“Not yet, Analleia.”
Desmond’s voice was quiet, his hand firmly planted on my arm, barring me from what I wanted.From what I’d come here to do.From what I’d sworn to take.
I watched the king a few moments longer, taking note of Queen Cadaren sitting at his side, her bright red hair curled away from her face, her extravagant dress looking like it weighed more than thirty pounds.To everyone else they were a regal couple gracing their thrones, but to me they were nothing more than vile serpents ruling from a throne built on the blood of innocent lives.
A shaky breath escaped my lips as I turned my gaze from them.
“Anything useful?”I asked.
He shook his head.“Nothing to speak of.”
I nodded.I’d been unsuccessful as well, sitting with several noblewomen for dinner but learning nothing of value.I’d mentioned Richard Athello’s name, but none had recognized it, and so I’d passed it off as the name of a distant cousin I wasn’t even sure was still alive.
“I’m going down into the gambling dens, to see what kind of gossip I can uncover.”
A smile twitched at the corner of my mouth.“You mean so you can lose your tie and jacket for a few hours?”
Desmond ignored my dig, releasing my arm.
“Don’t do anything stupid.”His eyes darted toward the far end of the ballroom where guests lounged on sofas laid out in little circles.“That’s one of Zaricor’s sons.He’s been talking to the Haskelle diplomat for a while, no doubt trying to come to an agreement about the river passage.”
I lifted an eyebrow, drifting away from Desmond.“We couldn’t have that now, could we?”
If King Zaricor wanted the special privileges of the Teyre River, I would make sure it was the last thing he would get.I pasted on my most mischievous smile and sauntered over to the blue satin couch where the two men sat talking.My fake smile stiffened when I saw which prince was entertaining him.
Prince Valeris.
I swallowed, memories of a haughty child at my victorious chess match at the last balls filling my mind.Even after five years I recognized him immediately.Except he was older now.His once-red hair had transformed into a singed dark auburn like burnt mahogany.It swept over his forehead, just above green eyes that glittered with manipulation.I swallowed.He was not a scraggly teenager any longer, and he looked nothing like his father.As I drew closer, I observed his body language.That the interest in his face did not reflect that on his body.He wanted something from the man, and he would do whatever he could to get it.
I took a deep breath, trying to detach from the memories and reminding myself that after destroying this alliance I wouldn’t ever have to be in his presence again.
Chapter Eight
Valeris
It took forty-fiveminutes of horrid pleasantries and listening to the diplomat talk about his marriage to his third wife before I could broach the topic of the Teyre River.Eyreling talked far too much, and far too little about anything that mattered.Zandyr leaned against a pillar nearby, watching us.I knew he wanted to pounce on the alliance but wasn’t sure how to approach without ruining it altogether.He had too much coin invested in the trade deals surrounding the river.
