Free A Lotus for the Regent by Adonis Devereux

it. He scratched his sideburns. “What honor,
grace, and breeding they have, too!”
    “ And beauty.”
    Kamen thought of
Ajalira. Even the foreign slaves were beautiful. “What would they not do for
you, Guildmaster? Even your kitchen staff is selfless and courageous.”
    The
Guildmaster's eyes flashed in annoyance for just a moment, but he quickly
recovered his composure. Anyone else would not have caught the slip, but Kamen
had made a career out of reading people. As Regent, he had to be ever vigilant.
“The Red Lotus Guild is blessed with only the finest. We value our customers.”
    “ The one who spoke to me earlier—that blonde-haired one,” Kamen said
tentatively.
    The
Guildmaster's face was a mask, but Kamen caught the shuffling of nervous feet
from the servants out of the corner of his eye.
    “ It's peculiar that one such as she would be here. I'd like to know
her history.”
    The Guildmaster
turned his cup once, twice, three times before he responded. He stared into his
teacup. “She and her mother washed up one day, and I took them in. Sadly, her
mother soon died, and she has been in my care ever since.” He looked up and put
on his best pained, bittersweet smile.
    “ I see.” Kamen had to push the matter still forward. “The Sunjaa are
allied with our Vadal neighbors to the north. Could it be that she came from
that kingdom? Or maybe Fihdal?”
    The Guildmaster
shook his head. “Perhaps, but I do not see—”
    “ I wonder if she might know. Have you asked her?”
    “ She was young when she came here, too young to remember anything but
the Dimadan.” The Guildmaster was blocking him. Kamen would batter down his
defenses and corner him in his evasions.
    “ I wonder how it is that she can speak Ausir, being as she is a mere
serving wench.”
    The
Guildmaster's false smile almost snapped, and his features grew tight as he
struggled to hide his annoyance. “Would the Regent mind if I asked where he is
going with this line of questioning?”
    Kamen smiled and
laid his hands flat on the table. “Not at all. See, I'm looking for an
interpreter. What with the increased Ausir threat, I'd like to have someone at
my side at court who can help me muddle through this whole affair.”
    “ All my Lotuses speak Ausir, Regent. Why not rent or purchase one of
them?”
    “ But your kitchen wenches do, too. Why not buy one of them? She will
not be missed.”
    The Guildmaster
folded his hands around his teacup and fiddled with it, tapping its lip with
his thumbs. “I am afraid that the one of you speak of has found herself in
unfortunate circumstances.”
    Kamen sat up
from his semi-reclined position.
    “ She was too bold, daring to speak to one of my honored guests. She
must be punished for her brazen discourtesy.”
    “ I was not offended.”
    “ It does not matter, Regent. I cannot have my slaves thinking they
can accost visiting heads of state whenever they want.”
    Kamen stood
suddenly, and the Guildmaster popped to his feet. Kamen shouldered up next to
his host and spoke in a whisper. “Why punish her when you can sell her to me?
You can turn a profit on her disobedience. She's just one kitchen girl.”
    “ Yes, but my Lotuses are capable of serving you in the war. Why not
take one of them? Their knowledge of Ausir goes beyond language. They are
trained in history, politics, heraldry, and etiquette.”
    Kamen did not
want a Lotus. Darien had his Lotus, so the thought of taking one, too, was
distasteful. Kamen had lost his best friend and the love of his life to a
Lotus. But how could he explain this to the Guildmaster? And how could he tell
him that he was drunk on Ajalira's fragrance and drawn to her mystery? How
could he tell the Guildmaster that he saw Darien's same goodness in her: her
nobility of purpose and her impeccable honor?
    “ I want Ajalira.”
    The
Guildmaster's lips turned up in a sardonic smile, no doubt in response to the
use of her first name. He turned to one of his body slaves.