The Bloodbaths | Page 8

He took her hand under the water. Public affection in a bathhouse was
frowned upon, for the comfort of all, but it was unthinkable for him to
sit by her unclothed splendor without touching her.
She squeezed his hand back. "Crixus," she warned.
"I know, I know. We're just holding hands." He allowed his shoulder to
brush hers. "You look lovely."
"And clean."
"I was instructed not to mention that."
An eyebrow raised. "Really? By who?"
"Gavri thinks she is my older sister, obligated to lecture me."
"She's right, you know. But I give you permission to tell me when I'm
dirty."
"You won't have to get dirty for much longer."
"What do you mean?"
Crixus shrugged. Kharrina nudged him. "Crixus, stop it. What do you
mean by that?"
"Just that I have some plans." He felt he was blundering forward in a
forest, bumping into trees, but the incredulous look on her face pleased
him. "I should say no more."
"You're terrible, letting me wonder." She bussed his cheek and
whispered in his ear: "What do I have to do to wrest this secret out of
you?"
It was too much. Crixus pulled on his robe before the effect she had on

him was evident to the entire room. "You can have dinner with me, my
plum." He offered a hand and helped her out of the pool. "And you can
interrogate me further."
"I'll ply you with drink," she said, toweling off. "You'll see spirits then,
you skeptic."
* * *
Caparelle's Garden owned a fishing boat whose sole charge was to
provide the bulk of the menu. Thus diners at Caparelle's knew the fish
on the end of their fork had been swimming in peace through the seas
just hours ago. Farms beyond the surrounding hills provided fresh
onions, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, and leeks, served with a broth over
hard bread, topped with whitefish. After climbing those hills all day for
the sake of rich old fools, Crixus wolfed down his food. Kharrina
reached over to pat his stomach before he could get the waitress'
attention to order a second helping of fish.
"You're turning into a bear," she said. "Will you settle for fruit?"
He winced. "Fruit? Bears prefer honey or meat."
Kharrina wrinkled her eyes at him. The way her eyelids bunched
around her eyes won his heart every time, as if he had been waiting for
the sun to rise. "Blackberries. I'll eat them with you."
"We'll forage for berries, then." On her second pass, he caught the
waitress and asked for a bowl of blackberries in cream sauce.
"No sauce," Kharrina called to the woman's retreating back. She turned
to wink at Kharrina.
"I can't win," Crixus said, palms in the air.
"You will if you learn to listen to me."
Kharrina scooped up the mixed vegetables in a crust of bread and
chomped down. The daughters of tradesmen lacked the social niceties

of the elite, who bandied about as if the physical world was undignified.
The lower classes, awash in squalor, made no attempt at manners.
Tradespeople like Crixus straddled both worlds, although this particular
meal did not lend itself to dainty eating. Caramelized onions fell from
Kharrina's mouth back onto the plate.
The red wine they drank came from Greater Rond's vineyards, a special
treat that Crixus insisted on. He wanted to show Kharrina the
refinements the capital city offered. As much as Restia had charmed
him, one day he would bring her back to Greater Rond. Yet watching
her gnaw through crusty bread, sopping up sauce with the spongy
portion, he wondered if she would become one of the pampered
trophies that accompanied the Guild masters to their annual balls. In his
eyes, Kharrina's beauty took strength from the joy she derived from her
life in Restia, whether she was up to her elbows in ink or running
barefoot on the beach. Robbed of that vitality, left to live with the
memory of it, emptiness would follow. Restia might be the best home
for them after all, ambition be damned.
The blackberries arrived without cream sauce, but it wasn't needed.
Their sweet tang screwed his face up and gave Kharrina giggling fits.
She snaked a hand across the table to sneak a berry.
"One more day together," she mused.
"Two more nights," he said. She grinned back. "Tomorrow I have one
remaining client to visit. A landowner, Ser Cadmis. All he appears to
do is purchase buildings."
Kharrina nodded. "Father prints leasing papers for him. He owns a
dozen apartment buildings scattered around town."
"Have you met him?"
She shook her head. "Only his secretary. I doubt Cadmis has even seen
the leases. It must be nice to have other people earn your money for
you."

"Well, you take business