Page 92

Harok leans close. In Ambolk, he says, “You want me to take you as hard as your brother is planning to take his own kush?” He nods at Lukas and Elric.

Lukas breaks away from Elric to look at them and laughs. “I know what kush means.”

“I know what it all means,” Elric says and whispers in Lukas’s ear.

Lukas’s grin slides wider. “Give me one more cup of this ale and I will take this desperate Lordling screaming my name on the table before you all.” He lifts his cup.

“You will not,” says Suki. “I do not need to see my little brother sinning in front of me.”

“Nor do I,” says Damon.

33

LYR

Lyr eats the last spoonful of his stew. He feels strange, like the markings all over his back are humming with readiness. As if they can feel it coming.

He leans over to Damon and whispers, “Can he do it now? Does he need to rest longer?”

Damon stands and walks over to Jemel. Lyr follows. Jemel holds a half eaten bowl of stew in a limp, pale hand. Lyr had noticed he had not taken much. He would not be surprised to learn Jemel has only eaten a few spoonfuls of the broth.

“Jemel,” Damon says. “Are you recovered?”

Jemel pauses for a moment before he says. “I can read the runes now.”

Lyr notices he did not answer the question and wonders what he thought Damon was asking.

Beside Jemel, Xan says something in Plumian. Jemel says something back tersely then looks up at them. “He thinks I should rest more. I disagree. I have been waiting many years to read The Books of Alios.” He stands, not looking at Xan who glowers behind him.

“Very well,” says Damon. “How can we assist you?”

“Uh,” Jemel steps towards Lyr, “if I could just look and see the script.”

Lyr turns around, drops his cloak and lifts the chiton.

Jemel leans closer, inspecting the runes.

Lyr’s head is spinning. These words, he will finally know what they mean. The Books of Alios. Why she put them there. He feels a quick touch of Jemel’s cool, light fingertips on his back.

Jemel straightens and repositions Lyr’s chiton. “I will need a private room, good light, parchment, ink, someone who can write well and perhaps some more of that tea.”

“I can write,” says Elric. Lyr is surprised to see he has wandered over to join them, he seemed to be aware of little but Lukas. “And I know a little Ur-Ambolk.”

“That could be useful, thank you,” says Jemel.

“Are you sure?” Lyr says to Elric. “You don’t want to stay with Lukas?”

Elric turns to where Lukas is still sprawled on the chair they had been sharing. He looks quite tired. “You’d better not run off again, Bastard,” Elric shouts at him.

With a slow smile, Lukas gets to his feet. He comes swaggering over and slides an arm around Elric’s waist. “Not from this.” He runs his hook down Elric’s side. “I’ll never run from this.” He presses his lips close to Elric’s temple, but his voice is quite audible. “Perhaps I ought to find some rope for when you are done.”

Lyr turns away, as Xan says something behind Jemel in Plumian. Jemel says something back.

They speak back and forth in Plumian for a moment, before Jemel says, “He is coming too. He will hold the lamp for me.”

With this all agreed they leave the receiving room to find a private chamber.

Lyr looks back over his shoulder as they go.