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“Great news!” Cery said. “See you then.”
She waved, then pushed one of the doors open wide enough to slip through. Cery looked from Anyi to Gol. “Let’s see if the carriage is waiting for us.”
They gri
When Achati, Da
“You have our sympathy,” one of them said. “It must be a
“Yes,” Da
Another shrugged. “It was worth it for the chance to finally attempt to do something about them, or find their base, even if it led to nothing.”
“But… surely you could not have followed the Traitors much further without them being forced to kill you,” Da
The Ashaki exchanged glances, and suddenly Da
“Well, Ashaki Achati tells me we got further into their territory than anyone has managed to go before,” he said, putting pride and admiration into his tone.
The Ashaki smiled and nodded.
“If you change your mind about retrieving your assistant, let us know,” the more talkative of them told him. “The king would not have much trouble gathering together a small army for the purpose. We are always looking for an excuse to weed them out.”
“That is good to know,” he assured them. “And much appreciated.” He turned to look at Unh. “I know he has good trackers to call upon, too.”
The tribesman inclined his head slightly, but remained expressionless. The Sachakans said nothing, then the quieter of them cleared his throat. “What do you think the Guild will do about Lord Lorkin?”
Da
The Sachakans chuckled. Then the talkative Ashaki rubbed his hands together. “We had all best be on our way, then.”
So farewells were uttered and the Sachakans rode away. Unh nodded once at Da
“Now this is better,” Achati said. “Comfort. Privacy. The promise of regular baths.”
“I’m definitely looking forward to a bath.”
“I suspect our helpers are as keen to get home, despite the fact that they didn’t get a chance to rid Sachaka of a few Traitors.”
Da
“It wasn’t for no reason,” Achati corrected. “You were obliged to search; I was obliged to help you. A young man could have been in danger. The fact that he wasn’t made our journey no less important.”
Da
“He may not have decided what he was going to do until just before he spoke to you.” Achati shrugged. “It was not a wasted trip. In fact, it has been educational, both in how Kyralians think and how you think. I made assumptions about your determination to find your assistant, for example. I thought it might… go beyond mere loyalty to a fellow magician and Kyralian.”
Da
“Lovers.” The man’s expression was serious now. He looked away. “My slave is young, good-looking and quite talented. He adores me. But it is the adoration a slave feels for a good master. I envied you your assistant.”
Unable to stop himself staring at Achati in surprise, Da
“Surely you knew this much about me.”
“Well… yes, but I’ll admit I was a bit slow to notice.”
“You were preoccupied.”
“I gather you weren’t making any great assumption about me?”
Achati shook his head. “We make sure we know everything we can about the Ambassadors the Guild sends our way. And your choice of companions isn’t exactly a secret in Imardin.”
“No,” Da
Achati sighed. “I can buy myself a companion – in fact I have done so many times. Someone beautiful. Someone well trained in pleasing a master. I might perhaps find someone intelligent and witty enough to converse with, even be lucky enough to be loved by that slave. But there is always something lacking.”
Da
The man’s mouth twisted into a lopsided smile. “Risk. Only when you know the other could easily leave you, do you appreciate when he stays. Only when it’s not easier on them to like you than not, do you appreciate it when they do.”
“An equal.”
Achati shrugged. “Or near enough. For a companion to be truly equal to me would restrict my choices too much. As the king’s envoy I am one of the most powerful men in the country, after all.”
Da
“But a servant can leave.”
“Yes.”
“Do servants make good conversation?”
“I suppose some might.”
Achati flexed his shoulders, then relaxed. “I enjoy our conversations.”
Da
“Indeed.” The other man’s eyes narrowed. “I think I’d enjoy more than just conversation with you.”
Once again, Da
He felt a shiver go down his spine. He’s younger than me, but not by many years. He’s good-looking in a Sachakan kind of way. He’s good company. He’s nice to his slaves. But oh, such a liaison would be politically dangerous!
Achati chuckled again. “I don’t expect anything of you, Ambassador Da
Da
“Not at all.” Achati gri
“I’m not sure anyone will be willing to volunteer for the position, after what happened to Lorkin.”
Achati chuckled. “You may be surprised. Some might come in the hopes of being snatched away to a secret place ruled by exotic women.”
Da