Page 11 of The Night Prince

“Elasha, your uncle does not have your prejudice against everyone who has come from the Under Dark!”Rhalyf grinned wider than usual at her discomfort or maybe Aquilan’s support.It was unclear which.

She gave a shudder.“I suppose not all who avoid the Sun are–are unworthy of our succor and pity, but… but didn’t you also say that Helgrom runs aninn?”Elasha blinked again.

“That does not matter to me.Prince or pauper, he is my friend,” Aquilan said with a frown at her. “I am looking forward to spending many evenings at the Dawn in his good company.”

“Thank the gods,” Rhalyf muttered.

In response to a sharp look from Elasha, Rhalyf tossed back his long dark, silky hair.It hung in glorious waves to his mid back.Despite the many rumors of Kindreth blood in the Neres family, Rhalyf was nearly their opposite in terms of typical looks at least.For while the Kindreth were known for their silvery white hair, Rhalyf’s could not be more different with its dark lustrousness and copper highlights.And where the Kindreth were known for their ruby red eyes, Rhalyf’s were a glittering gray filled with intelligence and mirth more often than not.

No, it was not his looks that made people whisper about Rhalyf’s ancestry.It was hismagicalprowess.The Kindreth were, among many other things, known for their powerful magic. So maybe it really was true that his best friend was dreading arriving at Tyrael, and maybe his happiness at Aquilan’s friendship with aDarkDwarf was more than just objecting to Elasha’s snobbery.The exigencies of war would no longer occupy the many nobles’ attention and they would turn to gossip and scandals to occupy themselves.Speaking ill of Rhalyf’s ancestry would crop up in spades because of it.

I will see to it that such talk is silenced,Aquilan thought loyally.

“The king, dear lady, knows what life is truly all about and it isn't reports, bullet points, or, gods forbid,cabbages,” Rhalyf informed her with a shudder.

“And he also knows that it is not all wine, food and sex at a dirty dwarven tavern!”Elasha tossed her head. “There is duty, honor, and leadership by example.”

Rhalyf clutched his chest again.“Oh, just the thought of those things hurts my heart.Life is not life without fun, indulgence, and…love.”

“Love?”Elasha tossed her head.“The king has no time for love!If he does choose someone to sit by his side, they must be therightchoice for the Empire.Love doesn’t come into it.”

“Let me guess, you and Vesslan have a bullet-pointed list of names for the king to marry?”Rhalyf asked.

“Well… yes!”

Rhalyf pretended to flop over dead in his saddle.Aquilan couldn’t help the burble of laughter that escaped his lips.Elasha looked alarmed.

“It is quite a serious list, Uncle!”

“I’m sure it is, Elasha.But I have no need for it.”Aquilan shook his head.

“Why?Do you–you have someone in mind already?”she asked, studying his face closely as if to find answers there.

“No.”

“But youmustmarry–”

“Why?”

She blinked rapidly.“Because–”

“The rulership of our people doesnotgo by bloodline, Elasha.No matter what your father may have said to you about it,” Aquilan said firmly. “So I don’t have to marry or have heirs.I can be as I am right now until the Sun chooses another to lead our people.”

“Yes, but our family has ruled–”

“It does not matter, Elasha.Do not count upon the Sun choosing another in our line,” Aquilan said firmly.

“Of course, I heed your words on this, Uncle,” she said almost mechanically and he gritted his teeth as he knew that she heard, but was notlistening.

“You might not know it, but being king means you have both more power andlessthan a normal person.Sometimes a lotless,” he muttered the last.

Thatlesspart had been rearing up more and more now that the war was over. Politics–as Rhalyf so aptly pointed out–held no joy for him.All of the back door deals and whispered discussions made him feel vaguely filthy.Owing and being owed favors was how things worked in the Empire and even the king–perhapsespeciallythe king–had to be involved in all of that.Thepurityof war with its more clear cut decisions–even the hard ones–was far better in his opinion.But he did not want another war. He would need to find a purpose for his rule.Re-establishing humanity would be a worthy goal.

It is just a little of what I owe the humans,he thought with a touch of moroseness. He shook it off.But what’s done is done. I can only go forward.

They rode in silence for a time, the miles being eaten up all too quickly beneath their horses’ hooves.He felt Rhalyf’s eyes upon him.The faint purse of his best friend’s lips told him that Rhalyf was worried about his dour moods these days.He tried to smile back, but he knew it was not believed.

“When I saidloveI wasn’t really talking about marriage, you know,” Rhalyf suddenly said.

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