Nightfall: Book Two of the Chronicles of Arden Read Free Page B

choke.” Tarquin snorted a laugh as he eyed Gib’s deplorable behavior. “I’m not going to save you if you do.”
    “Sorry,” Gib apologized between mouthfuls of potatoes. “I’m late for the council meeting—”
    “Oh, right. I guess I’d forgotten that, too. I suppose this means a friendly sparring match later is out of the question, eh?”
    Gib nodded solemnly and let out a defeated sigh. “Koal warned that the meeting might go on all afternoon.”
    “Nothing bad I hope. My father didn’t seem worried when I saw him earlier today.” Tarquin drummed his fingers on the table. “Though he tends not to worry about much of anything of substance.”
    “The usual, I’m sure,” Gib replied, stabbing his fork into a slice of meat. “Privileged, old men attempting to make decisions for those who are allowed no opinion or voice on the matters most concerning to them.”
    Tarquin barked a laugh. “You sound just like the seneschal.”
    Gib couldn’t help but smile, forced as it may be. “I know. I guess that’s what happens when I’ve spent an entire year shadowing him.” He took a gluttonous bite, sure that he must look like some kind of starving animal. “All right. I really have to go. Pick up my tray for me?”
    Tarquin waved Gib away. “Yeah, yeah. You’re welcome. Have fun at the meeting. Try not to get yourself into trouble, okay?”
    “Thanks, Quin. I’ll do my best.”
    As he crossed the dining hall once more, Gib risked a glance toward Cal. His younger brother was engaging the other students, and judging by the boisterous laughter rising from the table, it seemed they were getting along. Gib made the decision not to disturb them and left the room without drawing any attention to himself. He hoped the councilors would be in as high of spirits as the children but knew that was likely wishful thinking.
 
     
    Gib ushered himself silently to his seat. Most of the other understudies were present already, but Gib was relieved to see he wasn’t the last to arrive. Nevertheless, Hasain Radek, eldest son and understudy of the King, turned to give Gib a wry smile. His dark eyes danced as he stuck his nose in the air. “Oh, there you are. We were beginning to think you’d lost yourself somewhere.”
    “We?” Gib grunted as he sat down, making sure he could see out over the rail of the balcony. “Who’s we? Did you manage to make a friend?”
    “No. Hasain is terrible at making friends. Being family, I have no choice but to endure his company.”
    Gib leaned so far from his seat he nearly tumbled, but it was worth it to see another familiar face. “Diddy! What are you doing here?”
    Prince Didier Adelwijn, who sat on the far side of Hasain, broke into a gushing smile. “Father has finally convinced Mother that I’m old enough to sit in on the meetings.” He stiffened in his seat and lowered his already hushed voice. “It was high time. Being sixteen and having never attended a council meeting was simply embarrassing.”
    Gib chuckled. It was true. He and Diddy were the same age. As a prince, Diddy should have had many more responsibilities than he’d been afforded thus far. His mother, Queen Dahlia Adelwijn, hesitated due to the scare two years ago when an assassin had attempted to kill King Rishi. Diddy had been whisked out of his classes and away from public events along with his younger siblings. While it was understandable for a mother to want to protect her children, it had become somewhat of a running joke through the palace halls that the next generation of Radek rulers was going to be coddled forever.
    Hasain gave them each a pointed look. “Lower your voices. The councilors keep looking up here.”
    Gib rolled his eyes. He’d noticed but was disinclined to give the men below the satisfaction of cowering in his seat. Just a few short years ago, he’d have recoiled and begged pardon, but those days were long gone. Gib wasn’t as fresh as he’d been when he’d arrived in