(eng) Karen Dudley by Kraken Bake

Author:Kraken Bake [Bake, Kraken]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

It’s a popular place,” Hermogenes said around an overly large mouthful of breakfast roll.

“No.”

“All the athletes go there.”

“No.”

“The beard thinks they’d be a great sponsor.”

“No, Hermogenes! No. I don’t care what ‘the beard’ thinks! As far as I know, facial hair is not sentient. Besides, I believe I made myself very clear about this. I will not have my hair styled at an establishment called Curl Up and Dye. I don’t care how fashionable it is!”

“It’s not the best name for a business,” Gorgias rumbled his agreement. “Especially for a sponsor. Gives the wrong impression, doesn’t it?”

Hermogenes fell into surly silence, biting into his breakfast roll with rather more savagery than usual.

I took advantage of the ensuing quiet to sip gingerly at a cup of water that I’d flavoured with a few strands of precious saffron. It was a more palatable cure—and certainly easier on the digestion—than the breakfast of fried canaries most Athenians preferred after a night of wine. I shuddered at the very thought. I’d woken late with a colossal headache and a distinctly unhappy stomach. I couldn’t imagine consuming a fried bird for breakfast.

I had just decided to attempt a bread roll when Hermogenes broke his silence.

“Perseus was asking for me this morning,” he said in an overly polite fashion. “Wanting me to lend a hand with his Pegasus today. They’re waiting for me now.” He paused to swallow, then added, almost as an afterthought, “If you don’t mind, that is.” The request was civil enough, but I caught the faint trace of sullenness in his tone—as I was no doubt meant to.

His attitude irritated me.

I set down my untasted bread roll. “If I don’t mind?” My voice rose along with my temper. “If I don’t mind my disciple buggering off to polish the hooves of some magical rainbow pony? Oh, why should I mind that? Going to the market by myself? Carrying everything back by myself? Preparing for my next contract by myself? Whatever gave you the idea that I should mind that?”

Gorgias, who had been reaching for the plate of rolls, paused and stared at me, bushy eyebrows scrunching together in a frown. He opened his mouth to say something, but Hermogenes beat him to it.

“I don’t have to go, Chef, really.” His features settled into a martyred expression that I also found most irritating. “He just asked, is all,” he said. “If you’re needing me, of course I’ll stay.”

The words sounded sincere enough, but I wasn’t fooled by them for an instant. Gorgias, on the other hand, gave Hermogenes an approving nod before selecting a bread roll. But Gorgias was a man who liked harmony in his house—even if he had to turn a blind eye to achieve it. He gave his attention back to his breakfast, and my disciple took the opportunity to slide me another darkly resentful look.

I pulled my cloak more tightly around my shoulders—I felt chilled this morning—and glowered right back at him. Since yesterday afternoon, I had been the recipient of many such sullen and pointed glares.

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