Excerpts from the The Courtesan Prince

copyright Lynda Williams

DI MON

"I do not play games with my honor," Di Mon told D'Ander, declining the peerage address with finality. "Prince H'Us is my ally."

"Only to uphold a corrupt Ava," D'Ander insisted, "and resist the stale threat of a Nesak war."

"Stale?" Di Mon flared, and had to rein back his temper. "Only someone who did not fight in the last one could say that."

The Demish prince bristled. "Silver Hearth refused to let me because my mother was a Golden! Besides," D'Ander made a tangible effort to sound worldly wise, "the Nersallians can be trusted to contain the Nesaks."

Unless, Di Mon thought sourly, they join them.

"You asked me to meet with you in the name of your self-styled devotion to Ameron," Di Mon reminded D'Ander. "I have agreed. But I told you I would do so only if Prince H'Us was also present. To my surprise, he agreed to take part. We will, therefore, wait to hear whatever--"

D'Ander reached out and yanked back the hood of the servant attending him. The face revealed was a young man's, attractive, and the color of tea with milk in it. Di Mon was speechless.

"I bring you proof the Reetions are in Killing Reach, again," proclaimed D'Ander.

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