The little murmur in the dining room flickered out, like the candle flame smothered between fingers. The two Halflings froze, their earlier bravado draining from their faces. Their backs stiffened. Their eyes darting in uncertainty.
"W–We'll ask one of the servants to clean it up," one of them offered quickly, her voice high and trembling at the edges. "It was only a joke, really…" She glanced at Ruelle with a strained smile. "Right, Ruelle?"
"But I wasn't." Lucian's voice didn't rise. He didn't need to. Stillness hung on him like a tailored cloak. And yet, his dark red eyes remained narrowed and unblinking. "Wasting food is rude. And wasting my time…is something far less clever."
No one in the dining room dared to move. Their backs bent low over their bowls hoping to stay out of view.
