our ambassador. “As well as our neglect to entertain your valuable guests during the feast.”
I flushed.
Rio seemed ready to continue for the sake of hearing his own voice, but the king simply smiled and waved for him to stop.
“It is quite alright, Rio, son of Klyreida. The arrival of your friend is something our city has been awaiting for many years.” At ‘arrival’ his dark eyes turned to me. The key to the temple hung heavily on a ribbon around my neck, just next to the emerald pendant.
“Now I am compelled to ask your purposes here once more,” the king continued, his eyes turning to Levent.
“I seek entrance to the temple of Tahninym, Lord King,” Levent answered in his polite tone, bowing slightly.
“It seems that request may be permitted.” Julreus sounded as if he would rather anything other than this be true. His face seemed a little bluer than usual as he stared past me.
He then turned to me, and his face brightened significantly.
“And you, Miss Taimi? What has brought you here?”
My mouth hung open for a long moment.
“Err. I just came along with these two, I didn’t really have…” I paused. How was I to finish that sentence.
“I see,” the king smiled. “We will see what we can do for you while you are here, Miss Taimi. And now, Rio,” he muttered seriously, turning to the halfblood. “I assume your purpose is to learn a little bit about your mother.”
“Y-yes sir,” Rio answered with childlike obedience.
I looked between the king and Rio, then to the queen. Ixnia’s face had darkened with sadness, her eyes focused somewhere in the vicinity of Rio’s feet.
“Let us speak alone,” she said. “Come with me.”
She glided forward and took his hand.
I felt heaviness in my heart as I watched them leave.
“There is but one thing I will ask of you, now,” the king said seriously.
I nodded.
“Tomorrow, Miss Taimi, you will open the temple of Tahninym as foreseen by