“That’s enough.” Murdoch grasped my shoulders and turned me toward Cathis.
“It’s early yet.” Lleu fell in step beside me. “I wonder if the kitchen is open.”
“When is it ever closed?” Murdoch kept a hand between my shoulder blades.
“The doors are open, yeah, but what’s the point in going when Cook is abed and all the food is cold?” He smacked his lips. “I’ve had my fill of greasy meats and stale bread. If the difference of an hour is the difference between crackling, juicy varanus steaks and piping-hot custards, then I would rather let my stomach gnaw on itself for a while longer and have my reward in the end.”
“Always thinking with your gut.” Murdoch sounded amused.
Lleu patted his stomach. “A male can only think with one of two organs…”
I raised my voice. “I would rather not know how that thought ends.”
“Your clan isn’t another of those saving-yourself-for-marriage types, is it?” Lleu gagged.
His dig was aimed at Mana. Salticidae prized virginity as a gift meant for the marriage bed. My clan honored no such chastity vows.
“Yes,” I lied in a solemn tone. “I’m afraid so.”
“Sorry for your loss.” Lleu scratched behind his ear. “Lots of that going around these days.”
I don’t know what made me seek out Murdoch’s face. Perhaps it was the tension in his hand where it pressed against my back, or the way his thumb was making tiny circles across my spine.
I suppose I expected him to call me out and say he didn’t believe me. When he kept silent, I flinched away from his wordless reprimand. I had wasted his time. He thought I had lied to him.
Without proof, I had no means of redeeming myself in his eyes. So when we entered the city and the guards cast Murdoch questioning glances, I did my best to appear cowed, as if he had me well in hand. I figured they were less likely to stop us or question him if I used my best behavior.
Once we entered the Tower Square and Murdoch led me to our room, I was twice as hurt to be shuffled over the threshold and to have the door shut on my heels. The males stayed outside to do whatever males did when left alone in dark hallways. After a minute, Lleu slipped inside and dropped into Murdoch’s chair. He crossed his legs and reclined with his hands linked on his gut.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Deep down, I dreaded his answer.
“Murdoch has some business to attend to.” He shut his eyes. “He’ll be back soon.”
“I thought I was his priority.” Had that changed? Was tonight’s failed hunt the cause?
“Like him that well, do you?” Lleu grinned. “I told him you had a soft spot for him.”
“I have no soft spots.” Not anymore.
“Huh.” He cracked his eyes open. “I expected you to rattle off nonsense about how you’re as good as maven, that you’re betrothed and how dare I imply you’d sully yourself with the likes of Murdoch.” His lids drifted closed. “Vaughn mentioned your reluctance to wed Hishima. What he didn’t say was that you’re so set against Hishima you don’t even use your position as leverage.”
“I have no leverage.” While in Cathis, Hishima would pretend. He would curry favor and he would beguile others. Not me. Never again. I knew his tricks too well to fall for them once more.
“It seems to me you don’t have much, then.” Lleu’s forehead puckered.
“Lleu?”
“Hmm?”
“What’s that sound?” I stepped nearer to the window, but his thick arm shot out, crushing me against his side. I wheezed as he loosened his grip, but still tiny gold dots flashed in my eyes.
He cocked his head to one side, blinking sleep from his eyes. “It’s the herald.”
“Herald?” I struggled to free myself from Lleu, without success. “What news do they have?”
Groaning, he lurched to his feet, careful to keep himself between me and the window. “Why don’t we head down and find out? With all your nattering, I can’t sleep as it is.” He stretched. “If we hurry, we might catch Cook as she sets out breakfast. Ah, that Adeline cooks a hearty meal.”
“Will the paladin and maven receive the herald?” I wondered if I might visit with Mana.
“Depends.” Lleu paused with a hand on the door. “Murdoch might intercept him.”
“Will Murdoch tell Vaughn about last night?” I dreaded Mana learning of my folly.
Lleu snorted. “He sent the paladin word before we left.”
“Of course he did.” Had I really thought he would risk me without Vaughn’s approval?
“It was his neck if you escaped.” Lleu nudged open my door. “Can you blame him?”
“No.” If I had been tasked with guarding me, I would have taken precautions as well.
Lleu blocked my way, his gaze sweeping me from head to toe. “Are you changing?”
I plucked at my shirt. It was the same I wore yesterday. “Mana only gave me this outfit.”
“I have a shirt you can use. The pants will have to do.” Lleu ushered me ahead of him. “You can ask the maven for clothes if we see her. If she doesn’t have what you need, she can order it.”
“Can I return to the bathing room?” It wasn’t far. “She keeps stacks of work clothes there.”
He crossed the hall and thumped on the door opposite Murdoch’s. “My room’s here.” He hit his stomach with the flat of his hand. “My empty stomach’s here.” He squinted into the distance. “The maven’s rooms are down the opposite hallway.” He groaned. “Won’t a shirt of mine do?”
“Fine.” I refused to enter his room. Sharing space with one male was scandalous enough.
He reemerged with a black shirt made of coarse silk. Wrinkles made it impossible to sort the top from bottom, but when I lifted it to my nose, it smelled clean. Back to Murdoch’s bedroom I went to change from one crimped garment to another. Lleu’s shirt hung so long on me the tail hit my shins. I used the wide belt Mana gave me to cinch in the waist. The sleeves were long, a rare choice for southland fashion. Those I rolled until I lost feeling in my fingers. The cuffs hit below my elbows. It would have to do. After combing a hand through my hair, I spun a single thread from my fingertip and bound the sleek length in a casual twist atop my head. Without a mirror, I had to let familiar tasks guide my hands and trust the outcome would be as neat as habit should make them.
When I rejoined Lleu, he was counting softly under his breath.
I shut the door behind me. “How long did I have left?”
“I figured even you couldn’t damage yourself inside of five minutes. You had one left.”
I conceded he was right. Five minutes was ambitious, even for me. “Are you wearing that?”
“Day-old shirt and grass-stained pants?” A smirk twisted his lips. “I make this look good.”
“I’m sure there are females who would agree.” He did possess a certain rugged charm.
“You should confer with them.” Lleu scratched his beard. “They have excellent taste.”
With a sigh, I edged past him. “You would think so.”
“You would too if I hadn’t busted your lip when we first met.”
“I had forgotten that.” My lips were so cracked and dried, one more pain failed to register.
“Give me permission to tend your wound, and I swear you won’t forget me again.”
He delivered his line with brows wiggling and mouth pursing for a kiss I would never grant.
“You’re a strange male, Lleu of the Mimetidae.” The likes of which I had never known.
“I’m strange?” He chortled. “This comes from a female who chops off heads with a spade.”
“That fact hasn’t hindered your flirting,” I pointed out with a sugar-sweet grin.
He returned it twofold. “Perhaps you are right and that’s what attracts me to you.”
“Or perhaps I’m the only female within two days’ ride that you haven’t yet plied with sweet nothings.” My observation had merit. I could tell by the way L
leu’s ears burned a startling shade of red. “Now if you don’t mind, I would like breakfast. Then I would like to speak to my friend.”
Head down, Lleu trudged toward the kitchen, and I followed him. Anxiety dispelled all other emotions. Hunger was forgotten. Humiliation was buried under the husks of a thousand previous failures. All I wanted was to corral the herald and discover whether he rode in fresh from Titania.
And if he did, I would sop up every tidbit he offered until my stomach burst with his news.
Chapter 6
Smells greeted us in the kitchen that made Lleu groan lustily next to my ear. He directed me to a narrow table set with dishes intended to be the breakfast spread for the maven and paladin, I bet. From those plates, Lleu picked a slice of fruit here, a thigh of lepus there, until Cook noticed and swatted the back of his hand with her wooden spoon. He made her no apologies, just winked.
She jabbed his chest with the handle. “Hands. Off. The. Food.”
“You can’t mean this tender rump roast?” He goosed her bottom, and she squealed.
“You keep your hand to yourself.” She fanned her reddened face. “It’s not proper.”
He traced the ample cleavage spilling over her thin blouse’s immodest neckline. “What is propriety but a song and dance for the highborn? Who has time for that? Not me. I prefer to grab what I want.” He slapped her arse, and she jumped. “And what I want is on the plate behind you.”
“You’re a tease, you are.” She pouted. “It’s been days since I saw you outside the kitchen.”
He hooked his thumb toward a shady pantry. “What needs doing can be done here.”
Worrying her lip with her teeth, she nodded. “I do need help reaching a tin on the top shelf.”
Lleu stretched, his fingertips brushing the bottom of a rustic chandelier. His light touch set it rocking. Hot wax dripped from the candles onto Adeline’s plumped breasts. Her shriek sounded less offended than mine would have been. Lleu bent his head and blew cool air to ease the sting.
He removed the wax flakes with his teeth, spitting them on the tile. “Tops are my specialty.”
“I bet they are.” I rolled my eyes.
Adeline narrowed her eyes at me while trilling at Lleu, “Where did you just come from?”
I answered truthfully, “His room.”
Scarlet swept over her until all her exposed skin flushed as red as her wax burns. “Is that so?”
His hands shot up to block the first swing of her spoon. “It’s not what you think.”
“It never is with you.” Shaking with anger, she turned on me, rapping my knuckles hard as I leapt out of her reach. “That’ll teach you. Keep your greedy, male-thieving hands to yourself.”
The knife from her cutting board was in my hand and held at her throat before it registered I had lifted it. “The next time you dish out a petty punishment, make very certain you can take it.”
Adeline whimpered.
“Give me that.” Lleu plucked the knife from my hand. “Cook meant you no harm.”
“Trust me when I say that as a female, I know exactly what she meant to do.” Stake a claim on Lleu, as if I would argue against their illicit forays to the pantry. “Adeline won’t try it again.”
At her name, the cook trembled. “W-who are you?”
“Kaidi,” I said, daring Lleu to complete Murdoch’s usual introduction.
“Best stay out of her way.” He reached for Cook, who shied from him. “She’ll leave soon.”
Less than a week and I would be home. Shivers coasted down my arms at the thought.
“Where is the herald?” I asked whoever could answer.
“I showed him to the dining hall.” Adeline stared at the floor. “Murdoch’s there now.”
Silly how a single comment made up my mind for me. “Lleu? Can you take me there?”
He postured for Adeline, who missed his frank invitation.
“Might as well,” he growled. “You’ve already ruined breakfast.”
“Was that what you meant when you said you were hungry?”
“Sex before eggs.” He tapped my noggin. “Remember what I said about two organs?”
“I have tried in earnest to forget.” Male logic was often too warped for my understanding.
“Know this—you cost me a rare opportunity.” He glanced back at the kitchen. “She may not forgive me this. She’s hot-tempered, yeah, but it’s what I like about her. You crushed her spirit.”
“Take me to Murdoch.” I patted his arm. “Then you can return to Adeline and make her the same offer you made me. Tend to her wounded pride, and she won’t soon forget your kindness.”
“You think so?” He fell in step with me as we wended our way to the dining hall.
“I saw no stepping stool.” I smothered a laugh. “I bet she still needs help reaching that tin.”
The bounce returned to his step. “Well, tops are my specialty.”
We found the door to the dining hall propped open. Murdoch was deep in conversation with a male I assumed was the herald based on his pristine, all-black attire and the scroll in his hands.
“I do have one question before you go.” I savored Lleu’s wary expression.
“Go on.”
I squinted up at him. “How long did you practice that chandelier trick to perfect your aim?”
Mischief lit his eyes. “About as long as you’ve practiced with your spade, I’d wager.”
“Does it always work in your favor?” Were females here so susceptible to his charm?
“No.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Once I tipped too soon and spilled hot wax on the top of a serving girl’s head. Poor thing cried for hours while those clumps were combed out.”
“Wait.” I touched his arm before he turned. “How do you know?”
He lifted my hand and kissed it. “Who do you think offered to do the combing?”
“Get on with you.” I shoved him. “Before someone else tends Cook’s ills.”
“Gladly.” He leaned into the room. “Sorry to interrupt, but can you watch Kaidi?”
Murdoch held up a hand to silence the herald. “Do you have a more important task?”
“Aye.” His eyes met mine. “I left a job undone, and that was cruel of me.”
I was impressed that we managed to keep straight faces. “It’s true. He did and it was.”
“I don’t trust your smiles.” Murdoch indicated a chair near him.
“I’m not smiling.” My mouth was set, and I was certain I must look somber.
“You can smile with your eyes as well as your lips. Either spells trouble for me.” Pointing at Lleu, he said, “You are not to be left alone with her. Whatever she managed to do since I left you two alone made you grinning co-conspirators. I can’t risk your judgment being clouded around a female the paladin values so highly. You’ll have to think with an organ higher than your stomach if you’re around this one. She’ll slice your throat and be gone before the blood hits your collar.”
If I needed confirmation of Murdoch’s anger, he had given it to me in spades.
“Lleu has done nothing wrong.” Except be kind to me. “We shared a joke. That’s all.”
“I know him well, Kaidi, and I don’t doubt his noble intentions.” Murdoch sighed. “But your silver tongue might convince him to aid you in what appears to be an innocent way, but is not.”
“I am not so easily blinded by the twirl of a pretty skirt,” Lleu protested.
Murdoch folded his arms and tapped his foot, waiting.
“Fine. There was the one time, but honestly,” Lleu spluttered, “who hides a knife there?”
“Attend your business.” Murdoch dismissed him. “Let Bram cover your watch tonight.”
“Suit yourself.” The set of Lleu’s jaw told me this was what had quashed all hope of a deep and meaningful friendship between them. One male chafed beneath the tight control of the other.
“Get in and sit down.” Murdoch patted the same chair for m
e. “Shut the door behind you.”
“Are the maven and paladin not coming down then?” So much for requesting fresh clothes.
“It depends.” His frown cut deeper the closer I came. “Why do you ask?”
“I had hoped to speak with Mana.” Let him make of that what he would.
He reached out, slid a hand down the arm of my borrowed shirt. “Where did you get this?”
“Lleu loaned it to me.” I swatted his hand. “I had only the one clean outfit.”
“I’ll see that’s remedied.” He rubbed the fabric so hard I feared he might wear a hole in it.
“Sir?” The herald cleared his throat. “Shall we continue this later?”
“No, Floyd.” Murdoch clasped the slender male’s shoulder. “She can hear the rest.”
Ears perked, I took my seat and turned my attention toward the herald.
“As I said, Paladin Hishima is quite interested in Paladin Vaughn’s offer of cooperation. He has accepted the invitation to Cathis. He will adjust his plans and should arrive within two days.”
“Two days.” The sharpness of my tone made him wince.
“Paladin Hishima was out on a hunt when I caught up to him. He’s very near the border their clan shares with ours. He wished only to bathe and properly groom before continuing to Cathis.”
“A hunt?” I laughed. “What does he know of bows or swords or traps? Nothing.”
There was but one animal he hunted, and she sat at the Mimetidae paladin’s table.
“Kaidi, that’s enough.” Murdoch’s hand on my arm was a warning. To the herald he said, “I will make Paladin Vaughn aware that his guest intends to arrive much sooner than he expected.”
The herald passed over his scroll. “What message do you have for Paladin Hishima?”
“I’m a simple guardsman.” Murdoch traced his finger over the herald’s ornate scroll. “I lack the flowery words that Paladin Vaughn would no doubt prefer to pass on to Paladin Hishima in a time like this, when such pleasantries oil the hinges of a gate they want open between our clans.”
“Should I wait for the paladin to rouse?” Floyd offered.
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