Dagger's Edge (Shadow series) by Logston Anne

Author:Logston, Anne [Logston, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mundania Press LLC
Published: 2013-03-11T17:00:00+00:00

V

“This one looks much better,” Jael admitted.

“I think you’re right.” Urien smiled as he gazed around the empty room. He stepped to the window and looked out. “The neighborhood appears much superior to the southern house we looked at.” He glanced upward. “But that gargoyle—”

“Well, you could have it taken down,” Jael grinned.

“It’s so hideous, I may just keep it there,” Urien said, smiling back. “That way, when I invite guests to the house, I can ask them how they like it and watch them squirm for an answer.”

Jael chuckled at the image, wondering if Numan had perhaps had the same idea. Grandmother Celene was fond of just such tricks.

“Are you ready for some dinner?” Urien suggested. “I hope this time we can dine on something more appealing than boiled greens.”

“Today I can eat whatever I want,” Jael said. “And I could eat anything in Allanmere except boiled potherbs.”

Urien took her to the Basilisk’s Eye, an almost decadently luxurious inn in the Noble District. Jael wondered if Urien knew that the small private supper alcoves were a notorious trysting place for nobles wanting to avoid public scrutiny of their liaisons. Thinking about it, Jael decided that Urien probably knew—and probably knew that she knew.

Because most nobles dining at the Eye wanted privacy in the alcoves, their meal was served all at once, rather than in courses, so that the servers wouldn’t be ducking in and out. Jael was a little intimidated by the sheer quantity of dishes, and even more so when she realized what they were being served: golden blacktail roe; a delicate soup of sawback fin; simmered and seasoned roundshells, together with their liquor; bite-size morsels of daggertooth, stewed in a spicy sauce; pincer-claws baked in butter, and much more—the list was dizzying, and Jael found herself calculating the probable cost preservation-spelling these delicacies and ferrying them up the Brightwater. Jael shuddered to herself and thought that she did not want to know what Urien was paying for this dinner.

Although wine had, of course, been brought with the meal, Urien did not press any on Jael, for which Jael was duly grateful. Instead he gave the servant a small cake of the Calidwyn black tea to brew, joining Jael in a cup of the fragrant liquid.

“I see you are growing to share my addiction to Calidwyn’s tea,” he smiled. “Perhaps I will have to send for some to trade in Allanmere after all.”

He scooped up a small spoonful of blacktail roe on a thin sliver of toasted bread and fed it to Jael.

“Do you like it?”

Jael nodded and swallowed.

“We don’t get seafood too often,” she said. “Not much is ferried up the Brightwater this far.”

“Did you know,” Urien said, taking Jael’s hand and smiling, “that many of the fruits of the sea are thought to be aphrodisiacs?”

“I’d heard that, yes,” Jael said. She grinned. “I think the sea merchants try to spread that rumor to raise the prices.”

“That may be.” Still holding Jael’s hand, Urien dipped her finger into the bowl of blacktail roe, scooping up some of the tiny golden orbs.

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