Page 29 of The King of Koraha
Shyla glanced at the door but no one entered.
Confused, she met the woman’s extra bright gaze. Ah. Quite the surprise. Shyla wondered if the princess enjoyed confounding her guests. Or perhaps she preferred to get a sense of her visitors before revealing her identity, which was rather smart. Shyla studied the woman. Black hair cascaded in ringlets down to her chest, framing her heart-shaped face. Her dark skin matched Rendor’s; both would have no trouble blending into the shadows. Crinkling in amusement, her small delicate nose was easy to miss when compared to her unique eyes. The princess’s full lips stretched into a smile as Shyla continued to stare.
“I can’t make a big impression like the King,” she said. “But I can be a good hostess. Especially when you’ve traveled so far. Please…” She gestured to the tea and cakes. “Help yourselves.”
Shyla sipped her tea to be polite, wondering if asking the princess why she wanted to talk to them would be considered rude. She settled on easing into it. “It was kind of you to invite us. Captain Kilab gave me the impression that you may have some concerns.” It wasn’t quite a question.
“Just like your captain, he tends to be overprotective. Yes, Kilab, it’s your job,” the princess said, placating him. “And I will admit to some curiosity as to why the King requested your presence.”
Shyla admired the princess’s ability to pose the not-question as well. “I’m sorry, but I’m not allowed to divulge his reasons.”
The princess’s friendly demeanor disappeared and a cold calculation filled her gaze. The change was striking. “That’s unfortunate,” she said. “I was hoping you could put my worries to rest.”
“Worries?” Rendor asked.
“Information travels fast, Captain. Both of you were part of the coup that killed Zirdai’s Water Prince. You can imagine that I’d be concerned when you showed up in my city.”
“The King’s reason for seeing me doesn’t have anything to do with you,” Shyla said. Unless the woman was somehow involved in the theft of the taxes. Perhaps she hadn’t wanted to wait for the king to die to get her coins back. Shyla debated if she should use The Eyes to read the woman’s emotions. Remembering Tamburah’s terrible abuse of the power, she held off.
“I find that hard to believe,” Kilab said.
“Are you calling her a liar?” Rendor demanded.
“Easy, Captains.” The princess’s harsh tone erased the last vestiges of her happy hostess facade. “Would the King’s request be linked to the disappearance of his elite soldiers?”
Shyla kept her expression neutral. Although the woman’s use of the worddisappearancewas interesting.
“How do you know they are not on a mission for the King?” Rendor asked.
“They live in my city, Captain. Like you, they’re highly trained and dangerous. My people keep an eye on them.”
“You’ve spies inside their organization.”
The Water Princess didn’t reply—an answer in itself.
“And they disappeared as well,” Rendor said. He glanced at Kilab. “Could the soldiers have gone to ground? Moved to another hidden location in the city?”
“No. There’s been no rumors. They haven’t been spotted at all.”
“Why are you so curious?” the princess asked.
“Just trying to help out.”
“Admirable.” Although her tone implied otherwise. “With their disappearance, I wondered if they’d joined the Invisible Sword.” Her gaze speared Shyla.
So much for her organization being a secret.
“The timing works out. They left in small batches over a circuit,” Kilab said. “Perhaps to join you in overthrowing Zirdai’s Water Prince.”
If only. Shyla imagined how much easier it would have been if the King had sent his elite soldiers to help the Invisible Sword. How many people would have survived. Perhaps Ximen, Elek, and Lian would have lived. But those thoughts didn’t change anything.
“That happened over two hundred and eighty sun jumps ago,” Rendor said. “Why haven’t they returned?”
“You tell me,” Kilab challenged.
“They didn’t help us,” Shyla said. “We don’t know where they are. And we’re not here to cause trouble in your city.” She stood. “Thank you for the tea.”
The princess’s expression hardened, but she nodded. “We’ll be keeping an eye on you. Captain Kilab, please see them out.”
