Prince of Flames: Prequel to Cloaked in Shadow (The Dragori Series Book 0) by Ben Alderson

Author:Ben Alderson [Alderson, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oftomes Publishing
Published: 2018-01-20T23:00:00+00:00

Part III

“You’d think King Dalior would want his son in the hall at the beginning of the feast. Since all this extravagance is for you,” Fadine mumbled from beside me as we wait in the small room behind the dais.

“Come on Fadine; you know my father as well as I do.”

“Selfish?”

“Well, yes.”

“Over the top?”

“And that.”

“Infatuated with attention, good or bad.”

I laughed, “Do not let him hear you. Treason and all that.”

Fadine had been my closest friend since we were younglings. Fadine, although now a guard of Olderim and the closest to Alina's position as commander, was brought up by my mother's lady in waiting. We have always been together since we both were without siblings. It did not feel like that though, in truth I believed her to be my sister. A better, kinder version of myself.

Before the Bonecold took Fadine’s mother, she had been like my own. Raising me alongside Fadine in the years my father was both physically and mentally absent. When her mother died, I was there for her as she was for me. That was what our friendship had grown from, respect and understanding.

“I’ve heard rumours you know…” Fadine said, “Lots of them going around the ranks like rare fur in winter. Word is your guests are in for a treat. Remember Dameaon, the guard who is with one of the kitchen’s staff?”

"How could I forget," I replied. Dameaon was a name I had heard a lot in the recent weeks. Between the fights with his comrades and the mention of him fathering a child with one of the staff, his name ingrained into my brain.

“I’m not one for gossip, but I may have heard that your father has tampered with the food. With what, I am not sure. But even Micka from the stables told us about a large shipment arrived yesterday for tonight’s feast. And King Dalior was there to collect it himself.”

I rolled my eyes, “My father is many things, but clever is not one of them. I am sure it is nothing more than gossip to keep them busy in those kitchens.”

Fadine raised her cuffed arms in protest, “Ask yourself this, why is it you are not tucking into the spread of food this evening?”

That did not make sense. Why would I not eat, during my celebration?

“Perhaps you are right, I am sure it is nothing,” Fadine shifted on her feet and spared me a look. Her dark eyes suggested otherwise.

"Before I forget," She added, pulling something from her pocket, "Since it's your birthday, I wanted to give you something."

A folded piece of parchment rests in the palm of her hand. I take it from her, unravelling the folds until my eyes catch what was on it.

A drawing, filled with the brightest dyes and paints. A child, with golden eyes, stood beside a woman with silver. I cleared my throat, looking up at the ceiling to stop the tears.

“You did this?” I questioned, although I knew the answer. Fadine had always loved passing the time with paints in her hand.

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