Ex Lapis by J A Cummings

Author:J A Cummings [Cummings, J A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-19T22:00:00+00:00

That night, Constantine insisted that they join him at the Spaniard’s villa, where Arthur and his party would be protected by his men. He was the very soul of genteel hospitality during dinner, leading the conversation with the agility of one long accustomed to a royal court. Garwen, dressed in her finest gown, sat near him, clearly dazzled by his noble manner and his handsome face. Griflet and Bedivere eventually pulled her aside and moved her to sit between Sir Kay and Sir Ector, where her fidelity to her missing lord Sir Brastias could be more secure.

Constantine, who had been very well aware of the effect he was having on the naive girl, smiled to himself as her relatives led her away to another part of the dining hall. He turned to Arthur and said softly, “You will learn, perhaps, if you progress through your life in a royal hall, that women will want to bed you just because you are king. Like Uther and like my father himself, you will no doubt have the opportunity to have a host of by-blows.”

“I will endeavor not to indulge myself that way,” Arthur told him. “Have you any children?”

“No.” The prince looked into his wine glass. “Not yet.”

There was much left unspoken beneath that answer, and Arthur determined that one day he would know the truth of it. For now, he let it go. He sipped his own wine. While Kay and Ector seemed to be disgusted by the drink, Arthur quite liked it. It was unlike anything he had ever tasted before in his life, except for communion wine, which was nothing at all like the vintage he currently enjoyed. There were evidently fine things in life that he had not yet encountered. He promised himself that he would live long enough to experience them all.

Alexios, their host’s Greek slave, was standing behind his master, watching Arthur with quick, dark eyes. He nodded to the man, who looked away. He wondered what he was thinking. A slave in a royal household would hear everything that could be heard, he was certain; just watching his host and how he ignored Alexios as if he was furniture convinced him that a slave owner would not mind his or her tongue in front of a their property. The same was likely true of any sort of servant. He resolved that he would befriend the serving men and women in every castle he ever visited, for they would tell him things that only the walls should have heard.

Their host was an inscrutable foreigner, the mysterious Safir of Babylon. He reclined elegantly on his couch, clad in flowing robes of purple silk, embroidered with gold thread and studded with pearls. His skin was dark brown and his hair was the glossiest black that Arthur had ever seen. His every wish was anticipated and answered by Alexios, who had the talent of appearing just when he was needed. Safir held out his cup, and his slave was already there to fill it before his arm was fully extended.

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