A Blackbird In Darkness (Book 2) (58 page)

‘I suppose I am a fairly typical example of my race, sir,’ she replied with a smile.

‘What’s this, a sense of humour?’

‘If you prefer your servants humourless, your Grace, I will oblige at once,’ she answered, looking unwaveringly at him as if she were his equal. She was dark-haired and fair-skinned; not pretty, but something more than that. Her large eyes gathered light, and her smiling mouth and rounded figure radiated a very feminine charisma. He felt idly fascinated by her, as though he needed some distraction from the grave matters that occupied him. He thought again of the power that he had stirred, and felt a wave of exhilaration. Ambition. Gorethria’s rebirth.

Carried along by it, his mood suddenly light, he asked impulsively, ‘How would you like to be servant to the Emperor, Kharan?’

‘Your Grace?’ She was puzzled.

‘Oh, I don’t mean that child, Orhdrek,’ he said quietly, grinning. ‘I want you to stay with me. Well?’

He saw that the implication was not lost on her. It had been a reckless thing to say; the girl might have been a spy – but he doubted it. She lacked the haunted, insomniac look.

She stood very still beside his chair. He looked round to observe her expression, and their eyes met, hers as brown as ripe chestnuts, his ruby-brilliant. With a deliberate, graceful movement she leaned across him and slid the silver dish of fruit onto the agate table. He was enthralled by her, and she seemed to know it.

‘Actually, your Grace,’ she replied with guileless honesty, ‘I would much rather not be a servant at all.’

***

A Blackbird in Amber and A Blackbird in Twilight: available on Kindle from August 2015

For further information and to buy in print or audio:

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Immanion Press

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