Page 51 (1/2)

I settle on a pole rolled off to one side, glad for the rest

Watching Kalliarkos and Dusty, I try to find rivalry or friendship, but all I see is polite nods that could ood on the blind shaft It’s a pleasure to watch his blend of tension and strength as he nimbly climbs up various widths He easily beats Dusty

The interaction between Lord Thynos and Inarsis interestsKal’s technique or Dusty’s inefficient breathing, they touch each other on the arht, in a way I have seen at Anise’s training stable where I observed that kind of casual contact between longtime friends or lovers Once I saw my father talk to another man in a similar fashion, with an intimacy that had to do not with flesh but with trust; he told me later that he and the other captain had served in the Oyia caether they had faced death Will I ever be able to truly trust Kalliarkos?

After he finishes a climb and waits for Dusty, Kalliarkos catchesof hiainst his neck, his face glistening, and his darin but then I do, and he winks at le

Thynos thu between the two of us "That’s enough, Kal I think we can break for our o back to the palace Isn’t your poetry tutor waiting for you?"

"My tutor didn’t co feast on Sixthday night"

Re how Father abandoned us hits like a kick in the belly I clutch my arms across my body

Kalliarkos’s brorinkles with concern as he takes a step toward ht?"

"Kal, I told you to return to the palace" Thynos stands with ar with me?"

Kalliarkos holds his uncle’s stare for just long enough to save face, but both Thynos and I can tell theat uard

Thynos waits until they are out of sight before brushing his hands free of chalk and grit "Dusty, take a break Spider, at attention"