“It is possible, because I’ve lived it. Maybe her scent? She smells like roses and patchouli.”
Hil pursed her lips and stepped up to another wall hanging, this one a map of Duhra with silvery threaded creatures in the seas.
“No, my grandfather commissioned that one. And I’m just saying, in my experience, attraction’s almost always instant and not always appropriate.” Wandering the perimeter of the lower gallery, Isahn stopped before a fraying tapestry depicting a young woman and man against a solid black backdrop. She was surrounded by filigrees of gold, and he by a pattern of dots and circles—or were those eyes? Isahn pointed, silently asking Hildy her opinion.
Continuing, he argued, “It’s a shiver when they walk into the room. They’re the most delicious thing you’ve ever smelled. You crave physical contact, even if they’re a near-stranger. You stare, look where you shouldn’t, oftenwhenyou shouldn’t. That’s attraction... to me. Compatibility’s a whole other issue.” He and George had sorted that out later. “But our attraction was there from the start. Not sure she would’ve fought so hard to release me if she thought I was ugly.”
Hildy snorted at his final remarks, but her brows pulled together in consternation as she considered his words or the wall-hanging, he wasn’t sure which.
“Look.” Hildy traced a line around the border. “This is Old Domossan, I think.”
“Wait, really? Those are letters?” He snagged a candlestick from one of the wall sconces and carried it over. Though it was morning, the lower gallery was dim. He liked to think of it as the storage spot for the bad art. Who knew it was so important?
“Becarefulwith that,” she scolded as he held his flame close to the fabric.
“It’s fine.”
“It’s only the fate of Domos you’re risking if you burn it.”
He pulled the candle back a bit. But itwasletters, Hildy was right. “Well, fuck, I think we found it.”
“It’s certainly old.”
“And that means nothing to me.” He pointed out the same letters she’d identified. “I thought it was a pattern.”
“I wish we had some way ofknowingfor sure. We should’ve smuggled Ean along to translate.”
He chortled. “I’m not sure Selwas is ready for the likes of Ean. So, what do we do with it? Take it down? Hang a different one in the same spot?”
“No. We leave it to bait Peros, and we set up a watch.”
He gestured down a dark corridor where he knew his staff was stationed. “It’s done.”
“Overnights, I think it should be one of us.”
“Agreed.” He didn’t want to put that pressure on his staff. “Starting when?”
“A night or two out should be good. Peros was two days behind us, I think.”
“Most likely.”
“Perfect. So what’s next?” She rubbed a thumb into her temple. “I thought that would take us longer than it did.”
“Should we get ready for a fight?”
“Of course.”
“Whydidweneverdo this in Domos?” Isahn rushed Hildy again.
“No time. You were otherwise occupied.”
“With Georgie, you mean?” He laughed and shanked her in the side with a blunt-tipped shortsword. “She doesn’t train. Her father never allowed it.”
She grunted. “Your memory has vastly improved.”
“Thanks to you, I think. I’ve noticed you prodding me.”
“Pulling out bricks.” Hildy dropped low and spun behind Isahn quicker than he could react. Her training sword smacked across the back of his knees, sending him to the floor—hard.
