Master of Restless Shadows Book Two by Ginn Hale

Author:Ginn Hale [Hale, Ginn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy, gay, Romance
Publisher: Blind Eye Books
Published: 2022-02-18T17:53:43+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Ariz jerked his head out from the hot water and wiped his face. Clouds of perfumed steam drifted through the room. One attendant clutched a fistful of his hair. A second groped in the tub to grasp his foot. Both men set to work scrubbing him, while Hierro leaned back in his luxuriant gold seat wearing a smug smile.

Late afternoon sun reflected across the ivory-tiled floor and gleamed along the curves of the gilded tub. Servants in white Gavado liveries hurried in and out of the chamber. Page boys proffered refreshments to Hierro and Prince Remes as well as the twenty brash young noblemen who made up Hierro’s entourage. Older servants hovered around the nobles like grooms ministering to prize studs: buffing their fingernails, shining their boots and refreshing the fine powders of gold dust that adorned many of their faces. One young man crouched at Hierro’s feet, carefully polishing his gold spurs. Wearing an almost playful smile, Hierro kicked the man’s ribs and dismissed him.

Ariz didn’t fight the ministrations of the bath attendants washing him. It would only entertain Hierro to witness him injure two hapless servants. Though the younger of the two attendants was none too gentle as he dragged his scrub brush over the bruises and scrapes that peppered Ariz’s legs. The older man shoved Ariz’s head back under the bathwater to rinse the last trace of the dull stain from his hair. Ariz stared up through the water, watching the attendant out of habit.

But what was the point? If the old man decided to drown him, would it really be so bad of a thing? The soap stung Ariz’s eyes and at last he closed them.

He remained beneath the surface, holding his breath and willing his heartbeat to slow to silence. Floating beneath the water wasn’t so different from drifting through the sky. The currents felt warmer and gentler. It wouldn’t be so bad to just slip into unconsciousness under the water. It couldn’t be worse than whatever Hierro planned to do with him this evening.

Then he remembered holding Fedeles in his arms the previous night. The desire to survive, to find a way free of Hierro and to reclaim his life as his own surged through him.

Again Ariz pushed himself up from the water and into the cool air. A reflexive breath filled Ariz’s lungs. The bath attendant looked Ariz over with a cold expression, as if Ariz was a dirty shirt in need of tough scouring. Who in the Gavado household could afford to feel sympathy for him? Definitely no one who served Hierro directly; Ariz understood that well enough not to expect any kindness.

“Don’t let them drown the man,” Remes directed from behind Hierro. He snatched up a cherry from the silver dish on Hierro’s dressing table. “It would sadden Clara. She rather pities the poor fellow.”

“She pities him?” Hierro’s smirk gave way to a rich laugh. “Have you actually looked at Ariz, my prince? I assure you, there’s not an inch of him that’s pitiful.

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