Breakfast was as awkward as Ba'an had expected.

Puzzled by the sudden appearance of flowers in her washbasin, Ba'an had decided to braid them into her hair. Her mysterious benefactor would surely react to seeing her wearing them, and then she would know who it was. It was really quite simple—except for the braiding. That was not so simple, because her hair was still damp and it was long. Ba'an half-wished Aika was there, if only for another pair of hands.

Thus, clean and dressed again, she set off for breakfast.

Without Aika to guide her, Ba'an resorted to simply asking directions as she wandered through the halls, as she did not know where breakfast would be served. The dining hall was empty, so she took a leisurely walk toward the gardens on a hunch.

The Dolkoi'ri did like their gardens; they had them indoors and outdoors.

Nikias was conversing with Leandros when Ba'an arrived. They were sitting comfortably on the open veranda that led into the garden; being breakfast, the setting was not quite so elaborate, though they had maintained their fondness for lounging chairs. Oddly, there were only three, though they were quite long and wide. They were piled high with cushions and throws, and Ba'an could hardly see the wood beneath it all. Were they sharing seats?

…Was that proper? Or was she expected to sit with Arete?

Leandros looked exactly like Gaios, but younger. He was also at an age that allowed him all his hair; they sat in gleaming, inky-black curls that Ba'an was certain must be fashionable elsewhere. Ba'an noted that his hair was longer than any of the other men, Lukios included; if he were to ever write or set himself to work, he would have to tie it back to keep it from falling over his eyes.

He did not have Gaios' stern bearing, either. His face was too open and friendly, and the lines softer. He did not have the look of a military man.

Even Nikias looked more accustomed to hard living than Leandros. How curious.

"Well, hello, hello!" Leandros smiled, but Ba'an did not like the way he looked at her: he ran his eyes from her feet to her head, then down again, as if he was assessing a cow at market. It was offensive, and she stiffened. "That's Lukios' Sander woman, right?" He winked at her as though he hadn't referred to her like furniture. "Kind of skinny, isn't she? Then again, beggers can't be choosers."

Ba'an opened her mouth to speak, but Nikias beat her to it.

"Lady Ba'an is an esteemed guest of your father's, Leandros. Act like it."

The man blinked. "It's not like she understands us, Nik." Nikias's expression grew incredulous. His mouth had parted very slightly, and he seemed momentarily speechless.

Well. Leandros clearly did not share his father's wits. "I do understand you. Perfectly well. And you are correct: I am skinny. There is not much food in the desert, particularly after the war." Which his people had started. "Even so, I did not know it was Dolkoi'ri manners to speak of a woman so rudely in front of her."

He sputtered, going red, but recovered himself quickly. "Oh, I uh…er…" He cleared his throat and stood. "My deepest apologies, lady Ba'an. You're right. I should never have thought such a thing, never mind say it, regardless of whether you are present or not." He stood and put a hand over his upper belly and bowed. Then he took her hand in his and kissed it. Now it was Ba'an's mouth that hung open in shock.

Was this good manners?

Nikias only met her eyes and raised an eyebrow, as if saying, Is that sufficient?

What would he do if Ba'an said it was not? Was he offering to rebuke Gaios' son? In Gaios' own home?

"I see you've met Ba'an." Lukios' voice carried across the hall that led to the veranda. "Careful. Sanders don't really do the touching thing." There was a hard glint in his eyes that did not match his jovial tone. "Best keep your hands to yourself, y'know? Otherwise you might…lose one. Or both."

Leandros burst out laughing. "Well, aren't you in a mood? And we had such a fine morning, too. You're supposed to say hello before pulling out the threats, Lion-man."

Lukios' bared his teeth in something resembling a smile. "Did that by the gates. You getting old, Landy? Can you remember your own name?"

And now Ba'an could see Leandros' teeth.

There were quite a lot of teeth going around.

"Perhaps we should sit and wait for sir Gaios and lady Arete," Ba'an suggested. Lukios looked at her, and she saw his eyes settle on the flowers in her hair. His expression grew brighter as he met her eyes.

She looked away first, resisting the urge to touch her hair.

Well, of course it had been Lukios…but when had he had the time?

"I concur." Nikias looked perfectly relaxed. "The two of you are not permitted to kill each other while in Kyros—or anywhere else. But most certainly not here." Nikias took a sip of his ever-present tea, then added, "And that includes duels. No dueling, no stabbing, no violence—of any kind."

"Oh, come on Nik." Leandros flashed Nikias a shockingly charming smile. It was like seeing Gaios smile, but younger. Strange. Utterly strange. "If we haven't killed each other already, it's not happening. And Arete would cry. Over me." He smiled at Lukios thinly. "And I won't have that, even if Lion-man likes it."

Lukios' expression hardened. "I don't enjoy making women cry, Leandros. And I've already discussed this with Arete and Strategos, so you can mind your own business."

"She's my sister. That makes it my business, and you shameless." His eyes flicked to the spearhead that was peeking out from beneath Lukios' tunic. "Ha." He looked at Ba'an then at Lukios again. "Suits you: perfectly savage."

Ba'an and Nikias spoke at the same time.

"That is rude. The People are not savages."

"Leandros. They are guests and you are the heir to House Origos." Nikias and Ba'an glanced at each other. Meeting Ba'an's flat expression, Nikias smiled pleasantly and leaned back in his seat, looking as if they'd only discussed the weather.

Leandros smiled with only his mouth. "Of course I am. Family pride, and all that." He paused, then looked at Ba'an. "My apologies, lady Ba'an. It's this damnable weather—I'm always cranky before the rains hit. I'm sure your people are all…quite brilliant." He looked at Lukios with a cold, cutting smile. "And as an honest man, I must caution you on your choice of companion. He's broken a heart or hundred in his time, and you're just next in line."

Lukios lost his temper, exactly on cue. "Are you fucking serious right now? You came all the way here to piss me the fuck off and—" Lukios stalked forward, expression murderous. Nikias stood, looking perfectly ready to intervene while Leandros leaned back in his seat with a smug, satisfied smile, like it gave him great pleasure to insult both his guests at once.

Ba'an turned, hands up to soothe Lukios, alarmed; Leandros' timing had been perfect, because here was Gaios, striding toward them in the hallway with Arete on his arm, expression gone thunderous at yet another incident.

"Lukios." She put her hands on his chest, keeping him from Leandros. She hissed as quietly as she could, "Gaios is coming up the hall behind you." And Leandros had been seated facing the entryway. He had done it on purpose, the little dis-tat.

Lukios looked down at her, eyes still blazing. She felt him take a breath, his chest swelling against her palms, then he put his hands over hers and closed his eyes. She felt his muscles relax as he fought his temper. He opened his eyes and looked at her again, and she was abruptly aware that this was far too intimate, and Leandros was watching them with sharp, calculating interest.

She tugged her hands free, then turned her back to him.

"Please, have a seat." Leandros smiled at her very sweetly and patted the spot on the lounge next to him.

"She's sitting here," Lukios snapped, but Ba'an ignored him and seated herself next to Nikias. Lukios stopped talking abruptly, his shock ringing through his sudden silence.

Ba'an would have preferred to sit alone. But there were only three couches.

Nikias' expression had slid from polite to amused. "And suddenly, it doesn't seem like a very bad spot at all, does it?"

"I had thought it would be quiet."

Nikias made the little sound he made in lieu of actually laughing. Then he switched to K'Avaari, and spoke in a low, quiet voice, "What did you say to Lukios earlier? He looked like a puppy left at the corner." He paused. "Or is that a puppy about to heave? Something like that. I can't quite tell." Lukios had seated himself across from them. His eyes were fixed on her in a burning stare that she could feel down to her bones.

"That is not your business."

He hmm'd. "True. I just think it'd be a shame if he vomited on the textiles. These are imported, you know—all the way from Eir." He patted the rich rugs that were thrown over the chairs to soften them.

"I do not see how that is my responsibility. Lukios is a grown man." And it was Lukios who wished to keep her a secret from everyone; Ba'an was merely granting his desire. Nikias made that same restrained noise of amusement. He had only laughed in front of her once, she remembered, in his office. Lukios' soul was bright and loud, but Nikias' was quiet as a shadow cast in a wooded grove. The contrast between them could not be sharper.

Ba'an found that as annoying as he was, he still had better manners than Leandros. She would not have guessed that a man like Gaios would have raised his son so poorly.

"Hm, yes. You would say that." Now what was that supposed to mean? Nikias lifted his head to meet Lukios' eyes, and Ba'an had a terrible feeling that there was something triumphant about it, as if she had failed some kind of test. Lukios' stare never wavered.

Nikias gestured to a servant, who came forward and poured Ba'an a glass of juice. She sipped it. Oh. It was very cool and sweet, but tangy, too. She lifted the goblet and stared into it. Nikias smiled, and began speaking in his fine Illosian again. "Those are from the central gardens. We planted an orchard with imported plants from Yartan and Eir. Do you like it?"

"Yes. What is it called?"

"It is citron juice. They are grown beyond Yartan, actually. The climate here is just barely appropriate, but we are in the process of cross-breeding them to make them hardier and the fruit bigger." So. He was not only growing and breeding K'Avaari plants; he was growing and breeding them from everywhere, too.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Lukios had not spoken since he had taken his seat, but he was listening, expression gone uncharacteristically blank. Leandros insulted him again, getting in one last dig before his sister and father arrived, but Lukios did not respond. Ba'an frowned, cutting a cold glare in Leandros' direction, but he only smiled at her widely as if he had said something merry, rather than discourteous.

Even if Ba'an could not hear souls, there would have been no missing Arete's entrance.

"Lukios!" Arete released her father's arm and bounced to where he was seated. Lukios blinked, startled out of his reverie, and she watched his face morph into one of dismay before he killed the expression with a bland, polite little smile.

Arete did not seem to have noticed. She plopped down beside him with a gleeful laugh. "Why is everyone so gloomy? It's turning out to be a fine day, isn't it?" She turned to the serving staff and clapped her hands. "Papa's running late! Quick, quick!" Ba'an watched them scramble to do her bidding.

Gaios glanced at her choice of seat and sighed. "Arete."

Her eyes went wide and innocent. "But papa, I'm perfectly comfortable here." Gaios looked as if he was about to say more, but seemed to think better of it. He sat next to his son with more grace than his daughter had; his shoulders dipped briefly in resignation. He straightened before speaking again. "Leandros. I expect you on your best behaviour now and going forward."

Leandros only raised an eyebrow. "Since when am I not, father?"

The look Gaios gave him was oddly cold. "I also expect you in my study after dinner."

And then an odd thing happened: Leandros paled. Arete looked between them, her eyebrows knitting briefly, before regaining her vivacity. "Oh, papa. Don't be so hard on Landy. I insisted."

"Arete. Not now." Gaios did not sound angry. But his tone was sandstone: there would be no moving him.

Arete looked at her brother with eyes gone wide, but she regained herself swiftly. "Well!" She said instead, "Lady Ba'an! I had no idea you and Nik got on so well!" She clasped her hands together. "But of course you do! Our Nik's mother was a Sander, did you know?"

"Well, she does now," Nikias said dryly. "Remind me never to tell you any secrets."

"You never tell me anything, even if they're not secrets." Arete rolled her eyes, then put her hand on Lukios' forearm. Smiling stiffly, Lukios subtly disengaged from her grip, reaching over to the table to pour himself a drink. Ba'an did not think this was good manners, since the servants always did the serving and the pouring; the girl who had been doing just that glanced from him to Gaios before slowly stepping back so she was innocuous.

"Well, I suppose I'm wiser than I knew."

Arete only laughed. "You're so insufferable, Nik. You're lucky you've such a handsome face—poor Heiode would never put up with you otherwise!"

Nikias, who had been lifting a cup of juice to his mouth, froze. Ba'an blinked. Now that was an odd reaction. Who was Heiode?

He had paused at just the right moment for the sunlight to hit the thin metal band around his finger; it twinkled at her. Strange. He had not worn it at the welcome banquet or during her interview, so why now?

"Yes, well," said Nikias, "I suppose I was born lucky." And then he took his sip, continuing without a care in the world.

Lukios had remained completely silent. Ba'an was beginning to feel…concerned. She glanced over at him, but his eyes were fixed on his breakfast, which was meagre. Surely a cup of juice and a piece of fruit were not enough?

Arete had also noticed. "Lukios! You won't last until lunch on that!" She waved to one of the serving girls. "Bring out some meat! Something heartier than fruit and bread. Quick, now!"

Lukios finally raised his head. "Not for me, no. I already ate."

But he had only had an apple and a bun.

Nikias appeared to be watching her face with interest. Ba'an looked away, focusing on her own plate.

Except she was not hungry anymore, either. If she ate something, there was a chance she would be ill all over the fine Eirian rugs…and Nikias was not the only one watching her with a keen eye. Leandros was, too, and Ba'an was beginning to feel like a baby strifa being stalked by a pack of wild crocha.

She should have skipped breakfast. She should have lain on her bed and feigned a headache. She should have tripped and fallen down the stairs; surely no one would have expected her at breakfast then?

"Nonsense," Arete was saying. She took a plate and piled it with food, though Lukios did not take it from her. "How are you going to show me around on an empty stomach?"

This turned his head. "What?"

"I said—"

"I heard you. I'm not taking you around. I'm taking Ba'an to finish her shopping."

Arete blinked. Leandros' expression darkened. Gaios looked as if he was battling a headache.

Nikias sipped his tea, nonchalant.

Ba'an froze, cup of juice halfway to her mouth as Arete's eyes fixed on her and narrowed. Lukios was looking her now, too, though his expression was softer, soulful; he wanted her forgiveness.

And naturally, Arete caught that look, too. Everyone did.

Yes, Ba'an was a baby strifa, now trapped between a cliff and a pack of wild crocha.

"Well, I suppose she can come along." Arete recovered quickly, smiling. "Lady Ba'an, you won't mind a few detours, will you?"

"Arete. I'm not showing you around Kyros. You've been here before and you don't need a tour." Then Lukios added, blandly, "You said you'd never come back here, remember?"

Gaios finally frowned, looking at his daughter. She ignored him, opting to laugh instead.

"But Nik's been so busy building!" Arete leaned forward. "Haven't you, Nik? The gates already look much better than they did before! Have you finished the library?"

"No." Nikias shrugged. "Waiting on the marble." He looked amused, and not at all offended.

"Arete. Enough." Gaios put down his cup. "Lukios is coming to the barracks with me. We have business."

Lukios raised his head to look at Gaios. "Is there a problem?"

"Androlus wants a word about those schematics." Gaios grunted. "Don't ask me for details. I don't do schematics."

Nikias leaned forward. "Yes, I thought as much. I don't think hollowing the bottom completely would work, Lukios. The weight of the barrels would make the wood bend inwards. They won't hold, but adding beams would make the space too small."

Lukios blinked, then nodded. "True. I figured Androlus would make whatever changes he needed."

"Well, you can discuss that with him." And that was the final word Gaios had on the issue of schematics, but Arete clapped her hands.

"Oh! Can I see?"

Lukios and Gaios spoke at the same time. "No."

She pouted. "But why not?" She turned to Lukios. "I like your clever little drawings! You should draw me one."

"I did." Lukios' expression was bland. "You used it to line the cage for your rabbit."

She laughed again. "I did not! It was that stupid slave girl. Don't worry, we sold her." Arete shrugged carelessly, and Lukios looked away to take a sip of his juice.

Nikias sighed. "I'd like to take a look, too, but I'm needed at the office." He added thoughtfully, "I could send Polochos if you want another pair of eyes."

"Don't worry about it." Lukios set his cup down. "I'm going to go check on the goat. I'll see you at the barracks, strategos."

"Oh yes," drawled Leandros. "The goat. Got some Birdutan in you, too, eh?" Ba'an did not understand what this meant, but by the reactions of those at the meal, it was not very polite.

"Leandros." Gaios did not sound amused.

"Landy! That's a horrid thing to say!" Arete looked aghast.

"It was a joke." Leandros shrugged. "May as well feed her again; she's too skinny for dinner."

"Mai'ra is not dinner." Ba'an was annoyed now. It was true Lukios had purchased her, but Mai'ra was Ba'an's. This man had no business deciding she was dinner. Lukios turned his head to look at her, and now it was Ba'an's turn to be startled. He looked angry. At her.

"Right," Lukios muttered. "The precious goat is not dinner." He stood up. "Begging your pardon, strategos. I'll meet you at the gate." And then he…left.

"Well," said Leandros. "I see he still has his excellent manners."

"That's because you just won't stop," Arete snapped, but Leandros laughed in her face.

"You're the one that never stops," he said, but Gaios had had enough.

"If the two of you open your mouths to do anything except eat," Gaios said, "I will be very displeased."

They stopped. Immediately.

Nikias took a sip of his tea. "Do you have much shopping left, lady Ba'an? I would be happy to have my men escort you to whichever shop—or shops—you need."

"I do not." Ba'an paused. "I wish to buy reagents."

Nikias raised an eyebrow. Ba'an noted Arete leaning forward with interest, though she did not comment.

"Reagents? Whatever for?" Nikias' tone was mild, but his eyes were probing.

"Ointment." Ba'an frowned at him. "Surely that is not illegal."

He laughed. "No, no, of course not. I was only curious. Sander cures are very effective, so I wondered if you'd share your recipes."

"No."

Arete raised an eyebrow. Ba'an had the feeling that such direct refusal was rude, though no one else reacted—well, aside from Leandros. He, too, had raised an eyebrow, and the twins exchanged a look. Now what did that mean?

Nikias only continued to look amused. "I thought as much, but it was worth a try. But why ointment?"

Because Lukios' scars were likely sore, and this would worsen as the weather changed. "Sometimes my fingers ache," she replied instead. This was not a lie. Her fingers did ache, sometimes; Ba'an had often worked herself to the bone while alone in her not-vuti, and it had taken its toll on her joints. So it was not strictly a lie.

Nikias looked thoughtful. "An analgesic?"

"Yes."

"With nau'tha?"

Ba'an refrained from glaring. "Perhaps."

Nikias only smiled. "Perhaps Strategos will allow you some of the nau'tha from the garden." Gaios only grunted an affirmative, seemingly tired of the conversation already. Nikias continued, "As for the other reagents…I assume you need K'Avaari goods?"

Ba'an only looked at him mutely. Was he expecting her to make use of Illosian plants, most of which she had never heard of?

Nikias only went on, very pleasantly, "I will have someone guide you. There is one merchant who trades in Sander goods, but he is difficult to find unless you know where his stall is."

…What?

She blinked at him, and Nikias only made his usual noise of amusement. "Perhaps in exchange you would allow me to watch you make the—"

Arete leaned forward, so far that she nearly fell off her lounge. "Me too!" The words burst from her lips, and her eyes widened as she snuck a look at her father. He only sighed, and took a long drink. In a much calmer tone, Arete continued, "I'd like to see Sander magic, too!"

…Magic? How ignorant were Dolkoi'ri on matters of magic, normally? Was this a joke?

Nikias and Ba'an glanced at each other. "It is not magic, lady Arete. It is physic." Arete did not seem to believe Ba'an, but surprisingly, Nikias agreed.

"It is only herblore, Arete."

She pouted. "You never let me do anything fun."

And now Nikias and Gaios exchanged long-suffering looks.

"Have you memorized the Compendium?"

"…No." And now she looked as if she was sulking.

"I'm not sure how you expect to learn any herblore if you haven't read the Compendium, Arete." Nikias sounded perfectly polite, but this had the sound of a well-trod argument.

Ba'an looked at him curiously. Nikias practiced herblore?

But of course he did. He enjoyed cross-breeding plants, and this was not a hobby that appeared overnight.

"I've read it, Nik. I haven't memorized it." She sighed at him. "It's over five-hundred pages. How can you expect me to memorize it?"

Nikias opened his mouth to speak, but then seemed to think better of it. He took a sip of his tea instead.

It didn't save him. "Yes, yes. You memorized it when you were five and now you can recite it forwards and backwards. You're a genius, Niki. We know." Leandros chortled into his cup. By his expression, he had a cutting quip to contribute, but then he glanced at his father and held his peace.

"I was twelve and I cannot recite it backwards, Arete. And this is up to lady Ba'an."

"No."

Nikias shrugged at Arete. "You see? She said no."

"But lady Ba'an! Why not?"

"It is es'tat. Forbidden."

Nikias raised an eyebrow, and she knew she'd been caught out. Only peloiti and its derivatives were es'tat; well, that and some other rarer mixtures. Liniments for aches and pains were taught to children. It was not difficult.

But Nikias did not comment. "I will have someone guide you to the stall. The merchant's name is Eikolus. I believe he may have other items of interest." He smiled. "Please, take your time."

Ba'an had no desire to take his spies with her, but Gaios was already nodding. "That is wise, lady Ba'an. A woman should always have an escort, especially here. It's safer." Except, of course, Ba'an was already safer from thieves and criminals than the escort was from her—in theory.

It did not bear mentioning. Ba'an tried to think of a good excuse to avoid Nikias' spies, but she could think of nothing that would not arouse suspicion…and by his cheery expression, Nikias knew this as well.

The little stit-tat.

Arete sighed. "I'd love to go, but…I just thought of something." She clapped her hands. "I must prepare a grand dinner!"

Gaios grunted. "If you wish." He flapped a hand in her direction. "Tell Lasonius I give you permission to use the household account."

Arete clapped her hands together again and gave a squeal of glee. "Thank you, papa! You are the best father in the world!"

Leandros' expression grew sardonic, but he did not comment. Gaios only grunted again, but Ba'an noted that he looked pleased by his daughter's delight even if he gave no outward sign of it.

Arete sprang to her feet. "Oh! There's not much time"—Truly? They had only sat down to breakfast—"and I must take an account of the storehouse immediately!"

"Arete," Gaios sighed. "Finish your breakfast."

"Yes, papa." Blushing, she sat back down. "But—"

And the chattering began anew.

Ba'an snuck a glance in the direction Lukios had gone. Could she beg off now? She would not have a chance to see him again until dinner otherwise.

"Is something amiss, lady Ba'an?" And of course Nikias never missed anything, being the very irritating man that he was.

"I wish to lie down," she muttered. "Is it rude if I leave now?"

He shook his head. "If you are unwell, then you are unwell." He raised a hand and gestured for a servant. "Lady Ba'an is feeling poorly. Take her up to her room." He looked at her and smiled, and Ba'an knew he had done it on purpose; undoubtedly, this was another test of some kind.

"Thank you." Refusing would be suspicious, would it not?

Ba'an made her excuses and left, following the servant, listening. Lukios was still at the stables, but she did not think he would be there for long; breakfast was nearly over, and he would be obliged to meet Gaios at the gate.

The serving girl saw her into her room then left. Ba'an waited a heartbeat, then two; the girl's soul grew distant, and Ba'an slipped into the servants passage to make her way to the stables.