“It almost certainly is.” But Piret smiled affectionately. Then her face went serious again, the corners of her mouth pulling down tight. “I wanted to apologize. For saying that about you and Kass.”
Hendrik had to think hard to remember. “That we were going to get into trouble?”
“I think it’s just—it’s hard sometimes, because you two work like halves of one person. And partly it’s because you’re flouting the rules, which, for the record, I don’t think should be rules, because clearly there’s no harm in it.” Piret sighed, hanging her head.
“Did you just admit that you’re wrong?” Hendrik asked, trying to lighten the mood a little. This couldn’t be easy for her. Five years ago, it never would’ve happened. But just as the Children of the Blood grew in understanding of their duty and themselves, so did their guards.
“For what it’s worth…” Hendrik shifted uncomfortably. “I’m beginning to realize there might be some harm in it. Not now but just—in the future.”
She nodded solemnly. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, too. Have you talked to the captain or Brecca?”
He shook his head. “Not in a while.”
“I talked to Brecca today,” she lowered her voice to say. “It helped. I know it’s selfish, but…he said it’s normal to miss them. It’s part of why we’re so good for them.”
Hendrik nodded, considering.
“Anyhow, I’m sure he’ll call for you soon. There’s something up with the river, and the higher-ups are worried about it. Might be more inheritances than usual on this moon.”
Hen’s blood seemed to chill, of a sudden.
“I didn’t tell you that, though,” Piret added quickly.
“No, of course not. No.” And Hen didn’t want to remember it, anyhow, so that was convenient. He shut down any thoughts on the subject quickly and efficiently. If a slight tinge of cold remained in his veins, clearly that was just early spring up high on the mountain.
She patted his arm, which felt awkward but also kind. “Anyhow, now you can stop avoiding me.”
“Actually.” He reached out and touched her shoulder as she turned to walk away.
She turned back.
“Can I ask you something strange?”
“You interest me.” She smiled again, genuine now.
“Kajja, my sister, you know? She just asked me for a favor I don’t know how to grant.”
Chapter 4: Tavern District, Stone City
“Your health!” Kass announced, holding his small stone cup aloft.
Piret and her charge Lyla followed suit. Hendrik, who had been scanning the crowd in his usual, unthinking way, realized after a moment that everyone was waiting for him and held his aloft as well.
“Down it!” And on this command, Kass led them all in gulping mouthfuls of firewater.
All but Kajja, anyhow, who sputtered at hers and looked up at them all meekly through her eyelashes.
Kass grinned and encouraged her, “Take it slow. You’ll want a little to keep the nerves down but probably not more than one.”
“Definitely not more than one,” Lyla, a short, spirited girl with clever eyes, said with a significant look. “Don’t want to dull any sensations.”
Hendrik already regretted everything about today, and it had just begun.
“We’ll bring the last cup back in a while,” he told the stall-keeper. The man waved him off, saying something about anything for the Children of the Blood, and their party continued down the well-worn cobbles. Music spilled from open doorways, since it was a fine, bright day; sex workers waved from windows, and bartenders set up shop outdoors with giant jugs of firewater to entice clients to come in. It was a heady mix of sights, sounds, and, frankly, smells for the uninitiated. Hendrik had long since forgotten that, maybe, but the way Kajja’s gaze flitted around the street, awestruck, was a powerful reminder.
“They’re just…moving out of the way for us,” she whispered into Hen’s ear at one point.
“Well, that’s partly the tabards.” Hen glanced down at his own white tower and then over at Piret’s. “Partly just the power of Kass.”
Kajja frowned. “Pretty sure it’s just you. You look like you want to slice someone in half with that thing.” She tapped at his sword hilt.
“I do not,” he protested. “I’m just doing my duty. I’m doing extra duty, too, because of you.”
“And I appreciate it sooooo much,” she sing-songed.
“Piret will take care of you,” he muttered. When Hendrik had told Piret about Kajja’s request, he had not expected Piret to offer to take her under her wing for the afternoon. He’d been even more surprised when Lyla had wanted to come along and “help” Kajja find just the right boy at the Lantern. The atmosphere around the outing was oddly aligned with the perpetual festivity of the better-off parts of the Tavern District itself, thanks to the girls and their excitement for the project.
Well, and Kass, but Kass never missed an opportunity to enjoy himself—or make sure everyone else was enjoying themselves, for that matter.
“Is it your first time in the District?” Lyla asked Kajja, distracting her, thankfully.
“I’ve been through but never stopped. Kon and Alara don’t drink anything stronger than home ale, usually, so they always claim they don’t know their way around.”
“This part is perfectly safe,” Lyla said with a little jut of her chin. “Even if we didn’t have our guards—”
“Which has never and will never happen,” Piret interrupted.
Lyla made a face, “I knew she’d say that.”
