This woman was-unless he had been led very greatly astray-Shirin of the Greens, their Principal Dancer, celebrated object of the anguished desire of at least one young aristocrat Crispin had met in a tavern yesterday, and very likely a great many other men, young or otherwise. She was also the daughter of Zoticus of Varena.
And the bewailing, anxious inner voice he’d just heard-twice-had been Linon’s.
Crispin’s head hurt again, suddenly. He found himself wishing he’d never left the baths, or the inn. Or home.
The woman stepped back, her hand trailing lingeringly along the front of his tunic, as if reluctant to let him go, as she turned to the person who had coughed.
And following her gaze, overwhelmed by too many things at once, Crispin found himself struggling suddenly not to laugh aloud like a child or a simple-witted fool.
‘Oh!’ said the woman, a hand coming up to cover her mouth in astonishment. ‘I didn’t hear you follow me! Dear friend, forgive me, but I could not restrain myself. You see, this is-‘
‘You do seem to insinuate yourself, don’t you, Rhodian,’ said Pertennius of Eubulus, secretary to the Supreme Strategos, whom Crispin had just seen disappearing through steam. And this man he had last encountered delivering a pearl to the Empress the night before.
Pertennius was dressed extremely well today, in fine linen, blue and silver, embroidered, with a dark blue cloak and a matching soft hat. The secretary’s thin, long-nosed face was pale, and-not surprisingly in the current circumstances-the narrow, observant eyes were not noticeably cordial as they evaluated the tableau in the doorway.
‘You … know each other?’ the woman said, uncertainly. Crispin noted, still struggling to control his amusement, that she had also gone pale now.
‘The Rhodian artisan was presented at court last night,’ Pertennius said. ‘He has just arrived in the City,’ he added heavily.
The woman bit her lip.
‘I warned you! I warned you! You deserve everything that happens now’ the patrician voice that had been Linon’s said. It sounded distant, but Crispin was hearing it within, as he had before.
It wasn’t addressing him.
He forced the implications of this away and, looking at the alchemist’s dark-haired daughter, took pity. There was, of course, no way they could pretend to be lovers or even intimate friends, but. . .
‘I admit I did not anticipate so generous a welcome,’ he said easily. ‘You must love your dear father very much, Shirin.’ He continued, smiling, giving her time to absorb this. ‘Good day to you, secretary. We do seem to frequent the same doorways. Curious. I should have looked for you in the baths just now, to share a cup of wine. I did speak with the Strategos, who was good enough to honour me with his company. Are you well, after your late errand last night?’
The secretary’s mouth fell open. He looked very like a fish, so. He was courting this woman, of course. It would have been obvious, even if the young Green partisans in The Spina had not said as much yesterday.
‘The Strategos?’ Pertennius said. ‘Her father!’ he said.
‘My father!’ Shirin repeated in a usefully indeterminate tone.
‘Her father,’ Crispin confirmed agreeably. ‘Zoticus of Varena, from whom I bring tidings and counsel, as promised by my message earlier.’ He smiled at the secretary with affable blandness and turned to the woman, who was gazing at him now with unfeigned astonishment. ‘I do hope I am not intruding upon an appointment?’
‘No, no!’ she said hastily, colouring a little. ‘Oh, no. Pertennius simply happened to be in this quarter, he said. He … elected to honour me with a visit. He said.’ She was quick-witted, Crispin realized. ‘I was about to explain to him … when we heard your knock, and in my excitement
Crispin’s smile was all benign understanding.’. . . you offered me an unforgettable greeting. For another such, I’ll return all the way back to Varena and come again with further word from Zoticus.’
She coloured even more. She deserved a little embarrassment, he thought, still amused.
‘You do not deserve so much good fortune,’ he heard inwardly, and then, after a pause, ‘No, I will not cook myself in a pot for dinner. I told you not to try such an obviously ridiculous-‘