you, and that's a fact.'
The idea of waiting on Iakovitzes hand and foot for a solid month was more nearly appalling than appealing. All the same, Krispos said, 'I'm up to it. He took me into his service from the streets of Videssos the city when I had nothing to my name but what I was wearing. I owe him more than a little for that; wouldn't do to repay him by running off when he really needs me.'
'Hmm.' Ordanes' eyes were tracked with red, half hidden in folds of fat, and very knowing. 'Seems to me he's better served by his man than you are by your master, but that's none of my affair.' The physician looked up at the crowd of spectators. 'Come on, people, don't just stand there. Lend a hand, will you? Wouldn't you want somebody to help if it were
As the men bent to hold Iakovitzes, Krispos realized one of his questions had just been answered for him. If he was not leaving Opsikion any time soon, he would see Tanilis again... . And again and again, he thought.
Iakovitzes hissed and then groaned as Ordanes set to work. Despite the noble's anguish, Krispos had all he could do to keep from giggling. Tanilis was a much more alluring prospect in bed than his master.
VI
That month of constant attendance on Iakovitzes proved even more wearing than Ordanes had predicted. The physician had compared it to tending a baby. Babies only cried. Iakovitzes used his searing tongue to inform Krispos of all his whims and all Krispos' shortcomings.
By the noble's reckoning, Krispos had plenty of them. Iakovitzes blamed him when the water for sponge baths was too hot or too cold, when Bolkanes' kitchen came up with a meal Iakovitzes found inadequate, when the bedpan was not perfectly placed, and even when his healing leg itched, which it seemed to do most of the time.
As for that bedpan, sometimes Krispos felt like braining Iakovitzes with it. It was, however, his master's one significant advantage over a baby: Iakovitzes, at least, did not foul the bed. In a time that held few large advantages, Krispos cherished the small one.
One afternoon about three weeks after the noble got hurt, someone knocked on the door of his room. Krispos jumped. Few people had come to see Iakovitzes. Krispos opened the door with one hand on his knife. A good- looking youth stared at him with equal suspicion.
'It's all right, Krispos, Graptos,' Iakovitzes called from his bed. 'In fact, Krispos, it's better than all right. You can take the rest of the day off. I'll see you in the morning.'
'Excellent sir?' Krispos said doubtfully.
'Bolkanes arranged this for me,' Iakovitzes assured him. 'After all, if I'm bedridden, I might as well
Krispos waited to hear no more. He closed the door behind him and hurried down to the stables. If Iakovitzes was going to sport, so would he. The sun was still an hour away from setting when he got to Tanilis' villa.
He had to wait some little time before he saw her; she was settling a dispute between two peasants who dwelt on her land. Neither seemed displeased as they walked past Krispos. He was unsurprised; Tanilis had more than enough sense to dispense justice.
She smiled as Naues led Krispos into her study. 'I wondered if I would see you again, after your master's accident,' she said. In front of her steward, her voice was perfectly controlled.
'I wondered, too.' Krispos also kept his tone casual. He was sure Tanilis would be able to find all the double meanings he put into his words and perhaps some he left out. He went on, 'The excellent Iakovitzes seems to be in better spirits these days.' He explained who was taking care of the noble, and in what ways.
Naues snorted; the tiny curl of Tanilis' lip looked like less but spoke more. Aloud, she said, 'You are welcome here regardless of the circumstances. Mavros may be back for the evening meal, but then again he may not. Now that he is sure he won't be leaving for the city till spring, he gives all his time to one girl, knowing, I suppose, that afterward time and distance will fade the attachment.'
Such cool, calculated good sense sounded more like Tanilis than young Mavros; for a moment Krispos was reminded of listening to his own father back in the days when Zoranne was all he'd thought of. He hoped Mavros was clever enough to recognize that his mother was cleverer still.
'Naues, are there any more out there who need me?' Tanilis asked. When her man shook his head, she told him, 'Go and warn Evtykhes, then, that Krispos certainly will stay for supper, and that I do have some hope my son will appear, as well.'
Mavros did come back to the villa. When he found Krispos there, he condescended to stay for dinner. 'How'd you get loose?' he asked. 'I thought Iakovitzes wanted you there every minute?' Krispos explained again. Mavros burst out laughing. 'Good for the old bugger! He's feeling better, then?'
'Aye, but he's not up and about yet. And with the fall rains due any day now, it's just as he feared. He won't be riding back to the city till spring; he can't even hobble yet, let alone sit a horse.'
'Too bad,' Mavros said dolefully. 'Here I've been champing at the bit for weeks, and now I'll have to wait for months. Such a long time.' With a moody sigh, he raised his wine cup to his lips.
Tanilis said, 'Be thankful you're young enough that a few months seem a long time to you. To me, next spring feels like the day after tomorrow.'
'Well, not to me,' Mavros said.
For the most part, Krispos agreed with Mavros; at twenty-two, he thought the world passed too slowly to suit him. Still, even slowness could have its advantages. He said, 'From what I've heard, you've got a girl now, so just think of it as having a longer-seeming time to spend with her.'
'I wish it were that easy,' Mavros said, 'but somehow when I'm with her the time flies by, so it never seems like enough no matter how long it is. Which reminds me.' He finished his wine, rose, and sketched bows to Tanilis and Krispos. 'I promised I'd meet her before the moon came up.' Not quite trotting, he left the dining room.
'My poor, bereft son,' Tanilis said dryly. 'He hasn't set eyes on his beloved for, oh, several hours now. In a way, I suppose, I should be jealous, but he just makes me smile instead.'
