J. F. Rivkin - Silverglass 04 by Mistress of Ambiguities

Author:Mistress of Ambiguities
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2011-04-28T10:18:00+00:00

* * *

“You told me,” Nyctasia concluded, “that students of Vahnite philosophy were the most desirable lovers, because mastery of the Discipline gives one such remarkable self-control.”

“No! I must protest, this isn’t fair—I can’t defend myself. I didn’t really say that?”

“Well, we were very young,” Nyctasia said leniently. “And after all, it was perfectly true.”

13

“i must have been sotted,” ’Malkin thought drowsily. “How could I have been so rutting careless ...?”

It was not at all like ’Malkin to allow mere fleshly attraction to interfere with his aims and purposes. As a rule he was thoroughly circumspect, as a courtier must be who hopes for advancement, but to have spent the night in Corson’s bed like this had not been in the least discreet. He knew very well how malicious gossip could be at court—any court. True, the Rhaicime was away, but he did not doubt that she would hear of anything that went on in her absence. He was aware that he already had enemies in the palace, other scholars, jealous of the ease with which he’d gained the favor of the Rhaicime, while they’d been here longer and failed to come to her notice. (And he had Corson to thank for that, he grudgingly admitted to himself.) They’d be all too glad to see to it that Her Ladyship heard of this affair.

Not that the episode was very likely to damage his standing with the Rhaicime, even if it did get about. It was not as if he’d trifled with a palace scullion, or bedded a stableboy. After all, it was the Rhaicime herself who had brought Corson and her base-born friends to court, and allowed them the freedom of the palace. Still, one could not be too careful. The Lady Nyctasia—not even in his thoughts did he call her “Nyc,” as his ill-bred bedmate did—the Lady Nyctasia might take a broad view of these matters, but it was one thing for her to be on familiar terms with such people herself, and quite another thing for her followers to carry on with them. Different behavior was expected, ’Malkin knew, from those of different stations. The Rhaicime was above the rules. She could afford to flout convention. A mere court clerk and scholar could not. It had probably been unwise to permit himself to be seduced in this way. Enjoyable though it had been, he must keep his wits about him and not let it happen again.

Well, it was not yet dawn, he’d plenty of time to be on his way before he could be discovered here. But he made no move to bestir himself yet. If only he weren’t so comfortable .... He looked around Corson’s lavish bedchamber with resentment. It was exasperating to think of a coarse ruffian like Corson enjoying this great feather bed, these spacious quarters, while he shared a narrow room with half a dozen other students and scribes. He could probably get himself better accommodations if he complained to the Rhaicime, but it was not yet time to ask favors of Her Ladyship.

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