“I have never seen you before,” he said in a lilting accent and sounding as if he disapproved of his inability to know absolutely everyone. “My name is Lyanner Phiran at your service.” He bowed, putting one perfectly polished hoof in front of the other and one hand on his chest, while the other one made a flourish.
I blinked at his gallantry. I had never been greeted in such a manner, and I couldn’t argue that it was flattering. And his name… it sounded familiar.
“I am Daniella Sunder,” I offered in return.
“What is a human doing in Imbermore? It’s not unusual to see one of your kind in Elyndell, but here, so far north, it’s nearly a novelty.”
I had no idea how to answer his question. Luckily, at that moment, Cylea appeared accompanied by Silver, which meant Kryn and Arabis must be with Kalyll now.
“Drakeansoul!” she exclaimed and laid two kisses on him, one on either cheek, her sapphire gown sparkling like the ocean under a brilliant sun.
Drakeansoul?I thought for a moment, then remembered. This was the dragon trainer Cylea had so excitedly talked about.
“Darling, so good to see you,” Lyanner said, turning to face her. I noticed his silver hoop earrings and matching eyeshadow for the first time. The male had flair. There was no doubt about it.
Silver and Lyanner greeted each other with a slight bow and a fist on their chests, formal and distant.
“I heard your troop was here,” the satyr said. “And Adanorin.” He looked around as if he expected to see Kalyll walking behind his friends.
“Kalyll is indisposed,” Cylea said. “We’ve traveled long and hard, and he’s had little rest. Royal duties.”
It wasn’t all a lie.
“I see you’ve met Dani.” Cylea smiled in my direction.
“You mean you know this bespelling creature?”
“Yes, she’s traveling with us.”
The end of one of Lyanner’s pointed eyebrows rose even higher. “Is that so?”
“Yes, she’s an extremely talented healer. Kalyll owes her family a favor, so he’s escorting her to Fylahexter as he makes his circuit of royal visits.”
Fylahexter? That was the human settlement Jeondar had told me about. It seemed like a fair excuse for my presence here.
“Interesting.” He eyed me, his frown smoothing.
Cylea was a smooth liar. I wasn’t sure if she’d come up with this explanation earlier or on the spot, but either way, she almost had me believing that was exactly what I was doing in Elf-Hame.
“And what kind of favor could that be?” Lyanner pursed his lips.
“You’ll have to ask Kalyll about that. Not sure if he’ll tell you, though. There are secrets that not even the great Drakeansoul knows.”
Silver smirked, and Lyanner blew air through his nose as if to say there weren’t too many of those kinds of secrets.
At that moment, Jeondar cut through the crowd and exchanged formal greetings with the satyr. The former peered at the latter with narrowed eyes for a moment, then shifted his attention to me, offering me his arm.
“Come with me, Lady Sunder. My father is inquiring about you.”
I looped my arm through Jeondar’s.
Lyanner’s interest in me seemed to redouble.
“A pleasure, Drakeansoul.” Jeondar nodded once, then dragged me away.
Once we were a fair distance away, I asked, “Everything all right with… you know?”
“Yes.”