Free Eight for Eternity by Mary Reed, Eric Mayer

not to engage in the little matter mentioned, whatever it is, although I can certainly guess its nature. Avoid that woman or should I say viper in women’s clothing. She is a demon’s snare. A friend of the empress. A close friend. You grasp my meaning? Besides which, I know how men are. I will not have her interfering in what you will be instructed to carry out.”
    “I don’t know the woman, excellency. I ran into her in the gardens.”
    The other’s unlined face broke into a smile that closely resembled a leer. “You really don’t know who she is?”
    “No, excellency.”
    “That’s Antonina. Unchaste to say the least and a practitioner of magick of the worst sort. However, as I said, a confidante of our empress.” Narses giggled. “But now to business.”

Chapter Nine
    John ignored the first knock at the chapel door. At the second his lips tightened into a thin line and he set down the crust of bread he had been eating. “Yes?”
    “It’s Haik.”
    “Come in.”
    A shaft of light from the doorway fell across the gloom in the semi-circular chamber. The candles on the polished wood altar guttered, their reflections trembling on the silver cross sitting between them. Before it was half opened, the edge of the door hit John’s stool. Haik squeezed into the cell-sized enclosure.
    “Please close the door.” John shifted his stool to make room. A plain, wooden desk sat jammed up against the altar. Documents were shoved aside to make room for John’s breakfast.
    “The servants told me I’d find you here. I didn’t realize you’d become a man of faith.”
    “I haven’t. It’s the only place in the house I can be alone. The servants won’t disturb a man at his devotions. Otherwise it’s master this and master that. It’s impossible to gather one’s thoughts.”
    “You always liked having the night watch on your own, didn’t you?” Haik looked around the chapel. A gilt cross curved across the domed ceiling. On the walls, painted saints suffered horrible martyrdoms. “I’d have a hard time thinking in here, myself. It’s worse than a battlefield.”
    “I’m not having much luck myself this morning.”
    “Pondering some palace intrigue?”
    John ignored Haik’s grin. “I hope that’s not what it turns out to be.” He stood, retrieved his bread, stuffed the remains into his mouth, and gestured toward the door. He left the chapel and led his visitor down a short corridor into the atrium where a life-sized Aphrodite served as a graceful fountain.
    Haik glanced back in the direction of the chapel. “Old gods and new no further from each other than you could spit an olive pit. I wonder who the original owner of this house favored?”
    “I am sure he worshipped the emperor’s god. In public. Have a seat. There’s more room here and you won’t sink up to your neck in cushions.”
    Haik sat down with a sigh on one of the benches projecting from the marble walls while John took another. “Considering the time I’ve spent on horseback lately, I wouldn’t refuse a cushion or two. You should allow yourself a little luxury. You’ve earned it. You weren’t born to it.”
    “Which is why I can’t get used to being waited on.”
    “The servants might not vex you so much if you gave them enough to do. I found the kitchen staff throwing knucklebones. But then how long does it take to set out a loaf of bread for the master’s breakfast?”
    “I often have boiled eggs.”
    “Give them some employment. A few fancy dishes will keep them busy all day.”
    “I have no taste for fancy dishes. I’m happy with grilled fish from a street vendor.”
    “Have your cook prepare grilled fish then.”
    “I’d have to sit and eat off a silver plate. I’d prefer to have it from a skewer while walking the streets.”
    Haik laughed. “I suppose the emperor wouldn’t allow you to pitch a tent in the gardens?”
    “It would reflect badly on Justinian if his chamberlains did not appear to be well