“Yes,” he said immediately and without rancor. “But we prefer to call it hedonism.”
“Ah, another polite term.”
“Yes.” He chuckled. “Just so. I—” He stopped midsentence as we entered the dining hall.
Drostan's gaze was fixed on the far end of the room, where the high table was perched on a dais. I followed his gaze and saw the Seelie man that I had only seen once before—in Drostan's bedroom. It was the man with the green hair and eyes; Sir Conall. I frowned at the tension that radiated between the two men; looking back and forth from Drostan to Conall. Conall sat casually at the high table—as if he'd always done so—and Drostan did not look pleased about it.
“What's wrong?” I whispered; casting my glance around us at the fascinated fairies who were also watching the exchange.
“Nothing,” Drostan said crisply. “Come along.”
He escorted me to the high table angrily.
“Come along, come along,” I muttered under my breath.
“Conall,” Drostan said with even more sharpness than he'd used with me.
“King Drostan,” Conall drawled and gave a half-hearted bow without standing.
Drostan helped me into a seat to the right of his throne; Conall was already seated to the left. Drostan eyed Conall as he sat.
“What are you doing here, Conall?” Drostan asked tightly.
“I have come on business for Queen Tana,” Conall said. “She has sent a missive for you.”
“The Queen of Seelie sends knights to carry her messages now?” Drostan lifted an amused brow. “Or have you been demoted?”
“I volunteered.” Conall's stare drifted to me. “I wanted to see how things were going with your new concubine.”
“She is lovely; thank you for asking.” Drostan turned away from Conall to pour me a glass of wine.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
Drostan snapped his fingers at a server, and the woman came over to fill our plates for us. As soon as there was food on our plates, the rest of the room began to dine. That was how it always went; the court waited for the King to be served before they began to eat.
“Indeed, she is very lovely,” Conall said softly.
Drostan looked at Conall sharply. “Where is the missive, Sir Conall?”
“In my guest chambers,” Conall said. “I thought we could dine first. Royal messages are best received in private.”
Drostan stretched his neck, and it made an angry cracking. I frowned; trying not to react to the exchange. But I couldn't help wondering why Drostan was allowing a knight speak to him like that.
“There's a queen?” I asked to relieve some of the tension.
“There are two kingdoms in Tirne,” Drostan said gently. “I am King of Unseelie and Tana is Queen of Seelie. Conall is a knight of Seelie.”
“Right; I remember him saying that,” I said slowly as I processed it. “The same kingdom as the Sylphs.”
“What do you know of Sylphs?” Conall narrowed his eyes at me.
“I had to stop the Goblins from attacking them yesterday,” Drostan growled at Conall. “In retribution for the Sylph attack on Garimend.”
“Garimend?” I asked.
“The Goblin village,” Conall said as he kept his eyes on Drostan.
“One of the sylphs took Riley as a hostage until I calmed the Goblins.” Drostan narrowed his eyes at Conall.
