At that moment the door opened, but it was just Talin, carrying Edyon’s best jacket.
Edyon wiped his face. Talin must have noticed his tears but held up the jacket and said, “I think you’ll need this for tonight’s banquet, Your Highness.”
There was, of course, going to be another banquet. No misbehavior on Edyon’s part could stop the proceedings.
“I don’t want to go.” Edyon realized he sounded like a spoiled child and added, “I don’t think I’ll be required. My father . . .” But he ran out of words.
“I heard there was an incident at the tower.”
“Indeed. The incident was me being a fool, once again. I accused some lords of treason and failed to provide the proof.”
“Which is why you should go to the banquet, Your High-ness. If you don’t mind me offering my opinion, you’ll have to face them all at some point, and it’s perhaps better sooner than later.”
“I’m not sure I can face my father, and I’m not sure he’ll want me there. And I’m fairly certain Regan, Hunt, and Birtwistle won’t. I’ve messed up completely. One of the first things my father told me was to handle the lords carefully, and now I’ve set them against him. Well, against me, any-way, and him because he supported me. He believed me.”
“And you can face them or hide here.”
“Hiding sounds like the easier option.”
“Possibly it is, for now. But I think some lords will ad-mire you more if you are not scared off by the likes of Lord Regan. Not all lords are the same as those three.”
“They’ll want me to apologize, and I don’t think I can do it.”
“A prince must do what is necessary to rule. You’ll find a way. And hiding is not the way.”
Talin was right. Edyon pulled his shoulders back. “I must face my enemies.” But would he apologize? He still felt sick at the thought.
Just then there was a knock on the door. Edyon muttered, “Probably my father telling me not to come to the banquet, not to come to anything.”
But it was Byron. “Are you all right, Edyon?” he asked.
“Guess!”
Byron looked sad and concerned. “I’m sorry. I would stay with you, but I have to go straight back to your father. He sent me to get your bottle of demon smoke. And said I shouldn’t speak with you.”
Why did he want the smoke? Did Thelonius think Edyon might use it against the lords? Was Edyon now considered dangerous?
“Did he tell you anything else? About me, I mean . . . about the silver mirror?”
Byron looked a little embarrassed as he nodded. “Yes.”
“I see. Well, you’d better get back to him.”
“Yes.” And Byron left.
So that was it. Edyon had no friends left at all, and soon he’d have to face his enemies.
* * *
• • •
Edyon went to the banquet dressed in his smartest clothes, looking like a true prince, but inside he was a bundle of nerves. He dreaded what Regan, Hunt, and Birtwistle would say, but mostly he dreaded facing his father again.
The sounds from the banqueting hall swept down the corridor. The musicians were playing and the talk was lively—at least until Edyon stepped into the room. Then all eyes turned to him, and the hubbub quieted. The room was full; the meal already started. Thelonius was sitting at the head of the table, and next to him was an empty chair and a place setting.
Edyon bowed to his father.
Thelonius ignored him.
Edyon sat in the empty chair and looked down the long table. At the far end, sitting directly opposite, were Birtwistle, Regan, and Hunt. They ignored him also—no greeting, no bow. This was the point when he should apologize. Edyon cleared his throat, but no words came. Around him, talk gradually got back up to speed. Edyon looked down at his plate. A small fried fish lay there, its eye burned black. He put a forkful in his mouth. It tasted of nothing. He glanced around him, but he was being ignored by all except Byron, who was sitting halfway down the table. Byron caught Edyon’s eye and gave him a nod and a small smile.
Perhaps I still have one friend, then. One, but no more.
He leaned to his father. “I know I handled the situation badly, but I feared for your life and I had to tell you what I heard. I chose the wrong way to do it, and for that I apologize. But I acted sincerely.”