Chapter 214: Heart In Darkness
“They swore aloud together—out of sheer fright, I believe—then pretending not to know anything of my existence, turned back to the station. The sun was low; and leaning forward side by side, they seemed to be tugging painfully uphill their two ridiculous shadows of unequal length, that trailed behind them slowly over the tall grass without bending a single blade.
-Joseph Conrad, Heart Of Darkness (2nd Era, 1899)
The black figure took the lead, and the rest of its followers formed a wall, cutting off the line of sight for Colin and Erec from the rest of the party. All Erec could do was raise an eyebrow and sip deep of his cup. It tasted like candy, and the alcohol within burned up and heated him more.
Not that he needed the heat; the four people now looming over him were enough to get the heart pumping and the blood stirring.
He wasn’t sure whether or not he wanted it to devolve into a fight. Part of him wanted to start trading fists; another part knew it would ruin the night. The two wrestled within, the emotions and desires rolling over and entwining in his heart, so let fate decide then how it would end; Erec was content with either. No matter what, though, at least this would be more interesting than drinking and dancing.
The ball was in their court.
“You’re blocking my view. Do you know who I am?” Colin asked with a scoff.
“Colin Nitidus, of the Duchy Nitidus, one of our retainers and a servant to the crown, and thus a servant to me.” Soren’s voice came from the dark costume; as always, it was flat as he said it. Matter of fact. Completely at odds with the fact that a prince would be in a bar in the Thirteen Cavern. Erec did a double-take and checked the man he was with.
Sure enough, the build and power radiating off them was real. These had to be an escort of Royal Guards, only, this time, they were decorated in costumes.