Page 62 of Lhora
She read his determination in the statement, as well as his promise, and she smiled.
29
Demand
Someone banging on her bedroom doors awakened her. Still groggy, Lhora was deciding whether to ignore it or go answer it to chew out whoever had the audacity to disturb her sleep, when a voice called out.
“Lhora!”
She recognized her father’s voice. Scrambling out from under the covers, she snatched up her robe from the floor and hurried over to unbolt the lock.
Gur Fallmin looked down at her undressed state, her tousled hair, and the sated, sleepy expression on her face. He then checked the bed behind her where she knew Duren was finally rousing. He didn’t ask her if her bedmate was the Sarpen. He didn’t have to.
“Get dressed,” he ordered.
“What’s happened?”
Instead of answering her, he eyed the Coltrosstian sitting up and staring at them. “The Sarpi is demanding we release his son immediately, or he’ll bring the full force of his military ships down across Beinight.”
“Did you tell him his son wasn’t a prisoner?” Lhora questioned.
Her father’s gaze returned to the bed, and she wished she could read him, but he was blocking her for some reason.
“When did he contact you?” Duren asked, coming up behind her. She glanced over her shoulder to see he’d wrapped the coverlet around him.
“A few minutes ago.”
“How long did he give you to release me?”
“Before the end of the hour.”
Duren raised an eyebrow. “How long does that give us?”
Us? She stared at him.
“Less than twenty minutes,” Fallmin replied.
Duren raised an arm, indicating his nakedness. “I need a change of clothing.”
“What are you going to do?” Lhora pressed.
“I’m going to talk to him.”
Fallmin pointed to the floor on the other side of the door. “Looks like a set’s been already left for you.”
Lhora picked them up and handed them over. “We’ll be there shortly,” she told her father.
The Gur left without saying anything further, but she could just imagine what he’d tell her mother. Not to mention the questions she’d face once she was alone with them.
She and Duren quickly dressed after taking turns at the lav and throwing some water on their faces to help awaken them. In a dark purple shirt and black pants, he appeared handsomer than he did when he’d worn his bright green shirt with his yellow breeches. “The more somber colors suit you,” she smiled.
He fastened the flaps on the front of his shirt. “Somber seems to be the word of the day.” His tone and mood were grim.
She led him to the audience chamber and took the hallway to an adjacent room. Duren paused inside the doorway and stared at the communications panel sitting in the middle of the floor and facing the large view screen hanging on the far wall. The screen was blank.
The Esstika stood in front of the comm board, her head bowed as if in thought. She looked up when she heard them enter, and her gaze riveted on Duren. He noticed her scrutiny.
“What exactly did my father say to you, Esstika?”
