The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [63]
"Only six!" Morgan spouted triumphantly, as Cesira looked on with an expression of helpless bemusement.
Laerin raised a hand to either side of Morgan's head, and with a flourish produced two more stones from the man's haity ears. "Your pardon," the half-elf said.
Morgan swatted his hands away, fuming. "Ptetty-faced whore's brat-"
Quiet! Cesira hissed. Hide yourselves. Kail is… As she looked, she realized Kail wasn't headed their way. He'd stopped, frozen next to the drunken Bladesmile. At first Cesira thought he was listening to the bard, but then she saw him staring at something through the crowd.
I've never seen that look, she murmured. She traced Kail's stunned gaze across the room to a corner, where a man stood leaning sedately against a marble column. He ignored the rest of the room, and appeared to be listening intently to the lute player. Broken from whatever spell had smote him, Kail began walking directly toward the man.
"I've seen it," Laerin spoke up, a frown creasing his smooth forehead. "When I first met Kail, he had the same look."
Morgan nodded agreement. "Like he just lost his best friend."
Cesira paled, gripping Laerin's arm. Aazen, she whispered.
"Greetings, Lord Morel," said Aazen, as Kali came to stand between him and the dais. He offered Kail one of his rare, genuine smiles. "It is good to see you again."
Kali was at a loss. The man before him was older-and leaner, if possible-than the boy who'd been his best friend. His datk hair was short and shaved. He dressed in black leathers with a cloak of silky midnight blue thrown over one shoulder. The armor was stained, but the cloak pristine"-a halfhearted attempt to blend with the throng. Despite the changes, he was still Aazen-a quiet, shadowed young man. Kail had imagined many fates befalling his best friend in the years since their last meeting, but seeing the man grown, greeting him here in his father's house, had never been among them.
When Kali temained silent, Aazen said, "You don't recognize me? I can't blame you. It's been a long while since we spoke."
"Aazen," Kali said, recovering himself. "You haven't changed so much. You were always more adult than child."
Aazen considered. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Are you well, Kail?"
"Well enough, but more than a little shocked to see you here."
"You've been looking for me?" "Ever since I returned," said Kali.
"Most of Amn thought you dead," Aazen said. "But I doubted it."
Kali grunted. "Thanks. You had more confidence than I did, considering the condition I was in when we parted."
"Yet here you stand, in your house reclaimed."
"Such as it is. Aazen, you know I'm after Balram," said Kali bluntly.
"Of coutse. I'd be disappointed if you weten't, especially after that passionate speech you gave at our last meeting," said Aazen sardonically. "Have you enjoyed any success in your search?"
"You know I haven't."
"Unfortunately, I don't. My father and I parted company some time ago."
"Oh?" Kali didn't bother to hide his disbelief. "When you left, you seemed bent on staying by his side, in spite of everything. 'Don't come after him,' you said. 'I'll have to kill you, if you do.' "
"I was a child. I didn't know what I wanted." Aazen searched his eyes. "Can you grant me that, Kail? Can you believe I may have found other companions, as you have, or do you think I'll say anything to protect him?"
"I don't know," Kail said. "But I never held any hope or desire to get at Balram through you. I only prayed he hadn't killed you."
"But think, if you'd found me dead, you would have had yet another reason to slay him."
Kali didn't comment. There was too much tension in the room already. "If you can stay long enough, I'd like to introduce you to my companions," he said, changing the subject.
"I've heard many whispers about the beauty of the Lady Morel," said Aazen. "You've done well for yourself, even without my constant looking after you."
"Yes, Cesira is a beauty, and were she mine, I'm sure my manhood would be subjugated to her will within a tenday," Kali said, laughing. "Luckily for me, her