Dragonfly by L. E. Bryce

Author:L. E. Bryce
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phaze

Chapter Four

"I wish it could be otherwise, but he insists.” Hanithi wrung jeweled fingers together; his lower lip quivered on the verge of tears. “We had a terrible argument last night. Once Ghazri makes his mind up about a thing, there is no persuading him. He all but told me to choose—you or him. Inandré, it is no choice at all. I must do what he says."

That this moment should come was no surprise. Inandré marveled only that Ghazri had not ordered it sooner. “Should you be here?"

"No,” answered Hanithi, “but right now I do not care. He will find out, of course—there is nothing I do or say or buy that he does not know about—and he will hate it. He can threaten me all he likes. But I am not his slave, and I would be a very poor friend if I did not do this myself, in person."

Inandré bit back whatever bitter retort had risen to his lips. A true friend did not abandon others, yet Hanithi's anguish was clear to see. Yes, you are a slave, bought and paid for, with a contract as your shackle. He had no need to say what they both already knew. “I am sorry. I wish—"

"Oh, gods!” Tears brimmed in swollen, puffy eyes and flowed freely down Hanithi's cheeks. Inandré noticed then that he wore no kohl. “I wanted this to be different. I was never Ghazri's first choice, and it seems he always has to remind me. I would break the contract if I could and go back to the capital, but I have no other source of income right now, and I cannot afford to be snubbed. No one else would take me on."

Inandré reached out and tenderly stroked his knuckles. “No, you must stay with him, at least until you are in a position to refuse him. Do not think about me, Hanithi. I understand."

A square of linen appeared in Hanithi's other hand; he dabbed his eyes with it. “This is so terribly, horribly wrong. The only good thing to come out of it is that you finally have a patron. I can rest a little easier knowing Shapur will take care of you. Oh, when I think about that scene he made at Prince Hashmal's banquet! Ghazri called him a sentimental idiot for defending you in public like that. I thought it was so wonderful I wanted to cry. Prince Chombar should have done it, Inandré. He should have stood up for you in open court when Ajmi slandered you. I told Ghazri that. He just shook his head and told me to stop reading trashy novels, because things like that just did not happen in the real world."

Hanithi had always been the strong one, ready with a smile or word of encouragement. To see him reduced to such utter misery tore at Inandré's heart. “Shapur is sentimental, but no idiot. A man like him does not build a fortune by being a fool."

Hanithi sniffled, then delicately blew his nose.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.