Finnvid didn’t respond, but he did gather the clothes Theos indicated.
Finally, after all the trouble Finnvid caused, Theos had found one small way in which it was beneficial to have a slave. Unless, of course the Elkati found a technique to destroy his clothes or embed them with an itch-causing herb, or in some other fashion made Theos wish his patrol had never found the Elkati at all.
Theos ignored the boy through dinner and then through drinks and gaming in the common room, and he didn’t step in when a young Sacrati named Nero approached Finnvid and tried to make conversation.
Nero was clearly nervous, glancing over toward Theos as if expecting a—possibly violent—intervention. And after a few moments, Finnvid himself looked over as though to see if Theos would get involved. He thought Theos was going toprotecthim. As if it was Theos’s job to protect the comforts of an enemy spy.
Theos took a long swallow of ale and deliberately turned away, giving his full regard to the Sacrati entertaining his table with a tale of incompetent recruits struggling with the simplest of drills. That was what Theos wanted to care about, not anything more complicated.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before the attention of his table was drawn over toward Finnvid, and Theos reluctantly swiveled to see what was happening. Nero was still there, but he was frowning at Finnvid now.
“Unnatural?” Nero said, his voice loud in the growing hush of the room.
“Disgusting,” Finnvid replied, just as loud and somehow even clearer. “Immoral. Sinful. An affront to the gods.”
“The gods?” Nero seemed a bit confused by that one; Torians weren’t much for religion. But he did a good job of pulling himself back to the main point. “We’re disgusting?”
“You’re using your bodies as they were not meant to be used.” Finnvid wasn’t backing down. Indeed, he was the first to rise, a clear challenge in his body language.
“That’s true,” Nero said, standing to stare at Finnvid eye-to-eye. “Torians are warriors. Our bodies aremeantto be used for war. Forfighting.” And with that, he threw a punch.
Finnvid was quick, Theos would give him that. He didn’t manage to dodge completely, but he moved fast enough to take the blow at half-strength, which allowed him to keep his feet. Still, he staggered and didn’t have his balance before the Sacrati was on him again.
Another blow, this one light and almost taunting, but still sufficient to snap Finnvid’s head back and bloody his nose. Then a few jabs to his gut, and when Finnvid stumbled Nero grabbed him by the collar of his tunic and sent him flying into a nearby table.
Theos just watched. Fights weren’t a big deal; Sacrati were disciplined, even in their recreation time, and they knew better than to let a petty squabble get out of control. Already Nero had tempered his blows, clearly realizing he was fighting an unworthy opponent, and now he glanced over at Theos as if unsure whether to continue.
“Use your judgment,” Theos said, just as he would have if Finnvid had been a Torian recruit who was being taught a little respect.
The young Sacrati nodded, and looked down at Finnvid, who was struggling to raise himself off the floor. “Enough, then,” Nero said. He stepped back and half turned, holding out his knuckles to display their bloodiness to a friend. But Theos approved of the way he kept himself angled, a good position to keep an eye on Finnvid.
Who apparently hadn’t given up yet. He pulled himself to his feet, took a deep breath, and charged.
Nero laughed, stepping to the side at just the right moment to catch Finnvid and flip him over. The Elkati landed flat on his back and lay there for a long moment, his eyes wide,struggling to breathe.
Theos stepped in at last and crouched beside the boy. “Your wind’s knocked out of you,” he said, and he laid a calming hand flat on Finnvid’s chest. “Relax. You’ll be okay. Try to take a few deep breaths.”
Finnvid stared at him, eyes still wide, chest not moving.
“Breathe,” Theos ordered, and Finnvid took a shallow, trembling breath. “Let it out slowly. Good. Now breathe again, deeper this time.”
Finnvid managed that.
Theos stood up and nodded respectfully to Nero. He’d behaved honorably in the face of an unready opponent; a good character, if not a good fight. “I wish I could promise an apology, but I doubt he’d mean it even if I made him say it.” Theos didn’t bother to add that he’d not generally had any luck making the Elkati say a damn thing he didn’t want to. That wasn’t the point. “Still, I think he’ll remember your objections.”
The young Sacrati nodded, then came to stand near Finnvid’s feet. “You don’t seem to know too much about how to use your body for anything useful; maybe you should keep your mouth shut about ways to use it for anything fun.”
Theos smiled, and wondered if there was a way to assign Finnvid to this young Sacrati for regular tutoring.
He nudged Finnvid with his toe. “You breathing? When you’ve got yourself under control, go wash your face. Try not to annoy anyone too much while you’re doing it. Be back here by the time I finish my drink.”
Finnvid stared at him for a moment. He’d gotten his breath back and apparently his rebelliousness had come with it. But after a brief, all-too-visible battle with his self-control, he composed himself and jerked his head in acknowledgment.
Theos returned to his ale and paid only a little attention to Finnvid as he rolled to his feet and staggered toward the doorway.
“Don’t Elkati fight atall?” Andros asked as they watched Finnvid leave. “The rest of the men we captured were no match for us, but they seemed to at least have basic training. Why not Finnvid?”
Theos thought about it. “He should have done better,” he agreed. “He fought like a raw recruit. Maybe he’s a full-time medic, at home.” He thought a little longer. “But then why the hell would he have been in charge of a patrol that snuck across the border?”
