Now he was speaking to himself more than to Finnvid. “I jumped in where I shouldn’t have, and now I’m stuck paying for and protecting a sneaking, lying, pain-in-the-ass ‘bedwarmer’ who acts like it’s the end of the world when healmostjerks himself off. When the captain finds time to talk to me, I’ll tell him what I think and he may or may not want you and your men tortured until you spill the truth. If that doesn’t happen, you’ve got roughly five months to make yourself useful at my expense. If you haven’t found a way to earn your keep by the time the snow goes, I’ll send you out on the first slave train, and you can go east and see how muchtheycare about your Elkati ideas of ‘unnatural.’”
By the sword, he’d talked himself out of his postcoital ease and into a bad mood. “So, aye, go ahead. Eat all you want to. Get yourself nice and fat, if you like, so you’ll be warm for the winter. I don’t care.”
He stepped away and scowled at the still Elkati in front of him. “And already I take back some of those words. Idocare what you do, because I’m hungry and I want to eat. You can get your clothes on and come with me to the dining hall, or you can stay here by yourself. If you’re coming with me, hurry up.”
Finnvid hurried. And Theos stared at the door, wishing he could go through it on his own, without dragging Finnvid’s turmoil along with him.
Chapter Eight
Galen wasn’t at dinner, and he wasn’t in the Sacrati hall afterward, either. Well, that was fine. Good, even. It would be easier to withdraw from whatever was happening if Theos never learned any more details.
Xeno and Andros came down for a quick drink, and as the Sacrati all inspected the healing wound on Andros’s leg, Theos let himself relax.
Yes, that was the real reason he’d pulled the Elkati out of the slave chain. Finnvid had saved Andros’s life, so Theos had repaid him with five or six months’ reprieve from his fate. That was fair. And while Finnvid was around anyway . . .
“The healer responsible for Andros’s recovery is right here,” Theos announced in a voice loud enough to carry through the room. “How many of you have little injuries that won’t heal right? Bring them to Finnvid and let him see what he can do. If he doesn’t succeed, you’ll only pay to cover his medicines, but if hedoessucceed? Well, how much would you pay to get rid of the one annoying thing that’s keeping you from being your absolute best as a warrior?”
Some of the men looked thoughtful, and Theos nodded in satisfaction. “Tell your friends,” he advised. “Common soldiers, Sacrati . . . he’s open for business, of that sort at least. We all know the Elkati like their books and their potions. Here’s our chance to take advantage of that!” He pushed Finnvid into the crowd. “See what they’ve got,” he ordered, and Finnvid slowly complied.
Andros raised an eyebrow as Theos came closer. “You’re planning to profit from my near-death?”
“Absolutely,” Theos agreed. “I need to pullsomethinguseful from this mess.”
“It might not be bad for Finnvid,” Andros mused. “Gives him a chance to establish himself and be useful.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re looking out forFinnvid,” Theos said with asperity. “I’m gladFinnvidwill be okay through all this.”
“What are you complaining about? He saved my life; I like him; I’d like him to do well.”
“He’s the enemy, and probably a spy,” Theos countered. “He only saved you because I threatened to kill them all if he didn’t. He’s shown no loyalty or affection for any of us, and yet we’re breaking our backs to make sure he’s happy. Does that make sense to you?”
“Well,” Andros said slowly, “heisvery pretty. I like him shaved. Makes him look a bit older. I’d have thought the reverse would be true.”
Theos stepped away. He wasn’t interested in the boy’s attractiveness. He wasn’t interested in anything to do with Finnvid or Elkatis in general. “Why don’t you take him tonight?” he suggested. “You’resuch good friends, after all. Why don’t you have him sleep in your room? Actually, he can sleep in your room forever. That could be fun, right? And you’d have a medic there if you needed him—”
“No,” Andros said firmly. “I don’t want him lying in my room and acting as if it’s a crime every time Xeno and I touch each other. I like him, but he’s a pain in the ass about sex.”
He certainly was. And Theos was going to have a pain in a different part of his anatomy if he had to lie down that night with Finnvid’s tempting body within easy reach but totally out of bounds. “Elkati,” he barked. If he was going to have a restless night, he might as well start early. “Let’s go.”
“I was just about to show him this terrible swelling I’ve got,” one of the Sacrati called, grabbing his crotch.
“I could lance it for you, if someone brought me a sharp knife,” Finnvid replied, and there were howls of laughter.
Theos tried not to smile. He didn’t want to encourage any more impertinence from the boy. “There are no guarantees made for the quality of any treatments,” he said, and he waited for Finnvid to join him.
Unfortunately, it seemed the boy would rather stay in this crowd of ruffians than go to a quiet place with Theos. That was the kind of gratitude the Elkati was showing.
And then Theos caught himself: Finnvid was the enemy. A spy, or something like it. Gratitude from him would be a sign that Theos was doing his job wrong.
So he tried not to resent it when Finnvid trailed along behind him, dragging his feet like he was being led to his execution. They visited the toilet at the end of the hall, and Theos showed the boy how to turn the water on and off, and where the brushes for their teeth were kept. He cleaned his own teeth and handed the brush to the boy. “Maybe we’ll be able to go to the city tomorrow, and I can buy you some things of your own,” he said.
Finnvid made a face and set the brush down where Theos had found it. “I can wait until then,” he said.
Theos was out of patience. “Fine.” He led the way to his room, which was barely lit by the moonlight coming through the narrow window, and looked at the bed. It had been big enough for himself and another man many times. This time, though, he pulled a blanket out of the closet and tossed it in Finnvid’s direction; he’d want it back before it got really cold, but that was a worry for later.
Finnvid caught the blanket awkwardly and stood there as Theos climbed into bed and dragged the covers over himself. He had his eyes closed by the time Finnvid said, “I’m allowed to sleep on the floor?”
“You’rerequiredto sleep on the floor. And to shut up.”
