It didn't take a sharp mind to read the truth in the prince's face.
Plus, the open map spread across the table in front of him told the rest of the story. So did the half-ring of men around him.
They had walked straight into a war council.
"Who," the prince said at last, his gaze lifting from the table to spear both Thalien and Arnold, "let you inside… my lords?"
The weight in those last two words made Arnold's stomach tighten. For a heartbeat he wrestled with how to answer without drawing the man's ire. But Thalien, ever quicker to fill a silence, spoke first.
"Our apologies," he said, dipping his head slightly. "It seems Lord Jarza decided to jest with us today. He assured us you were free."
"As you can see," Alpheo replied, his voice flat, "I am not."
Thalien inclined his head again, this time more carefully. "Then we will wait outside, if that pleases you."
"It does. Please do."
The prince's eyes dropped back to the map as though they had never been there at all.
