Read Online Old Man's Ghosts by Tom Lloyd - Free Book Online

remember?’
    She saw her mistake at once, the bristling anger she’d inherited from her mother once more appearing between them.
    ‘I hardly need reminding,’ Teike said, ‘given
that
man now lives here in your sister’s place – to say nothing of the fact he’s the reason our home burned down and your sister’s dead.’
    ‘Don’t start that again,’ Kesh replied hotly, ‘he pays his way and you know that.’
And this goshe training house might not have the views of our old one, but we’ve more rooms to earn off while our home’s being rebuilt. And you’ve got a labourer thrown in for free.
    Her mother sniffed. ‘Payment like that I’ll live without. I don’t know what it is between you, but I’ve seen your training sessions. Most of the time I’m surprised they don’t end with one of you being killed. Don’t pretend this one was any different; you two are a hair’s breadth from stabbing each other when your blood’s up.’
    Kesh took a long breath, knowing how close she was to getting into a screaming match. What made things worse was that Teike spoke only the truth. Half a year after Emari’s death, Irato could still kindle a rage inside her like little else. Pardoned by decree for his involvement in the Moon’s Artifice affair, they were all aware that neither woman would ever fully forgive him.
    ‘I’ll leave you two alone, Mistress Teike,’ Irato muttered, eyes downcast again now the violence was over. Brutal and thoughtless though he was with a knife in his hand, the effect of Moon’s Artifice on his mind was permanent and Irato remained subservient to both women the rest of the time. Only part of it was instinctive; Kesh knew he still felt guilt at crimes he couldn’t recall. Irato knew his part in their loss and his deference was some form of penance.
    ‘You stay there,’ Teike said, ‘I may not like it, but Kesh’s made it damn clear you’re some strange part of what family I’ve got left. Half my friends think the pair of you are sleeping together anyway,’ she added – Kesh’s widened eyes showed the barb had hit home – ‘but of course they haven’t seen the murder in Kesh’s eyes when she takes a knife to you. Sometimes I wonder if it isn’t true myself, but whatever’s going on – whether you play weapons-tutor or guard dog to Kesh – you’re here now. If there’s going to be an argument you’ll be part of it.’
    Kesh sighed, knowing the burly fighter wouldn’t take part in any such thing. With his past erased by Moon’s Artifice, he rarely had an opinion to express on any subject and was frequently lost without direction from her. Guard dog was a better description than perhaps her mother realised.
    ‘What goes on when we train is my choice, not yours,’ Kesh said. ‘Gods, I’m sounding like a whining child now! But no, we’re not sleeping together. It’s nothing like that, and yes sometimes maybe I don’t hold anything back, but he can take it and it’s his choice.’
    ‘Is it now?’ Teike cocked her head at Irato. ‘The way you and your friends described it, his goshe poison made some things not about choice. Enchei was the one who described him as your guard dog first. Now, I might not like having him around, but I don’t like the sight of my daughter owning a slave and sometimes you come perilously close.’
    ‘Mistress,’ Irato broke in hesitantly, ‘a slave would want to leave. I choose to stay.’
    ‘You don’t choose bloody anything,’ Teike snapped, ‘that’s the problem!’
    ‘Yet I would be lost without Kesh.’ He paused, frowning as he tried to frame his thoughts. ‘I trust her – maybe not to avoid giving me a few extra scars, but when it’s important I trust her as I can’t trust myself.’
    ‘What the buggery is that meant to mean?’
    ‘Thief’s sticky fingers!’ Kesh exclaimed. ‘How many times do I need to explain it? The man’s only got half a soul left. He forgets to care about things, about how people are