Page 10 of The Night Prince 2

“I actually don’t think that is much of an exaggeration. Surprisingly,” Rhalyf nodded. That had Gemma and him blinking. “But as fascinating as both of you are, I am here to see Declan. I need to leave something for him.”

“Well, he’s sleeping so you can leave it with me. I’ll give it to him.” Finley extended a hand.

Rhalyf smiled, but did not produce anything. “I’m afraid not. This is for Declan’s eyes only! Or his hands. Is his room this way? I think it is!”

Somehow, Rhalyf had slipped between him, Gemma and the doorjamb. He was walking briskly down the hallway towards the wing where his and Declan’s rooms were. Their house was a loved single-story structure with large, gracious rooms done in that cool white stone that characterized most Aravae architecture.

“Hey! You can’t just barge in!” Finley cried as he raced after the surprisingly swiftly moving elf.

“Declan locks his door so you won’t get in!” Gemma called as she clattered after them both.

“Locks? Oh, my dear, those are no nevermind to me!” Rhalyf waved his right hand through the air gaily.

“But the sunlight! He can’t–”

Rhalyf abruptly stopped and swung around to face them. “Worry not, Finley. I will not let any sunlight touch him. Now, the two of you need to move a little back to give Declan and I some privacy.”

“He’s my best friend–”

“He’s my brother–”

“And yet I bet you all have secrets from one another, yes?” Rhalyf met both their eyes one at a time. Both of them went silent. “Right. Now back.”

He made a shooing motion. That was when Finley realized that they were actually in front of Declan’s door. Rhalyf had gone directly to it with no difficulty. He and Gemma shuffled back a few steps. But not that far. Rhalyf knocked. There was a muffled response. Rhalyf said something that Finley couldn’t quite catch. Something that sounded like Adiva? What was that? But it must have meant something to Declan, because the door cracked open. It was pitch black inside. Rhalyf reached in and gave something to Declan. There were a few more whispered words and then the door firmly shut again. With a sigh, Rhalyf turned to face them. His expression was interesting. A mixture of pleased and dismayed.

“Well, that’s accomplished!” Rhalyf dusted his hands together. He seemed to look at them both more carefully. “So! Do you have anything here to eat?”

“What? You want breakfast, too?” Finley asked. “Shouldn’t you be going to the palace? Or at least going back to the Dawn to be with Aquilan?”

Rhalyf pursed his lips. “Vesslan found us. Aquilan thought it was best that he face his elder brother’s wrath alone.”

“Well, we are going out. So you’re going to have to cadge food off of someone else,” Finley told him.

But Rhalyf was not at all discouraged. “Oh! Where?”

“Hope!” Gemma said, seemingly having come under the Aravae’s sway again. “The Separatist town.”

“Really? Well, that sounds fascinating! Do they have food there? Maybe Twinkies?” Rhalyf asked.

“Twinkies? You know what Twinkies are?” Gemma looked amazed.

“Indeed, I do! I’ve sampled quite a few of them over my time here. And I wouldn’t mind a few more,” Rhalyf said.

“Then you have to come with us!” Gemma offered.

“Gemma!” Finley sounded strangled.

“Well, if he wants Twinkies he can’t be all bad,” she said. “And, besides, the more time he spends with you, the more he’ll understand why you are going to be the first human Mage!”

Rhalyf grinned at him. “So that’s settled!”

Dangers Of A Good Heart

“You do not look repentant, Aquilan,” Vesslan stated waspishly. “Not repentant at all!”

“Repentant? What for?” Aquilan eagerly cut through the golden yolks of the fried eggs Helgrom had prepared for them both. They oozed lusciously over the plate, creating a pool of creaminess to dip his toasted bread in. His stomach rumbled in anticipation. Not even Vesslan’s annoyance could dampen his hunger. Helgrom was an incredible chef.

Vesslan loomed over him as he said, “For having me come retrieve you from a dwarven tavern after a night of drunken carousing!”

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