Page 108 of Enchanted Crown
Zaccai chuckled. “Given everything which has happened these past few months, I cannot say I would have blamed you, Prince. I don’t know what my queen is up to, but it is not the best timing for a surprise.”
“Not at all.”
We both ate a sandwich quickly before readying to head to The Pit.
I loathe surprises,I warned Esta as we left.
You’ll like this one,was her only response.
We returnedto The Pit for the last few healings, one of which was a thirteen-year-old kid who had only shifted once before the poison hit. It was a moving moment which refreshed all of our resolves.
“I heard there is a tavern in Arava with the best food and drink.” Emric rubbed his hands together. “Shall we?”
I squinted, my eyes going to Zaccai before going back to Emric.
“Odd that just this morning you were worried for my safety in The Drak and now we are gallivanting off to a tavern.”
“Morana is of the dragon line, and we are goingtogether,” Emric said defensively. Entirely too defensive.
“Em,”I warned.
“Keir,”he responded similarly.
“Does this have to do with whatever Esta is up to?”
“What?”Emric put his hands in the air. “Who told you?!”
Zaccai laughed. “Me. I feared for my life otherwise. He took my suggestion to return here as my knowledge of some sort of attack on you all.”
“I don’t know what exactly she’s doing, only that there is something in play,” I explained.
Emric shrugged. “Then you know as much as we do.”
“None of you know what she is actually doing?”
Zaccai shook his head.
Emric added, “You don’t really thinkIwould be the one she would plan a secret anything with, now would you?”
I managed to keep the smile from my lips as I said, “Not unless sea shanties are involved.”
Emric shot me a guilty grin. “Now. Let’s go get some drinks.” He patted me on the shoulders. “Enjoy the night. All I know is that you aren’t to return to the castle until nightfall. Let her surprise you, you lucky bloke.”
“I hate surprises,” I said, for not the first time today.
Emric clapped his hands together. “That may be, but I do like whiskey and the queen is buying.”
Our team had been working tirelessly since arriving in Dra Skor. Though every bit of me wanted to head back to the castle and figure out whatever this surprise was, I could look beyond myself long enough to consider that they did need this. A night to let loose.
Had I not just been thinking about how I hadn’t been to all the cities? Though I had been over this area and had visited Nana onthe outskirts, I might as well take this opportunity to explore more of Arava.
Three times.Three times I had to catch one of our men as they fell from the shifters. The food had lived up to its reputation. Also the whiskey. Though I had been too nervous for whatever Esta was up to to drink more than one, the rest of the team had not made similar and wise life decisions.
Malachi had walked in the tavern halfway through our meal and pulled up a chair. All he’d said was, “I was exiled and ordered to join you.”
I’d drilled him for information, but like me, he had none. Amory and Esta had simply told him to get out and sent him to me.
“Let them have their fun,” he’d told me. “Both Esta and I did not really enjoy ourselves while you were gone. It was harder on her than she let on.”
