“You’re saying Brother Air gave him gifted sight because he lost his eye?”
Evangeline looked around us.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “This isn’t a conversation meant for all ears.”
She shrugged. “I was careless too. I think it best not to speak of my and Reed’s having Tintarian blood, but then I think none of these Perpatanians even pay attention to womenfolk.”
“Yes, but they also don’t like women talking to each other. The saint calls it gossip. And our communication is deemed troublesome and sinful.”
“Why?”
“When women talk to each other we also warn each other. Usually about men. And some men don’t like that.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I guess that is so for the people of Rodwin. But mostly women talk about their irritating families, their courses, and sex.”
I snorted. “You can’t be a little kinder to us? Surely we have better imaginations than just that.”
She grinned. “I grew up in a brothel. My grandmother’s womenwere all pleasant and well cared for. But all they wanted to talk about was how their sister’s husband wasn’t good enough for her, how this cycle was worse than the one before it, and which patrons lasted how long. That’s how I met my brothers, actually.”
I forced my face to remain composed. “They were patrons?”
“Gods, no. Dermid was one of my grandmother’s guards. It is one of the finest places in Pikestully, the capital. Expensive. The girls were protected, as they are in most places. Oh and Dermid only likes men. He was like an older brother to me.”
I waited, desperate for her to say more.
“And then Keir came to work there, and that was a disaster.”
“A disaster?”
“Well, the girls all kept offering him their favors for free. My grandmother was beside herself. And then he and Dermid became lovers. Except they fought all the time. Anyway, Reed is Keir’s stepbrother, and he came to the brothel once to see Keir and that’s how I met him, and then the four of us became friends.”
“They were lovers?” I interjected. I thought of Dermid teasing Keir about ogling Jade and found myself confused.
“Yes. But it was a terrible pairing. The jealousy was absurd.”
“Dermid was jealous of Keir’s having a house of fawning women?”
Now she snorted. “Keirwas jealous ofDermid.”
“I am confused. Not that your Helmsman friend is not?—”
“As it turns out,” she said, turning to me, “men who like men love men who look like Dermid. Drove Keir mad.”
“So, men—and forgive me, I have never left the low country and also, that is illegal in Sheridan—not that I feel that way,” I rushed on, worried she would take offense. “What you’re saying is men who like men prefer a burlier man?”
“I guess. I only have Dermid and Keir’s word to go on. Anyway, they fought so much they decided to try to be friends, and that was much better for them and for Reed and me.”
“I see,” I said, not seeing. “Does Keir also like women?”
She gave me a slow grin. “Yes. And lots of them like him.”
“Oh I can imagine,” I said perfunctorily, combing over her words in my mind, painfully aware of how limited my life had been.
“I hate to burst the bubble of your hope though,” she added.
“Pardon?”
“You’re not nursing any passion for my Vyggian brother with the braid?”
