Magnes leaned forward, his brown eyes soft with sympathy. “Aren’t we a fine pair?” he said. “The God of Misfortune must have seen us together and decided we were both worthy of his gentle ministrations.”
“I’ve told you my sad tale, now it’s your turn,” Ashinji prompted.
The story of how Magnes’ father cruelly separated him from the girl he loved caused Ashinji’s heart to ache for his friend. Both he and Gran listened intently as Magnes spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
“When my father told me how he’d arranged for Livie to marry another man, I just…I just lost all reason,” he said. “I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but when I came back to myself, I saw my father lying on the floor…dead. He had fallen and had hit his head on the edge of the fireplace mantle.” Magnes swallowed hard and fell silent.
No one spoke for several heartbeats. Finally, Ashinji asked, “Are you certain your father is dead, Magnes? Maybe he had just fallen senseless from his head injury.”
“I’m quite certain. No one, not even a man as strong as my father, could have survived such a wound.”
“It was an accident. No one would have doubted you.”
“I was afraid, Ashinji. I lost all sense, and when that happens, a man is liable to do anything. I chose to run. Not a day goes by that I don’t regret my impulsive decision, but it’s too late now. Accident or no, I’m still responsible for my father’s death.”
Gran patted Magnes on the knee. “You’re a good, kind man, Tilo. I’ve watched you, seen how well you handle the sick and injured. I say you’ve done enough penance. You should think about going home.”
“I can’t, Gran. There’s nothing left for me there. Besides,” he paused for a moment, then said, “I quite like my life here. I’ve managed to find some peace… a little contentment. It suits me more than the life I was born to assume.”
“I agree with Gran, Magnes. When I told your sister we knew each other, she reacted to your name not with hostility, but rather with sadness and confusion. I didn’t understand at the time, but now I do. She only wants to know what became of you.”
“No. I appreciate what you’re saying, but no. Thessalina will be able to petition the empress to grant her the title of Duchess in another year. She will make a far better leader than I ever would. She has already proven that. I want her to have control of Amsara.”
“You could always step aside. Why not release your sister from her grief?” Gran said.
Magnes shook his head, mouth set in a hard line. Ashinji sensed that he felt in no mood to be pushed any further.
Instead, Ashinji changed the subject. “Well, you may not want to go home, but I do.” He pointed to Gran and then to himself. “In fact, we both must return to Alasiri, and soon.”
“Of course. You have a wife and child waiting for you,” Magnes replied. “But how will you do it? You’re slaves in enemy hands. You’re elves in a country of humans, which makes it impossible for you to fade into the general population should you manage to get out of this yard. And if you’re caught, it might well mean your deaths.”
“We know that,” Gran said. “That’s why we need all the help we can get. An accomplice on the inside, and one on the outside.”
“We understand the risk you’d be taking, and neither of us would blame you for refusing, but you are the only human in all of Darguinia we can trust.” Ashinji studied his friend’s face and saw no hesitation.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Magnes said. “You saved my dear cousin’s life. You gave her love and happiness, two things she desperately needed, and for that I will be forever grateful.”
“Thank you, my friend,” Ashinji said. The two young men clasped hands.
The brassy voice of a gong signaling the turn of the hour shattered the late afternoon stillness. Combatants who had participated in the day’s final matches would return from the arena soon, be they alive and unhurt, wounded, or dead. The wounded would require Magnes’ services, and if he had many injuries to tend, he would stay into the night, taking his evening meal in the barracks.
The three of them stood up, Gran massaging the small of her back as if it pained her.
“We’ll discuss this further when I come back in a few days. In the meantime, I’ll try to come up with some ideas on how we might do this,” Magnes promised. “You mentioned needing an inside accomplice. Do you have someone in mind?”
A gust of wind, full of the scent of rain, blew across the yard and ruffled Magnes’ dark curls. Overhead, gray clouds piled up, further dimming the light of the dying sun.
A large black shape moved toward them from the end of the yard where Mistress de Guera’s home stood.
“We do,” Ashinji replied. “And here he comes.”
“Good evening, Aruk-cho,” Magnes called out.
The akuta swung to a stop, tail swishing. He folded his heavily muscled arms across his chest and inclined his head in greeting. “I am glad you are still here, Brother Tilo,” he said. “The mistress is having one of her sick headaches and needs more of your special remedy. She has run out.”
“I’ll bring it to her straightaway,” Magnes replied. He turned to Ashinji and Gran. “I’ll see you both later.” He hurried after Aruk-cho, who had already started back toward the house.
“You never did have Tilo tend to your arm,” Gran commented.
“Huh, so I didn’t,” Ashinji acknowledged. “Truthfully, I was so astonished to see him that I forgot all about it.” He looked down at the long cut on his forearm, which began to throb with pain, despite having been totally quiescent for the past hour.
Ashinji sucked in his breath. “Ai, Goddess, that hurts.”
“I have some salve in my kit. Wait here.” Gran disappeared inside the women’s barracks.
A few of the female slaves drifted past, on their way to the bath house. One of them, a tall redhead, flashed a brief, come hither smile as she sashayed by. Ashinji acknowledged her with a small wave. Her name was Leeta, and ever since she had arrived some three months back, she had been conducting a relentless campaign to seduce him.
It had been a very long winter in many ways. Ashinji had never been the sexual adventurer that Sadaiyo had been, but he always had access to willing partners when he wanted one. He and Jelena had been blessed with compatibility in the marriage bed, as well as out of it. This was, by far, the longest time in his life that he had gone without-made especially difficult when a female, even a human one, made it abundantly clear she desired him.
Leeta abruptly changed course and strolled to where Ashinji stood waiting for Gran to return. He steeled himself for the inevitable pass.
“Ashi,” Leeta purred as she stepped in close and draped her arms around his neck. She smelled of sweat, leather, and the unique scent of human female.
“Leeta,” he groaned, attempting to avoid her questing mouth and only partly succeeding. He wrapped his fingers around her forearms and tried to pry them loose.
Goddess, she’s strong…and attractive…and I’m not made of stone!
He sighed and gave up.
Leeta’s smile flashed full of mischief and lust. “Come help me get all my parts clean,” she murmured. “I know how much you like clean.” She pressed her pelvis hard against his.
If Leeta shared the common prejudices against his people with the majority of Soldarans, she never let on.
“As inviting as that sounds, you know I can’t,” Ashinji replied. Against his will, his body began to respond to hers.
Leeta rolled her blue eyes skyward. “Ashi, that little wife of yours is never going to know!”