Read Online Like Fire Through Bone by E. E. Ottoman - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: E. E. Ottoman
Ads: Link
With a sigh, Vasilios turned back to the task at hand.
The rest of the day crawled. Vasilios seemed hyperaware of every second as it slowly slid by. He cataloged the rest of the linen and helped Leimeiê, the eldest of Panagiotis’s three concubines, make a list of items and supplies needed in the women’s quarter. He transcribed some notes Damianos had sent him and began putting them together in the form of an actual contract. By the time he finished, it was almost time for the evening meal. Down in the kitchens, he oversaw the preparation and serving of the food.
“Markos sent word he wants to see you this evening,” Panagiotis said to Vasilios, who knelt in the dining room in case Panagiotis or Eudoxia needed him to do anything for them during their meal. “I see that land deal is moving forward.”
Vasilios kept his eyes on the floor. “Yes, Master.”
“Good.” Panagiotis reached for his wineglass. “Markos is rich and extremely well placed. Doing favors for him can only be a gain.”
“Master, do I have your leave to go to him tonight?” Vasilios asked, and Panagiotis waved his hand at him.
“Of course. As soon as the meal is over. I’m sure one of the other servants can oversee the cleanup.”
“Thank you.” Vasilios bowed low where he knelt, and Panagiotis reached for the pitcher of wine.
Vasilios wondered what Markos wanted. Did he want Vasilios to meet with this friend Markos took counsel with? Vasilios felt a pang of unease at that thought. He had not dreamed since the night before he had gone to Markos. He didn’t know what use he could be.
The kitchen servants began to clear away the leftover food and dishes. Vasilios remained kneeling until Eudoxia had been escorted out by her women and Panagiotis had been helped up and supported out of the room by two of his bodyguards.
Finally Vasilios stood, feeling his knees pop and crack. He smoothed down his tunic and then headed up to his room. He collected the contracts and paperwork for the purchase of the property, even though he knew full well that was not why Markos wished to see him. He headed out of his room and toward the front entrance but stopped at the gate to pull his scarf up over his head.
The street was not as busy in the evenings as it was at midday, but it was by no means deserted. Vasilios wove between the servants from other well-placed families as well as noblemen and soldiers on horseback.
The same soldier who’d let him in last time recognized him when he arrived at Markos’s house.
“Vasilios Eleni?” The soldier smiled as he swung open the gate. “Then the General is expecting you.”
“Thank you.” Vasilios nodded to him, then crossed the courtyard and used the door knocker to tap on the door.
Phyllis opened it and gave him a pinched, disapproving look. “Come in. The General and the other guests are through in the back garden.” She turned without giving him the time to respond, and headed down the hall.
Vasilios pulled his scarf off his head and draped it around his shoulders as he followed her. She led him past the room he’d been in before. There were several other doors on either side of the hall, but Phyllis didn’t stop at any of those. She turned right before the hall passed into an arched doorway, through which Vasilios glimpsed a small but tidy kitchen. The door stood open, Vasilios saw, as Phyllis pushed open the ornate gate that led into a small garden with a paved walk all around the edge, herbs and vegetables on one side, and flowers on the other.
“Vasilios Eleni,” she announced, and Markos turned from where he’d been standing by a small table that had been set up on the walk.
“Vasilios. I am so glad you could join us.” Markos made his way down the path, smiling broadly, and Vasilios knelt, then bowed to him.
“General Markos, thank you for inviting me,” Vasilios said and then straightened, feeling irrationally pleased that he’d stood before Markos had asked him
The rest of the day crawled. Vasilios seemed hyperaware of every second as it slowly slid by. He cataloged the rest of the linen and helped Leimeiê, the eldest of Panagiotis’s three concubines, make a list of items and supplies needed in the women’s quarter. He transcribed some notes Damianos had sent him and began putting them together in the form of an actual contract. By the time he finished, it was almost time for the evening meal. Down in the kitchens, he oversaw the preparation and serving of the food.
“Markos sent word he wants to see you this evening,” Panagiotis said to Vasilios, who knelt in the dining room in case Panagiotis or Eudoxia needed him to do anything for them during their meal. “I see that land deal is moving forward.”
Vasilios kept his eyes on the floor. “Yes, Master.”
“Good.” Panagiotis reached for his wineglass. “Markos is rich and extremely well placed. Doing favors for him can only be a gain.”
“Master, do I have your leave to go to him tonight?” Vasilios asked, and Panagiotis waved his hand at him.
“Of course. As soon as the meal is over. I’m sure one of the other servants can oversee the cleanup.”
“Thank you.” Vasilios bowed low where he knelt, and Panagiotis reached for the pitcher of wine.
Vasilios wondered what Markos wanted. Did he want Vasilios to meet with this friend Markos took counsel with? Vasilios felt a pang of unease at that thought. He had not dreamed since the night before he had gone to Markos. He didn’t know what use he could be.
The kitchen servants began to clear away the leftover food and dishes. Vasilios remained kneeling until Eudoxia had been escorted out by her women and Panagiotis had been helped up and supported out of the room by two of his bodyguards.
Finally Vasilios stood, feeling his knees pop and crack. He smoothed down his tunic and then headed up to his room. He collected the contracts and paperwork for the purchase of the property, even though he knew full well that was not why Markos wished to see him. He headed out of his room and toward the front entrance but stopped at the gate to pull his scarf up over his head.
The street was not as busy in the evenings as it was at midday, but it was by no means deserted. Vasilios wove between the servants from other well-placed families as well as noblemen and soldiers on horseback.
The same soldier who’d let him in last time recognized him when he arrived at Markos’s house.
“Vasilios Eleni?” The soldier smiled as he swung open the gate. “Then the General is expecting you.”
“Thank you.” Vasilios nodded to him, then crossed the courtyard and used the door knocker to tap on the door.
Phyllis opened it and gave him a pinched, disapproving look. “Come in. The General and the other guests are through in the back garden.” She turned without giving him the time to respond, and headed down the hall.
Vasilios pulled his scarf off his head and draped it around his shoulders as he followed her. She led him past the room he’d been in before. There were several other doors on either side of the hall, but Phyllis didn’t stop at any of those. She turned right before the hall passed into an arched doorway, through which Vasilios glimpsed a small but tidy kitchen. The door stood open, Vasilios saw, as Phyllis pushed open the ornate gate that led into a small garden with a paved walk all around the edge, herbs and vegetables on one side, and flowers on the other.
“Vasilios Eleni,” she announced, and Markos turned from where he’d been standing by a small table that had been set up on the walk.
“Vasilios. I am so glad you could join us.” Markos made his way down the path, smiling broadly, and Vasilios knelt, then bowed to him.
“General Markos, thank you for inviting me,” Vasilios said and then straightened, feeling irrationally pleased that he’d stood before Markos had asked him
Similar Books
