“What are you two up to at this hour?” I asked.
They looked at each other, Jolter shrugged, and then they turned back to me. Like usual, Koan spoke for them both. “We usually stop by Callista’s door at some point and make sure it either has a guard or a magic seal. We know at least three elves who would be happy to see her dead, and we don’t want to make it easy by forgetting her at night.”
I nodded slowly. “I appreciate that,” I said. “It is an honorable action.”
Koan elbowed Jolter. “Did you hear that? I think the king just complimented us.”
Jolter elbowed him back, but spoke to me. “Is there something you’re looking for, Your Majesty?”
I wasn’t about to tell them the greatest secret of my life, but perhaps they could help me with another mystery. “I have secured Callista’s door for tonight,” I told them. They didn’t need to worry. “If anyone tries to enter without permission, their experience will be most unpleasant.”
A mischievous grin scrawled across Koan’s face. “Your seals are potent enough for us to feel from ten feet away. I’d love to see someone get hit with it who tries to break in.”
I returned his grin. “It would be satisfying.”
Koan elbowed Jolter again. “Did you hear that? The king was almost friendly to me.”
I resisted rolling my eyes. “There is another topic I would like your insight on.”
Both their eyes widened. Koan recovered the fastest. “We’d love to help.”
I nodded. “I have heard things that have made me curious about the safety of the elves who work in the Dining Hall. Would you say that is something I should be concerned about?”
They gave each other another look, and Jolter shrugged again. Did these two communicate telepathically? Or were they just around each other enough that they could read each other’s expressions?
“If it’s a problem, it’s late at night,” Koan said. “Now might be a good time to take a look, if you’re curious.”
I raised a brow. “Are you part of the problem?”
Koan threw a hand to his chest in feigned shock. “Us? Never.” He relaxed his arm. “I mean, we flirt with everyone a bit—well, not Jolter anymore, but that’s not the point. We’re nice to everyone. If they’re uncomfortable, we stop. Some of the others are—well, let’s just go see.”
The Dining Hall was much louder and more raucous than I would have expected to see in the middle of the night. I slipped inside and stood in shadows against the wall. Three groups of elves laughed and shouted at each other, clearly under the influence of too many spirits. Was it like this every night?
Koan slid closer to me and hid our voices with silencing magic. “Looks like we have three groups tonight. Typically, anyone out late will cluster around one of the highest ranked nobles.”
“Are you usually part of that number?” I asked.
“We’re here about a third of the time, but people come to us. We don’t go to them.” I could hear his smile as he said, “Our table is always the most fun. We’ll have our wine, but people like us because we’re fun even without the drinks.”
“Yes, your sober fun has been a thorn in myside for years,” I muttered.
He laughed. “Happy to help. At least we make our own choices.” He gestured at the table in the middle of the room. “Broomden overindulges almost every night. I’m not even sure he can remember much the next day, but the fools flock to him because he has money to buy their drinks. And they hope the association will bring them prestige.”
Koan’s analysis of the social structure amongst nobles was more objective than I’d expected. He pointed to the other two groups. “Meldrin and Shancy are harmless. Shancy only pretends to get drunk—she never gives up control of her faculties. If Meldrin stays out this late, he’ll be drunk, but he’s a gentle soul, whether or not he’s sober.”
As Koan finished speaking, Broomden slammed an empty glass onto the table so hard it shattered. “Servant!” he shouted.
Salor scurried over to his table. “Yes, My Lord?” He grabbed her hand and pressed it against the glass on the table. “I asked for a drink ten minutes ago. Now my cup is broken.”
Koan stepped out of the shadows, toward the table. I grabbed the back of his tunic and pulled him back. “Your Majesty,” he hissed, “someone needs to stop Broomden. Hewillhurt her.”
I pressed Koan behind me.
Broomden still had Salor’s arm pinned to the table. “When I ask for a drink, I expect it to comefastor else I will—”
I unfurled my power with all the abandon of a monster. If I had fae blood in my veins, I was going to use it well. Smoke and flames rose off my body while heat spread through the room. Everyone between Broomden and myself scattered. Broomden let go of Salor and turned to look at me.
“You will ask her nicely again,” I growled with the rumbling tone of the drekkan. “And again, as many times as it takes. Youwill never threaten someone you are in a position to protect.” I raised my voice on magic so it filled the hall. “It appears I will be setting a guard in the hall to keep order. If I hear of anyone behaving so dishonorably again—” I gave Broomden a pointed look. “You will lose your rank and status.”
