Once more, I stood outside the estate of Arivor’s family, but this time, I fidgeted in place. I’d come here so many times before, but never, never, had I been invited.
Had I dressed appropriately? I had nothing fancier than my school uniform to wear, but I’d compensated for that lack with an unusually clean-shaven and otherwise impeccable appearance. I could, of course, do nothing to hide the injuries that I’d sustained during my recent fight, but I was fairly certain they were the reason for my invitation tonight.
When I announced my presence, a manservant escorted me inside. As he led me toward the home’s dining room, anxiety spilled up my throat, almost allowed to spew out of my mouth when I stepped into the room and saw who was sitting at the head of the table.
I folded on myself, bowing as low as possible, because the man examining me from that place of honor was Councilman Reive, the most powerful man in our city’s ruling body.
“No need for that, Eriadren,” he said with a chuckle. “Tonight, you’re our honored guest.”
I didn’t know if I believed him. Sure, Councilman Reive had implemented numerous reforms that had advanced our city and Empire, most notably our current truce with the human kingdoms, but he also kept our class system rigidly in place. He was the primary reason why my father had treated my mother and myself as pariahs when I’d been born, although the bastard’s efforts to ingratiate himself with Reive hadn’t worked. The councilman had exiled him anyway.
Did Reive know whose child I was?
Arivor’s welcoming smile beckoned me to the table despite my apprehension, and once I’d taken a seat, our meal began. So much food was passed in front of me that it made me sick. Idly, I wondered how many slummer families this dinner could feed.
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So many times, Arivor’s parents asked me to tell the story of how I’d saved their favored son, and so many times, my friend subverted my tale with an over-glorified representation of what I’d done. By the time our meal had concluded, I just wanted to go home.
Unfortunately, Councilman Reive wasn’t finished with me.
While servants cleared the last dishes from the table, he said, “Let’s speak privately, Eriadren.”
Ignoring how Arivor was excitedly bouncing in his chair, I followed the man with a heavy heart. Would this be where he told me to return to the slums, never to emerge from there again?
We ducked into a room that I’d never visited before, and for the briefest moment, my trepidation vanished. Shelves filled with books surrounded us, and I strained my eyes, seeking out a volume I had yet to read.
“Your thirst for knowledge will get you into trouble someday, you know,” Reive said. “Come, boy. Sit with me.”
An armchair was already enfolding him, and his calculating gaze followed me as I joined him in front of the hearth.
“I don’t know how you’ve earned my nephew’s friendship,” was what he started with. “I’ve sent so many noble’s brats to do the same, and all of them have failed. Honestly, I don’t care what you did to gain Arivor’s confidence, but I should warn you. I have plans for him, and if you disrupt those in any way, I’ll send you crawling back to your whore of a mother, and you’ll never leave the slums again.”
He knew who I was. He knew who I was!
I should concede to this man. Here, I should bow, but pride had ever been my downfall.
“What makes you think I’m afraid of you?” I asked in a mild tone.
“If you aren’t, then you’re not as smart as I gave you credit for,” Reive said. “Heed my warning, Eriadren. Play nice, and perhaps I’ll have a decent position for you when you graduate. Alouin knows you’ll need my help to find one.”
Bristling, I straightened in my seat, but Reive raised a hand.
“Don’t say anything, not when your temper might have you making a mistake,” he said. “I mean to rejoin my family now. In a little while, you’ll come to make your farewells and go home. There’s nothing more for you here tonight.”
Rising, he strolled to the door.
“It was nice to meet you.”
He left me trapped, not the slightest bit tempted to peruse the wealth of knowledge around me.