“Beautiful,” I agreed.
Every step took us deeper into Fallon’s paradise, until there were no more mercenaries, no one at all to challenge us, just the well-fed merchants and the doting, compliant servants. The smell of spices was everywhere, piping up from burning sconces on the walls and crystal bowls suspended from the ceiling. It got so thick I had to hold my nose.
“Lavender,” said Marilius. “His favorite.”
There was a bit of contempt in Marilius’s voice that I hadn’t heard before. When at last we came to a pair of golden doors, he stopped.
“Is Fallon in there?” I asked.
Marilius nodded.
“How do you know?” asked Cricket.
“Because he’s always in there at this time of day. Wait here. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He opened a single golden door, just enough to slip inside. A sudden silence swallowed the hall. Cricket blinked at me. I looked around, surprised we were alone in such a vast space. Cricket smoothed down her cape and shirt, then wet a finger to paste down her hair.
“Look at this place! What do you think he’s like, Lukien?”
Now I was getting nervous, too. “Wealthy,” I said. “And wealthy men can’t be trusted. Full of sweet talk and bullshit, I bet. Watch yourself, Cricket. All those girls you saw back there? Probably slaves.”
“I don’t think so, Lukien. They looked happy.”
“Of course they do. Imagine being whipped for not smiling like an idiot all the time.” I took a deep breath, regretting it at once as the stink of lavender filled my nose. “Ugh! What kind of man-”
“Shh, he’ll hear you,” scolded Cricket.
I rolled my eyes at her. “Under his spell already.”
And yet I was happy, mostly because Cricket was happy. The palace had sparked a brightness in her eyes I hadn’t seen in weeks. Once again, I let myself believe I’d done the right thing by taking her with me. If there was war in the Bitter Kingdoms, it seemed far away from Fallon’s extraordinary home.
Finally, the golden door opened again, this time wide enough for us to see. Marilius stepped aside for us to enter, but Cricket and I just stood there, too awestruck to move. Sunlight struck our faces, streaming in off the sea. A pool of blue water washed slowly in and out of the palace. The chamber, if that’s truly what it was, hugged the water like two great arms, wrapping it in fantastical architecture. Inside were tiny palm trees and orchids the size of coconuts. Half-nude servants-men and women both-waited at the edge of the pool near a table heavy with food and silverware. A figure swam alone in the water, naked, twirling and backstroking. Cricket’s mouth fell open at the sight of him.
“Oh. . my.”
I scowled at Marilius, offended even if Cricket wasn’t. “Fate above, Marilius, what is this?”
Marilius shrugged. “It’s noontime. This is where he takes his meals.”
“Marilius, he’s naked.”
“You’ll get used to it. Come in.”
Cricket didn’t need to be asked twice, bolting for a better look. Song birds twittered in the miniature trees, and a perfect breeze blew off the sea. I caught up to Cricket as I approached the pool, putting my hand on her shoulder to stop her from diving in. She stared at Fallon, wide-eyed as he swam. Embarrassed, I tried to look away yet couldn’t somehow. He was, I admit, an amazing looking man. His strong physique moved effortlessly through the water, his longish copper-colored hair streaking behind him. He was thin like a woman but muscled like a man, like the palace statues. His skin was strange too, not white like mine or black like Sariyah’s, but a deep, tawny tone I’d never seen before. He rolled onto his back, spouted water from his mouth like a porpoise, then swam toward us, emerging from the water smiling and dripping wet.
Marilius stepped forward. “Anton, here they are-Lukien and his squire.”
Fallon’s emerald eyes flashed. In the center of his forehead a black tattoo caught my attention. A serving girl offered him a robe. Fallon waved if off as he looked us over, appraising us like pieces of art.
“Sir Lukien,” he said, “you don’t look like a monster slayer.” He glanced at Marilius. “Are you sure about him?”
“He can do it,” assured Marilius. “Trust me.”
“He’s not too old?”
“Hey,” I barked, hooking my thumb over my sword. “Talk to us. We’re standing right here.”
Fallon smirked. “A one-eyed knight and a peasant girl? I’m skeptical.”
“It’s rude to ignore us,” said Cricket.
“And to stand there naked,” I added. “Put that robe on, please.”
“Westerners.” Fallon folded his arms. “Where I come from whole families bathe together.” He smiled at Cricket and said, “Would you like to try that?”
“That’s enough,” I erupted. Marilius quickly got between us.
“Lukien, no. It’s nothing. It’s just how he is.”
Fallon laughed and took the robe from the servant. “If it makes you more comfortable. .” He slipped on the garment. I studied the tattoo between his eyes, but couldn’t make out the symbol, like an upside down Y with a cross through it. A Zuran letter, I supposed. As Fallon took a seat at the head of the table, a bare-chested boy began brushing his long, wet hair.
“It’s all right,” Marilius whispered. “He’s just. . different.”
“Different? Marilius, he’s out of his mind. Why’d you bring us-”
“Enough muttering, please,” said Fallon. His long fingers plucked a grape from a bowl. He sucked on it as he regarded me. “Marilius tells me you got in a tangle with Wrestler. He says he broke your neck. I find that remarkable.” He glanced at Cricket. “What’s your name, child?”
“Cricket,” she replied.
“Cricket? Ugly name for a pretty girl. Are you from these lands?”
Cricket nodded. “I think so.”
“Uh, excuse me, Lord Fallon,” I began.
“Anton.” He smiled at me.
“Exactly how much do you know about us?”
“Sir Lukien, five minutes ago I’d never even heard of you. Marilius seems to think you’re well known. Among mercenaries I suppose. Will you sit?”
The servants held out chairs for us. Marilius took a seat close to Fallon. I held Cricket back.
“Marilius hasn’t told us why he brought us here,” I said. “Did you say ‘monster slayer’?”
“That’s right.” Fallon chose a strawberry this time. His eyes fell upon my sword. “That sword you carry-that’s your magic?”
“Something like that.”
“May I see it?”
Malator said nothing. I unsheathed the sword, laying it out in both hands. Fallon seemed disappointed.
“Boring. But if it’s as powerful as Marilius says I could sell it for you, Lukien. Maybe make you a very rich man. After you do what I need of you, obviously.”
“And what would that be, exactly?” I sheathed the sword. “I should tell you I’m not for sale. We’re only here because of Marilius.”
“He saved us,” said Cricket.
“Did he?” Fallon patted Marilius’s arm. “So brave.”
Marilius bristled. “He can help, Anton. That’s why I brought him.”
“You brought him here to redeem yourself,” said Fallon. His nostrils flared, and I wondered-were he and Marilius lovers?
“Please,” I said, “just tell us why we’re here.”
Fallon flicked a wrist toward one of the servants, a girl with honey-blonde hair and one perfect breast exposed. The girl gently took my arm, smiling as she led me to a chair across from Fallon. Another servant-a male-gingerly took Cricket’s hand and did the same. My servant, however, sat down in my lap.
“Her name is Druan,” said Fallon. “She’s yours for the night. Try eating grapes from between her legs. Heaven!”
I let the girl kiss my cheek. Her naked breast brushed against me. I could feel the heat rising in my face.
“No.” I gently pushed Druan away. I swear she looked dejected.
“All right,” said Fallon, “just business, then. Druan is only part of my offer. I can pay you whatever you want, Lukien. If you’re the man to rid me of my problem, it’ll be worth it. Isowon isn’t just my home, you see. She’s my child, my dream. I built her with nothing, and I’ll not have her taken from me.”