He eyed the prince at the mention of his long night, the drinking, wondering how exactly he’d known.  The easy explanation was that his miserable state that morning had been to blame for telling, but there was always the possibility of loose lips to consider.  Kethaias decided not to comment on it.  They were having a relatively civil and enjoyable evening and he didn’t want to risk ruining it over his own paranoia.<br/><br/>After a brief stop for Ryland to change, they were off to whatever gambling house the prince chose.  That was when things could have gone sour, because Ryland started probing.  At first it was irritating, if not insulting, but the more he thought on it, and the more the prince spoke (and clarified his intentions for the line of questioning) the more Kethaias relaxed again.<br/><br/>“You are an interesting man, little prince,” he commented in a low voice, willing himself to ignore the boot entirely.  “Why would you not desire honesty in flattery, simple or not?  Vain and self-centered as you can be, you apparently know the worth of your appearance.”<br/><br/>He let his gaze slide over the shadowy form sitting there, so smug and self-assured.<br/><br/>“I need not construct some lie to explain my reasoning in a more pleasing way, nor do I think doing so would benefit either of us.  You spoke true before.  I could have settled my attention on one of your siblings and found easier quarry.  Less aggravating, at least.  But I am just as spoiled as you in some ways, I suppose, and they have failed to draw my interest the way you have.  Simply put… you are one of the most beautiful creatures I have ever set eyes on, and I want you for my own.”<br/><br/>He paused there, the sound of horse hooves against cobblestone all there was to eat up the silence.  But he wasn’t uneasy.  Kethaias was nothing but at ease as his hand moved to gently rest along the ankle of the boot that had just moments ago teased him.  He wanted to reach higher, to slide that hand up until he could grip at Ryland’s thigh.  It took some amount of effort to keep himself still.<br/><br/>“I doubt you will have difficulty believing the truth in that.”