Page 56 of The Night Prince 2

Again, Declan nodded, not trusting words. “Can you send word via your ridwin to the orc barracks for Snaglak to pick up Finley and meet us wherever Rhalyf is?”

“Rhalyf is just in a glade not far out from the dome. And yes, that can be done,” Aquilan stated.

“It’s still light, but Snaglak will come,” Declan said.

“Does he need a steed as well?” Aquilan asked.

But Declan shook his head. “He has a naki that can carry him and Finley easily.”

The naki were reptiles as large as horses that lived in the Under Dark. Only orcs were capable–or foolish enough–to ride them. Snaglak’s naki was named Glom and when it wasn’t trying to eat Snaglak, it was fast and capable.

“A–an orc and a naki will be joining us?” Elasha looked a little faint, too.

“A human as well,” Declan said, not indicating whether he meant himself or Finley.

“We are lucky, are we not, Elasha, that so many beings of the Empire will assist us in looking for your brother?” Aquilan looked at her firmly.

She swallowed, but then quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, you’re quite right. I’ve just never… Well, new experiences every day these days! And I am very grateful.” She turned towards Declan. “I don’t believe I caught your name, Lord?”

Prince, the voice whispered.

Declan’s mouth opened, but no words came out. All he had to say was “Declan Wilde.” But still he did not.

What is my name? Declan asked. Who am I?

Prince Rahven Vaeduzor, the voice said. His first name sounded like “Raven” but with the “ray” more like “rah” but Declan knew it wasn’t spelled that way.

“Declan,” he said, “Declan Wilde. I’m not a… lord.”

You see? I tell you who you are and you don’t believe me! Bah! I should have just let you figure it out on your own, the voice didn’t sound that annoyed though it pretended to be. Not ready to claim your true name and title, I see!

How would I explain that to Aquilan? Declan asked back. He knows me as Declan Wilde. Human. Not Prince–

Prince Rahven Vaeduzor, the voice repeated slowly as if to imprint the name.

How did his being a “prince” mesh with his memory of being trained–or more like attacked–by Vulre? Of being jadir? It didn’t. And yet… yet, the voice seemed so certain. The name… the name could be his. Though really he had no memory of it.

Is that my full name? Declan asked.

No. But what do you care? You cannot explain it! The voice laughed.

I cannot!

Yet do you not think it more unexplainable when you kill a Leviathan with Krith in front of Aquilan? The voice asked.

Krith?

Broken Fang. Your knife. Your first Blood Weapon. The voice sounded proud about that weapon.

He felt the tattoo of the knife on his arm burn. It had returned to a tattoo as he’d raced downstairs, but it would be ready at a moment’s notice to defend the Sun King. He pressed a hand over it.

“You aren’t nobility? But you seem…” Here, Elasha looked so uncertain, but then she shook herself. “Forgive me. It matters not. I am so glad you will be with us. Any friend of my uncle’s is a friend of mine. And you’ve… you’ve been so kind.”

He merely inclined his head.

“Declan… Declan is someone you want by your side in a fight,” Aquilan said quietly.

Does he believe that? Declan glanced at the Sun King. Or is he just humoring me?

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