“Delvay to the front,” one of the guards bellowed from the hall and Neph stifled a snarl as he pushed his way back to the bars once more.
“This better be a summons for release,” he growled at the guard as the man regarded him through the thick iron bars.
“Watch your words, Delvay,” the guard warned as he pulled a heavy set of keys from his belt and proceeded to unlock the door. He stepped aside as the door swung open and motioned Neph through with his free hand. “Wait there till I get this door closed and then follow,” the guard ordered in crisp tones that suggested any fuss would result in injury for one of them. Apparently the man wasn’t having a good day either.
Neph nodded and snapped his mouth shut. It wasn’t often he decided to hold his tongue, but he really didn’t want a personal war with the entire prison guard. He glanced back at his fellow prisoners who were watching him with sullen eyes and let out a disgusted sigh. Perhaps one in twenty of them looked to be actual criminals. The rest were nothing more than terrified commons. Now was not the time to point out the injustice, though. It could wait until he was in a position that offered more power.
The guard turned wordlessly when the door was secured and started back down the hall at a quick pace. Neph fell into step behind him, his gaze moving from cell to cell as he walked. Most of the people seemed to be from the lower class and their poverty showed in their clothing and health. Every once in a while, though, he spotted someone dressed well with the fine blemish free skin that spoke of an easy life. They were likely the ones arrested for speaking ill of the Empress, he decided, as the guard continued up a set of stairs to the main floor of the prison.
Neph searched the room silently, looking for Jail and paused as his gaze found Dresharn in the crowd. He was easy to spot in his finely tailored black suit and well-polished boots. Neph could only imagine how the man must despise being in such a filthy place. From what he remembered of Dresharn on the Avanti campaign, though, he doubted the dragon would complain to him. He had seemed to be a very calm and rational person, which was exactly what was needed at the present, because Neph certainly wasn’t feeling rational. Dresharn nodded politely to him and turned back to the clerk to sign papers.
“You are free to go. He paid your fine,” the guard announced as he removed the manacles from Neph’s wrists and turned to return to the cells.
Neph watched him for a moment and moved closer to Dresharn with a look of curiosity. It should have been Jail that arrived for him, and the fact that Dresharn was here didn’t bode well for Merro. Of course, given Jail’s nickname, it was possible that the big Han’shy was waiting in one of the holding cells as well. “I didn’t expect to see you here,” Neph offered in greeting as Dresharn turned from the clerk to face him.
Dresharn smiled and shrugged one shoulder before motioning to the door. “I will explain it all once we are in a more fitting place. I detest the crowds in here. Too much noise and jostling for a conversation,” he replied quietly. The dragon’s low cultured voice seemed so out of place that Neph almost smiled.
“A lot has changed in the city since the last time I was here,” Neph said neutrally as they stepped out of the stuffy confines of the prison to the bright sunlit day. His gaze shifted to the massive white palace and then back to Dresharn who was taking care to keep all expression from his face.
“Indeed. There is quite a lot I should inform you of once we are comfortably back in our district. A nice tumbler of brandy and a discussion of laws. What could possibly be a better way to while away the afternoon?” Dresharn replied with a slight smile. He raised a black gloved hand and waved toward one of the coaches before glancing back at Neph. “I apologize for taking so long to respond to your difficulties, but I was at the palace when Victory brought the word to Merro’s district.”
“May I ask where Jail is?” Neph spoke quietly and watched Dresharn for any hint of trouble.
The dragon turned to look at him, but his dark glasses concealed any emotion that his eyes might have revealed. “There were matters that needed to be addressed at the palace, and Jail remained behind to finish with them. He will be in Merro shortly I’m sure. He was quite curious as to what brought you to Sanctuary,” Dresharn answered with a faint smile and motioned toward the coach as it rolled to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.
Neph nodded in understanding and headed silently for the coach. It was obvious that Dresharn wasn’t willing to speak of anything important in their current surroundings. By the way the man was acting and his vague responses, it was as if he thought they were being spied on, which Neph supposed was very possible. It seemed far too convenient to him that someone as powerful as Victory Faydwer was posted at a menial assignment such as the security check. Most likely the Fionaveir had several of their powerful members positioned all over the city in the event that someone such as he appeared. Most Elder Blood were far more subtle than he was, though, so spying would be the only option to discover their intentions.