Page 9 of Dark Shaman: The Lost Treasure
"No one died," Kian assured him. "Finish eating, then you and Esag can get started. You can use my office."
Tim studied him suspiciously. "You're being weird. Weirder than usual, I mean. What's really going on?"
"Nothing you need to worry about right now," Kian said. "Just do what you do best."
"Fleece rich dudes with too much money to spend while eating their food?"
Kian offered him a chilled smile. "I wanted to say that you draw impossible things from descriptions, but fleecing me and eating my food works too."
Tim shrugged and turned to Esag. "Give me five minutes to finish what's on my plate, and then you and I get to work. Once I start, I don't like interruptions. Bathroom breaks ruin my flow."
Kian stifled an eye roll. Apparently, food breaks didn't interfere with Tim's flow because he'd taken them during every portrait he'd drawn for the clan.
"No problem," Esag said. "I'm ready when you are."
In more or less five minutes, Tim gobbled down everything on his plate, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and got up. "Let's do this." He grabbed his art case and headed out of the dining room without waiting for Esag to follow.
"Charming," Esag murmured as he got up and exited behind Tim.
Once they heard the office door open and close, Andrew moved to sit next to Kian. "Do you really want to do this?"
Kian chuckled. "No, but my conscience demands it, so it's going to be done."
"Anyone want more moo shu?" Anandur gestured at the containers.
As time crawled by, Kian busied himself with going over emails and responding to Shai's questions. The Chinese food containers slowly emptied as the guys kept digging in, and at some point, Tim emerged to fill up a plate and take it with him to the office without asking Kian if it was okay to do so.
Oh, well.
If he made a mess, Okidu would clean it up.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the office door opened. Tim emerged first, looking surprisingly subdued.
"I don't know who your guy is," Tim said, jerking his thumb back at Esag, "but he's got the best visual memory I've ever encountered. Like, scary good. Every detail, every proportion—it was like he was looking at a photograph in his mind."
Esag followed, carrying a large portrait. He gestured at the table. "May I?"
"Please," Kian said.
They had just finished clearing the boxes, and Anandur wiped the table clean, so it was safe.
Esag set the portrait down, and Kian felt his breath catch. He'd seen the previous sketch Tim had done of Khiann from Annani's memory, but this was a different Khiann, or rather, a different facet of him. There was mischief in his eyes instead of the loving expression that Annani remembered, and he looked younger, probably as Esag remembered him from their early years together.
The face that looked back from Tim's drawing was noble but approachable, with dark hair and intelligent eyes that seemed to hold both wisdom and humor. There was strength in the jaw, kindness in the slight curve of the lips, and something indefinable that spoke of respect earned rather than demanded. He looked like someone Kian would have liked to know.
"This is Khiann exactly as I remember him." Esag kept staring at the portrait, his eyes filled with awe. "Tim is incredible."
"It's perfect," Kian said.
"Of course, it is." Tim preened. "I don't do imperfect. Though I gotta say, this guy must have had excellent genes. That facial symmetry is unreal."
If only he knew.
"Speaking of genes," Andrew said, "Tim, there's something we need to discuss with you."
"If this is about my fee, it's non-negotiable," Tim said immediately. "Talent like mine doesn't come cheap."
"It's not about money," Kian said. "It's about you. About what you can do."
