Free Threads of Desire by Eleri Stone Page B

remarkable, that. No one from the guild had come to his home for well over a year, but two weeks after taking Ily under his roof and there was Randal at his gate with a beautiful sample of work from the Dravon weaver. Soft as water! Thread that never fades! A design that changes with the seasons!
    Kal tossed the dog out after he’d hinted that Ily was unstable and that Kal, for the sake of the continued health and well-being of his household, should deliver her to the University. He hadn’t mentioned the conversation to Ily, feeling that it would needlessly upset her. She stiffened in his arms whenever the guild was mentioned, and he had no intention of delivering her to anyone, let alone Lanel Hasson.
    The accusation was ridiculous in any case. If the guild truly believed Ily was unstable, they’d have killed her immediately. Didn’t he know the truth of that better than most? Ily was the most level-headed person of his acquaintance, so carefully contained that he’d come to view it as a personal challenge to entice her to relax. Lanel had simply wanted Kal to know that he was being watched and his warning— his threat —came because he didn’t want Kal nosing around in guild business.
    All of it only made him more curious about the cause of Ily’s dispute with the guild, but he couldn’t press her on that point. Despite the fact that she’d come to trust him, he still sensed that she would take flight like a startled dove if threatened. He badly wanted her trust. Ironic, considering he’d yet to trust her with his own secrets.
    The rub of it was that he happened to agree with Rael. He should have been truthful with her from the beginning, but it was far too late to turn back now. He had to choose his moment wisely. It would have been wrong to make his confession last night, with Ily curled in his arms and the scent of sex still in the air.
    He didn’t want to lose her.
    He couldn’t risk Nira who was his heart, soul, all of his life. He wouldn’t risk Nira...not even for Ily. He slowed his step and Rael, ever mindful, came instantly alert.
    It was the fabric that caught his attention, the sheen catching the sun when the man stepped through a shaft of light between two leaning buildings. Everyone else in this part of town, including Kal, wore the coarse sleeveless tunics of workmen. Leather leggings that ended just below the knee. Kal wore leather sandals too, but people here were as like to be barefoot as not. His feet weren’t hard enough to manage the distance barefoot. Ily would be amused.
    He nudged Rael, tipping his head slightly to indicate the man hiding within the shadow of a doorway to their right. A small yellow cat darted ahead of them, leaped onto a short wall and sat down as if ready to watch some entertainment. The man could belong to anyone. Kal was casually watched by a half-dozen of the other trade houses with whom he was currently negotiating for ships and services. The emperor and the guild kept tabs on everyone, and normally Kal took no more notice of them than a dog noticed fleas. But not today...today he couldn’t be followed.
    He kept walking as he passed the spy, but Rael stopped to confront him directly. The street twisted and within twenty steps Kal was out of sight. A quick run down a side alley and over the crumbling stone wall of the inn. He passed through the courtyard and paused beside the well. Forn was the boy’s name who perked up, rising to his feet with a smile. He gave a fine imitation of a court bow and held out a hand into which Kal dropped two coppers.
    “Whistle twice if anyone else hops the wall.”
    Kal cuffed his head lightly and stepped inside the inn. They served wine and food in the front room, although it was stuffy in the poorly ventilated space and most people chose to take their meal into the courtyard. In truth, he could see for himself if anyone followed, but Forn had helped him before and what was two coppers?
    He swatted at a fly and claimed a seat in