Page 144 of The Last Syphon

“Ah. He finally graces us with his presence.” Lord Villani sat to the left of the chair in the centre—Prince Walder’s chair, based on the fact that it was red in colour and its design far out-marvelled those around it. He, like all the other High Council members, was dressed in their ceremonial robes with the colours associated with them.

“I apologise for my delay.” Instead of taking a seat, he strengthened his stance, hands behind his back. “We have a grave matter to discuss.”

“Is this about the south again?” Lord Julius questioned. “I take it the meeting with the Pregon and Roylan representatives did not go as well as you had hoped?”

“That’s an understatement,” Inara grumbled under her breath.

“Did you say something?” Lady Niya’s face was warm and kind, as it always was when the older woman addressed her.

“No.” She shook her head. “Nothing.”

“Tell your Shielder to only speak when spoken to,” Lord Villani said sharply. “She needs to learn her place.”

Inara narrowed her eyes. She imagined calling her shield disc into her hand and flinging it at him, cutting off his head. The image made her smile.

Prince Walder stepped forward, a cold chill exploding out of him. Ice crawled over the room, starting from the floor and then slithering up onto the table. Lord Villani’s face dropped. “Need I remind you of your place?” the prince asked darkly.

She’d heard many variations of his voice. Happy. Annoyed. Bored.

But that?

It was the most bone-chilling voice she’d heard from him yet.

Lord Villani lowered his gaze and bowed his head. “I apologise, my Prince⁠—”

“Not to me,” he growled low.

Inara startled, her gaze whipping to him. She stood behind him, as she always did, and she wished desperately to see his face.

Lord Villani flicked his eyes to Inara and back to Prince Walder. His jaw clenched, hands squeezing into tight fists on the table. “I apologise.” Two words, and yet, it seemed like pure agony for the man to utter them.

“She has a name,” Prince Walder stated coldly.

If the man could get any angrier, Inara was sure he would explode.

“I apologise…Inara.” He didn’t mean it. Not at all. But that was okay. She didn’t need him to mean it. His apology meant nothing to her.

What meant something to her was the fact that Prince Walder had made him apologise for disrespecting her.

When did things flip so drastically?

Prince Walder pulled his magic back, and the ice subsided, the temperature returning to normal.

“Now that that’s over,” Lord Odami began, interlocking his fingers. “Let us discuss this urgent matter that has you so distressed.”

“Yes. Let us.” Lady Ophera had that judgemental look on her face she always did. As if everything inconvenienced the woman. “Is Lord Julius’s assumption correct? Did Pregon and Roylan refuse to render aid?”

Prince Walder went through in fine detail what had occurred in his office the night of the ball. The High Council remained unconcerned by the lot of it.

Lord Odami folded his arms over his burly chest. “While yes, I have seen your latest reports regarding the cursed land of Tolanaa, I do not believe we should commit resources to that problem at this given time.”

Prince Walder’s hand squeezed behind his back. “And why is that?”

“Does your memory elude you so? Have you already forgotten the events of last night?” Lady Ophera asked.

“Too busy gallivanting in the lower cities,” Lord Villani mumbled under his breath.

Prince Walder ignored him, not acknowledging his words and instead focusing on Lady Ophera’s question. “I remember it perfectly. Every detail from that night.” Why did she feel like that was directed at her? “And I fail to see what that has to do with the current matter at hand.”