when a shadow fell across them. She looked up and saw a man, dark of complexion—like most Vitellians—and rather tall. His green doublet was faded and a little threadbare. He wore one red stocking and one black. His hand rested on the pommel of a rapier.
“Dena dicolla, casnaras,”
he said, with a little bow. “What makes such beautiful faces so long and sorrowful?”
“I do not know you, casnar,” Anne replied. “But good day to you and the saints bless you.”
She looked away, but he did not take the hint. Instead, he stood there, smiling.
Anne sighed. “Come,” she said, plucking at Austra’s dress. The two of them rose.
“I mean you no harm, casnaras,” the man said hastily. “It’s just that it is so unusual to see hair of copper and gold here in the south, to hear such charming northern accents. When such treasures of the eye present themselves, it behooves a man to offer whatever services he may.”
A small chill ran up Anne’s spine. In her grief, she had forgotten to keep her head covered, and so had Austra.
“That’s very kind of you,” she said quickly, “But my sister and I were just returning home.”
“Let me escort you, then.”
Anne let her gaze travel around. Though the streets above were now beginning to bustle, this part of the terrace was something like a park, and it was still relatively quiet. To reach the street, she and Austra had to travel some ten yards and climb a dozen stone stairs. The man stood between them and the nearest stair. Worse, another fellow sat on the stairs themselves, taking a more than casual interest in the conversation.
There were probably others she didn’t see at all.
She stood straighter. “Will you let us pass, casnar?”
He looked surprised. “Why shouldn’t I let you pass? I told you, I mean no harm.”
“Very well.” She started forward, but he backed away.
“Somehow we’ve started off on an ill footing,” he said. “My name is Erieso dachi Sallatotti. Won’t you tell me yours?”
Anne didn’t answer, but kept walking.
“Or perhaps I should guess?” Erieso said. “Perhaps one of the birds will tell me your names?”
Anne was now certain she heard someone behind them, as well. Rather than panicking, she felt a swift anger take her grief for wings and rise high. Who was this man, to bother her on this day, to interrupt her mourning?
“You are a liar, Erieso dachi Sallatotti,” she said. “You most certainly mean me harm.”
The humor vanished from Erieso’s face. “I mean only to collect my reward,” he said. “I do not see what anyone would want with such a pale and disagreeable catella, but there is silver to be had. So come, will you walk or be dragged?”
“I will call out,” Anne replied. “There are people all around.”
“That might deprive me of my reward,” Erieso said, “but it will not save you. Many in the streetguard seek you, as well, and they might well use you before claiming their silver. That I will not do, I swear by Lord Mamres.” He proffered his hand. “Come. Take it. It is the easiest way for you, and for me.”
“Is that so?” Anne said, feeling her anger blacken. But she reached for his hand. As their fingers touched, she felt his pulse, the wet flow of his insides.
“Cer curse you,” she said. “Worms take you.”
Erieso’s eyes widened. “Ah!” he croaked. “Ah, no!” He clutched at his chest and sank down to one knee, as if bowing. He vomited.
“Be glad you did not meet me by the light of the moon, Erieso,” she said. “Be gladder still that you did not meet me in the dark of it.” And with that she stepped past him. The man on the steps stood and stared at her wide-eyed. He said nothing, and he didn’t bar their way as they went up to the street.
“What did you do?” Austra asked breathlessly as they slipped into the crowd on the Vio Caistur.
“I don’t know,” Anne replied.
By the time they reached the stairs, almost all her anger and courage had
“Dena dicolla, casnaras,”
he said, with a little bow. “What makes such beautiful faces so long and sorrowful?”
“I do not know you, casnar,” Anne replied. “But good day to you and the saints bless you.”
She looked away, but he did not take the hint. Instead, he stood there, smiling.
Anne sighed. “Come,” she said, plucking at Austra’s dress. The two of them rose.
“I mean you no harm, casnaras,” the man said hastily. “It’s just that it is so unusual to see hair of copper and gold here in the south, to hear such charming northern accents. When such treasures of the eye present themselves, it behooves a man to offer whatever services he may.”
A small chill ran up Anne’s spine. In her grief, she had forgotten to keep her head covered, and so had Austra.
“That’s very kind of you,” she said quickly, “But my sister and I were just returning home.”
“Let me escort you, then.”
Anne let her gaze travel around. Though the streets above were now beginning to bustle, this part of the terrace was something like a park, and it was still relatively quiet. To reach the street, she and Austra had to travel some ten yards and climb a dozen stone stairs. The man stood between them and the nearest stair. Worse, another fellow sat on the stairs themselves, taking a more than casual interest in the conversation.
There were probably others she didn’t see at all.
She stood straighter. “Will you let us pass, casnar?”
He looked surprised. “Why shouldn’t I let you pass? I told you, I mean no harm.”
“Very well.” She started forward, but he backed away.
“Somehow we’ve started off on an ill footing,” he said. “My name is Erieso dachi Sallatotti. Won’t you tell me yours?”
Anne didn’t answer, but kept walking.
“Or perhaps I should guess?” Erieso said. “Perhaps one of the birds will tell me your names?”
Anne was now certain she heard someone behind them, as well. Rather than panicking, she felt a swift anger take her grief for wings and rise high. Who was this man, to bother her on this day, to interrupt her mourning?
“You are a liar, Erieso dachi Sallatotti,” she said. “You most certainly mean me harm.”
The humor vanished from Erieso’s face. “I mean only to collect my reward,” he said. “I do not see what anyone would want with such a pale and disagreeable catella, but there is silver to be had. So come, will you walk or be dragged?”
“I will call out,” Anne replied. “There are people all around.”
“That might deprive me of my reward,” Erieso said, “but it will not save you. Many in the streetguard seek you, as well, and they might well use you before claiming their silver. That I will not do, I swear by Lord Mamres.” He proffered his hand. “Come. Take it. It is the easiest way for you, and for me.”
“Is that so?” Anne said, feeling her anger blacken. But she reached for his hand. As their fingers touched, she felt his pulse, the wet flow of his insides.
“Cer curse you,” she said. “Worms take you.”
Erieso’s eyes widened. “Ah!” he croaked. “Ah, no!” He clutched at his chest and sank down to one knee, as if bowing. He vomited.
“Be glad you did not meet me by the light of the moon, Erieso,” she said. “Be gladder still that you did not meet me in the dark of it.” And with that she stepped past him. The man on the steps stood and stared at her wide-eyed. He said nothing, and he didn’t bar their way as they went up to the street.
“What did you do?” Austra asked breathlessly as they slipped into the crowd on the Vio Caistur.
“I don’t know,” Anne replied.
By the time they reached the stairs, almost all her anger and courage had
Similar Books
