Darkness Reigns (The Kinsman Chronicles): Part 1 by Jill Williamson

Author:Jill Williamson [Williamson, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042080, FIC009020, FIC009030
ISBN: 9781441229083
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2015-12-01T06:00:00+00:00

Wilek

Wilek stopped on the threshold of the great hall, Kal beside him.

“Why not skip dinner tonight?” Kal asked.

“Because Lady Zeroah asked to meet me. It’s rude to desert her twice in one day. I must keep her happy if I am to put my best foot forward for Heir.” He made eye contact with the herald at the door. “Announce me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The herald picked up his trumpet and blew Wilek’s call, then announced, “His Royal Highness, Wilek-Sâr Hadar, the First Arm, the Dutiful.”

Every person but the king went to their feet—even Janek—and bowed as he walked past. Lady Zeroah stood beside his mother at his table, watching him—actually looking at him. How odd. Lebetta’s usual seat at the royal concubine table was unsurprisingly empty.

Wilek stopped before the king’s table and bowed deeply to his father, who waved him on with barely a glance as he sucked on a leg of lamb.

Wilek jogged up the steps. Kal took his place on the wall. A servant pulled out Wilek’s chair, which had a sleeping dog on it. Mother scooped the creature into her arms, and Wilek sat between Mother and Lady Zeroah.

The women, and everyone else in the great hall, reclaimed their seats.

Mother snuggled the puppy to her cheek. “Where have you been, my son?”

“Forgive my lateness,” Wilek said. “I was detained.”

“Young people are too busy these days,” Gran said.

“Is anything wrong?” Lady Zeroah asked, looking directly into his eyes.

Her golden stare raised goose bumps on his arms and made him smile. “Nothing at all.”

She glanced away, took a shaky breath, then looked back. Smiled again.

Curious.

“The lamb is dry tonight,” Gran said. “Take it with gravy.”

Wilek filled his trencher. One of the dogs on the table sniffed and licked his food. He pushed it away. He hadn’t come here to eat. He must talk with his betrothed so his father would see he was the best choice for Heir. “How was your first sleep, Lady Zeroah?”

She glanced at Mielle. “It was good.”

Good. “And you, Miss Mielle? Did you enjoy your first sleep?”

“I didn’t sleep, Your Highness. I was far too upset.”

“I hope it was nothing too dire,” he said.

“You must not,” Zeroah whispered to Miss Mielle, then added something Wilek couldn’t hear.

Mielle met his gaze, then looked down. “Nothing important, Your Highness.”

Something was going on between these two, but Wilek was too tired of female drama to try to puzzle it out. He searched for something else to say, but the remainder of his day had held nothing that would interest a lady. “Is the wine good?”

“Very.”

Gods, he needed to do better than this. “Did you enjoy your time at the Sink?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Three words must be Lady Zeroah’s limit for dinner conversation. He sat back in his chair, bored already. Lady Zeroah and Miss Mielle whispered again. On his left his mother and grandmother were whispering too. He was surrounded by women with secrets.

“Too much food,” Gran yelled suddenly, making him jump. She pushed her trencher toward the dogs on the table.

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