The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

His brows lifted. “At the time, no, but looking back now?
Yes. We always started to feel weird, like we needed to go
back home. It was something that none of us could explain.
We chalked it up to us being afraid of getting caught for
being gone too long. But now I think we were being warned
away by the magic that guards Iliseeum. It made sure we
never got too close.”
“I suppose that’s a good thing. Who knows what
would’ve happened if you all had made it to Iliseeum?”
He grinned. “Well, if our presence woke the gods, I’m
sure we would’ve won them over with our stunning
personalities.”
I laughed. “I was thinking last night that your interest in
the tunnels almost feels like divine intervention.”
“It does feel that way, doesn’t it?”
I nodded. A few moments passed, and I peeked over at
him. He was quiet as he picked through the fruit, handing
me a plump grape and then a dewy slice of melon. “I know
we have to talk. You don’t have to delay it any longer.”
“We do.” Leaning back in his chair, he dragged his teeth
over his lower lip as he continued rooting through the fruit.
“Something I didn’t go into a lot of detail on this morning
was something my father shared with me last night. Every
member of the Guards of the Crown, from here to Evaemon,
are being checked for possible involvement or knowledge of
what the others were doing.”
“Have others been discovered?” I asked.
“None believed to have been directly involved so far,”
he said as I took the strawberry he offered, and he picked
up a piece of roasted meat for himself. “But there have been
a few who suspected that something was going on with
those working with Alastir. And some expressed concern
about your presence.”
“Well that isn’t that surprising, is it?”
“Not really, but it leaves me wondering exactly how
much they truly knew of what the others planned.” His