"Goodnight." She turned and strode down the hall, head aching with a million new thoughts and problems.
*~*~*
Iah sighed as the door closed behind them. "She's upset."
"I would imagine so," Sol replied quietly. "Your sister looks as though she carries a lot on her shoulders."
"She does," Iah whispered. "I don't know how much of it I can take back. It was never fair of me to put it all on her, but at least—well, if Beraht succeeds, the worst of her burdens will end."
Sol's arms came up around him, tugging him close. Iah clung to his tunic, comforted despite the fact that they both smelled wretched. Lips brushed his forehead, and he felt a small thrill. "Yes, but if she is going to be queen—even an idiot can see that is the prince's goal—then she will have many more. I do not think she will break. And did I not promise to help you?"
"Yes," Iah said with a smile and pulled away. It faded slightly as he recalled the help recently given. "Thank you, by the way, for helping at the stairs. It's awful thinking you know your own home only to realize you don't know it at all."
Sol stroked his cheek. "You are quick to learn. By the end of the week, you will no longer need me."
"That's not true." He pressed a quick kiss to Sol's palm then let it go. "I don't know about you, but I could use a bath."
"I certainly would not mind being clean again," Sol said with a laugh, taking Iah's hand. Iah let Sol lead him to the fireplace, strip him, and settle him into a large bathtub. He rested his head against the back of it, sighing in relief. The water was scented with something that smelled like the pine forests.
His room, on the other hand, smelled slightly stale. Iah sighed. Though he'd always returned every winter, it felt as if he'd been gone a lifetime. In a way, he did not even feel like he was home. Esta had smelled like lavender, their mother's perfume, which meant she was upset. Otherwise she would have worn lilies—or roses if she was angry with Matthias. Of course she was upset; she'd probably thought him dead.
He heard Sol moving around the room and smiled. Ever restless, Sol. He was in motion even when he held perfectly still. "There's plenty of room for two," he said, "if you want." He tried not to let his uncertainty show. Beyond the night Burkhard had died, they'd not been together. The soft kiss from a moment ago was the first display Sol had made since they'd left Kria. It only made sense, of course…
Was he only clinging to Sol because he literally had nothing else? Iah frowned at the thought. No, definitely not. He refused to think that. Surely Sol would have pointed such a thing out to him?
He heard clothes fall to the floor and felt as Sol climbed into the tub, feet toward Iah's head.
Well, that wouldn't do.
Iah moved and shifted until he could rest his head against Sol's shoulder, not caring one whit for the water that splashed onto the carpeted floor. He slid a hand across Sol's chest, feeling a pang that he would never see the man who was now his lover. At least he had some idea—and that voice. Always that voice, which had first drawn him out of the worst of the dark.
Sometimes that day seemed far away. Other times it felt as though it had happened only days ago.
An arm came up, sliding up his wet skin, almost tickling.
"I wish I wasn't so tired," Iah said. "Here we are finally alone, and I'm too exhausted to take advantage of it."
Sol's chuckle rumbled in his chest. "I was beginning to think everything a figment of my imagination. I'm glad it was not."
"Me too," Iah said. He sat up slightly, hands sliding along the edge of the tub, searching for the small shelf that would hold soap and cloths for cleaning. "Let's get rid of the smell of horse and go to bed. Maybe I can take advantage in the morning before Esta attacks us." His hands knocked against what sounded like several glass bottles, and he heard the bar of soap drop into the tub.
Sol laughed and retrieved it and proceeded to wash them both.
When they finally made it to bed, Iah thought it the softest, most splendid thing he'd ever felt. It smelled clean and not like horse or dust or cold ground. He heard Sol put out the lights and reached out as he climbed into the bed, tugging him close. His fingers sought and found Sol's face, enjoying the soft-rough feel of his skin, and leaned in to kiss him.
It was as wonderful as it had been the first time, and Iah was glad, so very happy, that he'd risked it and taken that first step. Sol tasted warm, like the summer that filled his voice. He'd had a handful of lovers in his life, and a few adventures in town, but no one had ever felt quite like this. Iah hoped he wasn't just clinging to the only person that seemed not to be bothered by his blindness.
Goddess he hoped.
Sol broke the kiss, then leaned back in for a second. Finally he pulled away, and Iah could almost feel the stubbornness in him. "Sleep," he said.
Iah started to protest, suddenly wanting very much
not
to sleep, but the protest came out as a yawn, and with a brief laugh, he conceded defeat. Settling into the blankets and against Sol, breathing in the scent of home and the man beside him, Iah allowed sleep to take him.
*~*~*
Esta glared at Iah, who had buried his face against Sol's shoulder to muffle his laughter. It could be ignored—for the moment. She turned to address Kalan and Matthias. "So
when
were we going to tell me what was going on?" No one replied, which meant they at least knew they were in trouble.
Kalan dared to speak. "As soon as we were certain—"
"Certain?" Esta repeated.
"Now they're in trouble," she heard Iah say.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't think I can't see you over there, Iah. Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I'm not prepared to smack you."
"Yes, ma'am." Iah said quickly.
Esta wasn't fooled by his contrite tone. "So what exactly is going on? Why am I housing two Salharans and a Krian?"
Matthias answered her. "The Salharans I can explain. Sol has been a spy for quite some time. Beraht—Essie, he's our Breaker."
Esta looked toward Beraht who sat quietly in a green chair in the corner. Sunlight streamed into the breakfast room from a wide window. Beraht was a fine sight when cleaned up. If she didn't know any better, she would swear he looked almost Illussor. "Don't play with me, Matthias, especially about this. I'd feel it if he was the Breaker."
"That's the arcen," Beraht said. His eyes were nearly as bright as the sunlight flooding the room. "Near as we can tell, it blocks whatever it is the Illussor can sense. Wait until it's flushed from my system in a few days." He fell silent and returned to gazing out the window.
Esta blinked furiously, fisting her hands tightly in her dress. She looked to Matthias. "Is he really, then?"
"Yes, Essie." Matthias smiled at her.
Crossing the room, Esta stooped and embraced Beraht, who froze. "I'm so glad you're here. Thank you."
"S-sure," Beraht replied, still and tense in her arms. She stood and smoothed her skirts, catching Matthias' frown in the corner of her eye. Didn't like the hug, did he? Well, served him right for keeping secrets. She beamed at Beraht. "You've no idea how much it means to have you here. Will you really help us?"
Beraht shrugged. "Why not?"
Smiling at him again, knowing Matthias was seething, Esta whirled around and planted her hands on her hips. "So the other one is the spy?"
"Sol," Iah corrected gently. "He is the reason Beraht and I are here. Without him, I would still be in a Salharan dungeon, and Beraht would be dead."
Esta nodded, then remembered Iah couldn't see the gesture. "Yes, Iah. No insult was intended." She shifted, folding her arms across her chest. "So explain the Krian."
"Dieter," Iah said again.
Esta sighed. "Dieter, then. Why is he here? Is he really
the
Wolf? Why is he not here this morning?"
"Oh, he's the Wolf all right," Beraht said, glaring out the window. "I'm sure he's just licking his wounds."
Matthias snorted. "Perhaps, unlike the rest of us, he knew to avoid the bloodshed."
"If you make one more comment," Esta said with a patient smile, "bloodshed will be the least of your concerns."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Back to the Krian."
Sol laughed softly. "Beraht is the one responsible for Dieter's presence here. It was… a fluke, I suppose. No doubt he wonders why he is not in chains."
"Should be." Esta only just heard Beraht's muttering. "The man is a menace."
"How so?" Esta asked sharply.
Sol frowned at Beraht. "You are out of line."
"At least you don't beat me for it."
"Perhaps I should."
Esta watched the exchange in silence, uncertain of the undercurrents she could feel running beneath it. "Is the Wolf going to be a problem?"
"No, he's not." Matthias spoke firmly. "Let me speak with him, though I would appreciate any support you could lend me later, Esta. Perhaps you don't think you're in charge around here, but everyone else disagrees."
"What are you scheming?"
"You're going to yell at me either way, so I think I'll just keep my silence."
Esta looked at him. "Oh, really."
"Yes, really, and there's nothing you can do about it." Matthias stood up, brushing out his dark green coat. "In fact, I think I'll go make my first move now. Kalan can stand in for me so far as punishment goes." He crossed the room and took one of Esta's hands. "We would have told you, Esta, but it was hard enough for us—we didn't want to get your hopes up too if something went wrong." He ducked his head and kissed her cheek, then fled the room.
Esta glared at his back then turned back to face the rest of the room, daring them to speak. "I suppose you must be hungry," she said. "Eat, already."
"Thank you, Queen." Kalan grinned. "I mean Duchess."
"Except you." Esta ignored his litany of protests as she helped herself and took the seat nearest Beraht's, sharing the small table between them. "So were you in the Salharan army?"
"Yes." Beraht glanced at her briefly then went back to his food, sucking on a small piece of orange melon.
"What was your rank?"
"Lieutenant," Beraht replied after a moment. "I really don't think you want to ask any more questions, Duchess."
"Esta, please." Esta nibbled for a moment on a bit of pastry smothered in honey and nuts. "I really am grateful you're willing to help us." She set the food aside. "I really never thought we'd find a Breaker—"
Beraht frowned. "Breaker, Breaker—what's so rare. I seriously doubt my father was the first one to get a little too friendly with a foreign woman."
"Probably not," Kalan interrupted, "but you're the first one we've located. If you're right about the arcen blocking your Illussor magic—"
"I don't have Illussor magic," Beraht interrupted. "You can bet if I did that bastard never would have gotten the better of me."
Esta looked at him inquisitively. "To whom are you referring?"
Beraht muttered something beneath his breath then bit down on another slice of melon hard, as if he were pretending it was something else. "The bastard who named me."
"Dieter," Iah said. "His name is Dieter."
"I'm Salharan," Beraht replied scathingly. "I know his name."
"Ah," Esta said. Her mind tumbled over what she knew of Salharan custom, which was very little. "Names are important, yes? They change with marriage and all, if I recall correctly. How did you acquire a Krian name?"
Beraht choked on one of the honey-covered pastries. "It's not important!" He looked almost desperate as he stared at her. "Please, it's trivial. Let's not ruin breakfast by discussing something so boring."
Esta looked at Iah when she heard him snickering. "What is so funny?"
"A Salharan with a Krian name," Iah said unhelpfully.
Rolling her eyes, Esta said, "Don't think your having one injury will prevent my giving you more."
Iah snickered again then wisely fell silent.
Esta nodded, frowned at Kalan for good measure, then went back to Beraht. "Would you like a tour after breakfast?" She asked, smiling as though she hadn't just been threatening her brother bodily harm.
Beraht smiled back, slowly, hesitantly, but it was a smile all the same. "Sure, Duchess. Why not?"
"Marvelous."
Matthias nodded and murmured to people as he walked, smiling at everyone who bowed or curtsied. The motions were entirely automatic, however; even his feet moved by habit more than by thought. His attention was only for his destination and how he would make his idea work.
Now that he'd thought of it, he wasn't sure what to do if it didn't work. The only wolves he'd ever seen had been dead ones. The Wolf in his palace now was something else altogether. He'd only gotten a few glances the previous night, but that was all it had taken to see why so many people feared him. Even, it was said, his own soldiers.
Matthias caught a servant as she exited the Wolf's room. "Is he there?"