Page 79 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
How hadn’t I seen it the first time I–
Becausethe coffin had been placed on top of the desk. Of course.
Acutely aware of the Commander’s gaze trailing me, I ignored the shivers coursing through my limbs and rushed to the massive chair waiting behind it. The black leather was worn in a way that spoke of long nights and grasping the armrests in frustration.
I ran a hand down the front of my coat and through my stray hairs, trying to tame them, and sat down, the leather engulfing me and my aching back. It had been crafted for someone much larger than me.
Him.
The man watching me as I tried to tidy myself up as best I could before I met my Clan. I should’ve been dressed in the finest silks. At least run a comb through my hair and try to hide the bags under my eyes.
But this would have to do.
I had my mind and nothing could change that.
My fingers gripped the worn armrests before they reached out toward the leather cover of the palaver book. My hands shook.
Why was I so nervous?
I’d never had a problem talking to anyone in my Clan. Especially fucking Silas, who was as useless today as he’d ever been and–
I closed my eyes and exhaled.
It was only a conversation.
I was good at that.
I flicked the book open and stared at the crisp, blank pages waiting beyond the embossed leather covers. No mist rose from them and no silver palaver oval formed.
“When is this meeting supposed to take place?” I asked.
I hadn’t realized how much my voice echoed in this space–or how much of an outsider I felt inside it.
The room was large, but had the trappings of secluded comfort, from the ember light flickering on the floor and the plush fur carpet, to the dark wooden beams spidering the ceiling. In another life, I would have thought it looked cozy.
“If Silas is to be trusted with his punctuality, hopefully in less than a minute,” the Commander said.
Not looking at me.
Notmoving.
“So soon.” I rested my elbows on the table, feeling like an intruder, and steepled my fingers to at least try and keep the nerves away.
“It had to happen now, I’ll be gone for a few days,” he said casually.
Too casually.
As if daring me to ask.
“Where?”
“To the border. The Serpents want to have a little chat.”
“Serpents?” Ice gripped me. “Why?”
“The Dragon killed their heir. They want to at least pretend they care about that.”
He was hiding something, I could feel it. But my priority right now was my Clan, not Serpents negotiations.
