Page 14 of What Fury Brings
“Thank you, Andrastus,” he said.
Canus shoved Andrastus over and took the seat next to Sanos. “I wasjust chatting up a couple of very nice girls over at that table. Perhaps you’d like to join me?”
Sanos took another drink. “No nice girls. Only whores.”
“Right, because sex is only fun if you pay for it.”
“You know that’s not why.”
Yes, Canus knew. He was more observant than the others, but that didn’t stop him from trying to get Sanos to have a little fun.
“He wants you isolated,” Canus tried. “Don’t let him win.”
“I can’t risk him not winning.”
“Sanos—”
“I said no.” His tone left no room for argument.
“Fine.”
Canus left him to go sit with the girls. Trantos bounded up to take his place.
“Are you scaring everyone away?”
“I have that effect on people.”
“You don’t scare me.”
Sanos snorted. Trantos, fourth-born, was only twenty years of age. He was old enough to be considered a man yet acted young enough to still be considered a child.
“What do you get up to these days?” Sanos asked him.
“Whatever I like.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’ll get.”
Sanos rolled his eyes. He knew what the rest of his brothers did with their time. Andrastus was constantly at the cathedral, studying ancient poetry and writings with the priests dedicated to serving the god Brutus. Canus was involved with smithies because he wanted to be as close to war as he could get. Ikanos was still being tutored, too young to pick up any sort of business or hobby. But Trantos? He hadn’t shown any particular interest in anything.
Or so Sanos had thought. He wondered if Trantos was being sneaky on purpose.
“Whatever it is, it had better not be something that will get you into trouble.”
“Will you relax? Try worrying about only yourself for a change. Else you’ll go gray early.” Trantos clapped him on the back and left to help Andrastus find a seat before he toppled over.
Apparently Sanoswasscaring everyone away. Ikanos was in a corner scribbling away on a piece of parchment. And Sanos turned his head in time to watch Canus get slapped across the face by one of the young women.
Sanos nearly spat out his ale as he laughed.
“I think it’s time we headed for the next tavern,” Canus said.
He was already over their argument, for he took the seat beside Sanos once they reached the next establishment. Ikanos began to recite poetry for all the patrons to hear, since Andrastus was too drunk to do it. Sanos and Canus made a game of it to pass the time, taking a sip of their ale every time their youngest brother made a rhyme with the wordflower.
“My, this ale is sour.”
The lighting was low, the laughter loud, the drink tasting better by the minute.
