Tiberius typically tried to ignore the spiritual passengers of those closest to him. It seemed the most polite thing. Yet something now made Enzo’s visitor stir, a blood-shadow blur like squeezing your eyes too tight. He leaned into the hand on his neck, seeking balance if nothing else.
“I– No, I’m not.” By all rights, he probably should. Enzo wasn’t wrong about that. If this news got out, it would be terrible for his reputation. For the House too by association. Tiberius tilted his head, finding it hard to meet Enzo’s gaze. He focused on his lips instead.
“She thinks her parents will hurt the child if I try to recover the bride price. And yes, I know that sounds like she’s playing me for a fool.” He shrugged and reluctantly slipped the hand on his neck. Made a muffled, frustrated noise because there was nowhere else to go except up the stairs where they would be overheard.
“I believe that she believes it. Unless she’s a world class liar and I’ve not picked up on it, she doesn’t have anything like treachery in her.” Whatever his private thoughts on the Nicolliers, who was he to tell a mother what was and was not a danger to her young daughter? “But most of all, Enzo, I just don’t want to start over again. Especially not at a six year disadvantage. The House doesn’t have the time to wait, and I don’t have the fortitude for it.
“Anyway, we have an agreement. If she breaks it by popping out a blonde-haired, pointy-eared bastard? I will send her away then, yes.” He trudged up the stairs to put a momentary pause on the conversation. He found a basket to hold the bottles and gestured for Enzo to help him with the food.
“We should get back to work on the journals.” No one would hear them in the tower.
“I– No, I’m not.” By all rights, he probably should. Enzo wasn’t wrong about that. If this news got out, it would be terrible for his reputation. For the House too by association. Tiberius tilted his head, finding it hard to meet Enzo’s gaze. He focused on his lips instead.
“She thinks her parents will hurt the child if I try to recover the bride price. And yes, I know that sounds like she’s playing me for a fool.” He shrugged and reluctantly slipped the hand on his neck. Made a muffled, frustrated noise because there was nowhere else to go except up the stairs where they would be overheard.
“I believe that she believes it. Unless she’s a world class liar and I’ve not picked up on it, she doesn’t have anything like treachery in her.” Whatever his private thoughts on the Nicolliers, who was he to tell a mother what was and was not a danger to her young daughter? “But most of all, Enzo, I just don’t want to start over again. Especially not at a six year disadvantage. The House doesn’t have the time to wait, and I don’t have the fortitude for it.
“Anyway, we have an agreement. If she breaks it by popping out a blonde-haired, pointy-eared bastard? I will send her away then, yes.” He trudged up the stairs to put a momentary pause on the conversation. He found a basket to hold the bottles and gestured for Enzo to help him with the food.
“We should get back to work on the journals.” No one would hear them in the tower.
06-21-2024, 05:20 PM
