“These were abandoned. Lindhall hopes the adults will accept them once we’re certain they don’t have any illnesses.” He watched her a little nervously as she set the pup on one of Lindhall’s many cushions.
She stepped closer to him and said, “I missed you so much. I can’t believe how much.” Smiling, she stood on her tiptoes, twined her arms around his neck, pulled his head down, and planted her lips on his in a very no-nonsense way. She had kissed him on the mouth a few times before, just as a friendly salute. This was far more than friendly. Arram closed his eyes and sank into the kiss. Her lips were very soft. He held her comfortable body tightly, lifting her clean off the floor so their mouths were on the same level. She was running her hands over his shoulders and the side of his face. For once in his life he could barely think.
He was also barely breathing. Gently, regretfully, he drew back, setting her on the ground.
“Well!” she said, brushing her gown into order. There was a very pleased smile on her face. “Finally! I waited and waited for you to make the first move, like the gentleman is supposed to. If I’d realized you only needed me to do it, I would have proceeded ages ago!”
He smoothed her tumbled golden hair with trembling hands. “Those were hints?” he asked plaintively. “I thought those were…kisses like you’d give a brother.”
Varice laughed. “You have very odd ideas about how I kiss my brothers, then!”
He wobbled. “I’m sorry,” he said apologetically as they nearly tripped. “I haven’t eaten since—I think this morning, but it wasn’t much.”
“That won’t do. We’ll get you fed and then—” She bumped him with her knee. “We can discuss other things.”
Arram beamed down at her. “I hope so.”
“I know so. I am tired of waiting for you to do something, Arram Draper,” Varice said as they turned toward the food.
He stopped. “You remind me. I brought you something.” He hurried to his room for the favor he’d requested of Sarge. Ramasu had explained that the gladiators commonly burned their used-up gear, so foes in the arena or among the bettors could not steal it to use for spells to bring them down. Arram had persuaded Sarge and Ramasu to let him have a token, properly spelled to remove Sarge’s essence, for Varice. He gave the silk-wrapped bundle to her. She gasped when she opened it. The glove was a nasty, dirty thing, worn out at the fingertips and the seams, but Sarge’s name was inked on the back, and it had clearly been hard used.
Varice crumpled it in her hands. “Is this—?”
“One of his training gloves,” Arram told her.
She yelped and flung her arms around his neck for another kiss. Arram could have continued all night, if someone had not rapped on his door. Quickly they released each other and straightened their clothes before Arram gathered up the meerkat and went to see who had come to call.
It was Ozorne. Immediately he tried to embrace Arram, only to stop when he saw the meerkat pup. His face, already alight when he saw Arram, brightened even more. He reached a finger to the small creature. “I heard Lindhall had pups,” he said softly. “There are two more?”
“With Lindhall,” Arram said. “This one was asleep until a moment ago.”
“Did Varice wake him? She wasn’t at the dining hall—”
“I’m here,” Varice called from the study. “I brought Arram supper.”
There was nothing else to do, and truly, Arram didn’t begrudge his best friend for interrupting his time with Varice. “Will you join us? Varice is staying—you know she brought enough for twelve.” He passed the meerkat into Ozorne’s hands.
“Oh, oh, yes, of course,” Ozorne said absently, stroking the pup’s head. He looked at the two guards behind him. “I’ll be dining here. You can wait.” He slid into Arram’s room and closed the door. He lowered his voice. “Listen, I wanted to say, about what happened…”
“There’s nothing to say,” Arram said. “We came out of it alive, that’s the important thing. Sergeant Okot?” he thought to ask. He was surprised Ozorne’s chief guard was letting him wander.
“Not back from Mother’s yet,” Ozorne replied. “I’ve been informed I’m in for it when he is, and I’m not to leave this building except for lessons.” He gripped Arram’s arm with a many-ringed hand. He cradled the pup against his chest with the other. “And there’s plenty to say,” he said firmly, looking into Arram’s eyes. “We’ve been friends for a long time. I’ve always been glad of it, but…you saved my life in that tent. I panicked, Arram. I couldn’t think of a single working—”
“You would have,” Arram assured his friend. “When you’d caught your breath—”
“But I didn’t,” Ozorne protested. “You saw how the wind blew, and you did what had to be done before that madman gouged our eyes out. I will never forget that. I can’t think of anyone who would do so much for me without wanting something—except you.” He frowned. “Do you want something?”
“Supper,” Arram replied.
Ozorne laughed. “I have never had friends like you and Varice. I don’t know anyone who’s ever had friends like you two!”
“And if you’re lucky, you never will,” Varice called. “Will you let him collapse of starvation, or will you come to the table?”
Arram had just settled the pup in a basket nest by his place when Varice asked, “Why are you back so soon? You said your mother meant to keep you until late Saturday?”
“She did,” Ozorne replied, then grinned as they took their seats. “But I’d had about enough of her chatter regarding the eligible girls I must try to meet this week, when she started over lunch. Lucky for her and me she’d invited Chioké to share the meal. Right away he started telling her how much trouble I was having in my classes with Cosmas and Dagani. How I was going to miss Cosmas’s next examination and it will hurt my marks. Well, no Tasikhe will score badly in an examination! I tell you, my mother practically shoved me out the door!” Ozorne chuckled as he shook out his napkin. “I wish I had Chioké’s way with her.”
“You could try his technique,” Varice suggested, filling his cup with pomegranate juice.
Arram frowned. Gently, not wanting to upset his friends, he asked, “Ozorne…you trust Chioké? Truly trust him?” He explained about the conversation between the mage and Kottrun.
Ozorne was silent for a moment before he said, “It could have been that he was trying to rig fights. I know he does that.”
Arram was shocked. “And you condone it?”
Ozorne chuckled. “Arram, don’t you know? It’s good to have something on those who might try to gain power over you. Just in case. You gave me something to hold over Chioké, should he get artful with me.” He patted Arram on the cheek. “I even have something on Mother.”
“And me?” Arram asked, trying to hide his outrage. “Varice?”
Ozorne kissed his cheek. “No. I believe in the two of you without reservation. A fellow never had better friends, Arram.”
“Ozorne!” Varice announced patiently. “Arram! The food grows cold!”