an unfortunate change in genre

Part 29

Bud Illis was feeling just a touch awkward.

He was the mercenary king and he'd been through quite a few high profile and tense negotiations in his lifetime.

He wasn't the sort of person to be intimidated by someone just because of their status. Reasonably and logically cautious, but Bud wouldn't be able to achieve success or be happy with himself if he wasn't at least a bit brazen in the face of authority.

He wasn't dumb enough to make an enemy out of a powerful foe but he wasn't too scared to do so either.

He just couldn't quite seem to understand why, when he was doing everything he could to respectfully place all of his cards on the table and come forward in good faith, why was the crown prince of the Roan Kingdom giving him such a hostile vibe?

That was bothersome too. Bud could practically smell the hostility but Alberu's face was an absolute mask of a calm collected man welcoming a beneficial relationship.

Seriously. What had he ever done to agitate the prince so much?

–

"You know." The Crown Prince of the Roan Kingdom had a tone to his voice that unnerved Cale quite a bit. "I've been thinking."

Never a good sign. Cale generally advised against it.

It was a rare moment with just the pair of them. Cale was going to be traveling back to the Henituse territory soon and even sooner than that, he ought to return to the Henituse villa in the capital.

He'd overstayed his welcome at the palace by enough time to make it uncomfortable. Not by choice, mind you, everyone had been absolutely adamant against moving him until they were sure all of his injuries had really healed and then there was the whole ordeal with what level of protection they had to keep him at and just all sorts of obnoxious decisions that Cale Henituse wasn't allowed to make a single peep about because apparently, saving a crowd prince's life meant that everyone around you started to doubt your critical thinking skills. Including the very same prince.

It was a bizarre experience.

It was also a bit inconvenient because Cale actually had things to do. He'd already missed a planned meeting with a potential ally by a few days now. Although, considering the public nature of his injuries, he was pretty sure that his tardiness would be excused.

Cale refocused as Alberu continued whatever he was hedging at.

"A few years ago, you said you'd share a secret with me if I revealed my biggest secret." Alberu had his annoyingly calculating expression on his face, tapping the place where his necklace was hidden beneath his clothes. "I think it's fair to ask you to make good on that promise."

Cale frowned. He remembered making that dumb deal, sure in the knowledge that Alberu would never ever reveal anything to him at all.

"...does it really count if I already knew?" Cale asked, huffing and looking away stubbornly. It felt a bit like a cheat for Alberu to bring it up now while he was a captive audience.

Alberu's smile was just a bit unnerving when Cale glanced in his direction. "Of course. After all, I'm pretty sure I know a great deal of your secrets anyway and I would never discount your bravery just because it's something I already know."

There was a barb to his words.

Aside from that, since when had Alberu known any of his secrets? Nerves spiked through his veins as he tried very, very hard not to freak out at the prospect of Alberu having figured out, well, any of the things that he'd like to keep concealed from him.