Page 40 of Bloody Business

She rolled her eyes.“I don't care.It's delicious.It goes well with this beer, too, which really surprises me.The fact that I like beer, that is.Although this doesn't taste like anything I've ever had before.”

He glanced at the white, cloudy liquid.“It's Southern flower saki.It's more of a wine.They use yeast and a fungus in the making of it, if I remember correctly.I'll stock some bottles for you.”

He glanced at In’shi, who was enjoying a mug of regular beer.She hadn't cared for the saki, but she was making inroads on the veggies.

Artur ordered more, pleased when his wife smiled at him.“I'll tell Gog you like the veggies.He knows how to make them."Artur would make sure it would be served often.

“Y-you have to come by and try my brandy.I put it up last fall.It's time to open a bottle,” In'shi said.“Y-you can come too, Artur.We’ll make it a dinner.”

Julep grinned.Artur found his gaze lingering on her mouth.His wife was a beautiful woman, even more so because she didn't realize it.

He realized he'd missed whatever she said.“Hm?What's that?”

“I said we would love to, wouldn't we?”Julep said in amusement.

“Yes I would,” he murmured lazily, and he wasn't thinking about dinner...

Artur offered his arm as they separately left the restaurant, their bodyguard trailing behind.They passed a group of jostling youths.No one came too close, but he put an arm around her protectively anyway.

It fell to her lower back as she perused a bakery and selected several buns filled with sweet cheese and jam to carry home.

By the time they reached the door to their house, he was holding her hand.

It seemed to come about naturally, but Julep was acutely aware of his warm, calloused hand.She hadn't held hands with anyone since she was a little girl, and other children didn't count.This was new.It felt tender.

She slid a glance at Artur's face and decided she liked it.She liked him.

Artist

The girl came as oftenas she could to watch the artists.They didn't mind if someone drew along with them, as long as they didn't try to market the artwork right there, in front of their booth.

Not that she was good enough to sell anything.She just loved to draw.Coming to the market was a treat she looked forward to every week.

She used the backside of letters and bits of scrap paper.Sometimes she even painted over news sheets.The paints and tools were crude, but they got the job done.

She quickly sketched a scene in homemade charcoal.The crooked stick flashed with confident strokes, laying down thick black lines.She would blend it later.

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