Chapter 576

The High Lords were all seated around the table, and Lucien tried to look as if he had been listening to their idle chat as they had all waited for Helion to arrive. He had been at first, politely smiling and nodding and then smiling some more when they had decided to continue the good natured ribbing they had been giving Eris. Eris seemed to be taking it well, even blushing a little. Lucien had then tuned out when they had all begun the usual gossip of old lovers going back centuries. That was not something he particularly wanted to listen to.

Hoping that this meeting would go quickly, Lucien ran a hand through his hair, wondering where his father was. Helion had disappeared out of the dining hall after breakfast rather quickly, and Lucien's mother had gone with him. Lucien hoped that the two of them hadn't decided that they had time for some active intimacy before the rest of the day. He did not want to be picturing that at all, and he hoped that Helion would appear soon. Lucien had other things he would prefer to be doing with his time rather than scribing for the High Lords.

"There he is!" Rhys said loudly, and Lucien sat up straighter when his father came though the door.

"Sorry to keep you all." Helion said, smiling magnanimously.

"That's all right." Tarquin said, rolling his shoulders in a showy stretch. "We know who is the High Lord here, and whose schedule this Court runs to."

Flicking a glance Tarquin's way, Lucien said nothing. It wasn't uncommon for the High Lords to engage in some kind of pissing content when they all got together, and he wasn't really surprised that they would be doing it now. It had seemed like a small power move to keep everyone waiting, even though Lucien did not believe that had been Helion's intention.

"Let us get started." Helion sat down in one elegant fluid movement, gesturing toward Lucien as he did so. Understanding that to mean that Lucien was to read over the points to be discussed, he cleared his throat and did just that.

The meeting did go quickly, even though they had gone over many aspects of their project and Lucien did his duty in making note of everything. Helion had promised everyone that they would receive written copies of the notes, and then they had begun discussing the date of the next meeting and checkpoint for their responsibilities. Lucien scanned the notes as the conversation died down, and then jumped along with everyone else when the door flew open without warning.

"Queen Vassa…" Helion said, "I… do not recall inviting you to this meeting."

"That's because you didn't." Vassa said, smiling in a way that Lucien recognised as the expression she wore when trying to get her own way of something. "This is about your trade routes, is it not? I was wondering if you had considered extending into the Mortal Lands…"

"Ah…" Helion blinked, but it was Rhys who spoke.

"We have not gotten that far." The High Lord of the Night Court said. "It is enough of a task within Prythian itself for now. Perhaps, in time, we will do that."

"Ah." Vassa's eyes swept the room, moving around the table. Eventually she focused upon Lucien and her smile brightened. "If your meeting is over then, Lucien did promise me a small tour of the Palace."

"Did I?" Lucien did not remember making such an offer.

"Some of the others were shown gardens that I am yet to see…" Vassa smiled prettily, not looking away from him.

He was the Heir, Lucien knew that. It was a part of his duty as Helion's son, and as the host for this gathering to ensure that tasks like this were taken care of. It was daylight, and the gardens were public places, so he figured that it would be safe enough to do even with what Elain had told him of Vassa's comments the evening before. "Very well." He said.