Lady Grunito watched Kiram from beside her husband.
"It is so lovely to have you for a visit at last, Kiram." She smiled just a little at him as if she was not quite sure of what to make of his sudden appearance. "You must promise to stay as long as you can."
"It would be a pleasure," Kiram answered, though his time in the Haldiim district had dulled his sense of proper Cadeleonian conduct. Then he quickly added, "Thank you so much for your generous hospitality."
Lady Grunito nodded as if he'd just given the proper response to a quiz. "You slept well, I hope?"
"Very well, thank you," Kiram assured her.
"Very good." She glanced at his empty plate and gave a little shake of her head. "But you certainly must eat a little more."
Then she rang a small gold bell and instantly servants paraded in from the kitchen with second helpings of sausages, kidneys, bacon, sweetbreads, eggs, toast and golden fruit, which turned out to be pickled lemons.
Kiram accepted a second serving of sausage as well as a wedge of pickled lemon from a strikingly blond servant. He nearly thanked the young man in Haldiim before catching himself. The words came like a reflex when he laid eyes on another Haldiim.
Somehow he had failed to imagine that poorer Haldiim men and women would accept work as maids, cooks and footmen outside of the Haldiim district. The young, blond table servant was not alone on the staff. Of course work was work, whether it was for Mother Kir-Zaki or Lady Grunito.
Watching them all and noticing their whispered Haldiim words, Kiram couldn't help but think of his own home and feel an ache at the thought that he might never return there.
"Most have converted or are the children of converts," Timoteo said, noting Kiram's gaze. "Mother feels it's important to help them find steady work since often they are shunned in their prior communities."
"Very kind of her," Kiram replied. He could not bring any warmth to his voice, thinking of how isolated those servants must feel being so cut off from their families and homes.
"It is of the utmost importance to welcome those who come willingly to the true God and salvation." Timoteo studied Kiram as if he were already making plans for his future position in their house.
"Watch out, Kiram," Javier called out from down the table. "Timoteo is recruiting choirboys for his chapel."
Beside him Elezar snorted and then shouted, "Watch out, Tim, Kiram can't sing to save his life!"
They both burst into laughter, as did Morisio and Atreau. Lord Grunito looked confused but then simply began laughing with the others. Lady Grunito ignored them all and continued her discussion with an older Cadeleonian gentleman.
Timoteo's gaunt face flushed. He glared at the clot of Hellions at the far end of the table before returning his attention to Kiram. But Kiram didn't want to discuss conversion or how well an unwanted Haldiim son would be treated by Lady Grunito-certainly not with this man.
"We don't have any sausages like this in the Haldiim district," Kiram said before Timoteo could get a word out. "They're quite delicious."
To Kiram's relief Riossa responded, telling him that she too had been surprised by the unusual spices and that she'd since discovered that it was a special recipe a Mirogoth cook made just for the Grunito household. Timoteo scowled in a way that made Kiram think that the cook had not been converted. Or maybe Timoteo just didn't like the sausages. Either way he soon excused himself to prepare his sermon for the morning chapel service. Riossa and Kiram briefly shared a look of relief after his departure.
After breakfast most of the Cadeleonians departed for the Grunitos' private chapel to hear Timoteo and receive blessings. Nestor rushed to Kiram and, to Kiram's shock, embraced him.
"About time you came and stayed with us! I'm so pleased you'll be here for my wedding tomorrow." Nestor released Kiram but continued to grin. "You are on my team for charades tonight."
"All right," Kiram agreed, though he had no idea what it would involve. It just felt good to be genuinely welcomed.
"You'll love it," Nestor told him. "Oh and I want you to pose for me. I'm working on a painting with Riossa and I want you in it."
"Nestor!" Lady Grunito called.
"I have to attend chapel but afterward I am going to give you a full tour of the grounds. I owe you for taking me everywhere in the Haldiim district." Nestor glanced over his shoulder at his mother and father. "I have to go."
Through the crowd of Cadeleonians Kiram heard Javier decline an invitation to chapel, claiming that he didn't want to burden Timoteo with the difficulty of his personal absolution during a short service as it would take so much time from others in attendance.
"I see my salvation as requiring at least three days and nights of uninterrupted torture-at least for the priest involved." Kiram caught a glimpse of Javier's wicked smile and the shocked expression of a Cadeleonian noblewoman.
Kiram didn't hear the woman's response but he recognized Elezar's shout of derisive laughter. No one else broached the subject with Javier.
After the others had filed across the verdant courtyard into the ornate chapel, Javier took Kiram riding. They leisurely followed a little dirt trail through the small park that the Grunitos retained for their sport.
Kiram rode a young piebald gelding called Verano. At first the new mount made him nervous, but the animal was gentle and good natured and Kiram soon grew used to its jaunty gait.
A crow flew overhead and they both watched it. The black wings looked like a spill of ink against the pale morning sky.
"How are you today?" Javier asked him.
"Better," Kiram decided. "You?"
Javier studied him with a slow, alluring smile. "After last night I'm very good indeed."
"Ah, well, last night you were excellent," Kiram responded just to see Javier's proud smile.
The crow circled them and called out two piercing cries before it swept far beyond Kiram's sight. Kiram glanced to Javier and saw concern dim his sensual radiance. "There's been trouble at the Circle of Red Oaks apparently."
"Did that crow just tell you that?" Kiram asked in a whisper. Javier laughed and gazed at him with amused affection.
"It can happen." Kiram defended. "Alizadeh spoke to me once through a flock of crows."
"Oh, I have no doubt that Alizadeh can speak through many forms when he needs to, but yesterday a note seemed sufficient." Javier's smile faded as he went on, "The Bahiim are fighting him. Many of them want to extinguish the White Tree again."
"What?" Kiram stared at Javier in disbelief. "But once it was ignited they were obligated to return to their duties."
"That was Alizadeh's belief, but it seems he failed to consider that many of the Bahiim might feel that their duty is to lock the shajdis away a second time." A cynical amusement sounded in Javier's voice. "It's so much easier to relinquish power rather than accept responsibility, you know."
"But the shadow curse nearly took over the circle. Don't they realize that?"
"You'd think so, since most of them were there," Javier replied.
"They can't just ignore that!"
"Maybe they can," Javier replied. "It's amazing what some people will choose to do."
"But that's idiotic"' The idea of the Bahiim turning their backs on the majesty of the White Tree and on the threat of the shadow curse infuriated him and not just because they were abandoning Javier's hope for help.
"The curse won't go away just because they wish it would!" Both horses flicked their ears at Kiram's harsh tone.