Page 42 of The Night Prince

Rhalyf’s gray eyes narrowed.“And those orcs weren’t sick or infirm or something?They were big and strong like you seem to be, correct?”

Snaglak’s black eyes left his almost empty beer mug and looked at Rhalyf, perhaps hearing for the first time the incredulity in the Sun Elf’s tone mixed withsomethingelse.Something perhaps rude.It was never wise to be rude to an orc.

Instead of answering him, Snaglak remarked, “You smell funny.”

Rhalyf blinked.“I smell…what?”

“Funny.”Snaglak’s black eyes narrowed at the Sun Elf.

“And byfunny, I suppose you meangood?”Rhalyf fluttered an elegant hand by his handsome face.

“If he meant good, he would have said good,” Finley remarked without taking his eyes from the stairs.

Yet he still caught sight of the obviously vain Sun Elf–was there really any other kind?Though this one was especially in love with himself--staring at him. Rhalyf smiled and let out a droll laugh and leaned back in his chair.He appeared to be more laying on it than sitting.

“Ah, well, I should be grateful, I suppose.If I smelled good to him then he might eat me.You know that theyeatother species, don’t you?I’m sure he’s snacked on a human or two in his time,” Rhalyf told him. “Yet here he sits!Acting as if he wouldn’t want to roast us over that fire or even eat us raw.”

“Wouldn’t eat funny smelling elf,” Snaglak muttered into his now empty beer mug.More hopeful staring at Michael’s back.

“You should behonoredto eat me.”Rhalyf’s eyes were slitted.“I will have you know that I am most delectable and–”

“Stringy,” Snaglak contradicted.“You look stringy.”

Rhalyf actually sat up a little instead of his consistent sprawl.“I amnotstringy.I am quite luscious actually.”

Snaglak glanced over at the lean, lithe Sun Elf.“Not enough meat.”

Rhalyf really was glaring now.“I would be the best meal you’ve ever had!”

“Are you really arguing about what you would taste like to him?”Finley asked, dragging his gaze away from the stairs.“I mean, you don’t really want him to eat you and, if he did, you wouldn’t be alive for him to admit you’re right and he’s wrong anyways.”

There was silence at the table again.

“If he ate my leg I’d still be alive to know about it,” Rhalyf grumped.

“Don’t want smelly, stringy leg,” Snaglak muttered back.

“Both of you:enough.”Finley gritted his teeth.

Again, he looked at the stairs.No Aquilan.No Declan.What was happening up there?Was Declan all right? He shouldn’t have let the Sun King shoo him out of the room.But really, could he have stayed?

It was an order from the king to leave.And Aquilan was actuallyhisking.That was so strange to think of having been a member of a functioning democracy before all of this.He hadn’t even gotten the chance to vote in his first presidential election and now… now he never would.He shook himself.Why was he thinking of voting at a time like this?

Because Declan is ill!Really ill!And I can’t be by his side!

But every time he had attempted to go back up the stairs to maybe press his ear against the door or peek inside, either Michael or Rhalyf headed him off.But he had to know what was happening!Maybe this ridiculously arrogant, self-satisfied Rhalyf knew.Perhaps he could get something out of him, some knowledge at least about what healing magic Aquilan might use.That would be useful on the admissions test!

Finley focused on Rhalyf.“What is the king doing with Declan?”

Rhalyf stopped glaring at the orc and turned to him with a curious, cat-like glance.“Healing him, of course.What else would the king be doing to your friend?Shouldhe be doing something else?”

“Iknowthat!What I meant was: what healing magic do you think he’ll use?”

Rhalyf’s eyes narrowed.“Well, that depends on what’s wrong with Declan.Doyouknow what’s wrong with Declan?”

Finley swallowed the acidic saliva that was building up in his mouth.If only he had realized that Declan was outside sooner then he and Snaglak could have rescued himbeforethe Sun King had arrived!But no, he had been so worked up about his game that he hadn’t been paying attention and now… now…

I should be glad that King Aquilan is helping Declan.This Sun sensitivity is no joke.To have it take him down like that twice…

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