Mabel's gaze lingered on the human king long after the conversation softened again.
The candlelight reflected faintly across the sharp lines of his face while servants moved quietly around the dining hall.
She noticed how he did not speak like men preparing for war. Rather, he spoke like a one preparing history.
That unsettled her.
Mabel lifted her wine slowly toward her lips before pausing halfway.
Something finally clicked inside her mind.
Her eyes moved carefully around the dining chamber again.
She watched the servants pouring wine, the servants replacing silverware, and the servants standing silently beside the walls.
All of them were black.
Mabel's brows furrowed faintly.
At first she thought it coincidence.
Her eyes settled briefly on the young servant standing nearest the doorway.
The girl looked barely older than sixteen and again, she had dark skin. Also with tired eyes, and beautiful in a quiet sort of way.
Mabel leaned back slightly into her chair, thinking.
