Read Online Prisoner by Megan Derr - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Megan Derr
Tags: General Fiction
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to read. Many emotions and reactions could be anticipated, given what he knew of Iah's situation and, of course, personal experience with being thrown into deep, murky waters. But outside of that, he had no glimmer of Iah's thoughts.
It was more than a little frustrating, but what had he been expecting? Had there ever been a time when the three countries were not raised to loathe one another? Every year more men went to war and too many families were left crying. Never mind what Tawn had done to Iah's eyes—which was at least as bad as declaring a Salharan nameless, if not worse. Of course Iah would withdraw as the disorientation faded and his senses returned to full strength.
Sol bit back a sigh and schooled his expression. Master the outward, bury the inward. When he was reasonably certain he had everything under control, he spoke. "Are you feeling unwell, Cousin?" Outside in the hallway were the sounds that were normal for a busy inn. This time of year everyone from the country was moving into the nearest village or city. Those who could afford it, like Lord Grau, were headed for the Winter Palace. No place in Kria was finer for enduring the seemingly endless cold.
"I am well," Iah said slowly. A knock at the door cut him off before he could say more.
"Come in, come in," Sol said, smiling and chatting with the women who brought in food for them, politely turning down the invitation in their glances. They took it in good grace; there were plenty of other rich men to choose from.
One girl knelt and arranged the food before Iah as Sol had dictated to her earlier. She muttered to herself and fussed over Iah, who started at the unexpected attention. "Poor, poor thing," she said. "Such a waste of a handsome man." She turned to Sol. "Your cousin is very brave to continue on like this."
"Yes, Erhard is quite brave. He would have made a fine soldier, if not for the loss of his eyes."
"Sad, sad," the woman said and fussed with Iah's hair for a few minutes, before she finally was shooed away by her companion. "Enjoy. Tell me what you think of my cooking!"
Iah shook his head slowly. "That was," he fumbled for the word, "unexpected."
"They felt sorry for you," Sol said and laughed. "They also thought you handsome, and if you had been able to see they would not have let you refuse any offer they made you."
"I see," Iah said, clearly amused.
Sol smiled briefly. "Your plate is in front of you. Sausage north, potato cakes east, bread to the south. Have you ever had Krian food?"
"No, I haven't. It smells strange, but good."
Sol nodded and began to cut into his own sausage. Everything in Kria was heavier than in Salhara, stronger than anything in Illussor. "It's very good. But different, especially as Illussor food tends not to use the spices or the quantities favored by the Krians." He paused. "Except for that spicy dish I refuse to eat. It nearly killed me the first time I had it."
Iah paused then burst out laughing, throwing his head back and shaking with amusement. "Kimmi? I have not had that in months. I would have liked to have seen a foreigner try that for the first time!"
Sol caught himself staring and forced his attention back on his food. "I am glad you are laughing, though it is at my expense," he said teasingly. "You have been somber since this morning, and it troubled me."
The laughter faded; Sol immediately missed it. "My mind will not settle," Iah said quietly as he hesitantly began to eat. "This is good," he said, surprised. "A little overwhelming, but I could get used to it."
"Your mind will not settle?" Sol pressed.
Iah played with his fork then set it carefully down. " It is nothing ," he said whisper soft, speaking Illussor. It was a clear indication that the discussion was one best not overheard. Sol followed the trail of his thoughts easily enough. Nor could he blame Iah. Sol was not the sort of person to be trusted, least of all by those who employed him. If they could not trust him, why should
It was more than a little frustrating, but what had he been expecting? Had there ever been a time when the three countries were not raised to loathe one another? Every year more men went to war and too many families were left crying. Never mind what Tawn had done to Iah's eyes—which was at least as bad as declaring a Salharan nameless, if not worse. Of course Iah would withdraw as the disorientation faded and his senses returned to full strength.
Sol bit back a sigh and schooled his expression. Master the outward, bury the inward. When he was reasonably certain he had everything under control, he spoke. "Are you feeling unwell, Cousin?" Outside in the hallway were the sounds that were normal for a busy inn. This time of year everyone from the country was moving into the nearest village or city. Those who could afford it, like Lord Grau, were headed for the Winter Palace. No place in Kria was finer for enduring the seemingly endless cold.
"I am well," Iah said slowly. A knock at the door cut him off before he could say more.
"Come in, come in," Sol said, smiling and chatting with the women who brought in food for them, politely turning down the invitation in their glances. They took it in good grace; there were plenty of other rich men to choose from.
One girl knelt and arranged the food before Iah as Sol had dictated to her earlier. She muttered to herself and fussed over Iah, who started at the unexpected attention. "Poor, poor thing," she said. "Such a waste of a handsome man." She turned to Sol. "Your cousin is very brave to continue on like this."
"Yes, Erhard is quite brave. He would have made a fine soldier, if not for the loss of his eyes."
"Sad, sad," the woman said and fussed with Iah's hair for a few minutes, before she finally was shooed away by her companion. "Enjoy. Tell me what you think of my cooking!"
Iah shook his head slowly. "That was," he fumbled for the word, "unexpected."
"They felt sorry for you," Sol said and laughed. "They also thought you handsome, and if you had been able to see they would not have let you refuse any offer they made you."
"I see," Iah said, clearly amused.
Sol smiled briefly. "Your plate is in front of you. Sausage north, potato cakes east, bread to the south. Have you ever had Krian food?"
"No, I haven't. It smells strange, but good."
Sol nodded and began to cut into his own sausage. Everything in Kria was heavier than in Salhara, stronger than anything in Illussor. "It's very good. But different, especially as Illussor food tends not to use the spices or the quantities favored by the Krians." He paused. "Except for that spicy dish I refuse to eat. It nearly killed me the first time I had it."
Iah paused then burst out laughing, throwing his head back and shaking with amusement. "Kimmi? I have not had that in months. I would have liked to have seen a foreigner try that for the first time!"
Sol caught himself staring and forced his attention back on his food. "I am glad you are laughing, though it is at my expense," he said teasingly. "You have been somber since this morning, and it troubled me."
The laughter faded; Sol immediately missed it. "My mind will not settle," Iah said quietly as he hesitantly began to eat. "This is good," he said, surprised. "A little overwhelming, but I could get used to it."
"Your mind will not settle?" Sol pressed.
Iah played with his fork then set it carefully down. " It is nothing ," he said whisper soft, speaking Illussor. It was a clear indication that the discussion was one best not overheard. Sol followed the trail of his thoughts easily enough. Nor could he blame Iah. Sol was not the sort of person to be trusted, least of all by those who employed him. If they could not trust him, why should
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