Page 64 of A Court So Dark
Silver shoveled the toast into his mouth, and I started to relate what happened in Nerethien. The others listened, pushing food around their plates, never interrupting me. It wasn’t easy reliving those moments, but it was my second telling of the events, and I found that my heart didn’t pound as hard and fast as when I’d told Kalyll the first time.
“As you can see, nothing but capable,” Kalyll said when I was done explaining how I’d transferred us to the forest near Mount Ruin.
“Indeed,” Kryn said, sounding impressed.
“Runik was legendary, Dani,” Naesala said, her pale eyes narrowed. “Many feared him.”
“It was luck, really,” I said.
“I doubt that. I think your powers are off the charts.”
Silver paused mid-sausage. “Off the charts?”
He had such a liking for human idioms and sayings, he always perked up when he heard one.
Cylea, who had spent more time in my realm, always took it upon herself to educate him. “It means that something is outside the normal range, which makes it hard to measure.”
“Got it.” Silver brandished his fork, then stabbed a pancake with it.
“Cardian,” I started hesitantly, “said that I must be as powerful as Varamede and that he…” I trailed off. This felt too much like bragging, but it wasn’t. I was just puzzled by the idea and actually wanted someone to say it wasn’t true.
Except no one said anything. They just looked at me with frowns and cocked heads, even Kalyll seemed to be reevaluating me.
“Never mind.” I broke a piece of toast and poked my sunny-side-up egg with it, making the yolk run all over the plate. “You don’t have any ketchup, do you?” I asked Naesala as a way to distract everyone from this uncomfortable conversation.
A squeeze bottle materialized in front of me.
“Thank you.” I proceeded to squirt a generous amount on my egg.
“What’s in the name of Erilena is that?!” Silver asked in a combination of awe and excitement at this new item.
“Only the most hideous condiment ever created,” Kalyll said.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “How dare you? If I had known, I would have never…” I sighed with exaggeration. “I believe I’ll have to reevaluate our relationship.”
He smirked. “I will endeavor to like ketchup for you. Anything to keep you happy.”
“Honestly.” Cylea’s fork clattered to her plate. “Do we have to endure your sickeningly sweet love affair?”
“Yes, do we?” Kryn asked.
“Oh, c’mon,” Silver mumbled through a full mouth, “like you don’t wish for the return of your own sickeningly sweet love affair?” His clear eyes cut to Arabis.
Kryn sank in his chair, going uncharacteristically quiet. Had something happened while they’d been away in Nerethien? Arabis also seemed mollified. Hmm, it seemed somethinghadoccurred.
“I think it is our turn to relate our side of things,” she said, swiftly changing the topic the same way I had. “We were stationed in the Unseelie capital for a few days, after all, and we noticed some things worth mentioning. Also, we need to discuss what to do next. We can’t allow Cardian to remain in power. I’m sure we can all agree on that much.”
“Certainly.” Kalyll steepled his hands over his plate. “Tell me, are Cardian and Mythorne proceeding with their preparations for war?”
“They are,” Arabis said. “In fact, troops have already been dispatched to the Winter Court. Though I’m sure, the Winter King is already planning his unconditional loyalty and alliance speech. I doubt he will fight Mythorne’s army.”
“I disagree,” Silver put in.
Arabis waved a hand in the air. “I know you do.”
“And as a member of the Winter Court, shouldn’t my opinion weigh more?”
She rolled her eyes and conceded nothing.
