The Congruent Dragon by Dave Schroeder

Author:Dave Schroeder [Schroeder, Dave]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fantasy
Publisher: Spiral Arm Press
Published: 2018-07-20T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 35

Doethan and Laetícia

“More wine?” asked Laetícia. The two of them sat across from each other at a beautiful ivory-inlaid table made from a dark wood Doethan didn’t recognize. The dough rings, a bowl of soft cheese, a sharp knife, and a pair of flat knives rested on the table between them. Laetícia occupied a high padded stool identical to Doethan’s seat, demonstrating her perfect posture. She held a thick green glass bottle above Doethan’s goblet.

“Just a sip or three,” said Doethan. “I can handle wine, but I understand that sorghum beer you Roma drink hits like the butt-end of a spear to the faceplate.”

“It helps if you grow up drinking it,” said Laetícia. “I can get a mug of it for you if you’d like to taste it for yourself.” She shifted her head and smiled. The beads on her braids made a distracting susurrus, like rain on a slate roof.

It’s almost hypnotic, thought Doethan. “Some other time,” he said. Doethan accepted more of the fruity red wine—far more than three sips—then reduced the height of the liquid in his goblet by two fingers. He didn’t tell Laetícia she had a dab of soft cheese on the corner of her mouth. She was tall, though not by any means as tall as her husband Quintillius, the governor and military leader of Occidens Province. Laetícia wore lavender wizard’s robes covered in subtle geometric patterns of sparkling thread and her deep-purple magestone glowed on a gold plate resting just below her throat. With her bright, intelligent eyes and ebony skin she looked more like a queen than a spymaster. She might as well be a queen, from everything I’ve heard, thought Doethan.

“I’m so glad you brought dough rings,” said Laetícia. “I like them quite a lot, and so do the children, but the palace cooks don’t often serve them, since they need to be boiled as well as baked. Did you know that?”

“I learned it recently,” said Doethan. “They certainly have a unique taste and consistency. They’re chewy, without being tough.”

“A concise and accurate description,” said Laetícia.

“How many children do you have?” asked Doethan, sincerely interested and trying to get through the obligatory small talk as quickly as possible.

“Three,” said Laetícia. “Primus, Seconda, and Tertia—a boy and two girls.”

“Interesting,” said Doethan, trying not to show his surprise.

“What?” asked Laetícia. “You don’t approve of their names?”

“It’s not that,” said Doethan. “It’s just that I expected parents like you and Quintillius to be more creative in your choice of names than calling your offspring First, Second, and Third.”

Laetícia laughed and shook her head in mirth. Her beads clacked like hail on a slate roof, not rain. “Thank you!” she said. “I haven’t laughed like that since Seconda tried to put our cat in a toga.”

“I hope I haven’t offended,” said Doethan.

“By no means,” said Laetícia. She artfully refilled his goblet while she recovered. “It’s customary for Roma parents to give their children nicknames—use names for everyday inside the family. Primus is Quintillius Marius Occidentalis.

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