Ba'an slipped into the empty bedroom, waiting for the servant to pass her in the passage; she listened until the girl entered Ba'an's own room. By her movements, Ba'an surmised that the girl was replacing the water at the wash stand and checking the chamber pot. It wasn't suspicious, but Ba'an knew she would likely report back to either Gaios or Nikias as to Ba'an's absence; she rather suspected Gaios, if only because Nikias could track her in the same way she was tracking him.

The man was still at breakfast, along with everyone else, and Lukios was at the stables, soul bright and sparking against the mellow glow of horses and a goat.

Ba'an could hear his song and Mai'ra's, close together; he hadn't been lying about checking on her. She hastened through the passage then out the courtyard, keeping track of soul-songs and their positions relative to her own. Briefly, she considered hiding from Nikias; if she muffled herself to match the plants around her, her presence would vanish.

No, it was a terrible idea. Disappearing would alert him to her additional tricks, and it would alarm him, besides that. Better to be blatant, and if he had a problem with it, so what? It was not as if he did not know Lukios spent his nights with her already.

She sensed more souls about the courtyard. She ducked behind a pillar, then waited until the souls with their chattering voices turned the corner before walking quickly to the stables. There were servants around, but she made sure to angle herself to keep from view; she heard the stable-boy just in time as he came out, calling over his shoulder, "I can get an apple! Or maybe a carrot? Just a moment, kyrios!"

Ba'an ducked below the topiary, waiting for the boy to go. Then she stood, dusted herself, and burst out laughing; she quickly muffled the noise with her hand.

This was absurd. This more than absurd; it was hysterical.

Why was she hiding from stable boys when she already knew the girl who had changed her water would tell Gaios Ba'an was gone from her room?

It was idiotic, and Ba'an was clearly losing her mind.

Lukios stopped moving. He had heard her.

She walked to the entrance and peered inside. Lukios was crouched inside a stall so only the top of his head and his back and bottom showed beyond the stall. Ma'ra bleated, and she heard Lukios' fingers in her fur, giving her a good, firm scratch. Mai'ra bleated again, and Ba'an heard a rustling noise as the goat butted him playfully.

"Hey," he said, "watch it, little lady—or you really will be dinner."

"She will not." Ba'an shuffled forward so she was inside the stable. A horse snorted in her direction, but then went back to watching the goat and the human speak nonsense. Ba'an cleared her throat. "I do not think she will make a good meal. She is too skinny." And adorable, but she did not think it would be wise to say so.

Lukios did not turn. He only continued to scratch Mai'ra behind the ears.

Ba'an fidgeted, feeling very much like she had the morning she had learned he had been a slave; it was the same sense of distance, the sense of being unmoored and stranded in the shifting sands with no landmark to guide her.

She and Thu'rin had never argued over discretion. He had understood her place in the saa-vuti vur, just as he had understood his own. She put her hand below her heart to soothe the sudden, sharp pain in her chest.

No. That was not the full truth; Thu'rin had not liked it, sneaking around, but he had loved Ba'an more than his pride, and so he had bent to fit her until her position—and his—was secure, until those of the low-vuti became accustomed to Thu'rin-and-Ba'an, and did not think to dispute it.

It was a scandalous thing, for the son of the chief to take up with a witch. It concentrated too much power in the shi-vuti; Ba'an had braced herself for years, expecting a rebuke that never came: No, Maho-ska Ba'an. You can take any man to your hearth but Thu'rin, son of Tsu'kos and Kos'raya. We have spoken.

And eventually they had become bolder—but he had waited a long, long time.

"We even now?" She jumped. Lukios still did not turn to look at her; Mai'ra blinked up at him then said, "Baaaa!" nudging his hand with her head.

"Even, Lukios?"

He shrugged. "I hurt you and you hurt me back. There. Even. We done?"

She sighed. "It was petty of me, Lukios. We had already agreed." Then she narrowed her eyes and glared at the side of his blond head. "But I do not like it. Arete is very forward with you, and you—you encourage her!" She had not meant to say the last part, because the accusation was absurd; Lukios did not encourage her. If anything, he tried to be polite while avoiding eye-contact, sidling away from the woman's grasping hands naturally, as if by accident. He had tripped because of Mai'ra.

But it felt like he wasn't. That's what it was: it felt like he wasn't discouraging her enough. And if he was not discouraging her, wasn't that encouragement by another name?

Why could he not simply…rebuke her? Tell her 'No, I have another.' Just—

"What?" He sounded astounded. He turned too quickly and ended up on his rump; Mai'ra snorted in surprise, but he ignored her, standing and going to Ba'an in two quick strides. Mai'ra's head dipped to the ground at his sudden departure and she bleated angrily at his back, but neither Ba'an nor Lukios cared enough to pay her any mind. "I'm not! I'm not encouraging her. Ba'an, you can't really mean that. I've been telling her to lay off. You heard me, didn't you? All morning." He shook his head, reaching out and pulling her to him. Ba'an let him, staring up at him with her mouth in a flat line.

"I wasn't. Ba'an, sweetheart. I was telling her politely that I wasn't interested by refusing everything. That's how that works. And I'm sorry. I was trying to avoid her, but I tripped." He tossed a Mai'ra a look of genuine annoyance. "I know I shouldn't blame a goat, but gods damn." He sighed. "And still, you keep telling me she's not dinner. Not fair. Why can't you be mad at her, huh?"

Very flatly, Ba'an said, "She is a goat, Lukios." She looked at Mai'ra, who was now trying to gnaw through her leash, and sighed. "And not a very bright one. She is trying to eat the rope." Ba'an was almost certain that the nanny would try to eat wood chips next, and perhaps some iron nails that were embedded in the doors. Lukios looked over his shoulder at her antics, and so did Ba'an.

They looked at Mai'ra together, and when their eyes met again, they burst out laughing, collapsing against each other. Mai'ra stopped her gnawing and stared at them, clearly confused.

The horses snorted and whickered.

Yes, the humans really had gone mad.

It was like popping a bloated water-skin; like water, relief poured from them and they drank together, holding each other as they laughed until their bellies hurt. Lukios wheezed, then reached over to wipe the tears from the corners of Ba'an's eyes. He drew her closer and pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I really am. Not just about the kissing, either. I mean…I made the wrong decision."

"Wrong decision?" She drew back to look at him. Lukios only put his hand on her cheek, gently rubbing her skin with his thumb.

"Yeah." He hugged her so her forehead was tucked against his shoulder. "You told me when we got here. What had you so worried, I mean." Ba'an closed her eyes, shifting uncomfortably. Ah, yes. Her cheeks grew hot. Thinking on it now only embarrassed her, but the fact remained that Ba'an…

…She would not remain a secret or a concubine. It was intolerable. Even now, with only a hello and some breakfast behind her, she was angrier than she ought to be; all the calm she had collected in the garden the day before seemed a dream.

Ba'an had thought she would never meet Arete, but Arete was here. Now. Kissing Lukios and flirting, and serving him food. It was—it was—!

"I'm sorry, Ba'an. I should have thought of it, but I didn't. I mean, Arete and I were done months and months ago, but I just remembered she didn't take it well and I had to make a decision then and there, so I thought it'd be smarter to…to keep her eyes off you. 'Cause Arete's…" He glanced around and Ba'an frowned.

"There is no one else here, Lukios."

He only nodded. "Well, it's rude to speak poorly of your host, that's true. But Arete won't like us together, Ba'an, and she can be…well, she can be a right-proper Illosian noble girl. That's what I mean."

Ba'an thought back to breakfast, and how easily Arete had said, Don't worry, we sold her. Yes, she was a very charming woman, but she was also Dolkoi'ri and rich.

No. It was not only Dolkoi'ri women who took issue with a romantic rival. Sometimes K'Avaari women did, too, and Ba'an had attended to at least one poisoning. The victim had died, for she had come to the shi-vuti far too late, and the murderer had been banished into the desert with a single water-skin. The man they had squabbled over had refused to look at the woman, despite her pleading, and Ba'an remembered thinking her a great fool, to go to such lengths for a married man who had been cheating on his wife. She had believed he would marry her once his wife was dead, but that had not been what happened; he, along with the tribe, had been horrified. It had been senseless and tragic, but that was ru'talani: plenty of passion and fury, but not a drop of wisdom.

"Do you fear she will poison me?" Ba'an said it lightly, expecting Lukios to laugh, but he did not.

"Ba'an." He dropped his voice lower, tone serious. "Don't underestimate her. People who do don't end up doing too well." He hesitated, looking as if he wished to say more, but he shook his head instead. "I don't think she'd break xenia, but keep your guard up, sweetheart. I think the cat's out of the bag—I mean, I wasn't very discreet at breakfast—so she might have eyes on you now."

Ba'an shrugged. "I do not fear her, but I will be cautious." What could Arete do to her, if poisoning was off the list? Ba'an had no reputation here to start with, or anything to take; it was one of the advantages of being destitute. There was only one thing to lose, and that was Lukios, so what could Arete possibly do?

But Lukios was frowning. "…Maybe we should stay at the inn. The one that's just down from the acropolis."

"But that would insult Gaios." Ba'an was a stranger to Dolkoi'ri custom, true, but it could not possibly be polite to leave as soon as their host's children arrived. It sent a certain message, one that was very rude. "Do you not need his support to rescue Eirenne?"

He sighed. "I…shit. But Ba'an, the more I think about it, the more I realize how stupid I was. She definitely knows, and even if she doesn't, good ol' Landy does, and he's got a mouth on him. He's probably nattering at her now, and the more he does that, the madder she'll be."

"But your courtship of her is over. She has known this for months. So she has no right to be angry."

Lukios only sighed again. "That's not how feelings work, sweetheart. But yes, I cut off the courtship and she knows. That's what little Landy was going on about, though he'd go on about anything." He added, grumbling, "I should have whooped his ass years ago, the little upstart. Too damn big for his chiton, that one."

"Then it is well." Ba'an shrugged again. "We can carry on as we have been—discreetly—but if she discovers this, then…well. That is too bad for her."

Lukios ran his fingers through his hair, then nodded. "Okay. If that's what you want. But Ba'an, I mean it: be careful. She'll probably buddy up to you, but don't be fooled: Arete's soft on the outside, but hard on the inside." He paused then added with a small smile, "The opposite of you, actually. So don't let her charm you into trusting her, especially not after…" He sighed. "…Breakfast." Ba'an tilted her head back so she could look at him and raise an eyebrow.

"You are saying I am hard on the outside, but soft on the inside?"

"Uh…yes?" He looked at her expression and began to laugh, very quietly. "It's what I've been saying, isn't it?" He learned in and nipped at her throat, nuzzling her affectionately. "It's why you're so damn adorable. I adore you. I'd just do anything you wanted—anything at all. Anything and everything. Just say the word."

Ah. Well, she ought to demand he not be so friendly with other women, whoever they were. Lukios read her thought in her expression and snickered. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, sweetheart. I'm already planning to avoid her, but Ba'an, that means…" He put his face close to hers so his lips touched hers when he spoke. "…You have to sit beside me, not Niki. Or Leandros. Or anyone else, really." He beamed. "Deal?"

She eyed him. "Do not allow her to kiss you again, Lukios."

"Oh, that's definitely never happening again. You don't have to worry about that, either." He held up his hand solemnly, like he was making an oath to the gods. "I swear. No kissing Arete or other women. Really! Except on the cheek—I mean, that's how we say hello to relatives, and Danaë is a woman. So are Helen and Dafni. So—"

"Yes, Lukios. I understand this." Ba'an wasn't stupid, she was merely…merely…protecting her dignity. He looked at her and his grin grew knowing and at least slightly smug. She frowned and crossed her arms.

"What else, sweetheart?"

"Do not hug her either. Or stand so close to her. Or tell her jokes. Or—" She clamped her mouth closed. Now that she said it out loud, it sounded slightly…unreasonable. Arete was Gaios' daughter. Gaios was their host. It would be uncouth to avoid his children, even if one was far too friendly and the other far too boorish.

But Lukios was only grinning widely, looking incredibly pleased.

Why was he so pleased?

"Okay. Done! Easy, and I would have done all that anyway. Wouldn't want to encourage her!" He pulled her against him and cooed, "Are you sure that's it? Anything else? You should say you won't forgive me until I buy you something nice! Wouldn't that be fun?"

"Lukios. I can hardly carry the things you have given me now." Even with Mai'ra, Ba'an did not think she could carry everything, and she did not think he had thought it through.

"Hm. That's too bad. Guess you'll just have to come with me to Heliopo—"

"Very funny, Lukios."

He laughed. Then he dipped his head down and kissed her gently, lightly tangling his fingers in her hair. "You like it when I'm funny, and I like it when you're wearing flowers in your hair. You're beautiful, Ba'an."

Ba'an touched the flowers and smiled. "Yes, they are beautiful, like bus'ka flowers. So you have already given me something, anyway, though I do not know when you did it."

He only shook his head. "I said you're beautiful, but okay, ha. One of these days I'll make you admit it, but I guess not today." And Ba'an was sure her cheeks had darkened now, but she only tilted her head up to kiss his chin. "And I got them last night, but you were sleeping. Or at least I thought you were." He touched one of the red petals, the one sitting over her ear. "Reminded me of that time you tried to get us killed by poking at wasps."

"I did not!"

"You sure? 'Cause I'm pretty sure the wasps would've won."

"No. They would have slept, and we would have had honey."

He chuckled. "If you say so." Then he lowered his head to whisper, "But they would have totally murdered our butts."

"Kyrios! I got some oats! I think your goat will like—Oh!" The stable-boy was back. Ba'an fought down the urge to sigh, because she ought to have noticed, but no; whenever Lukios held her, her mind simply ground to a halt.

This was very dangerous—and annoying.

But Lukios only laughed. "Terrible timing, Telechos."

"Uh…I…um…" He was young, no older than twelve or so, and Ba'an could see he was flustered by the sight of them together; his face was red, and he turning his head this way and that, looking at everything but Lukios and Ba'an.

"I'm going to bribe you now to leave those oats here and watch for Strategos by the gate. Can you do that and come get me when he's on his way?"

"Um…I can…definitely…do that!" The boy dumped the pail of oats on the ground so hard that they nearly spilled over; the boy hurriedly steadied the bucket then stood to scramble away.

"You going to go without your bribe?" Lukios laughed again.

"Oh, um…that's…I mean…!"

Shaking his head in amusement, Lukios reached into his coin pouch to draw a shining silver coin: an obol. The boy's eyes widened, and he fumbled and nearly dropped it when Lukios tossed it to him. "Thank you! Kyrios! And uh…" He looked at Ba'an awkwardly, clearly not knowing what to call her. Ba'an tried to smile reassuringly, but he only seemed more terrified by the expression.

"You're welcome, kid." Lukios winked and put a finger to his lips. Telechos nodded frantically, then bolted.

Ba'an waited until she sensed him by the gate. Well, he was an honest child, that one.

"Oats, Lukios?"

He only grinned, picking up the pail and taking it to Mai'ra, who was now very interested again. "Yeah. She really is a bit skinny, isn't she? And I'm not sure she's stupid, Ba'an. I think she might just be hungry." He put the oats down and patted Mai'ra's head as she began eating again. He threaded his fingers into her fur gently. "See? It's a bit thinner than it should be. She's not the cleanest, either, but the coat should be a bit glossier. I don't think she was fed that well, wherever she was." Then he grinned at Ba'an and added, "We need her nice and fat so you can eat her later. Goat jerky lasts a long time!"

"…Truly, Lukios, you are a comic for the ages." She glared. "I am not eating Mai'ra."

"I mean, you never know! Better to feed her real good, just in case. And if you don't eat her, then, well. You have a fat, happy little goat. Win-win!" He continued smiling. "And if you do eat her, I'll buy you a new one that's a little less bratty."

She sighed at him, but he only laughed. "I'm teasing you, sweetheart." He looked at Mai'ra. "It's not like she minds."

"…She is a goat, Lukios."

"Exactly my point!"

Ba'an shook her head, rolling her eyes. "But you did not eat enough. Perhaps we should stop by the kitchens and get something?"

He shook his head. "It's fine. There're food stands everywhere, anyway. I can pick something up and eat it there or on the way." He smiled. "Worried you, huh?"

The look Ba'an gave him was unimpressed, but he only smiled wider. "Felt a bit jealous, did you?"

She crossed her arms, and he burst out laughing.

"So were you," she grumbled, but he only laughed harder.

"Yup. Damn straight. No sitting beside Niki to spite me, got that?"

"I will sacrifice the pleasure to spare your feelings." Lukios only howled harder at her tone.

"Yup. A real damn sacrifice. You need to sound sadder to really sell it, you know?"

She sighed and shook her head. Then she reached over and straightened his clothes, which were disheveled by their antics. He caught her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing her so tenderly that she shivered.

"I do mean it, Ba'an. Arete and I really are done. It's just she's not real good at understanding 'no.' So don't let her rile you, okay?" He kissed her fingertips and added, "It's like I said earlier: you're the only one for me. Really. Really." And now his smile was very sweet, and Ba'an wished to say something back, only she did not know what; her chest was tight, full of emotion she could not express.

Oddly, it was Telechos that saved her. "The stable boy is returning, Lukios."

"Oh." He sighed and stood, giving Mai'ra a final pat on the head. "I'm sorry I have to go. I really did want to take you somewhere, but…" He grimaced. "Work. But I'll make it up to you later, okay? We can go wherever you want and do whatever you want. You can think on it and let me know."

Ba'an only smiled. "Do not worry, Lukios. It is well." Then she thought of the flowers in her hair, and carefully unwove the one he had touched from its spot above her ear. Lukios watched her curiously, but his expression grew sunny as she reached up and tucked it into his hair; it did not work quite so well, as he kept his locks short. Smiling, Lukios reached up and took it, then lifted his necklace with Ul'ma's spearhead from beneath his tunic. He wove the stem around the base of the spear so the flower sat in front.

"There," he said. "Nice and comfy." He kissed her forehead. "Thanks, sweetheart."

She cleared her throat. "Be well, Lukios. I will see you at dinner."

Telechos cautiously stuck his head into the stable. "Um. Kyrios? Strategos is nearly at the gate." He looked at Mai'ra, who was busy crunching through the oats. "Oh, wow. She's quite the eater, huh? Wow. Guess they weren't feeding her proper." He shook his head. "I'll take good care of her for you, kyrios!" He looked at Ba'an and gave her an awkward smile, which seemed to be the best he could manage. Ba'an smiled back, and was pleased to note he no longer appeared terrified. "And I'll make sure she doesn't spook the horses. Achilles has a real bad temper!" One of the horses snorted from his stall, lifting his head at the word 'Achilles.' Ba'an felt her eyes widen.

He was huge. If Mai'ra managed to get herself into his stall, she would have scarcely a second to regret it before being trampled into pieces. Ba'an eyed the rope. Yes, this was sensible; she likely could jump the stall door if she wanted. Goats were excellent climbers.

The boy looked at her and addressed her directly for the first time. "Oh, don't worry! I won't let her get into any mischief." He smiled at her again, looking much more natural than the first time he had tried. Ba'an noted that he was most certainly still a child, one who was too young to be working already, but—ah. This was Illos.

She suspected the obol had not really been a bribe; that had only been an excuse to give him something. She smiled up at Lukios, heart warming as it often did when she looked at him. He smiled back, looking mildly puzzled but pleased.

Telechos opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, shuffling awkwardly.

Ah.

"Lukios. It is time for you to go. It is rude to keep our host waiting."

"Right." He nodded, but didn't move. "Right."

"Lukios."

He sighed. "Hey, Telechos! Want to turn around for a second?"

"Uh…as you say, kyrios." The boy turned around and peered out toward the gate obediently. "Strategos is at the gate, kyrios."

"Sure. One second." Lukios leaned down and kissed her again on the mouth. "I'll see you at dinner." He glanced up at the boy's back then snuck in a second kiss.

"Go, Lukios."

"Yup."

"Lukios."

"Uh huh." He sighed and straightened. "Well, off I go! Thanks kid! Take good care of Mai'ra for me, but don't overfeed her, okay?"

"Of course, kyrios!"

And with that he was gone. Ba'an went to the entryway of the stable to watch him go, as did Telechos; Ba'an was pleased to note that Nikias was going, too. Good; the man always managed to give her a headache with all the second-guessing. It was infuriating.

"Telechos. Thank you for taking care of Mai'ra." Ba'an paused, not knowing if she ought to say anything further. "Be well."

"Um…thanks, uh, kyria." He looked flustered now, and would not lift his head to look at her, speaking to his toes. "It's my job! Don't worry about a thing!"

"I will not." Ba'an walked to Mai'ra, who was nearly done her pail of oats. She had been hungry, but Lukios had been correct as well: it was not wise to feed her all at once. Ba'an patted Mai'ra's head, though the nanny ignored her for the meal. "Be good for Telechos, Mai'ra. Do not trip him."

The boy laughed, then stopped abruptly when she looked at him. Ba'an only smiled, but he refused to meet her eyes. "Good day to you, kyria."

"And to you." And with that, Ba'an took her leave.

Ba'an felt her forehead crinkle into a frown. "…Who are you?"

The boy at her door smiled up at her and bowed. "I am Uchos! Master Nikias said I should take you to sir Eikolus!" He beamed up at her, and Ba'an noted he had very healthy teeth. In fact, he was remarkably clean and well-dressed, to the point that she had been puzzled by his presence. "I will take you whenever you are ready, kyria!"

"I…see. Thank you." Ba'an blinked slowly and turned her head to the girl that was standing on the opposite side of the door. She was also well-dressed and well-coifed. "And you are…?"

"Dita, kyria." She bowed as well. "I will help you with your toilette, and anything else you need."

…What?

"Where is Aika?" Ba'an was beginning to feel concerned. She did not sense the child anywhere on the estate. Had something happened?

"Aika?" Dita blinked. "Oh. About this tall—" The girl held up her hand so it was slightly lower than her the top of her own head, "—with black hair and a mole here?" She pointed to the spot on her own face, just in front of her right ear.

"Yes."

"Oh, she went with sir Medoros."

"…Medoros?"

"Master Nikias' personal aide. Something about needing more hands down at the central office?" Dita smiled apologetically. "I do not know much. I heard one of the kitchen girls say so, but I am not sure."

Ba'an's frown deepened.

She could not think of any reason to take a house servant to a civil office. What could Aika possibly do for Nikias? Pour him tea in a way Medoros could not?

A sudden anxiety took hold of her, and she felt her blood drain from her extremities as a sudden thought crossed her mind.

No. Surely not. Surely…

But why not? Why wouldn't she? Aika had no particular loyalty to Ba'an, after all, and Ba'an had expected someone to rifle through her things, hadn't she?

And Ba'an had already suspected her once, had she not? There was no reason to believe she wouldn't do it now; nothing had changed. Only Ba'an's perception of their relationship had changed, and that had been a foolish thing.

Ba'an felt her heart drumming against her ribs as the blood roared in her ears. Oh no.

But Nikias had not said anything. Unless Eikolus was not a merchant, and she was walking into a trap. Or…or…

She took a breath, calming herself. The two servants were looking at her with keen interest, and she could not give herself away here.

There was no reason to jump to conclusions. Not yet.

"I see," Ba'an said, and her voice was cool as ever. The two servants smiled at her very sweetly. How nice. "Thank you. I must ready myself to go. Uchos, will you wait down by the gate?"

"As you wish, kyria." He smiled, bowed again, then left.

Ba'an turned to Dita, who was trying to open the door. "No, no, thank you. The K'Avaari do not change or prepare a toilette with others." And this was not strictly true, but how would Dita ever know it?

"Oh." The girl's brows knitted slightly. "Are you certain, kyra?"

"Yes. I am nearly ready, regardless, and only need a few things." Dita did not look convinced, but Ba'an was certain she could not refuse an order from a guest. "If you wait downstairs, I will meet you shortly."

"I can wait here, kyria. In case you need assistance."

"Wait downstairs, Dita." There was no arguing against something so direct. The girl's eyes widened.

"As…you say, kyria." She bowed again, then left, looking back only once.

Ba'an entered her room. Everything appeared to be in order, and the chest was closed exactly as she had left it—but it had no lock, because it was for guests.

Ba'an licked her lips and approached it, belly tightening in apprehension. Slowly, she reached out and opened it; the hinges worked soundlessly, being well-maintained.

She peered inside.

Nothing appeared amiss. Here were her clothes, folded in the same way and order as she had had it the day before. Here were her extra shawls, and here were her bags of…

Oh.

Ba'an's eyes widened, then narrowed as she bent down for a closer look.

Oh. Oh no.

This was…trouble.