He returned the smiled and she felt the pad of his thumb swipe across her cheek. “This is something I haven’t seen in a little while. I’d be worried if I wasn’t sure I hadn’t hurt you.” She frowned at his strange words and lifted her own fingers to her face. She understood when she felt the wetness there. She had no memory of crying and wondered when it had happened.
“How strange” She murmured. “I don’t remember it at all.”
“I didn’t hurt you… did I?” She smiled at the rare note of uncertainty ringing in his voice.
“No, you were right to think you hadn’t. I’m fine.” And she was. She tingled all over, and her muscles still twitched and pulsed now and then, but she lacked her usual heavy ache. She yawned and nestled in against him, making happy, if sleepy, sounds of approval when she felt him cover them both with sheets.
He made a satisfied sound of his own. “Then sleep well my sweet, teary wench.”
She laughed softly, feeling his own near-silent chuckle reverberating in his chest. “And good night to you my handsome, fanged beast.”
He nuzzled her with another, deeper chuckle. “I like that.” He growled softly against her hair.
“I thought you might.”
As she began to drift he squeezed her tightly to him. He sighed contentedly.”I… Good night, Calliope.”
“You what?” she murmured, wondering what he was going to say.
He kissed her shoulder. “Nothing. Go to sleep… I command you.” He added in a low drawl.
Calliope smiled against his bicep. “As you wish.” She smirked, still wondering what he had begun to say… but too exhausted to do anything but comply.
%%%
Calliope had decided that she was determined to help. However, this was easier said than done.
To begin with, there wasn’t a great deal she had to offer. She tried to be attentive and supportive in the few ways she was able. Certainly he was no more inclined to discuss what troubled him than he usually was, but she was pleased to listen and offer her thoughts in the rare moments he was.
But what she really wanted was to be truly useful to him. More…. proactive, in her assistance. As far as she was aware, the only way for her to do that was by continuing to gather what information she could.
And indeed, she had managed to glean what she could from both Penelope and Kara but in the end none of it added to what Thelios and Demitri already knew. It was a frustrating endeavor since her circle of acquaintances was rather small, and she had done little to make herself liked among the women of the place. She had no one to blame but herself, however. Her reserve, though it seemed to amuse Lady Nagi, endeared her to no one. And she had been quite content to follow her master’s example when it came to the others… and now she was beginning to regret it.
She’d also noticed, with chagrin, that the male slaves and servants kept their distance completely. Not that this should be surprising to anyone, all things considered. It was unlikely anyone had forgotten the rather dramatic scene in the entrance hall when they had first arrived.
Still… something was going on and she wanted to know what, especially as it affected her master. It might have been her imagination, but it seemed as if far too many conversations came to abrupt halts as she neared people in hallways and there were certainly nothing to warrant all those sly, sidelong glances she seemed to be getting from all corners either. If she was with Thelios, certainly. It was hard not to stare at a giant wearing nothing but a hip wrap and a fearsome scowl.
But then, she might just be becoming paranoid.
She was headed back to their rooms after trying, and failing, to find any new information from Penelope. The air seemed full of whispers and anxious glances, yet she could find nothing secure to pin the growing tension on, and nothing more on the movements of this Phineas character at all.
“Excuse me…” She blinked at the clear, male voice which cut through her musings.
She turned at the sound to find a man, dressed in a simple white toga and a dark green cloak. The cloak looked well worn with travel, and was tossed casually over his shoulder. He was also holding a walking staff, which was unusual in a place like this, but other than that he seemed innocuous enough. He had a pleasant countenance topped with a mop of sandy blonde hair, and his expression was mild. He was watching her with a faint frown… or rather watching about an inch or two to the left of her. She glanced over her shoulder but there was nothing there.
“Yes?” She continued to take in his appearance and noticed his eyes, still looking in the wrong direction, were the strangest shade of blue. So pale… almost…
“Oh, you’re blind!”
She clamped her hand over her mouth, aghast at her rudeness. “Forgive me!” She gasped. “That was intolerably rude of me.”
His face split into a warm smile and he laughed softly. His smile made him suddenly handsome and she felt herself smiling back. “There is nothing to be sorry for my Lady… but if you’re feeling penitent, perhaps you might assist me in recompense.”
“Of course. I’d be glad to.”
He lifted his hand and patted the arm of a statue next to him. “I’m afraid I can’t find my way around this infernal labyrinth.” It was her turn to chuckle. She stepped forward, taking his hand from the statue and placing it on her own arm. He stiffened slightly at her touch, but relaxed quickly. He also got a strange look on his face… but that too passed. She must have startled him, and felt foolish for not warning him. He was blind after all.
“That, I fear, is the nature of this place.” She offered gently as he fell into pace beside her after draping his staff across his back with a long strap. “It has nothing to do with you. Hades knows I can’t seem to keep these halls straight either.”
“Perhaps I should find another guide then?”
She smiled. She could tell from his tone he was jesting, but he wasn’t totally wrong. “Well, I’ll do my best, and if that fails I’m sure I can find another slave who knows this place better than I.”
“That’s very good of you.”
“Now, tell me, what is it you’re looking for?” She asked as she led him slowly into the corridor with her.
“A friend of mine. He is a giant of a man, distinctively gray in hue, with short horns, stubborn streak a league and a half wide… I think he’s known by most here as the ‘Shepherd’.” He paused and chuckled again. “I take it you know of whom I speak.”
She glanced at him. “How… how can you tell?”
“We blind folk have other ways of seeing.” He murmured enigmatically. Then he ruined the effect by grinning widely. “And you tensed up a bit there. You seemed surprised.”
“Ah.” She had been.
“So?”
“You’re in luck, it appears. If I’m not mistaken the one you speak of is my own master.”