Politics
Elaaron irIlketh, archprince …
Over the rim of his winecup, Elaaron let his gaze skim over the gathered diners. Faces spoke to him more succinctly than words, provided he silenced his intellect and listened to his intuition. He looked for responses hidden in the pitch of conversations, the quick arch of an eyebrow, and the twist of a mouth. Tonight, it was the physicians who netted his attention. People trusted them and followed their example; he needed to contain the souring worm of dissent.
Hamal’s wife Cari was either unaware or unable to contain her own swift glances. With each mouthful of food or sip of wine, her gaze flicked toward the royal table, not—Elaaron observed—to drink in the sight of her archprince, resplendent in silks and velvet, but to feed on the spectacle o
