cower.
All gazes were on her, assessing, looking for weakness, but what unnerved her the most was a pair of human irises. What was a human doing here?
Two chairs at the end of the table were open, but all others were filled. Her stomach quivered. No one had coached her on this part, but she knew for certain that if she sat in one of the empty ones, it would be a slap in the face to the Frost King.
With slow even steps, she walked around the table until she reached Neve’s side. Even sitting down, she had to look up at him. He lounged in the chair like it was his personal throne. The Frost King spread his thick thighs wider as if in a challenge, the leather straining over muscle.
Dahlia didn’t hesitate.
She stepped between his legs and then perched herself on his hard thigh. Lia tossed her cloak over the arm of the wooden chair and didn’t flinch when Neve’s large hand cupped her hip possessively.
Here we go.
Meeting the gazes of the war council wasn’t as difficult as she’d thought it would be. She latched onto Olwen’s dancing eyes first. “Commander,” she murmured in acknowledgement.
He placed a fist over his hearts. “Reilleve, it’s nice to see you.”
She looked to the pretty giantess on Olwen’s right, her nose pierced so many times, it was as if there was a trail of diamonds marching down the slope of her nose on each side.
“Vidielle, my lady,” the giantess stated, her tone gruff. “I am glad you are safe.”
“As am I.” She wasn’t sure if she was safe, but it was as good as it got.
Next came an older male sitting at Neve’s right with mint-colored skin and silver hair. He stroked his green-and-white goatee and smiled, a twinkle in his eye. “I am called Abeo. It is my pleasure to meet you,lae reilleve.”
What pretty manners. She had a feeling he was a very smooth talker and quick thinker. She’d have to be careful with that one.
Finally, she looked to the willowy woman sitting in between Abeo and Flyka. The human. She wore a flat-brimmed hat over her deep auburn hair, trousers, beat-up boots, and a woolen vest over the top of a very practical tan tunic.
Veryun-Asteran.
How interesting.
Her brown eyes were assessing Lia too. The tall woman stood from her chair and bowed deeply. “My queen, I am Chemaine.”
“A pleasure,” she replied.
“It is, especially to see you alive,” Chemaine stated, plopping back into her chair.
Flyka cut Chemaine a sharp look and then nodded to Dahlia. “Reilleve.”
