Caelan clenched his teeth and was grateful for Rayne’s quick thinking as they followed the man inside the enormous double black doors into a grand foyer that was open at least three stories.
“I assure you that His Majesty will need a private meeting with Lord Takahashi to discuss matters critical to all of Thia,” Rayne said in a smooth, firm voice.
“I’m afraid Lord Takahashi has a very busy schedule. I’m sure His Majesty understands that Lord Takahashi cannot suddenly abandon all of his duties on a whim.”
“And I’m sure Lord Takahashi understands that His Majesty would not cross this great distance on a whim. Only a matter of great urgency would draw him away from his own kingdom.”
Daichi gave Rayne a little smile that nearly had Caelan rolling his eyes. “Well, there are human ideas of urgency, and then there’s a dragon’s notion of urgency. I’m sure His Majesty understands they are not the same thing.”
Rayne dragged in a breath, but Caelan placed his hand on his advisor’s arm, silencing the next sharp words. There was zero point in arguing with Masaru’s assistant. “I think it will be quaint to hear what this island deems urgent,” Caelan murmured.
The dragon’s eyes widened, and his mouth snapped shut with a click of teeth. Rayne bowed his head to Caelan, his face wiped clean of all expression, but he thought he caught the tiniest twitch of his lips. “Of course, Your Majesty.”
Without another word, they were shown into a grand meeting hall that was arranged in another U shape. Along the sides of the room, men and women were seated behind low tables. Some had drinks and small plates of food in front of them, as if they were snacking between visitors to the head of the clan.
The end of the room ended in two short stairs and a raised platform where a barrel-chested figure with snowy white hair sat on a chair with no back, but thick roll cushions were positioned on the left and right of him. A low table was in front of him with a single gold goblet. Another man sat next to him on a low cushion so that his head barely came up to the arm of Masaru’s chair. He was alternately writing on paper and tapping things into his tablet.
Masaru was exactly what Caelan expected him to be. A brute with a square jaw and cold, dark eyes. His white hair extended down his spine but was pulled in several artful braids. All of his clothes were black. No accents. No flourishes.
This person was supposedly a relative of Drayce’s, but Caelan couldn’t see it. Not in his facial features or his build. Certainly not in his cold, reserved manner. He couldn’t believe the two people shared a single gene.
Daichi motioned for them to remain toward the rear of the room where they could watch the proceedings, but they were offered no chairs or refreshments. Well, it wasn’t like he’d expected to be warmly welcomed. This was still better than having dragons descend upon them the second they stepped foot on the Isle of Stone.
While he was eager to speak to Masaru about the godstone and Drayce, he didn’t mind getting this insight into what was happening on the island. Unfortunately, Daichi was wrong in describing any of the proceedings as urgent. There were territory disputes, contract disputes, and an argument over a marriage contract. Nothing that was likely to spell the end of dragon civilization or bring the wrath of the gods.
Unlike Caelan’s problem…
But he waited in silence as Lord Takahashi ignored the existence of his tiny group as if they didn’t exist, but the dragon knew they were there.
Just when Caelan was sure it was going to be his turn next, Lord Takahashi rose and lifted both of his hands in the air. “That is the end of today’s general session.”
Caelan snarled slightly to himself and stepped forward, ignoring Daichi as he rushed toward him in an intercepting path.
“Lord Takahashi,” Caelan called out, lifting his voice above the low din of conversation as everyone prepared to leave. “It’s unfortunate that you don’t have time for the King of Erya considering the distance we’ve traveled to meet with you.”
Masaru stopped and slowly turned to face Caelan, a white, bushy brow arched in question.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t the will of the gods,” Caelan continued in the tense silence. Eno and Rayne had caught up with him and stood at his sides. Every eye in the room was on them, judging, and from what he could tell, sneering.
“Gods?” Masaru repeated with a thick chuckle.
Yeah, Caelan had expected that, and the comment had succeeded in waking up all three gods who had set up house in his brain.
Steal his time. Steal all his time, Nyx coaxed.
But no one would know what I’d done. He’d simply drop dead, Caelan pointed out. Not trying to start a war by slaughtering people.