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“I’m not going to apologise,” Lukas says.
“I’m sure you are not. I would be a fool for expecting it. You are the traitor prince.”
Despite the embrace and the light words, Tobi can feel the prickling of tension. Damon’s words have an edge of sharpness.
Jemel gets shakily to his feet. Tobi hopes the tea helped. He knows his youngest brother was imprisoned and came close to execution. He is still notably weak, but he steps forward. “And I’m Jemel. The Hare. I was with you in the temple.”
“So we are all here, at last,” Lukas says.
“Indeed,” Damon says stiffly, looking to Perl, “You have what you need to kill your demon.”
“Correct,” says Perl, although he does not sound certain.
Tobi remembers his failed attempt to kill Diazuul with a lurch of his belly. “How?” Tobi says, “How do we kill him?”
It is Jemel who answers. “I translated much of the works of Batreous, and it is clear. We must do what the Five Fae Princes did as described in the Books of Alios. Which I believe you have.”
Lyr steps forward, “We do. And you will be able to read them.”
“I hope so,” Jemel says.
The big Plumian man is standing right beside Jemel. He stood when Jemel did and looks as if he does not intend to let Jemel from his sight. He says something to Damon’s warrior woman friend in Plumian and Jemel turns to him and says something angry back in the same language
The Plumian woman says, “Xan says Jemel must rest first. He must rest and eat before he does anything else.”
“I told him I don’t need him to…” Jemel stops and takes a breath. “I can do it now.”
“No,” says Damon. “Trysta’s brother is right. We should all rest first. The city is half aflame. Many streets are barricaded and letting no enforcers through. I have no doubt we are being sought, but we are as safe here as anywhere.”
“So we rest. And we eat.”
Perl rolls his eyes, “Again?”
Food is brought to the receiving chamber from the pot shop beneath. A simple stew but rich with herbs and there is plenty of ale. Kerik eats his own bowlful and then takes Perl’s who looks pale and hasn’t taken a single mouthful. Sitting across from Tobi, Trysta is speaking with Lukas. He introduces her to a dark-eyed woman, who he names as Suki, his sister, and Trysta kisses her hand, like a high born nobleman greeting a fine lady.
Umbert has climbed up on Harok’s lap and seems quite happy there.
Ferra is sleeping beside the fire. She looks as pale as Jemel. Tobi remembers her little from his time living in the Rose Palace. Was she always so weak?
“Brother Beast Tamer” Lukas says, leaning forward over his own bowl, Elric is beside him, fingers curled tight around his hook, “Do you still do your mimicry? I remember it from when we were boys."
“I do,” Tobi says back with a grin, touched that Lukas remembers. “I performed with Copperhead Circus, in Northern Azuria before I was taken into the forest.”
“I heard a lot about you in the forest,” Elric says. He is like a man transformed with Lukas beside him. “There were many tales. You had been snatched into the woods by a forest king and made to be his bride.”
Tobi looks at Harok. “I was snatched into the woods by a forest king and made to be his bride.”
Elric laughs as he glances back at Lukas, Lukas leans forward and grabs his chin, darting in to kiss him deeply. He quickly has his hook inside Elric’s shirt, the rest of the room forgotten. It will not be long before they return to their bedchamber. Tobi looks from Lukas and Elric to Damon and Lyr, Damon looks exhausted. Lyr is stroking his arm, watching him with concerned eyes.
Kerik and Perl have already left the group and found a place on a corner settle, where Kerik appears to be falling asleep in Perl’s arms.
Doroth is sitting close to them, speaking with Perl, stiff-backed and drawn. He saw his brother die this day, Tobi thinks.
Jemel sits stiffly beside the large Plumian man. They seem unhappy with each other, or, at least, Jemel seems unhappy. He has asked Damon to send the man away, but quickly retracted it. Tobi wonders why. The man is Trysta’s brother and she seems sure he is an ally.
Tobi leans his head on Harok’s shoulder. Umbert slips down and goes wandering over to his sleeping mother.
Tobi takes the chance to nestle closer. Harok’s big body is so firm and nice. It is good to feel it here and whole after the frantic battle in the temple. He squirms.
