Page 41 of The Shadows Between Us
On the one hand, I think I just impressed the council. On the other, I’m no closer to getting Kallias to spend more time with me. Perhaps at least my little bit of wisdom will get me invited to future meetings?
That’s probably far too much to hope for.
Still, I’ll need to wait and see how it plays out, and I have other problems to deal with.
After searching everywhere for Rhouben, a servant finally directs me to one of the billiards rooms in the palace. Ladies don’t usually enter gaming rooms, but I’m not about to let that stop me.
He’s of course accompanied by Leandros and Petros.
“Alessandra!” Leandros exclaims. “You’ve sought me out twice in one day. You really are a terrible tease.”
“I haven’t sought you out at all. I’ll remind you I was looking for the king earlier. And now, I’m actually here to see Rhouben.”
“He’s taken, my lady. You really do like to set your sights on the unattainable, don’t you?”
“Not at all, though that does seem to be your strategy.”
Petros laughs as he applies chalk to his billiards stick. “She’s got you there.”
“Why do you need to see me?” Rhouben asks as he leans over the table, sizing up the cue ball and its intended trajectory.
“I have an unwanted suitor I want to get rid of.”
“Ouch,” Petros says on Leandros’s behalf.
I roll my eyes. “I’m of course speaking of Myron Calligaris.”
“I thought it was Eliades who was giving you trouble,” Leandros states.
“Him too. Actually, my plan should rid me of both of them.”
Rhouben hits the cue ball, and a series of clacks results as other colored balls bounce off one another.
“I’m the wrong person to come to,” he says as he stands. “If I knew how to get rid of unwanted attention, I wouldn’t be engaged to Melita. But my father has threatened me with disinheritance if I don’t comply with his wishes.”
“Just tell the king about these fops,” Petros says to me. “A threat from the most powerful man in the world is sure to get them to back off.”
I absolutely cannot do that. If Kallias confronts Myron, then Myron will run his mouth.
“I hope to do this without involving Kallias,” I say. “I don’t need him fighting my battles for me.”
“Want me to challenge him to a duel?” Leandros asks, as he bends over the billiards table for his turn. “This Myron fellow can’t seek your favor if he has a sword stuck in his gut.”
“I don’t need you fighting my battles, either,” I say.
“Thenyouchallenge him to a duel,” Leandros says, a smile in his eyes. He rises from his move, and the play goes to Petros.
“I battle with my mind. Not weapons. Which is why I’m here. I need Rhouben to help me put a plan into action.”
“I think we just discussed how abysmal I am at getting rid ofunwanted attention,” Rhouben says. “The only thing that works with Melita is hiding, like I’m doing now.”
“What if I told you I have a plan to free you from Melita?”
Rhouben straightens so quickly I hear his back crack. “Are you serious?”
“Very.”
“What do you need? Name it and it’s yours.” He can barely get the words out fast enough.
