Blinded by the Sun (Erythleh Chronicles Book 4) by Catherine Johnson

meat and other foods from the platters. He laid them onto his own plate, which he then put in front of her, along with his cutlery. Only one place setting was ever laid for his evening meal, unless there were some official visitors to entertain.
     
    "How are the wedding preparations coming along?" he asked.
     
    "Well, I think." Still Lathriss did not touch the food before her. Kavrazel selected a peach from the dish of fruits. Only when he had taken three bites did Lathriss begin to cut a portion from a slice of beef. "Denryn's sister is positively giddy. Apparently she keeps trying to wear her maid's dress in the house."
     
    "Who will be standing with the lucky groom?" Kavrazel finished the peach and put the stone on the edge of one of the plates. He selected a slice of beef from a platter and tore a bite-sized piece off.
     
    "Henryn, his brother."
     
    "And his little sister is your maid."
     
    "Yes," Lathriss paused. She flushed, which made Kavrazel wonder as to her thoughts, but then she continued. "I wish... I wish my parents could be here, could see this. They'd like Denryn." Lathriss' face fell. Kavrazel wondered if she might not be about to cry.
     
    "Who will give you away in your father's place?"
     
    "There is no one. I will walk by myself."
     
    "Perhaps Shinu?" Kavrazel smiled at the thought of the man who selected, cared for, and trained the blood slaves for the castle household. Likely Shinu considered himself as much of a father figure to Lathriss as anyone, possibly more so than even Lathriss' own father.
     
    "Do you think he would?" Lathriss asked, a note of hope brightening her voice.
     
    "I think he would be honoured to do so. Would you like to ask him yourself? I will speak to him if you prefer."
     
    "No, Sire. I should like to ask him myself."
     
    Lathriss still looked mightily uncomfortable to be occupying a place at his table. Unable to bear it any longer, Kavrazel decided to release her from the torment.
     
    "If you wish to speak to him now, I'm sure he will still be at supper. You might catch him in the kitchens."
     
    "If you don't mind, Sire?"
     
    "Not at all." He gave her a reassuring smile. "Run along."
     
    Lathriss grinned, her eyes full of life once more. She pushed her chair away from the table, and walked quickly, so quickly she was almost running, out of the dining room. The door shut behind her with a hollow sound, leaving Kavrazel to eat in silence once more. When the king looked up, Girogis was still grinning. Kavrazel shook his head at his friend, acknowledging the humour of his own sentimentality, and returned to his meal.
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    A million stars were scattered across the heavens. There were so many twinkling silver jewels that the black of the sky was almost obliterated. The moon hung low and fat, too corpulent to rise higher than the horizon, yet still the night felt thick and dark. The silence that had settled over the village was unnatural and unnerving. The Skenites drew their weapons as they approached, whispering over the sand on stealthy feet. No one trusted the blank quiet. Even when all should be asleep, a village was never as silent as this grave. There were no dogs or cats, not even any rats, scuttling through the shadows. There were no moans or groans from the unfortunates afflicted with the sickness. No candles burned to reassure children that the night did not herald ghosts and monsters.
     
    Darron led the group. His dark skin shone vaguely in the starlight, but he seemed to be only one of the shadows brought to life. Fett, who was out on the left flank of the group, melded into the blank spaces between buildings and fences as if he were a demon conjured with spells and herbs. An advantage of fighting at night was that there was no need for the long cloaks that they wore to protect their skin during the day. Lyssia had learned to fight with her head, face and arms swathed in material, but she much preferred the ultimate freedom of movement.