Ren took a seat at the centre table next to Thais. From across the gardens, Ren caught a glimpse of Berin, and the look of surprise and worry on the man's face almost made Ren feel a sting of guilt. Berin was one of the best men he knew, and he didn't deserve King Callun's wrath for letting Ren slip past his guards. Maybe Ren could talk to the king about it later.

As the remaining courtiers and guests settled themselves at the table, King Halvard gestured for the slave to be brought out.

At Halvard's other side sat his daughter, Princess Evalyne. Leaning forward, Ren assessed her. Hellic might be pleased to find that she was unusually beautiful. She sat with her head bowed and looked at her empty plate, her fiery hair falling in soft waves over one shoulder.

On the other side of Thais, the centre seats that belonged to Hellic and King Callun remained glaringly empty, so Keelan positioned himself behind Ren's chair instead.

Leaning back in his seat, Ren couldn't help a slight feeling of unease. It wasn't like Hellic and the king to leave such important guests waiting.

“Keelan,” Ren said softly over his shoulder. “Will you get someone to go check on my brother and the king? The meal is about to start.”

Keelan nodded and disappeared into the castle behind them, and Ren turned his attention back to the stage.

From beneath one of the arches that led to the courtyard came the prisoner, Anik, flanked by a pair of guards. He was unchained, and in his hands were three knives. Ren raised his eyebrows. Despite Anik being a Lowlander, the king didn't seem overly concerned about the slave wielding so many sharp weapons. More than likely, they'd been dulled, but a thrown knife could still take an eye.

The entire crowd went silent as Anik took centre stage. He was still shirtless and barefoot, although the tattered trousers he'd worn in the cell had been replaced by plain black ones.

Ren glanced at the guests seated at the horseshoe-shaped arrangement of tables around him. Some of them regarded Anik with the same displeasure you would a ham left too long in the summer heat. Others, to Ren's surprise, looked in his direction with frowns and tight lips as if they blamed him for bringing a pet pig to a fine dinner. Ren narrowed his eyes at them. He wasn't the one who had made the suggestion to have the prisoner perform. A petty part of him hoped the sight of the unwashed Lowlander would make them lose their appetites.