The young serving girl in the borrowed uniform from the balcony ran to his side. She raised her half-empty carafe, trying to track the glass the Eron waved back and forth. He coughed again, directly in her face. She recoiled, disgusted. Wine soaked the length of Robben’s sleeve, down his side. Valla Kimbroll barked a laugh. Eron Robben snarled, looking at his ruined shirt. His hand flew, cracking across the girl’s plump cheek. “You lousy waste,” he rasped. Valla Kimbroll laughed harder. Donovan watched him closely, sitting with the minor Erons at the far end of the table. Kathan’s head was suddenly very clear. Each candle flame focused down to a tiny, hard point. Even Valla Kimbroll’s inane laughter faded. There was only the snap of Robben’s hand, the pinked up cheek, the look of mixed horror and expectation on the little girl’s face. The girl cradled her cheek in her tiny palm. She had dark, wide eyes. Kathan saw his youngest sister there, Sommae. Saw her in the round face, the dark hair. Saw her in the barn, by lamplight, threatening a horse thief with a pitchfork and her will. “Stay back,” she’d said, her voice too high and scared. “Stay back ‘cause I don’t want to kill you.” He saw the same mixed up look in her eyes. “Again, you idiot, and keep it off my clothes this time,” Eron Robben grabbed the carafe and poured it into his glass. He shoved it back into the little girl’s hands. Kathan didn’t remember when he’d sat down his fork, or gotten to his feet. He tangled his fist in Robben’s soggy collar, jerking him sharply forward. The Eron’s face smashed down onto his plate, splattering food. Valla Kimbroll’s laugh pealed like a bell. Robben leaned back, dazed. His forehead was red where it hit the plate. Sauce dripped from his bushy eyebrows. Kathan stood over him, anger dark and hot in his face. “This is my house,” he said. “Do you understand? You’re my guest, all of you are.” He turned his gaze on the rest. “No one lays a hand on someone here without my say so. They belong to me,” he growled. He threw his napkin down on the table and looked at Valla Kimbroll. “And you, madam, are much prettier with your mouth shut.” He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. Valla Kimbroll didn’t laugh at all.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:15:32 +0000
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