Page 59 of Lhora
“The same.” She tilted her head to the side. “Speaking of, how did you manage to overcome me and get me out of there without being seen?”
The other side of his mouth lifted. “I’ll let you know when I feel I can trust you.”
Lhora made a rude sound, then chuckled.
The coach slowed, letting them know they were nearing the manse. When it stopped, she opened the door and got out before the soldier could dismount to help her. “You can leave the coach here,” she told the man. He nodded, taking a stance.
Once Duren climbed out, she led him through the gate. “Look familiar?” she asked with a smile.
“Yeah. I remember that statue.” He pointed to the small figurine near one of the fountains. “And that way is to the room where I and my companion are bunked.”
Lhora smiled. “Come with me.”
She turned in the opposite direction and took a small stone pathway to another side of the manse. The soldier trailed behind, remaining a respectful distance from the two of them. When they entered through the rear door, another soldier started to greet her when he saw the Coltrosstian. Immediately, he went for his sword, but Lhora stopped him.
“I am armed and he is not.”
The man checked. Reassured, he resumed his stance, but his eyes never left them as she continued down the corridor.
She noticed Duren studying the interior as they continued. Arriving at the double doors to her rooms, she paused to address the soldier who’d been with her the entire time. “Arste, have Mehost relieve you. Then inform the Gur on duty that a fresh guard needs to take Mehost’s station. If he challenges you, tell him I ordered it, and he’s welcome to check with me. Thank you for accompanying me during this mission.”
The guard bobbed his head. “I’ll wait until you’re secure inside first.”
Smiling, Lhora opened the doors and ushered Duren inside.
The Sarpen gaped at the expansive interior. “All this for the highest-ranking officer to the Esstika?”
She strode over to the doorway leading into the bath. “Take your time showering. It may take a while before a clean set of clothes is delivered. Would you care for something to eat? I can have someone from the kitchen bring us a bite.”
Duren shook his head as he pulled his tattered and stained shirt over his head. “If I eat anything this late, it’ll keep me up. Thank you, but no. However, something to drink would be nice.”
“How about some meliss?”
“Meliss?” His face brightened. “It’s been a long time since I last tasted any. Yes, I’d like that.”
Lhora waved a hand at him. “Go get cleaned.”
He vanished into the bath, and presently she heard the sound of water running. Removing her weapons belt, instead of laying it next to the bed as she usually did, she placed it on the small table by the door. For safety’s sake, she unclipped the dagger and slid it underneath the bedding, where it could easily be reached in case of an emergency. That done, she got out the carafe of meliss and two glasses from the cupboard next to the wardrobe, and set them on the small table underneath one of the tall windows.
She was debating whether to join Duren in his bath, and had already stripped naked, when there came a loud knock on her door a few minutes later. Grabbing her robe from where she’d tossed it over the dressing screen, she drew it on as she went to answer it. “Who’s there?” she demanded before unlocking it.
“Gur Birek.”
Lhora grimaced. The few times she’d been confronted by the man in the past had been contentious. The man was fiercely loyal to her mother, but for some reason he and her just didn’t get along. She opened the portal wide enough to identify the man. “Are you the duty master this shift?”
“Yes, Esstiss. I was informed by one of my men that you arbitrarily changed his status and one of my other soldiers without notifying me first.” The man was incensed, and she didn’t need to read him to recognize it.
“The fact that you’re here tells me youwereinformed of the switch,” she coolly replied.
The man was taken aback, but only for a moment. “Why wasn’t I notified first? It was done without my permission.”
“Since when do I need your permission to change the guards?”
Anger flared in his eyes as he fought to keep his temper in check. “I would appreciate it if in the future you’d go over any changes you wanted made with me first.”
“I’ll keep that request in mind. Oh, and on your way back, notify the maids that I need a fresh set of men’s clothing delivered by morning,” she ordered, knowing he’d be angered more by being given a servant’s errand. Wanting this conversation to end, she closed the door and set the lock. Turning around, she stopped dead in her tracks.
Duren stood in the doorway to the lav, a towel draped over his shoulder and his genitals. The look on his face was both accusing and outraged.
