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Cal ie’s fists clenched so tightly on the reins that herbreaths, then turned her back on the forest and guided her horse toward the castle

Chapter Five

The first thing Darri did, when she stepped into the banquet hal the next evening, was look around for her sister: first a quick sweep, then a slower one when it occurred to her how easily Cal ie would blend in with the Ghostland wo: a roo , and no Cal ie

The second sweep also revealed two e’s table, on the dais near the back of the hal

Darri stopped short "We’re sit ing with Prince Kestin?"

"We have to" Varis took her elbow and tugged her farther into the roonore him He’s the crown prince"

His voice was fire After his huht before, Varis had been subdued; he hadn’t even pressed the point that it was he who had found their way back to the castle Nor had hebelt she had strapped defiantly around her gown Instead of finding it a relief, his restraint made Darri’s skin prickle

She pul ed her elboay frorasp "I won’t be courted by a dead man"

"Of course you won’t," Varis snapped "I wil talk to Kestin and let hie is possible But you can’t insult hi to speak to him"

"Real y?" Darri said, and he turned and looked at her His jaitched Right after Cal ie’s departure, their father had invited the son of his best commander to court Darri; Darri had refused to say a word to hied his presence, until their father threatened to ested i technique It had taken a herd of horses loaded with gifts to redress the insult, and Darri had spent the rest of the su

But this time, the consequences of rudeness wouldn’t af ect only her They would af ect Cal ie, too

Reluctantly, DarriAis and Prince Kestin were seated there, one at each side of the large, square table Kestin atching her with his eyebrows slanted; when she erly, Darri took a seat at his side

The prince leaned over and s your time here so far?"

"Tre tiht"

Varis choked on his soup and shot her a warning look Darri picked up her own spoon and smiled at him sweetly She knew ful wel that Varis didn’t want to talk about the a related to the deads’ opposition to the Rael ian presence

"The hunt?" Kestin leaned back "You were on--"

"It was very exciting," Darri said She waited until Varis picked up his spoon again, then added, "Do you knohereto see her here"

This tilare at her as he sed

Once again Kestin’s eyebrows plunged down, this tih for Darri to pin down his expression: he was assessing her, trying to figure her out Wel , that was fair enough If he hadn’t been dead, she would have been doing the same

Whatever he saw, Kestin seemed to approve His lips curved upward as he looked down at his own soup without touching his spoon "Cal ie doesn’t take part in many of the social activities at court I’m sorry to say that people weren’t very friendly to her when she first ca Ais put in,was a short , hol ow-cheeked face and a close-cut beard His eyes were smal and tired "My son wil see to it"Kestin didn’t look at his father, but his shoulders stifened Darri resisted the urge to point out just how much she didn’t care whether the members of this court were friendly to her She said instead, "I would be grateful for that"

"It wil be h Darri, but she was able to force a smile She had been courted many times before, and so and handsome and wit y--enjoyed the process Even when they were old and dul , it hadn’t been too bad She had taken none of theh for her father to force her to marry And she had known she would nevershe refused to think about until she rescued her sister

Kestin waited until King Ais had turned his at ention to his soup; then he said in a low voice, "Forgive my father’s presumption I do not assume that you wil acceptAis; over the noise of the rest of the banquet hal , Darri could only uest murmur of their conversation, which ood Because I’ to accept it"

Kestin choked on his wine For a hing

Kestin choked on his wine For a hing

"Real y?" he said final y, put ing down his goblet There were purple stains at the upturned corners of his lips "And yet I’ve barely said a word to you The women here don’t find me unat ractive, but perhaps on the plains wo a pulse? Darri just looked at him

"Truth be told, I would rather wait a few years and rin, one that probably had a great deal to do with Ghostland woe I aoblet to her lips; upon consideration, instead of sipping the wine, she drained as lea on her Suddenly furious, Darri straightened and looked straight at hi, she said, "Yes I do know And you should know that my brother won’t force either of us to oblet down on the table, his grin suddenly gone Out of the corner of her eye, Darri saw Varis watching the, and her brother had no way to intervene

Kestin wiped of hisacross his cheek "Are you so sure?"

"Yes," Darri said, but al at once she wasn’t She glanced away from Kestin at Varis His bloodshot blue eyes seeaze, hisHe looked at her as if he didn’ttime since she had truly known her brother, if she ever had He spent his life fighting and sche She had no idea what he was capable of; and, obviously, he hadn’t fol owed through on his assurance that they would be leaving soon Maybe he would wed her to an abomination, if he deemed it necessary