Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [127]
"Stone and sea!" I clapped. "That's wonderful!" He shrugged. "So you were born into a circus family?" I prompted him. "Performers? Acrobats and jugglers?"
"Not born." Bao's face darkened. "Sold."
"Oh." I felt like an idiot. Belatedly, I remembered that Lo Feng had said Bao was a child of violence. "I'm sorry. How old were you?"
"Three." He summoned a fierce, hard smile. "Fifteen when I run away."
"Is that when you met Master Lo Feng?"
"No." Bao eyed me. "Why you ask so many questions?"
"I'm curious."
"Why?"
"I don't know," I said honestly. "I just am."
At that moment, Master Lo Feng called us over. My father smiled and reached out his hand and I took it.
"Strangely, I find all this breathing has given me an appetite," he said. "Moirin, would you join me for an early dinner?"
I smiled back at him. "I'd love to."
We dined at an inn in a part of the City known as Night's Doorstep because it was at the base of the hill where the Houses of the Night Court resided. It encompassed the Tsingani quarter and the inn was owned by a Tsingano. It was called the Cockerel and it had a long and venerable history in the City. The owner was a tall, scowling fellow with an imposing mustache, but he broke into a wide grin at the sight of my father.
"Brother Phanuel!" He beckoned with both hands. "Come, come. Always a table for you."
"Thank you, Stefan." My father laid a hand on my shoulder. "This is my daughter, Moirin."
The Tsingano raised his fist to his mouth and bit his knuckle. "Such a beauty! Not born of any milk-white D'Angeline, either. Was her mother one of ours?"
"I was born to the Maghuin Dhonn," I said.
His eyes widened and he took a step backward. "You're the witch! The one they're all talking about."
"She's my daughter," my father said mildly.
"Of course." Stefan didn't quite meet his eyes. "There is a fine dish of stuffed cabbages if you and your daughter are hungry, Brother Phanuel."
"That would be very pleasant, thank you."
Although I would have enjoyed it more if the innkeeper weren't looking askance at me, the food was simple and hearty and good, and we washed it down with tankards of foaming ale.
"So." My father pushed his empty plate away. "Master Lo Feng is concerned about you. He says you've been engaged in some secret business with Raphael de Mereliot that… how did he put it? Drains your vital chi."
I toyed with my last bite. "I'm fine."
"Moirin."
We may have known each other only a short time, but that was a parent's voice to be sure. I sighed. "I promised not to speak of it. But it's all right. It's over. I won't be doing it anymore."
He leveled a stern green, green gaze at me. "You promise?"
"Yes! I promise."
"Do I need to speak to Lord de Mereliot?"
"No!" I laid one hand on my chest. "I'm trying to follow my diadh-anam. But whatever it requires, I don't think that was it." Unless it had aught to do with the topaz jewel lodged in my thoughts, anyway.
"All right." My father relaxed. "So everything else passes well? I trust that Jehanne's not bedeviled you beyond bearing since you're still keeping company with de Mereliot. You've managed to avoid further entanglements on that front?"
"Ahh…" I remembered seeing a pair of letters addressed to me and stamped with the crest of House Courcel on the receiving tray at the townhouse. I'd hurried out without bothering to open them. "Well. Almost."
He frowned. "What?"
"Prince Thierry has been courting me," I admitted. "I may have, um, encouraged him more than I intended."
My father closed his eyes. "You bedded the Dauphin?"
"Only once!"
His shoulders shook. He wiped one hand over his face and got himself under control. When he opened his eyes, they were bright with a mixture of mirth and rue. "Moirin… Elua have mercy!"
"It was only once," I repeated.
My father shook his head. "One thing's for sure. Whatever else you may be, you're Naamah's child and