Page 125 of Swordheart
“I will not stand guard over you while you bathe, but if you’re singing, I will know immediately if something happens.”
“I… uh… don’t sing very well.”
“This is not a test of your musical ability.”
“It’s your funeral,” she muttered, picking up the soap, and went toward the stream. A moment later, her voice raised into a song about bringing in the harvest. It might have been pleasant if she had been anywhere in the vicinity of a note, never mind the tune.
Sarkis winced, but at least he had no doubts about where she was.
“Zale, I must ask you a question in private,” he said, as soon as she was out of earshot.
The priest looked up, their expression quizzical. “Oh?”
He took a deep breath. This was going to be awkward, but there was nothing else for it. “Is your order sworn to celibacy?”
“Oh dear sweet Rat,” said Zale. “Are you propositioning me?”
“No!” And then, because his haste might have been a trifle insulting, “Err, not that you’re not a fine figure of a priest, but… no. That is not where I’m going.”
“Oh thank heavens.” Zale rubbed their face. “Not that you’re not a… fine figure of a sword… but no. I prefer my men somewhat less cursed to inhabit magical steel for eternity. And also a bit more intellectual and a bit less likely to break people in half.”
Brindle looked at them both, rolled his eyes, and went to go sit with the ox.
Sarkis nodded. “So—ah—may I guess that you are not interested in Halla?”
“Halla is lovely, and we are far too much alike. If it was left to us, we would still be sitting tied up under a tree discussing whether it would be too unforgivably rude to escape, and possibly what species the tree is.” Zale raised an eyebrow. “Also, she’s been mooning after you since before we met, so even if I were so inclined, I would be wasting my time.”
Satisfaction warred with alarm. Halla? Mooning after him? Had she told the priest something?
It doesn’t matter! You have to tell her what the sword says! You can’t let her go around thinking you’re a hero.
…but after she gets her inheritance back.Because if she took it badly (and how could she not take it badly?) Sarkis wanted to be damn sure that she was well set up first. If she decided to throw him out on his ear after that, she’d be able to do it safely.
“I was afraid of that,” he muttered.
“You don’t want her to be interested in you?” said Zale. Over in the stream, the singing was punctuated with splashing and occasional swearing.
“I do. Very much. That’s the problem.”
Zale steepled their fingers. “Do you want to talk about that?”
“Not particularly.”
“All right. But you know, Iama priest. It’s sort of what we do. Talk to people. Take confessions. That sort of thing.”
“I thought you were more concerned with legal matters.”
“The law is only talking and confession writ large. With occasional fines and time spent in the stocks.”
Halla went for a high note, and Sarkis listened to make sure the song was the only thing being murdered.
“I gather it’s at least a mutual attraction, then?” said Zale. “Because I must warn you, I do quite like her and I will be more than a little disappointed if you plan to marry her for her money and then abandon her.”
Sarkis blinked at them in astonishment. “What?”
“I mean, you don’tseemlike the type.”
“I’m immortal and live in a sword. What am I going to do with money?”
