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Karus doesn t need to know, but I ll explain if he does.
Thank you, my lord. May I ask, what does gidu mean?
Learned . It s often used by physicians of one another as a courtesy, but when Karus
uses it, he s paying you a remarkable compliment.
Oh. Kei was silent for a few moments, and Arman suspected he might be blushing, as
well he might. Praise like that from Karus actually meant something. He should really
call Jena that. He s in good hands with her she ll care for him very well.
Until she goes home, of course, Arman said neutrally.
My lord?
Have you forgotten, Kei? This isn t going to go on forever one day, one day very soon
I hope in fact, the siege at Darshek will succeed and you and your friends will be free to
return to your villages. It s what you re longing for, isn t it?
Yes. Yes of course it is, my lord. They walked in silence for several minutes, but then
Kei spoke again. It just feels odd to have spent so much time here, to have learned of
your ways and your language, and then I ll never use it again, I suppose, nor ever return
to Kuprij.
Arman was really curious as to where Kei was going with this. After your experiences, I
would wonder that you would ever want to lay eyes on another Prij as long as you lived,
Kei. Even I admit you ve not been treated particularly gently, not at any point.
No, my lord, we haven t. Yet a man like Karus is something special, someone to
treasure having met.
But he s the only one, surely.
No, my lord.
That surprised Arman, he had to admit. Is that so. Well, when Darshek falls, the empire
will be united there might be opportunities for you to come back to Kuprij if you re so
inclined. I doubt I would feel that way in your shoes, but then I m not you.
He could feel Kei s surprise at his cold tone, but it was time for a little restoration of the
proper balance in this relationship. Kei could satisfy his natural desire for friendship and
intellectual stimulation with Karus, Arman didn t need to be anyone s friend. It hurt, a
little, to push a congenial soul away, but they were enemies, he told himself sternly. A
couple of days of necessary relaxation of the rules didn t change this fact.
Kei didn t speak again until they reached the house, the darkness hiding whatever his
expression may have told Arman of his thoughts, but when Arman reached his rooms and
lit the lamp, he could see that some of the silence had to be caused by pure tiredness.
You overdid it today, Kei. I warned you not to.
Yes, my lord. It was just sitting, I swear to you, and Jena found me a place to rest for a
couple of hours.... It s just been a while since I had to work so hard intellectually for so
long. But then he smiled. It s good for me.
Indeed, Arman said, sorting through the letters on his desk, and not looking at Kei. His
servant fell silent again, and when the meal arrived, he ate without talking at all. He
managed more food this time, Arman noted anything which helped the man recover
more quickly was good, so he was pleased.
He left Kei to bathe on his own while he checked some records in the library, and when
he returned, Kei was dressed again and sitting on his pallet. The waiting footman took the
dirty water away, and Arman could then bathe quickly and have the water and the trays
removed. You should turn in.
Yes, my lord. Kei shifted as if he was about to lie down. My lord, have I offended you
in some manner?
No, Kei, I would tell you if you had.
Oh. Only, you keep grimacing does your head hurt?
Arman blinked in surprise that had been the last thing he expected. He d thought to
hear a petulant complaint about being ignored. Yes, he admitted. It does.
I can do something about that, if you like.
Kei was being scrupulously polite, and his eyes were downcast. It was hard to know what
was going on in that curious mind. Another ointment, perhaps made from caterpillar
spit, or some such?
Kei smiled a little. No, my lord, just a neck massage.
You expect me to let a Darshianese get their hands anywhere near my neck? I think not,
Kei.
Kei looked up in shock. He seemed about to speak, but then he shook his head and
turned, clearly giving up on the idea. Which, perversely, even though it was exactly what
Arman wanted, annoyed him. Can you really cure headaches this way?
Kei turned back to him. Not all of them, my lord. It depends on the cause. It s good for
those caused by overwork or strain. If there is an underlying illness, it s not very
effective.
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