His tone was playful, but his appreciative leer made Lannahi uneasy. Allil hadn’t looked at her like this before today.
Lannahi lowered her gaze, suddenly unsure how to react. She had heard of Allil’s numerous affairs and the fact that each of his sons had a different mother was well known, but she couldn’t believe that he would be interested in her. Allil was near her father’s age, and her father was standing right next to him…
“I don’t believe Lannahi was lost,” Asirri said. “I bet she met someoneyoungwho occupied her attention to the point that time didn’t matter much to her.” When Lannahi looked at her mother in surprise, Asirri asked, “Am I wrong, daughter?”
Despite herself, Lannahi felt amused. Her mother only knew of one person Lannahi had met. Nefari was indeed young and did occupy her attention.
“You are not, Mother,” Lannahi replied.
Asirri shifted her gaze to Letiri and gestured at the table. “I encourage you to try the nectar. It’s very good.”
Letiri understood the suggestion and positioned her sister away from Allil, standing instead at the table at their mother’s side. Lannahi pretended that filling the crystal goblets was the center of her attention, but she listened carefully to what was being spoken.
“There is no need to be stinging, Asirri,” Allil said with a barely perceptible hint of mockery. “I know where the line is.”
“And your sons?” Sarkal asked, his voice indifferent. “Do they know where the line is?”
Letiri raised the goblet to her lips, but the focused look on her face suggested that she tasted nothing.
“You are both terribly territorial today,” Allil remarked. “Is it hard to accept that your children have grown up?”
“It is,” Sarkal admitted. “Isn’t it for you?”
“I did what I could. The rest is up to them.”
“So? Do you think your sons know where the line is?”
Allil didn’t respond immediately and Lannahi wrestled with the impulse to look at him.
“They know the maps and they know my opinion. What they will do, I don’t know… and I don’t really care. When their voice starts to matter, I will be dead and won’t hear anything anyway.”
“Convenient,” Sarkal commented.
“Practical.” Allil placed his empty goblet on the table. “Maybe you should start thinking that way as well. You would certainly be less stressed.”
“Maybe not. You are relaxed enough for both of us.”
Allil left with a laugh.
Lannahi turned, but her attention was caught by his eldest son who was standing nearby talking to Maal. The two must have known one another for long time, but the studied indifference on their faces didn’t indicate that they were friends.
Sarkal’s conversation with Allil suddenly took on a new meaning, but Lannahi didn’t have time to delve into considerations because her father stepped in front of her.
“Are you alright, Lannahi?” he asked quietly, regarding her carefully. When she smiled and nodded, he relaxed. “I regret that you were caught off guard, but you did well—”
“Light praise, Sarkal,” King Igal said as he approached, accompanied by Ambassador Saoul who was half his age. “The applause that Lannahi received was as loud as those for the tournament participants. You shouldn’t spare your daughter her well-deserved compliments. Especially since I was sitting next to you and saw you puff up with pride.”
Sarkal smiled. “Igal is right. I’m proud of you, Lannahi.”
Lannahi’s throat tightened. Would he be looking at her like this in a few hours?
Aware that she was being watched not only by her family, Lannahi restrained her emotions and bowed her head politely. “I’m grateful for your kind words, Father.”
Everyone who approached her father used her performance as an excuse to start a conversation, and those who merely passed by cast her sidelong glances. Years at the royal court had taught her patience to endure the attention of others, but with each new compliment and invitation, the chain bound around her heart tightened more and more. How would her actions reflect on her father? Would those who were on good terms with him still think favorably of him tomorrow?
And what if those who envied him come to the wrong conclusions?
The sound of the gong announced the start of the martial arts tournaments and redirected the attention of those gathered toward the arena, but Lannahi’s relief was small. She knew that all eyes would soon turn to her again.
