Page 69 of The Shadows Between Us
His expression turns incredulous. “You’re not frightened? Of me?”
“You defended my honor. Why should I fear you?”
“Because I killed a man in front of you.”
I shrug. “You have to make tough decisions as king. You have to put down those who disobey you. Make an example of them. It’s how you maintain order. You think I don’t know that?”
“I still shouldn’t have done it in front of you.” He looks away.
“Kallias.”
His gaze focuses on me once more.
“I do not fear the decisions you have to make as a king, and I would never think lesser of you for them. I’m surprised you killed only one of them, to be honest.”
His voice lowers. “The rest will die as well, but I can’t very well do it when I’m outnumbered and when we have to rely on them for protection on the road back.”
The carriage draws to a halt in front of the palace, and Kallias jumps out. He’s barefoot, clad only in pants as the rest of his clothing was left behind in our haste. Not that it’s easy to tell. He has his shadows out in full force. Every inch of bare skin is haloed by smoky blackness.
I follow after him, and he says nothing as we tread up some stairs, down corridors, through doors. Ladies and servants startle at the sight of his bare chest and storming shadows as we pass them—until at last we find ourselves in a meeting room.
Five individuals are seated at a large table. Kallias takes the sixth seat. At the head. “Ikaros, fetch Lady Stathos a seat.”
If the rest of the council thinks anything of my presence, they say nothing. Leandros’s uncle grabs a chair from the outskirts of the room and places it at the corner of the table, next to the king.
“This masked bandit problem has gone on long enough,” Kallias says once I’m seated. “How has our plan to catch him progressed?”
I hardly think Kallias is unnerved by the loss of some food. No, it is the fact that someone stole from theking, that this bandit would dare challenge his monarch. The problem has become personal, and Kallias must deal with it immediately.
“The coins are finished,” Lady Terzi says.
“And I’ve allowed word to slip that they will be transported soon,” Lady Mangas says.
Ikaros Vasco steeples his fingers over the table. “If the bandit has been spotted so close to the palace, then surely he intends to take the bait.”
“Once he strikes and redistributes the gold, my troops will be ready to round up the peasants caught with them.” This from Kaiser.
Ampelios shifts in his seat. “And then I’ll be ready to question them. We’ll get him, sire.”
Kallias takes a few moments just to breathe, to think everything through. If any of the council members think anything of his partial nakedness or the dampness of our clothing, they wisely say nothing.
“Good,” Kallias says. “I want daily reports on how this progresses. And, Kaiser? See that all the men who accompanied us on our outing are hanged.”
THE SITTING ROOM ISabuzz with gossip the next day. I know immediately that it’s about me, as everyone goes quiet as soon as I enter the room with my latest sewing project, the top to match my high-low skirt. (I’ve decided on something formfitting and low-cut down the front.) A few ladies hurriedly pick up their embroidery and try to look busy. Others stare, but my good friends have nothing but smiles for me.
“We saved you a seat!” Rhoda says, her fingers pointing to a cushioned chair across from her.
Light conversation starts up as I take the proffered spot.
“Spill!” Hestia says when my rump barely hits the cushion.
I look to Rhoda for help.
“You were swimming with the king!” Rhoda says, and the room goes quiet, holding their breath and waiting for me to divulge the whole story.
I say, “And we werenaked.”
Hestia’s hands go to cover her mouth, while Rhoda grins with delight.
