There you are!โ he shouted at them. โFather has half the castle turned out looking for you.โ โUs?โ Hadrian asked. โYes.โ Fanen nodded. โHe wants to see the two thieves in his chambers right away.โ โYou didnโt steal the silver or anything, did you, Royce?โ Hadrian asked. โI would bet it has more to do with your flirting with Lenare this afternoon and threatening Mauvin just to show off,โ Royce retorted. โThat was your fault,โ Hadrian said, jabbing his finger at him.
Michael J. SullivanYou think youโre a very clever fellow, donโt you?โ Saldur challenged. โNo, Your Grace,โ Merrick replied. โClever is the man who makes a fortune selling dried-up cows, explaining how it saves the farmers the trouble of getting up every morning to milk them. Iโm not cleverโIโm a genius.
Michael J. SullivanYouโre too visible, Albert,โ Hadrian explained. โCanโt afford to have our favorite noble hauled to some dungeon where they cut off your eyelids or pull off your fingernails until you tell them what weโre up to.โ โBut if they torture me, and I donโt know the plan, how will I save myself?โ โIโm sure theyโll believe you after the fourth nail or so,โ Royce said with a wicked grin.
Michael J. SullivanYou think heโs still alive?โ Royce asked, nodding his head toward Alric. โSure,โ Hadrian replied without bothering to look. โHeโs probably sleeping. Why do you ask?โ โI was just pondering something. Do you think a person could smother in a wet potato bag?โ Hadrian lifted his head and looked over at the motionless prince. โI really hadnโt thought about it until now.
Michael J. Sullivan