Page 70 of A Queen's Game
The same male answered. “Daryn and I lost. Sylas bet you’d find us first,” he said, gesturing to a male with brown skin. The scowl remained on his face. The dark-skinned male and Daryn flicked a gold coin each at Sylas.
“I can always count on Sylas for believing the best in me,” Brynden said with a mock smile, placing his hand over his heart.
“It was less what I believed you’d do and more what I’d hope you’d do.” Sylas gave a pointed look. “Gyrsh was clear that I need to keep an eye on you two.”
Brynden chuckled, his arm wrapping around her. “All Gyrsh needs to know is that I’ll treat Elyse like the goddess she is.” Sylas’s scowl deepened, causing Brynden to laugh harder.
“Unfortunately, the night of the victory ball, my alluring nature dazzled Elyse enough that she forgot your names,” Brynden said, leaning in to kiss her cheek.
The dark-skinned male laughed. “I’m sure that’s a lie. You couldn’t have been lucky enough to find a female that willingly strokes your ego.”
“I am the luckiest male there is that she even considers me, let alone strokes my ego,” Brynden said, looking down at Elyse with a smile. “So, go on. Introduce yourselves.”
The dark-skinned male was the first to speak up. “Lord Oryck Ramstyn of Chorys Dasi. New Emissary for my city-state and a first timer in Satiros.”
“Lord Sylas Tygenbrook. Both Emissary to Chorys Dasi and nursemaid to Brynden.” With added flavor, Sylas rolled his eyes, causing Brynden to laugh.
“And I’m Lord Daryn Comstych, Emissary to Chorys Dasi,” said the male with pale skin, his eyes locked onto Elyse. “I have worked with your father since he started his position as Minister of Foreign Relations. He had quite wonderful things to say about you.”
Brynden waved his hand at Daryn. “All a lie. She’s anything but the obedient daughter he has made us all believe. Elyse has been reading Lyken Fulbryk.”
Elyse snapped her head to Brynden, a warning sitting on her lips. If her father found out, the consequences would be worse than afterthe incident.
Oryck sat up at that. “Is that so? After he made such a big deal about her being incapable of magic?”
Brynden looked down at Elyse. “Go on; tell them.”
Elyse paused, her heart racing despite the alcohol. “I just finished his book on the second principle and started the third last night.”
“So you understand the second principle—of not letting aithyr control the mage?” Sylas asked, Elyse unsure if it was mocking or curiosity.
“Sylas,” Brynden warned.
“It’s alright. I know a little about my mother, how aithyr affected her. That’s why I haven’t tried reaching out to it,” she said, staring at the table nestled in the center of the seating area.
“Which is why I wanted her to try Mage’s Eye today. To see if she could,” Brynden said.
“No, absolutely not,” Sylas glowered. “Gyrsh would have our heads if we smoked with her.”
“How about we let her decide? Elyse?”
Her wide eyes stared back at Brynden. “What’s Mage’s Eye?”
Oryck laughed, adding, “Gyrsh really does keep her sheltered.”
Heat crept across her cheeks, hating not knowing and hating being laughed at for it. As if it were her fault.
“Enough,” Brynden said with a glare at Oryck, causing the laughter to die in his throat. He turned back to Elyse. “Mage’s Eye helps calm and focus the mind, allowing mages to better access aithyr. Since your thoughts often overwhelm you, I thought not only could it help you with magic but also help with your nerves.” He smiled at Elyse, a hand reaching up to her cheek.
“You left out the part where it can be addictive.” Sylas crossed his arms, his full lips a thin line.
Brynden looked over his shoulder at Sylas. “I also left out that in Chorys Dasi, people use it to help with anxious thoughts, regardless if they are a mage or not.” He turned back to Elyse, clasping her hand. “It is up to you if you’d like to try. We’ll have to flush the alcohol out of your system first, though.”
From the corner of her eyes, she noticed the three males share glances. Determined to ignore them, Elyse asked, “And it won’t make me see anything weird? Or make me complicit?” The blue, milky drug her father gave her came to mind, sending a chill down her spine. That was the last thing she wanted.
Oryck scoffed with surprise. “How do you know what Choke is but not Mage’s Eye?”
“Is that what it’s called? My father makes me take it for head pains and I hate it.” She glanced at Oryck, then back to Brynden, who frowned. “So if your drug is anything like it, I don’t want it.”
