Page 40 of Firebird
His tone wasn’t teasing or reprimanding. Somehow, that made it easier to get past my anxiety. I opened the tunic to help him slip his arms through, then he slid it on and walked toward the terrace without another word.
Relieved, but also knowing the image of him stepping out of that bath would haunt me later, I hurried back to the tray and carried it out to him. He was already seated, sitting up this time with his back to the outer wall of the terrace, his gaze out at the setting sun.
I sat in my usual place on a cushion opposite the low table and waited. He was tensely silent, something obviously worrying his mind. But I wasn’t his friend or his comforter, I reminded myself.
Finally, he looked at me, expression heavy, and asked, “Why didn’t you use your gift when your village was attacked?”
Surprised by the question, I straightened and decided to answer honestly. “I couldn’t.”
“Why not?”
Clearing my throat, I pushed away the remorse and regret that always laced those memories. “I didn’t know my magic well enough then. And I—”
Should I be this honest?
He stared at me with such intensity, I found myself being more truthful than was wise. “I’ve always had trouble focusing my gift when I’m afraid.”
He nodded, seeming to understand.
“When was the first time you used it in defense?”
He wasn’t simply curious. This was an earnest interrogation.
“Aren’t you hungry, dominus?” I gestured toward the food.
He gave a sharp shake of his head but poured two goblets of wineand passed one to me. Without commenting on the master serving his slave, I took it and drank deeply, remembering.
“After my family was attacked, I’d found a small town in the south of Gaul, serving in a tavern. The owner let me sleep in his storage room, and he was a kind old man. But I was a woman alone.”
When I paused and met his gaze, I noted the sudden hardness taking over his expression.
“Did someone hurt you?” he asked, a darkness seeping into his voice.
“Not exactly. A man in the tavern had offered me coin for sex. When I told him I wasn’t a prostitute, I could tell I was going to have trouble with him. He and his friends were a loud, drunken bunch. Their minds were easily pliable, and I needed to protect myself.”
I took a sip of my wine. Julian kept silent and waited.
“Using my gift, I filled them with fear and announced to his table that deathriders had been seen coming our way.” I huffed a small laugh, recalling their terrified faces. “They fled the tavern at once, screaming in panic. When a few others in the tavern stepped outside to check the skies and returned confused to find me laughing, the tavern owner asked what I’d done to those men. I didn’t answer and cleaned their table. But that was how a rumor had started that I was a witch. It helped keep unsavory men away. It also led a particular Celtic clan to come looking for me not long after.”
He reached forward and tore a piece of bread from the loaf and dipped it in the soft cheese. He seemed to be mulling this over as I set my cup on the tray.
“Is that all, dominus? I will leave you to your meal.”
“No,” he said quickly when I moved to stand. “Stay and eat with me. I have more questions.”
I was eager to check on Enid. And while I understood my role well in his home, it still sparked an angry flame when I wasn’tpermittedto leave.
“The bargain, dominus, was for one question each night. You’ve already asked two.”
He continued to eat, then asked as if he hadn’t heard me, “You claimed that they were drunk and their minds were easily molded to your will. Do you have trouble using your gift on stronger minds?”
“I will answer the rest of your questions, dominus, if you answer some of mine after.”
“Agreed,” he snapped easily.
Clasping my hands in my lap, I said, “Yes, I can have difficulty tethering with some minds.”
“You have difficulty, but can you connect with the strong-willed?”
