Page 25 of The Shadows Between Us
Nevertheless, I should be involved in this. The nobles who were robbed will be paying taxes tomein the future. If Kallias doesn’t solve this problem, it will become mine.
But how does one catch a thief who doesn’t retain his finds? That makes it far more difficult to track them down. I will have to think on this. It is a situation that must be handled carefully.
ANOTHER LETTER ARRIVES SHORTLY THEREAFTER, again from Kallias. He invites me to join him for dinner. Naturally, I accept.
However, I decide to keep him waiting. I don’t want him to think me too eager.
After fifteen minutes pass by, I join the servant waiting outside my rooms. He escorts me to the library once more.
When I enter, a large furry mass darts for me. Demodocus comes to a halt mere inches away. When he sees that he has my full attention, he flops onto the floor, belly up.
“I’m so glad you’re happy to see me,” I say as I lift one foot to rub his belly.
Kallias, who stood at my entrance, says, “You kept him waiting. Belly rubs are the price you must pay.”
“Forgive me, Demodocus,” I say, as I rub my foot into longer strokes. The dog’s eyes lull back into his skull. “I was working on something and didn’t want to leave it unfinished. Are we even now?”
I dare to raise my leg, and the dog rolls over and runs for Kallias’s feet before plopping down in front of him, panting.
Kallias waits for me to sit before picking up his silverware and digging in.
Our supper has already been served. Tonight it’s chicken legs dripping in a brown gravy, peeled vegetables sprinkled with salt, breadsticks dribbled with butter and honey, and chocolate éclairs for dessert, if I’m not mistaken.
“I took the liberty of arranging the first course for you,” he says, indicating the éclair before me. “I suggest you hurry, however, so the rest of the food doesn’t grow cold.”
If he’s irritated by my lateness, he doesn’t show any sign of it. Perhaps it’s only my imagination that the shadows are moving about him more swiftly.
I dip my finger into the whipped cream atop the éclair and bring it to my lips. Forgoing a fork, I grab the delicate pastry in one hand and bite into it. Chocolate fills my mouth. I think to compliment Kallias on his chef, but I’m brought short by the look on his face.
“Something wrong?” I ask, knowing full well he was distracted by the sensual way in which I sampled my food.
He clears his throat and ignores the question. “What were you working on?”
“The first piece of a new outfit,” I say, thinking back to yesterday’s sewing project. “I’m trying out a new style of my own design.”
“Another scandalous piece, I hope?”
I grin. “I hardly see how my pieces are considered scandalous. All my skin is covered up.” More or less. “Not an ankle or wrist to be seen.”
He chews slowly on a bite of chicken as his eyes land on my wrist. “I noticed. Is that for my sake? Or do you prefer to keep your hands covered?”
I look at his own gloved hands. “I certainly don’t mind gloves. They are a fun accessory to any outfit. But since the law forbids us to touch, it seemed wise for me to keep wearing them when we will be spending quite a lot of time together.”
“How very self-preserving of you.”
His expression is unreadable. I can’t tell if he’s toying with me or something else.
Out of curiosity, I ask, “Would you kill me? If I were to touch you?”
He keeps his eyes on me as he takes a swallow from his glass. “Why should you ever need to touch me?”
“It’s not uncommon for friends to touch. Handshakes. Hugs. Playful shoves when one says something irritable. Surely you’ve had friends before? Leandros said you two used to be close.”
He doesn’t answer, turning his gaze to his food. But I am not to be dismissed so easily.
“Surely you didn’t need to push your friends away after you became king? You can’t suspect them of killing your parents, can you?”
“Until my parents’ murderer is rooted out, I trust no one.”
