-Raven-
Cole had expressed interest in attending one of our parties, so we organized one for him. I had mentioned this to my father, who saw it as an excellent opportunity to win the prince’s favor. For what purpose exactly, I was still unsure, but I hoped to get some clarification from him tonight—perhaps over a drink.
My attention quickly shifted, however, when Cole emerged from Dimar’s tent. He had rested for most of the day and still looked a bit worn, but he seemed significantly improved. I approached him with a cup of ale.
He accepted the drink with a smile, and that smile did something strange to me—something I tried not to dwell on. The sun was nearly set, and a large bonfire blazed at the center of the festivities. Music filled the air, people danced, chatted, and sampled food
