“Oh, my child…” Eva shook her head sadly. “You’ve seen Kajja’s notes, by now. Your guess is as good as mine. But we’ll bring the full force of the resistance down on it, once we discover where it’s hiding. And that’s as much of a chance as we’ve ever had.”
“I’m Gregor,” said Eva’s assistant, holding out his hand to Hendrik. He had an oddly high, nasal voice that didn’t match his warm, oval face. “I’ve heard so much about you. It’s an honor.”
“It is?” Hendrik flushed, though, and took the offered hand, giving it a shake. “Of course, Brother Gregor. The honor is mine. We can use all the help we can get.”
“Speaking of…” Bartolo stepped up behind Sister Eva. “Let’s talk about that full force. What are we talking about, in terms of resources?”
The rest of the day, which was already half-gone, was taken up with endless discussions and preparations between Bartolo and Sister Eva, with everyone else relegated to spectators. Piret and Hendrik attempted to assert their place as leaders now and then, but it was clear they were no match for Eva’s will. Dagan began to think of her as the Jessica of the Stone City’s resistance quickly.
When she finally left to return to the See—Dagan still wasn’t entirely sure what a See was, apart from some sort of religious building at the center of City functions—everyone scattered throughout the building. Kajja, however, stayed at the table, drumming her fingers and flipping through notes fitfully. She was clearly not reading anything, but she was trying.
Dagan slid onto the bench beside her. “Can I help?”
Kajja shook her head. “I didn’t want Innan to come inside.”
“No,” Dagan replied. “I heard you two…?”
Kajja glanced up and stared blankly at him. “What?”
“Kissed,” Hendrik said, plopping down across the table from them. “I saw you, before we left the cave.”
Kajja flushed. “It was just for luck. I think.”
“I have known Innan since we were children. They do not kiss for luck,” Dagan said but gently, with a little smile. “I don’t remember the last time they kissed for anything, as a matter of fact.”
“They said they’d keep me in their heart,” Kajja admitted, voice gone a touch breathy. Her face was so sweet, so vividly pink in that moment, that Dagan had to resist an urge to squeeze it between his palms.
“That doesn’t sound like good luck so much as come back to me,” Hendrik said.
Kajja blinked quickly. “Really? Do you think so? I mean…I hoped so, but I didn’t dare to really, you know. Expect.”
“But it makes you nervous?” Dagan leaned his shoulder against Kajja’s slighter one.
She leaned into him with a little sigh. “No. Yes? Maybe. I’ve—I’ve never thought of someone like I think of them.”
Hen asked, “Even…what was his name? At the Red Lantern?”
“Leandro?” Kajja snorted. “He’s lovely, don’t misunderstand, but I didn’t even know him. Just his dick, mostly, by the end of the day. And his tongue. And—”
“Right,” Hen cut in, wincing. “Details not really needed, Kaj, but I take your point.”
“You go to the Lantern too?” Dagan asked, fascinated. “Is it for everyone?”
“Everyone who can afford it,” Kajja said with a little laugh. “There are cheaper sex houses, but the Lantern is famous. I mean, you met Jak. Doesn’t get much more alluring than him.”
“No, it does not.” This with great enthusiasm on Dagan’s part.
Hen rolled his eyes but only slightly.
“I thought I was going to have to marry that blooded boy, so I asked Kass and Hen to take me to the Lantern and let me learn about things first. Kass suggested Jak, but nooooo, can’t fuck the same guy my brother already had, because that’d be weird,” she waved her fingers in the air vaguely.
“It would be very weird,” Hen deadpanned.
“Yeah, I know, but Jak’s hot, so I’m always gonna be a little bitter,” Kajja reasoned.
Hen paused. Then, after a moment of apparently deep thought, he decided that was, “Fair. I didn’t take her though, technically. Well, I walked her in, but Piret and Lyla took it from there. They’re well-versed in the boys of the Lantern.”
“So everyone who can afford it patronizes the sex houses?” Dagan wondered. “Or is it a class restriction?”
“No, just money and interest. You don’t have any in the Heart Wood?” Kajja asked.
He shook his head. “Not as such. I mean, it’s not hard to find sex, and people probably do trade for it sometimes just like anything else, but…nothing formal like that, no. It’s sensible, though. Might’ve kept me out of some drama in my time.”
“So now that’s Hen’s job?” Kajja grinned. “Keeping you from sticking your dick in trouble?”
“Sort of, except I’m sticking my dick in him, which might be considered trouble,” Dagan replied, tapping his chin in mock-thoughtfulness.
Hen cut in with, “Dags, stone and fire, she doesn’t want to hear—”
Kajja waved him off, “Please, like we don’t all know what you two are up to. I mean, I personally can’t imagine it, for which I’m grateful, but honestly. I’ve had my lessons, is the point of this conversation.”
“And in your lessons did you learn how to handle the feelings that can come with sex?” Dagan asked.
Hendrik shifted uncomfortably, as if he’d rather be anywhere else all of a sudden. Dagan ignored him, though, because it was frankly delightful to talk about something other than the possible end of their worlds via undying murder-god beneath the City.
Kajja shook her head. “No. I wasn’t even thinking about feelings, honestly. That’s the downside of the sex houses, I guess; you don’t want to start having feelings there. I mean, I suppose you could, if you could afford to see the person you had feelings for a lot, or if they had feelings too and everyone was comfortable with—you know. All of it.”
Dagan nodded. “But it’s quite the opposite of you and Innan. I understand perfectly.”
