Since Nielle didn't wanted to waste time, the bath in the nearby river lasted very short, partly because of the temperature of the water, partly because he wanted to arrive in Alycante on time.
Louis and Brelle were quite surprised that he was the first to finish, so they tried to hurry too. A few soldiers nearby gave the princes their clothes and walked with them to the carriages.
Louis and Brelle went into theirs while Nielle walked over to the Lacrisans and motioned for Iuwine to leave him with Shane alone.
"Go to Louis, Iwi," he said.
Iuwine, although he would really prefer to spend the trip with Louis, knew that Nielle didn't have pure intentions towards Shane and leaving them here together wasn't in Louis's interest.
"I don't think your idea is appropriate," he clarified.
"Iuwine, why do you even think I need your opinion on something? Lui, who requires it, is next door." He nodded outside.
"As you wish, but every mistake can complicate your stay in Alycante, don't forget," he added and went out.
Nielle watched as he disappeared and leaned out of the window towards the coachman. He gave a signal not to be ahead unnecessarily and to stay behind the other carriages.
He sat idly with Shane for a while, and when the carriage moved, he said, "That was a very stupid thing you tried."
"I would say funny," he had no reason to lie.
"Really, is it worth the punishment you're going to get?" Nielle laughed.
Shane stated, "I found your luck in comparison to other princes to be incredibly poor so yes, it paid off," he added.
"Yes it is," Nielle laughed and leaned towards him lightly, "that's why you're here, Lacrisan, to improve it." he stated, roughly grabbing the top of Shane's clothing and pulling him closer.
Shane roughly pulled him off of him and glared at him with displeasure, "If you hadn't rejected every kind of effort I've made to agree on a favorable cohabitation, I would give it to you voluntarily, but since you're not easy to get along with, don't expect me to sit and put up with your demands."
Nielle laughed with pleasure and sat next to Shane, "When did I expect something like this?"
Shane didn't feel like being around this jerk so he stood up as the carriage would allow. He tried to force his way across, as he could not get off while driving. However, Nielle pulled him back by his clothes and forced him to sit down next to him again. Shane didn't even have time to recover when he bent over him and trapped him between himself and the carriage.
"You don't think I'm going to let your behavior today go unpunished, right?" he chuckled, "I was wondering if it wouldn't be a good idea to let my brothers try your luck, then drag your incredibly cheeky ass in that icy river where I had to bath because of you." he stated.
"You're the one who should be punished, you could use a lesson," Shane growled.
Nielle blinked in surprise, "Me?" he laughed, "Oh, Lacrisan...I just wanted to have a little fun and leave you alone, but I see you really want us to have fun the whole way."
Although Shane knew that he couldn't get away with anything right now, he didn't feel like giving in to Nielle. And since he wasn't yet at a disadvantage, he violently pushed him away from him and moved to the side. Nielle chuckled in satisfaction and lightly touched his ring, which was enough to send Shane into a panic.
However, exceptionally he didn't react by clutching his own neck, but violently pulled Nielle towards him in anger and made it impossible for him to continue the touch.
Nielle, surprised, let go of the ring and tried to get Shane away from him, but the space of the carriage didn't allow him to do so. He didn't even have enough time to push Shane away when the Lacrisan grabbed him violently again and pinned him roughly against the wall of the carriage.
He slammed Nielle's chest hard into the wood, making him hiss in pain as his wrists twisted back. Nielle couldn't move for a moment and just blinked in disbelief as Shane held him tightly under him.
Shane twisted Nielle's hands really painfully and didn't allow him any protests in the small space, let alone a chance to fight him. Shane forcefully pushed Nielle's hands into his back, forcing Nielle to open his mouth painfully and gasp in surprise at how he couldn't move forward and relieve the pressure. Shane felt the black ring on Nielle's finger and declared,
"I want to see how brave you can be without that disgustingness, you bastard," he said.
As soon as Shane touched his fingers, Nielle realized what he wanted to do and clenched his fist to prevent him from doing anything.
"Stupid bastard," Shane growled, digging his nails into Nielle's wrist where all the tendons met and digging deeper.
"Aaaagh!" Nielle screamed painfully and immediately released his hand, after which Shane took the ring off him and threw it to the ground.
Shane looked down at Nielle's bloodied wrist, surprised at how easily Nielle's grip loosened and how easily his nails penetrated his skin as if it were nothing more than paper.
The thick streaks of blood didn't seem right in comparison to the power he put into his hand, and for a moment Shane didn't understand if he had increased the power unconsciously or if Nielle really was too fragile. He eased his grip slightly as he was surprised by the situation, and although he was still full of anger, he unexpectedly hesitated. Although he wanted to repay Nielle for all the disgusting things, it was still not the right moment.
However, Nielle took the opportunity and the moment the grip loosened, he jerked out of Shane's grip. He quickly turned around and slammed his fist down on Shane's ear, knocking him to the ground. Shane took a moment to recover, which was enough for Nielle to pick up the ring from the floor and breathlessly use it.
"Lacrisan, you shouldn't have done that," he growled and touched the ring in anger.
Shane didn't have time to react when he felt a grip around his neck and he fell to the ground again in a fit of panic. One hand clutched his neck, gasping for breath, and the other subconsciously tore at the clothes that hid his chest as the feeling of suffocation filled him.
"Nghá-hnn-nghhh!" He rolled on the ground, trying to stop the excruciating feeling of agony. His airways closed, his muscles contracted, flooding his body with a familiar feeling of spasms and terror that he hated.
"Do you like it?" Nielle bent down to him and roughly grabbed his black hair. He twisted his pain-contorted face towards him and smacked him roughly, which Shane barely noticed.
Shane's whole insides were flooded with the sensation of heat, pain and panic that didn't allow him to perceive anything other, not the even weaker kinds of pain.
Shane felt like it had been going on for years, like it was never going to end, like all his luck had drained away and his whole body was flooded with that one sensation.
That's why when in one moment his lungs relaxed, when he was able to catch air and his whole body shook with the rush of release, at first he didn't know what was happening, where he was lying. He only knew that he had once again allowed someone to use the disgusting thing.
The moment Nielle grabbed him by the hair and pulled him closer, he regained consciousness slightly.
"I've never seen a more stupid Lacrisan, this was the most daring thing you've done yet," he held up his bloody wrist, "someone wants to try living in the dungeons." he growled.
Shane still didn't have enough air to speak, so he just took deep breaths and kept quiet. Nielle let go of him roughly, Shane fell to the ground and lay down again for a while. But Nielle soon grabbed him again, sitting on his back, and as soon as Shane felt the touch of the rope binding his hands, he couldn't move them anymore.
"Better," Nielle stated.
Shane was roughly dragged to his knees by his bound hands and raised his blue eyes to Nielle as if for a moment he didn't understand what had happened. He was trembling slightly, and although he was filled with hatred, he was currently unable to do anything to free himself.
Nielle's laughes and kicked him to the chest. Shane landed on his back against his bound hands and groaned in pain as he pressed them against him. Nielle straddled his body and roughly opened the top of his robe, still pissed off from what his Lacrisan dare to do.
Shane regained his composure as Nielle rolled him over onto his stomach and roughly kicked his legs apart.
"You bastard!" hissed Shane who, with his hands tied and still weakened, couldn't move much. He could feel Nielle's fingers on his bare ass and tried to shake him off, but Nielle wouldn't let him.
"You deserve more than I'm going to give you, Lacrisan, but I don't have any tools, so we'll do with the classic," growled Nielle.
Nielle didn't feel like talking to Shane anymore. His former endeavor had turned him on quite a bit, so he simplified things. Once Shane's top was off and his bottoms were pulled up at his ankles, Nielle spanked Shane's bottom roughly. Shane gritted his teeth, but Nielle still enjoyed it enough to do it again and spank him one more time.
"Who did you say could use a lesson?" he laughed and slapped him harder again.
Each time, Shane clenched his teeth tightly, grunting, and though he didn't particularly react, Nielle was having fun with his ass until it was pretty burgundy.
However, since he didn't want to just beat him up, after a while he moved on to what he really had planned for him.
He thrust his fingers roughly between Shane's ass, "You shouldn't have been rude" he stated and without warning pushed against his retracted entrance.
"Aghh!" Shane screamed louder as something that was clearly not just one finger forced its way into his body. His ass still hadn't recovered from last night, but his efforts to get away from Nielle were useless due to the walls of the carriage. Nielle simply pulled him back to him and thrust his fingers into him harder.
"Nghá!" Shane closed his eyelids and tried not to notice Nielle's laughter, which pissed him off incredibly.
However, Nielle didn't plan on preparing Shane for his fun for long, as he was really annoying him, so he soon pulled his fingers out of his ass and simply spanked him again.
"Every single carriage will hear me fucking you, Lacrisan." Nielle laughed and simply pulled Shane onto all fours, grabbing his hair roughly and twisting his head towards him.
"Ngháá-get of me," Shane growled, "you bastard," he tried to break free from Nielle's grip, but he had no place, no chance.
"I won't," Nielle stated and simply released his hard cock from his clothes, "I'm going to fuck you until you collapse," he promised.
***
Ylre was sitting in a nice restaurant with Rue, eating a mixture of potatoes, meat and vegetables. He wasn't as talkative as he usually was, and though he tried to act normal, Rue noticed his behavior.
"Are you nervous?" he moved his apple pie to Ylre.
"No," Ylre said.
"It's normal to be nervous before a competition, if you want, we can borrow horses and try to ride, would you like to have a race?" Rue asked cheerfully.
Ylre blinked, "Race? Me? With you," he knew the result.
"I haven't galloped for a long time, and if it helps you feel confident, it won't hurt, right?" he tried.
"I don't know if confidence is a good word," laughed Ylre, "I haven't rode a horse in a long time."
"How long?" Rue wondered, biting into the pie.
"I don't know, but I feel like it's been two hundred years, or so," he wasn't joking.
However, since the sentence was true for Rue as well, he laughed with pleasure, "See, neither do I."
Ylre knew that while it was true that neither of them had ridden for two hundred years, they did not agree on anything else on this matter. Because Rue could do wonders, no matter how long he wouldn't sit on a horse.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Anyway, Ylre was unable to convince Rue not to pursue the idea, so they actually went to the region of Alycante after lunch, where they discovered that horses could be bought. Being really persuasive, Rue negotiated a loan, and soon they were leading two fine horses out of Alycante.
"I don't know if it's a good idea for us to compete together," Ylre explained, tightly holding the reins of the horse he was leading beside him.
"You don't want to?" Rue asked, pausing incomprehensibly.
They were quite far from the city, a little below the meadow from which they once came down, and the road in front of them gave quite a free course through which it would be good to gallop. However, not understanding if Ylre really wanted, Rue waited.
Ylre stared into his golden eyes for a moment and blinked a few times as he felt the urge to get on a horse with Rue and run away with him somewhere where no one could find them. Without his nervousness of what riding would bring.
"Ylre," Rue tried, "do you hate horses?" he didn't know.
Ylre hesitated, "No, I don't."
"Or are you afraid of them?" Rue didn't know why, but he felt strangely nostalgic.
Ylre hesitated, "I'm not afraid," he said.
Rue smiled lightly and stated, "Even you are, that's fine, Ylre. Everyone is afraid of something."
With his words, Ylre was filled with a familiar warm feeling along with a strange pain which made him state sharply, "I'm not afraid," he promised, "I used to be afraid, but I had someone who took a lot of time to teach me and really helped me with it. I got rid of it. I'm not afraid of horses. I just don't know if I can..." he started but stopped.
"You don't know what?" Rue didn't understand.
Ylre was silent.
"Ylre, you can tell me everything," he said.
"I just don't want you to be disappointed," Ylre admitted.
"I won't be," stated Rue, "so tell me, what don't you know? There's nothing I can't teach you, Ylre. Even in a day," he stated.
Ylre laughed lightly as he still hesitated but couldn't resist Rue and admitted, "Actually, I don't know...I don't know how to ride well."
Nobody said anything for a while, until Rue casually added, "Is that why you're nervous?"
Ylre nodded, "I promised to win the prizes, but I don't know what riding means in the game and I'm not good with horses. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize, Ylre, everything's fine, I appreciate that you're participating in something dangerous like this for someone you just met. I'll be grateful if you win, I'll be grateful if you just try, but if it's stressful for you, you don't have to do it at all, and I'll be grateful anyway that you had the intention to. It's enough. "
"It's not," Ylre stated, "and we know each other well enough," he said, "I'll do anything to win it for you, I promise."
Ylre's words sounded really convincing and Rue smiled lightly as he enjoyed each and every one of them, "Thank you," he said, "Since you want to join the game and since we're out, what would you say about the race?"
"Race?" Ylre still hesitated, "You weren't kidding? I really haven't been on the horse in a long time, and even then I wasn't good at it."
"I wasn't kidding," Rue said, dismounting on his horse and smiled, "so it's up to you now, Ylre."
Ylre watched Rue for a moment before he obeyed his wish as he would an order and mounted an unknown horse. He tried to suppress all the nervousness that the horse caused in him and gripped the reins tightly in his hands. He could feel how high he was, he could feel the horse moving with its breathing and waiting for the signal to start.
"You're all stiff, Ylre," Rue rode up to him on his horse, "try to relax and breathe."
Ylre snorted lightly and declared, "I'm trying but riding just isn't my thing."
"I don't think so, Ylre, you have the best handling of a horse I've ever seen," he stated, "you control him well, you can sense everything he does and feel what he wants. I see you underestimate yourself, Ylre."
Ylre laughed lightly, "Once I fall, knowing the horse's feelings won't help me much."
"If you fall, you get back up," Rue laughed and stepped forward on his horse.
"I'm not sure about that," Ylre hesitated.
Rue thought for a moment before trying a different approach, "Then, how about we try a different kind of game, Ylre? Not a race."
"What kind of game?" he didn't understand.
"Just a tag, what do you think?" he tried happily.
Ylre blinked, "With horses?" he asked.
"Yes. We will gallop, we won't race. The one in the back will just try to catch up with the horse in front, easy, right?" he explained.
Ylre had known the game all his life, but that didn't change the fact that he didn't like it.
"I'm not good at it at all," he clarified.
"I used to play it with someone close to me and it was very motivating for him. It improves all riding skills. Even better in combination with hide and seek, but it's enough for now," he clarified, "suitable as practice before playing in a tournament, right?"
"Yes, but-" he didn't know if he wanted to.
"Or do you want classic lessons, Ylre?" Rue smiled.
"No," Ylre didn't want to sound like a real fool, "but I don't want you to disappear," Ylre knew how complicated it could be to keep up with Rue.
Rue blinked in confusion for a moment before laughing lightly, "Oh, I see," he clarified, "In that case, Ylre, try your best or I really will disappear," he laughed and spurred the horse into a trot.
Ylre knew he was only teasing him and didn't mean what he said, but still, after watching him for a while, he managed to spur his horse into a gallop. It wasn't a fast gallop, but it was enough to keep him close behind Rue and still see him.
"You see, you're riding and nothing happened, right?" Rue laughed as he sped up his gallop.
"Rue, I really don't know if I'm going to be able to-" he held the reins in his hands and tried to focus on not falling, on the horse below him to keep pace with a horse that had a rider on it that he would never outrun.
"Keep up?" Rue didn't want to spoil anything but laughed softly, "Ylre, but that's exactly what I want so swing the reins and gallop. Don't be a mile behind, go after me until I stop," he stated and spurred the horse again.
Ylre bit his lip softly and bent slightly, slapping the reins to make the horse move faster and taking a few deep breaths as he suppressed the urge to close his eyes and grip the horse tighter. But he knew he couldn't, because he knew that it would only scare the horse, that it would slow him down, that he would accomplish nothing. He knew that if he actually did that, he would fall and lose sight of Rue. And if he lost sight of him, he might not find him again.
Even though he knew it was stupid, even though he knew he wouldn't run away, something inside him wouldn't allow him to risk even the slightest chance of that happening. And so as always, he did his best to fulfill his words.
So he galloped on after Rue. He concentrated as best he could, always listening to Rue's reminders and whenever luck overtook him, he tried to smile lightly so it wouldn't sound like he was at the edge of his strength, even though riding was really something he wasn't good at.
Two horses galloped through the forest, several passers-by in surprise at the speed developed by the animals only jumped sharply to the side, although they wouldn't have been hit.
The two horses galloped through the meadow, the flowers swirling in the air all around them under their pace, causing Rue to laugh happily. They galloped through the untouched grass without a single living soul behind them, one happy, the other tense, but still together.
"Ylre, where are you looking?" Rue wanted to know.
"At you!" he shouted, as he had no idea what else he wanted to know.
"Then don't look. There are more beautiful things outside, watch your surroundings and relax. If you are nervous, the horse is nervous. Look how beautiful it is here!" laughed Rue, running his horse into a shallow river, the surface of which was immediately stirred up by the horse's hooves, forcing him to smile even wider as he felt a shower of cold drops on his face.
Ylre ran into the water after him. His skin, hot from the strong sun, cooled by the rush of cold from the water and wind that Rue was leaving in his wake. He galloped on after him, listening to his words and trying to obey them, but he didn't really do anything new because of the tension.
However, at one point Rue slowed down, Ylre unexpectedly ran beside him and turned around in shock, which was a mistake as he lost track of where he was going and almost fell. He wanted to slow down, but Rue already sped up and took his place next to him. He laughed loudly and gave Ylre a beautiful smile full of freedom and happiness that forced Ylre to finally release the tight grip on the reins he was holding so convulsively.
"Ylre, smile. You're doing great, your riding skills are great," Rue laughed in delight, prompting Ylre to lift the corners gently in a soft smile.
Not because of the words of praise, not because he actually kept up with Rue at least for a moment, but because of how rare Rue's happy expression was to him. How much happiness filled him at the sight of his smile.
A warm feeling filled his insides and forced Ylre into a relaxation he hadn't felt in a long time. For just a moment he forgot where he was sitting, forgot that he was galloping and that they weren't actually free yet. He forgot who was after them, he forgot what was waiting for him.
For a small moment, when he saw in Rue's eyes what he had been missing for so long, he finally felt free.
***
By the time they reached Alycante it was night outside. There was a little over an hour left before the curfew, and since the laws of the city applied to everyone, there was no way they could make it to Zoye's mansion. However, no one wanted to spend the night in the carriages, so they stopped at one of the more expensive-looking inns.
Louis and Brelle in the first carriage heard strange noises from behind across the road, but couldn't identify them. However, the moment Nielle literally kicked Shane out of the carriage and everyone watched as Lacrisan rolled to the ground, laid there for a moment and began to squirm in exhaustion, as if he had barely woken up, everyone knew.
Brelle ran to Shane, Louis to Nielle while the king walked towards the inn as if he hadn't seen them.
"What happened? Shane, are you okay? Can you get up?" Brelle leaned over to Shane.
Shane raised his blue pupils to him in confusion, as for a moment he didn't know what was happening, but then he came to his senses. He didn't know how many hours Nielle tortured him, but at some part of the journey he didn't wake him up and left him lying exhausted. He felt sick, everything hurt and all he wanted was to sleep all night in a room without that white haired bastard.
Anyway, he wasn't in an unknown state, he was raised to be able to stand up in any situation. Therefore, he only sat for a moment before he touched the carriage without Brelle's help and pulled himself to his feet. He glanced at Nielle, who was ignoring him as if nothing had happened.
"Nielle!" Louis was visibly angry, "What have you done to Shane again?" he began, but Nielle wouldn't let him.
"Nothing special...and it's none of your business," Nielle stated.
"It's not, but we're not at home. We're in Alycante and we're not even in Zoye's mansion!" he declared, "How are you going to survive without Lacrisan here tonight? You fool!" Louis was really full of anger as Nielle didn't understand his own shortcomings. However, Nielle understood them well.
He didn't have time to say anything at all when the king called them to the inn.
"Stupid laws still haven't changed so use your Lacrisans and secure a room for the night. I bought a private section but you are still required to prove your luck. Nothing new. See you at sunrise. Good night," the king said, since today's trip to Alycante wasn't their first.
"See, Nielle?" Louis's anger lingered.
"Lui, just shut up sometimes," Nielle said.
"Nielle, how are you going to buy a room without his help? At least apologize, I don't know if it will help you, but at least you could really admit your mistakes," Louis nodded to Shane, who didn't understand at all.
Nielle laughed, "I don't see why."
"Nielle!" Louise couldn't believe that he had such an idiot for a brother, as Nielle was currently.
"Prince Louis, the curfew will bee soon, it would be good if we buy the rooms," Iuwine clarified.
"Iuwin, thank you for helping me as always," Brelle was grateful.
"I can manage two people somehow. But Prince Nielle." He looked at Nielle for a while, who knew that he was out of luck.
"No need, Iwi. Just go to sleep. I'm not a child," he nodded.
Lacriasan hesitated for a moment before reaching the stone counter where a man was standing. Taking the needle beside him, he pricked himself lightly and let the stone find out if luck loved him enough to use the rooms bought by the king. The stone glowed pale green and the guy allowed Iuwin to take the two princes with him.
"Nielle, if you don't convince your Lacrisan to share a room with you and end up in the prison, at least let me know and we'll send someone," Louis explained.
"Thanks, Lui, thanks," Nielle ignored him.
Shane, who at least by watching them understood what the system is in Alycante, reached the counter and asked the guy.
"I'll show you my luck and when it's good enough, I can go to sleep in one of the rooms right away? Don't I have to pay anything?" he didn't know.
"No, the rooms have been bought, you just have to prove yourself," he clarified.
Shane nodded, took the needle, pricked himself, and left the crystal to let it be known that even though he didn't seem like it at the moment, he was truly loved by Luck.
The crystal glowed a pale yellow, which was only one step ahead of white, making the guy whistle in admiration.
"Did I pass?" Shane knew.
"Yes, you can take three people with you if you want," he clarified.
Shane didn't look at Nielle at all, "No need," he said and walked towards the stairs with the keys.
"And you? Will you try?" the guy looked at Nielle.
"No," Nielle said, stepping away, "Luck doesn't love me, but it hates me quit a lot," he clarified and disappeared outside.
He walked for a while wondering when exactly the curfew was starting. He assumed he had plenty of time, so he headed for a nearby tea house. Although Alycante was an inaccessible place, still only one or two teahouses were obtainable. He knew that finding out the information he wanted was the main thing at the moment.
He had no idea if he would have any time to walk alone through Alycante in the coming days, so tonight he had to investigate everything. As soon as he reached the closed teahouse, he knocked and entered. He wanted nothing special, just a way to the place where the Infeys lived. And he got it.
Surprisingly, the inn wasn't at all far from the one his group was sleeping in, so he didn't walk for a long time. He didn't hesitate and went inside.
"Good evening," he stopped at the counter, "You're lucky tonight, you just met someone who will give you a nice money for a small service." Nielle stated, pulling out a pouch.
"White-haired Rinselan," the guy raised his eyebrows and laughed lightly, "Which of the princes are you?" he asked, "Actually, it doesn't matter, I know none of you can afford a room here with you luck," he didn't accept the money.
"I don't want a room," Nielle added, "I heard that a couple of guests stayed here. I want to contact them. One of them is a good-looking smiling young man, long black hair, golden eyes, the other is red haired, blue eyes, more unpleasant, they are dressed quite expensively and their luck is certainly interesting. You know who I'm talking about. I want you to contact them, let them know that I came and give this letter to them." he gave the man a neatly bound envelope with a note for the pair of Infeys.
The guy hesitated for a moment, took the pouch of money, looked inside and nodded, "Anything else?"
"No," Nielle said, looking at the counter with a pile of papers, "what is it?" he took one and started reading.
"There's a three-day tournament being organized to celebrate Miss Zoye's birthday, this year's winnings are exceptional," said the guy.
Nielle read with interest before taking the paper, "Interesting," he said and walked out.
He didn't know how credible the stuff in the paper was, but if the winnings were real, he was sure the Infeys would be staying in Alycante for a while. And although he wasn't usually interested, Nielle had a feeling it wouldn't hurt to win some of those prizes this year just in case.
Anyway, the first game was tomorrow and although there was still a chance to get into it, he wasn't going to force anything. The main current issue was the upcoming curfew. Nielle didn't feel like being on the streets when they were filled with patrols who would lock him up in local dungeons he didn't control. That's why he moved to the teahouse, where he was able to spend the night.
Nielle didn't like the local laws, but he had no way to change them. The soldiers who came with them to Alycante slept in the carriages outside the city, since spending the night in the carriages was like spending the night outside.
Nielle literally ran into the teahouse when he heard the first patrols in the streets. He walked to the back of the teahouse, behind the counter where no one was waiting anymore and moved upstairs where some employees were sleeping. He didn't require anyone to greet him, but one of the guys, who knew he was still coming, was waiting upstairs.
"Your Highness, I wish you a good night," he said, handing Nielle a lantern.
Nielle nodded, took it and walked to the back room where no one else was. As soon as he closed the door behind him, he sat down on the bed and took a deep breath. He didn't understand how Brelle could live with the fact that he was dependent on Lacrisan goodness.
Nielle couldn't live with the fact that his freedom depended on a Lacrisan, never mind Iuwine, taking pity on him and letting him sleep in an inn. It was more advantageous to secure one's own roads.
And although his influence in Alycante was weak, it was enough to equip the tea room and Nielle didn't require more. He lay down on the prepared bed and put the paper on the table next to it. There was a lot of work waiting for him in the coming days and Nielle was curious how the whole trip would turn out.
And he wasn't the only one, because not only him, but also the rest of the princes, the Lacrisans and the Infeys, were waiting for a lot of action that they couldn't yet imagine. And some didn't even want to.