â€œYou shouldnâ€™t lie to me, madam. We both know, or at least I do, that you donâ€™t just get here by accident. No. It was the man you were with before.â€ He gave her a sparkling grin. It was all the more dangerous because it wasnâ€™t faked. â€œOh yes maâ€™am, I did watch you come in. I had rather thought he would be with you. Itâ€™s him I was looking for, not really youâ€¦ Would you like to go back to the path? I think it would be far easier for our mutual friend to find us there.â€ He entirely ignored the questions she asked him, hoping she wouldnâ€™t push the point. Draki didnâ€™t think she really cared too much about the answers anyway. She didnâ€™t seem afraid of him, only wary so far.<br/><br/>That was good. He didnâ€™t want her to be afraid of him, not yet. If he did, he wouldnâ€™t be going through all this trouble to seem harmless.<br/><br/>The horn sounded in the wilds again, far closer this time. There was no more barking, but the faint sounds of excited voices rose and fell in steady cadence. There was laughter and finally a hush. After, there were the sounds of shouted goodbyes and the baying of a few hounds as the party broke down and went their separate ways.<br/><br/>Boy and dog trotted ahead of two mounted men, the dog casting about as if for a scent. The slight conversation to be had was mainly between the silver horse and the mounted king.<br/><br/>â€œBran makes a good stag. He outpaced us for eight moons this time,â€ intoned the silver courser that carried Kalab.<br/><br/>â€œAnd heâ€™s only gotten better. But weâ€™ll figure him out soon,â€ was Gwendynâ€™s response.<br/><br/>Kalab finally did interject. â€œI was glad to catch you at the end of your hunt. This matter is quite urgent.â€<br/><br/>â€œYouâ€™re always in a hurry, Kalab. How long has it been since you were last here? Now youâ€™re in a rush to leave again.â€<br/><br/>â€œItâ€™s only been three years Gwendyn.â€ Despite the detached recognition of the fact, Kalab appeared annoyed. It would have taken someone infinitely more familiar with him than the Unseelie King to notice it, however.<br/><br/>â€œThree years,â€ the snake eyed king laughed. â€œDo not speak to me in years. You spend too long in the human world and ones such as you and your sister are not meant to.â€<br/><br/>â€œThat is why this matter is both urgent and delicate. Ruxtan has led Nehmahati astray.â€ The boy cringed, turning, open mouthed to begin defending himself. Neither paid him any mind. â€œI would like to reclaim her company before anyone else from your court or the Queenâ€™s makes a bigger mistake. I will not and cannot allow either her or you to keep Nehmahati. And none of us can afford to pay the price of an attempt to do so,â€ Kalab stated in no uncertain terms, disliking the need to repeat himself but knowing that the sidhe king would not at all remember the first time heâ€™d said much the same. â€œâ€¦Wait.â€<br/><br/>It was there, very close. Kalab would know the feel of Nehmahati anywhere, now that she wasnâ€™t trying to hide herself. Their approach had been silent, save for the short discussion, but even then they had spoken softly, not disturbing the natural rhythm with undue noise. But along with his dear heart, there was a manâ€™s voice.<br/><br/>â€œTheyâ€™re at the holy table?â€ The word holy was said with some mocking disgust by Gwendyn, and he peered curiously at the boy, silently asking why they would be there.