Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden (51 page)

“Politicians—they’re the same no matter what country you live in.”

They shared a quiet round of laughter, and Joel found his dark mood lifting for the first time in moonturns.
Now that the news has had time to sink in, I’m actually looking forward to working with Kirk. I think there’s a lot I can learn from him
.

Kirk’s smile was honest and genuine, much like his soul. “I’ve missed talking with you, Joel.”

“Well, now that we’re to work together, it’s not like I can avoid you anymore.” Joel winked deviously.

The Imperial mage cackled and gave Joel’s arm a light swat.
 

Gib frowned down at his boots, wishing there was a way to
not
track mud all through the palace halls. He was grateful for the melting of winter’s snow but less than enthusiastic about the muck left in its wake. His only comfort came with the knowledge that his boots weren’t the only ones to mar the pristine marble tiles.

“The servants will be working overtime to get these floors back in shape,” Koal remarked. Sometimes Gib had to wonder if his mentor could actually hear what he was thinking. “You should have seen what it was like out by the stables. I almost lost my boot.”

Gib nodded. “Yeah. It’s dangerous to wander off the path in this weather. Some of the mud holes are deeper than I am tall. I’d fall in and disappear.” The seneschal and student shared a round of hearty laughter as they tromped down the corridor.

In the distance, the council chamber came into view, and the thin silhouette of King Rishi stood at its door—or rather, leaned against it. As always, Aodan was at his side and a plethora of royal guardsmen stood nearby. It was uncanny how motionless they always remained despite the chaos in the busy hall.

Koal’s brow furrowed as he drew closer. “Have you forgotten how to stand? Or do you need help holding that door shut?”

King Rishi groaned. “I should’ve just rescheduled this damned meeting—or made you take the lead in my stead.”

“And to think, you almost made it through the sick season unscathed. The influenza doesn’t suit you.” Koal smiled wryly.

“Aye,” Aodan snorted. “It doesn’t suit anyone else who has ta put up with him either.”

Influenza?
Gib thought it had run its course. There certainly hadn’t been more than a handful of new cases since the last of the snow melted. When he glanced up from the dirty floors and got his first decent look at the King, Gib startled a little and blurted without thinking, “Daya, Highness, you look terrible!”

King Rishi turned a flat, somber gaze onto Gib even as both Koal and Aodan began to chuckle. The ruler’s golden skin had gone pale and lost its luster, and dark rings around his eyes made them look dull. Despite his haggard appearance, the King arched a brow and replied in a testy voice, “Thank you for your honesty, Nemesio. For future reference, flattery is more welcomed.”

Gib squirmed, feeling the heat pool in his cheeks. “Sorry. I just thought the illness had passed already. Don’t you have healers to make sure you don’t get sick?”

“My healer went and fathered a baby in his old age and promptly lost his mind!”

Gib grinned but managed not to laugh at Dean Marc’s expense. Fatherhood surely wasn’t easy for anyone, but Marc seemed extra scattered lately. Gib had noticed his lack of response during recent council meetings and how he was perpetually late for them—later than normal, that was.

“You probably could sit this one out if you need to,” Koal said. “I can bring you the notes later.”

King Rishi smiled, still every bit a devilish wolf whether he was ill or not. “And miss the opportunity to share the influenza with Neetra or the other councilors? That would be bad form.”

Marc’s booming laughter rippled down the corridor as he arrived. “Just stay the hell away from me and all will be well.” He scurried toward them with a sheepish grin. “Bea’s told me in no uncertain terms that if I get the baby sick I’m to be sleeping in my office until she’s grown.”

Aodan snorted again. “By the time she’s grown, you’ll be sleepin’ in yer tomb.”

Gib couldn’t help but laugh along with the King and Koal. Marc rolled his eyes but didn’t seem to take any real offense. He drew to a stop next to King Rishi, but his attention turned elsewhere. Gib only then realized Liro had been trailing the dean the entire time. All traces of laughter ceased as everyone else seemed to notice Liro’s presence as well.

Marc craned his head toward Liro and muttered, “I, uh, hope your headache clears up soon. Sorry I couldn’t do more.”

Liro nodded once and thanked him, his voice as curt as ever. The eldest Adelwijn son stiffened to his full height and took a step back but didn’t excuse himself entirely. Gib wondered what Liro could possibly want in order to stay so close, not only to the King, but also to his father. Trying not to openly sneer, Gib turned his back and waited for permission to enter the council room.

King Rishi curled his lip. “I smell shit.”

“What?” Koal grimaced and looked down at his boots. “I was at the stables earlier but—”

“Well
there
you all are!” Neetra’s shrill voice screeched down the hall.

Gib shuddered. He couldn’t bring himself to glance up but could hear the High Councilor’s footfalls fast approaching.

The King smiled cryptically at Koal. “Oops. My mistake. Just an asshole.”

Koal pursed his lips, refusing to laugh. Marc, on the other hand, burst into a fit of hoarse chortling.

By the time Neetra reached them, his face was red. Stuffing his fists onto his narrow hips, the High Councilor’s voice shook as he lectured them. “What are you all doing out here? Are we going to get this meeting underway today? We can’t very well start without our King and seneschal present.”

“Stop whining.” King Rishi groaned and waved at Neetra like someone might swat at a pesky insect. “I was waiting for Marc. Now that he’s here, we’re ready.”

“Oh, right!” Marc startled as if awoken from a dream and reached into his pocket. When he pulled his hand out, a small vial rested in his palm. With a nod, he handed it to King Rishi. “Best to just down it in one go. It’ll settle your stomach and bring down any fever you may have.”

The King frowned as he pulled the stopper from the bottle. “
You
didn’t make it, did you?”

“Sure. I took the time to brew it special, just for you. Hurry up and drink the damned thing so we can get in there.”

King Rishi groaned, put the remedy to his lips, and tipped his head back. One swallow had him coughing and sputtering. “What the
hell
is in this? It tastes awful!”

Koal threw his hands in the air while Marc folded his arms over his chest, a grin stretching his face wide. “Do you need me to hold your skirt for you, m’lady?”

Gib coughed to cover a laugh.

A sneer pulled at King Rishi’s mouth as he tried his best to finish the medicine. The second attempt was only slightly better than the first. His face screwed into a grimace as he swallowed and stoppered the bottle. “No. That’ll have to do. I can’t drink any more of it.”

“If you don’t take it all, it won’t be as effective—”

“I wanted something to settle my stomach, not make me
vomit
!” When Marc attempted to protest further, King Rishi simply tucked the vial into a pocket and nodded toward the council room door. “Shall we?”

Neetra made some snide remark about how he’d better not get sick and that the King was inconsiderate for bringing the illness into the council room. Gib wished he could block out the High Councilor’s sniveling.

As they filed in, Liro stopped so suddenly Gib almost collided with him. Licking his lips, Liro turned to face King Rishi, regarding him with shrewd eyes. “Fresh air is often the best medicine. If his Highness does not feel well, perhaps it would be best for him to simply take a walk in the garden.” Liro smiled, bowed low, and then turned and trotted toward his seat.

Gib squinted even as he watched the King frown. Take a walk in the garden? What in hell was that supposed to mean?

Koal skewered Marc with a heavy look. “What did you treat him for at the Healer’s Pavilion?”

“The usual,” Marc replied, still watching Liro’s back as he climbed the balcony stairs and finally disappeared from view. “He had a headache and came for relief—though I had trouble locating the source of his ailment today. I do hope he feels better. There wasn’t much I could do.”

No more words were shared as Gib headed for his own chair. In the balcony, Liro was already seated and silent, little more than a dark smudge in the corner. Diddy and Hasain were also present, the former giving Gib a bright smile.

He grinned back at Diddy. “Are you two pretending to be twins today?”

Diddy chuckled and gestured down at his and Hasain’s matching outfits. “We’re going riding as soon as the council meeting is over.”

“Kinda wet for that, don’t you think? Might muck up your pretty riding gear.”

“I know, but it’ll be so nice to get out of the palace, and Joel needs the reprieve—” Diddy’s eyes went wide as he seemed to realize what he’d said a moment too late. “I, uh, that is—”

And just like that, Gib’s whole day went downhill. Was it insane that his heart was still such a treacherous thing? How could the mention of a simple name still cause so much hurt? Hot shame welled under his cheeks every time his heart pined for Joel, especially now. Despite taking things slow, his new relationship with Zandi was progressing, and it surely wasn’t fair to be hung up on Joel while pursuing the young Malin-Rai lord.

Gib couldn’t force himself to smile, but he shrugged off the concern to the best of his ability. “No, no. It’s fine. I’m sure he could use the break.”

Diddy’s dark eyes glimmered with sorrow. An apology died on his lips when Neetra lifted his voice to call the meeting to order. Truthfully, Gib had never been happier to hear the High Councilor speak. Gib didn’t want to think about his past anymore. He wanted to listen to the boring council meeting and pretend like his life wasn’t in shambles. He wanted to forget about Joel Adelwijn.
 

The meeting dragged on much like any other. Gib listened and took notes of the various points of interest he had questions on. He felt a little bad when King Rishi’s condition only worsened, forcing the ruler to leave early. Hasain and Diddy shared a quiet chuckle at their father’s expense but settled back into silence when Liro hissed a warning to be quiet. And so it went until they were released well after midday meal had been served and cleaned up.

“I wonder if the kitchen will have anything to give me,” Gib mused out loud.

“Surely the palace kitchen will have something,” Diddy replied. He tapped Hasain’s shoulder. “You could ask Rya.”

Hasain stuck his nose into the air. “If I go in the kitchen, she’ll put me to work. Besides, we have to collect Joel and get the horses if we’re going to get any riding done before nightfall.”

Gib waved them both off. “Eh, it’s not any real trouble anyway. Go, both of you. Try to stay out of the mud.” They each gave him an incredulous look before departing.

He watched them until they disappeared from view and then slumped against the wall, waiting for Koal. Looking down at his boots, Gib tried desperately not to think of Joel. Three moonturns with Zandi was still not enough to erase the memory of his first love. Falling for Joel had been so easy. Coaxing the same feelings for someone new was proving to be more difficult than Gib would have ever imagined. Zandi was gracious, even forgiving, but Gib had a hard time excusing his own behavior. It wasn’t fair to lead Zandi on if love was never going to blossom on its own. He sighed.
Where is Koal?