Chapter 10: The Study Door

Teodric sent four riders after the carriage and then stood in the study doing nothing at all.

Elior had never seen him do nothing.

He stood by the map table with both hands flat on the wood and his head bowed.

He did not speak for a long time.

"They will not catch it," Elior said.

"The snow is already filling the tracks."

"I know."

"Rolf and the Treasurer.

"What would they have to say to each other?"

"I do not know."

Teodric lifted his head.

His eyes were pale and very steady, and something in them frightened Elior more than the wolves had.

"I watched him look at you yesterday," he said.

"Across the table, when you thought no one was watching.

"He looked at you like a debt he has already written off."

Elior opened his mouth to laugh.

It did not come.

It was true, and he had felt it in the courtyard, in the hair on his neck.

Dreyne had looked at him.

"I don't know what he wants," Elior said.

"I know that I do not want to be afraid in this room."

"I will not let anyone."

"I know.

"I know you won't."

He crossed to the desk and put his back against it.

The study was dim, and the fire had burned low, and the black book lay shut at his elbow.

He looked at the huge man across the room, and the fear in his chest turned over and became something hotter.

"Then keep me," he said.

Teodric went still.

"Elior."

"Not as a pledge.

"Not as a guest.

"Keep me.

"Come here."

The duke came, slowly.

He stopped an arm's length away.

"Don't be gentle," said Elior.

"Tonight I want to be sure I'm here."

For a moment he saw the struggle in the broad face, the old careful habit, the fear of using his size.

Then Elior took the black coat in both fists and dragged him down.

The kiss was nothing like the first one.

It was teeth and breath and a low furious sound from Teodric's chest, and Elior's head went back against the wood.

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