Page 26 of A Court So Dark
“We all apologize.” I inclined my head.
I knew Kryn well enough to realize he wasn’t going to apologize, so I took it upon myself to make things right.
“Shadow is trying to help,” I said, addressing everyone. “We need to be grateful and respectful of that fact.”
Jeondar’s amber eyes scrutinized me with interest. A slight smile stretched his lips as if he approved of what I was doing. I felt glad for his support because I was nobody in Elyndell, and I was overstepping.
Still, it wasn’t for Shadow to decide what we needed to do next, and it wasn’t unreasonable for Kryn to want to keep things within the Sub Rosa.
“We appreciate the information you have delivered to us,” I said. “Now, we need to discuss what to do next based on what we know. Would you mind giving us some time?” I glanced toward the door, donning a gentle smile.
Shadow appeared conflicted. She knew I had no authority here, but she didn’t have any either. Who was she without Queen Eithne? Where did that leave her in the palace’s hierarchy? Given how things were with the minor folk, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d fallen to the very bottom of the ladder.
She didn’t appear happy. Nevertheless, she bowed her head and flew toward the door, though not without shooting Kryn a death glare.
Arabis closed the door once the sprite had left.
Larina shivered, her translucent wings making a whirring sound as she did so. “I’d heard Sunnarian were intense, but that was terrifying.”
“It really was,” I agreed. “I don’t understand how someone so small can produce such an impact.”
“Sunnarian armies are legendary,” Arabis said.
Larina shivered again. “I never want to face an army of Shadows.”
“I had it under control,” Kryn said.
Arabis sputtered. “Really?”
Silver slapped a hand on Kryn’s shoulder. “There’s no shame in it, my friend. What is shameful is that you haven’t thanked Larina for saving your pretty eyeball.”
Cylea laughed, her blue hair swinging as she shook her head from side to side. She sobered quickly and addressed Larina.
“I thank you on behalf of all of us. Kryn is an insufferable babe when he gets hurt.”
Kryn turned red and seemed ready to go to battle with the others, but as much as I enjoyed and needed the lighthearted mood, we didn’t have time for it.
Ignoring the banter, I turned to Larina. “What do you think of what Shadow said? Can we trust the information she provided?”
Larina appeared taken aback at being singled out. “Um.”
She wrung her dress, a blue affair that matched her skin to perfection, and puffed out around her hips. It looked like a tutu, and if she exchanged her tall boots for a pair of ballerina slippers, I could have easily imagined her twirling around like one of those little dolls in a music box.
“I think… I think…” The pixie seemed afraid to speak, but then she took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and said, “I would trust her information.”
Confused, I turned to the others. “Are you sure the Envoy is never wrong?”
They all nodded.
“Maybe…” Larina started and only continued when I faced her again. “Maybe, King Kalyll was not in Nerethien at the exact moment you asked the question.”
“Maybe.”
“If Prince Cardian is using a transfer token, they could come and go within seconds,” she countered.
“True,” Jeondar said, “but I can’t imagine Cardian easily moving Kalyll from one place to another. Unless…”
“Unless what?” I asked.
