“You know who I am then,” he said quietly.
“You told us, lad. We had to strip you, bathe you and tend your wounds. I don’t know how much you remember, but yes, you told us your name.”
His leg twitched beneath the blankets and Jeremy shot a quick glance at Royce, before turning back to Gabriel. “We know your name, and you know ours. Won’t you tell us how you came to be on the road?”
Gabriel looked down at his hands, splaying the fingers, the bruises and scabs obvious against his fair skin. “I’m an abnormality. A defective human being. I have no right to live amongst others.”
“Who the hell told you that, lad?” Royce leaned forward with a frown. “That’s utter nonsense if ever I heard it.”
“Lad,” Gabriel turned his vivid blue gaze toward Royce. “You keep calling me lad.”
“Should I not? I’m years older than you…”
Gabriel gave what might be termed a quick laugh. “I will be twenty-seven this year, Royce.”
Once again a silence descended on the room, but this time it reflected the shock on the faces of all three men around the bed.
“By God, you age well,” sputtered Jeremy, his eyes wide.
“I’d never have guessed that,” said Evan, also stunned.
“All right,” sighed Royce. “I suppose the term ‘lad’ isn’t going to work, is it?”
“No. But I expect I should thank you. I’ve been called a great many more unpleasant things.” Gabriel shrugged carefully and reached for the broth, sipping some more. He glanced at Evan. “This is very good. Very good indeed.”
Evan nodded back. “As I said, solid food tomorrow if Royce here approves.”
“So you’re of an age with the rest of us,” said Jeremy quietly. “Although yes, you look years younger, and I’m sure you’ve heard that a lot.”
Gabriel dipped his head. “I’ve heard that and a lot worse. When you look like me…unusual…people make assumptions.”
Silence fell as the men digested that statement.
Evan tilted his head to one side. “From your tone of voice, Gabriel, I’d guess that the assumptions they made were not good ones. Not for you anyway.”
“You are correct.” Gabriel looked up at him, and swallowed, a harsh sound they all heard. “My tutor was the first.”
Royce’s indrawn breath was also quite clear.“Fuck.”
Gabriel simply nodded. “Yes.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve, maybe? No wait. It was just before my twelfth birthday. So…eleven.”
“Jesus, Gabriel. That’s…unpardonable.” Jeremy’s face was taut.
The man in the bed moved slightly and then sighed. “I looked so…different. And to him I looked…well, the word he used was delicious.” He lifted an arm to wave his hand, winced and thought better of it. “Back then, I was very pale. My hair was long. If I didn’t pull it back tightly, I was often mistaken for a girl.”
“But your tutor knew better, Gabriel.” Royce’s voice was hard and cold. “He knew who and what you were.”
“He did.”
“Your parents? Family? Anyone come forward to help you?” Evan leaned his forearms on his knees.
Gabriel shook his head. “I was the third son, Evan. And I looked…odd. So I was pretty much ignored during my childhood, and my mother died just after I was born. Nobody payed much attention to me except at the times when my father thought it would be fun to show off the black sheep of the family to guests.” He shook his head. “Or white sheep, in my case. My siblings are mostly dark haired.”
“You left, I take it?” Jeremy’s hands were fists on the arms of his chair.
