Going Down by Ann Somerville

Author:Ann Somerville
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: mm affection, empaths

Chapter 5

Lano was happy with the arrangement, and pleased that Einan had made contact with Thalem again.

“Struck me as a good man, that one,” he said, after Einan had briefly told him Thalem’s history so the old man wouldn’t be offended by any odd reaction.

“You think the wife should have forgiven him? If it had been your wife or child killed?”

“Weeel, that’s the thing, ain’t it. Different when it’s your own. Can’t say as I blame her. Damn shame though. Way I see it, everyone’s gotta take responsibility for themselves. He’s done it, and made a choice. Seen fellas make worse ones.”

“But he’s not happy.”

Lano tilted his head in a knowing manner. “Not yet. Grieving takes time. You ain’t done with yours neither.”

Telepaths, Einan thought ruefully.

Thalem turned up bright and early—too early, since Einan was still asleep. As he stumbled in, heavy-headed and tired from a restless night, he found Thalem and Lano drinking jilaj in the kitchen. Lano grinned knowingly, but Thalem merely greeted him with a calm expression, as if being kept waiting was of no matter.

“Sorry ‘m late,” Einan mumbled, reaching for the jilaj pot and a mug. “Bad night.”

“S’okay. I was asking Sar Beron what he wanted me to do.”

“Thing is, Einan,” Lano said, shoving the pot a little closer, “I got a few little jobs need doing, and me and Sar Troe here was figuring out a way I could pay.”

Einan sat down. “You planning to trade my time for his?”

“Nope, ‘less’n you wants to. No, I was thinking more about hot food for his fellas, flasks of hot drinks come the cold weather, that kind of thing.”

“It’d be easier than trying to carry it all from the temple,” Thalem said in his slow, deep rumble. “I’d be obliged to Sar Beron if he’d help.”

“S’all good to me,” Einan said. It was likely no skin off Lano’s nose and he liked the idea of Thalem having another contact—another friend. Lano was kind and wise and didn’t judge. Just the sort of person Thalem needed.

The rain of two days before had provided only a small relief to the rising heat. By the time the three of them walked out into the yard, it was hot enough to cook a steak. Thalem was unperturbed, but as Einan sat and watched him efficiently cut a neat hole in the side of the little shed, sweat began to bead on the man’s broad forehead.

“Want some water?” Einan asked.

“If’n it ain’t no trouble.”

Back in the kitchen, Lano made up a jug of cold yito tea and added a few dried niele berries. Einan filled up a big glass and brought it out.

He stopped dead, and swallowed at the sight before him.

Gods.

Thalem had taken his shirt off, tied it around his hips. Man, he was magnificent. The tabard and heavy shirt he habitually wore only showed his bulk. Now he was bared to the waist, the perfection of his musculature, the sheer power of his shoulders and arms under surprisingly unflawed brown skin, were revealed.

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