Page 46 of Captured on Film
Oaken conferred briefly with Hesper, who now held her owntall glass of star wine. She reported, “Harmonious is firstborn son and heir tothe First of Dogs. Show a little respect.”
“No kidding?” Josheb’s smile turned sly. “So what’s theCrown Prince of Dogs doing way out here, begging food under the table.”
With a slightly pained glance in his companion’s direction,Harmonious gruffly answered, “I was … in-character. And I couldn’t very wellproceed until Hisoka arrived. There’s a balance to these things.”
“Which means …?” prompted Josheb.
“Equal parts,” replied Harmonious. “Two of us, two of them,two of you.”
“The water.” The gray-clad male knelt before Caleb anddipped his fingers into the basin. Still in an undertone, he urged, “Do not letit go to waste.”
Caleb slid his feet into water that was not too hot and nottoo cold. All at once, he felt like Goldilocks. “There are three bears,” hemumbled.
Head down, hands kneading, the newcomer proceeded to washCaleb’s feet. “Word reached us that Andor and Oaken had captured two hikers. Hesperis not part of the complaint. Indeed, I am pleased to find her here. I can haveyou provided with a human translator as well.”
Josheb asked, “Why? Hesper’s been great.”
Harmonious dropped to a seat in front of Josheb and grabbed hisankle. “For balance, of course. You’ll be wanting a reaver’s perspective.”
“One from my cortege is on his way.” And raising eyes thatwere a startling shade of orange, he said, “My name is Hisoka Twineshaft, and Ispeak for the Amaranthine clans.”
“All of them?” asked Josheb.
“Yes.”
“But which one’s yours?” he pressed.
“Cat.”
Offering his fist for Caleb to bump, Josheb whispered,“Nailed it!”
Caleb had no idea how his brother could be so relaxed. Oakenand Hesper were standing back, watching in overt fascination. Everything abouttheir body language made it clear that important guys like these didn’tnormally wash the feet of humans.
“Why are you doing this?” Caleb managed weakly. “You don’thave to do this. I can take care of it.”
Josheb jumped in. “Is this some kind of ritual?”
Hisoka said, “Perhaps we should call it an apology.”
“For what?”
“Cold feet.” He sought Caleb’s gaze. “I understand it wasone of your two grievances.”
Harmonious boasted, “I arranged for socks. And shoes.”
Oaken added more hot water to the basins, and the swirl ofheat felt good. Caleb had never experienced anything like this, and he was morethan a little embarrassed. Everything felt backwards. These people wereimportant. He was the trespasser in their territory.
Suddenly, Josheb made a garbled sound. “That tickles!”
“Is that so?” Harmonious didn’t show a lick of repentance. “Wasit here?”
Caleb looked on in increasing bewilderment as Joshebdissolved into giggles, then fought back with much sloshing of water andhairpulling.
“Oh for the love of …!” And reaching over, he flicked thenose of the Crown Prince of Dogs. Again.
Harmonious Starmark’s attention swung to him, and his grinwidened, revealing an entirely daunting set of fangs. “Ilikeyou boys.If Andor wasn’t exerting prior claim, I’d gladly add you to the Starmark pack.”
Caleb spied Andor watching moodily from the corner.
