The Gantean (Tales of Blood & Light Book 1) by Emily June Street Page B

had lost all interest in eating. I hoped she did not notice how closely Costas stared at me. His gaze dropped to my throat, and I had to suppress the urge to cover my neck with my hands. I had been keeping my tormaquine and Nautien’s anbuaq carefully hidden beneath my clothes since coming into Ghilene’s service—if she saw them she’d make me remove them lest they betray my origins. I would as soon remove my own eye, and so I dressed to hide the amulets. Had they slipped out? Did Costas Galatien recognize them for what they were?
    He sent a secret ripple of awareness running through my limbs. Such intensity behind his amber eyes! Every time I caught his gaze, my stomach fluttered and my ribcage clamped down on my breath. Why does he study me so? And why does it make me feel so hungry for more?
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    T he following morning I tracked the smell of cooking food to the Palace kitchens to prepare a tray of tea and biscuits for Ghilene.
    Upon my return she remained buried in the sheets. She did not like to rise early.
    “You are to observe the martial arts practice,” I reminded her while handing her a teacup.
    Ghilene leaned against the headboard of the bed, pushing her wispy black hair out of her face. “Who practices anything first thing in the morning? Ugh. I won’t bother inviting Culan. He never gets up so early, and he certainly won’t want to spar at this hour.”
    “Prince Costas will be waiting for you,” I spoke with just enough prod to get her moving, knowing it would please her to consider the prince. Already I had adopted that trait of servants everywhere: a tendency to manage my mistress’s emotional state to minimize its effects on mine.
    Ghilene threw off her blankets. “Do you think he likes me? He didn’t speak to anyone else at the dinner last night, not even his manservant.”
    I collected biscuits onto a plate for her. “I do not know your customs in this matter.”
    Ghilene sniffed, but did not reply for several moments. “But he did appear far too curious about you. Do you think he knows you’re Gantean?”
    I shook my head. “Why would he?” I played it off as though the same thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but my concerns only heightened, knowing that Ghilene had noticed Costas’s scrutiny of me.
    Ghilene set her teacup on the ornate bedside table. “You’d better stay quiet around him,” she warned. “I’ll have Mother whip you if you ruin this for me.”
    After getting Ghilene into a mint green silk gown, I accompanied her to the arms courtyard, eager to see more of the Palace, though anxious lest I make some mistake that would call attention to me. I did not know how much store to put in Ghilene’s threats.
    Upon our arrival at a wide lawn situated on the western side of the Palace, we found Costas Galatien already practicing with another young man. They used two swords each, the weapons flashing in complicated arcs that matched the sharp, precise swivels of their torsos. When Costas spotted us he paused the game and waved, indicating two benches that lined the practice pitch. He bowed and then returned to the match.
    Ghilene spread her skirt over the bench. “That’s Jaasir Amar,” she murmured, pointing at Costas’s opponent, a pale, slender man dressed all in black. “I’ve heard he and Costas are great friends. Possibly more.”
    “More?”
    “Yes, more. Culan says people here whisper that they’re lovers. They’re always in each other’s company. Jaasir’s been a guest at the Palace forever.”
    I studied the sparring men. Two men as lovers struck me as unimaginably bizarre, but I made no comment. I had encountered plenty of other odd customs in Lethemia.
    “Costas doesn’t strike me as a pillow-biter,” Ghilene went on in a low voice. “In fact I think he’s quite masculine.”
    “Does Costas hunt with spears?” I wondered aloud. As soon as I asked, I knew I’d made a mistake. Tiercel would have been disappointed in me. You ask too many questions, he