I'm snippeting from A Dance of Water and Air again this weekend, but I've skipped ahead a little. Arden has been asked by his sister the queen to show Edmund around and acquaint him with Aither's court. Here they are meeting to go for a ride in the area surrounding the castle.
“Prince Edmund, good afternoon,” Arden said with a polite smile. Not warm or familiar, but welcoming, for which Edmund was glad, even if the welcome was only because of Edmund’s title and purpose and not himself.
He returned the smile, putting as much friendliness as he could into it without being impolite, and held out a hand to Arden. “Good afternoon, Prince Arden. Thank you for taking the time for me today.”
Arden blinked quickly but took Edmund’s hand with long fingers tipped in nails painted silver, a fashion that had never quite caught on at the Thalassa court. His grip was firm before his hand slipped away.