“He’s always up by lunch.”
Lumi usually told a few jokes or did light entertainment at lunch to amuse the courtiers. Public fucking was for after dessert in the evening. If a courtier wanted his ass, they went elsewhere during the day.
In Jaki’s eyes, it was daily rape. Or almost daily. The heat didn't change that, and it didn’t matter that Lumi had been committing one of the worst crimes. Treason wasn’t taken lightly anywhere, and some would say he shouldn’t feel sorry for Lumi or the urge to run and find him.
Father hadn't had the foggiest clue what had been going on. Jaki wasn’t sure how Lumi had been getting info back to Tivar. They’d surely been communicating in secret. Who knew what Father had said to him?
“Son?”
“Hm?”
“I asked you what’s wrong?”
“I guess you didn’t hear I was attacked last night.”
Father blinked. “No. What? Did someone take a swing at you in a tavern?”
“No, a vagrant stabbed me.”
Elswere gaped like a fish out of water. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
“It’s not that big a deal. I’m fine now. The healer took care of me.” Jaki was still tired from the loss of blood, but Father didn’t need to know. “I have no idea who it was either, so there isn't anyone to go after.”
“Yes, it is a big deal. How did this happen?”
Jaki told him the fake version of the story since he wasn't about to say what Lumi did. Elswere fussed and tried to forbid his son from going out.
Jaki cast him a withering glare. “I’ll be twenty-four soon. I’m not a little boy you can force to remain at home.”
“You’re my son, and I’m protecting you. I can order you as King.”
“I’ll go out anyway.”
Elswere huffed. “At least take a guard. You’re the Crown Prin-”
“I don’t need a guard up my ass when I want to go fuck at the Snow Angels.”
“You just got stabbed,” Elswere hissed in a low voice.
“I wasn’t paying attention, and I should know better than to let my guard down and take dark side streets as shortcuts. It was my fault, and I’ll stick to the lit streets next time. Nobody would be foolish enough to attack me where guards tend to patrol. I will not be babysat.”
Elswere grumbled and reached for his wineglass.
***
By dinner, several courtiers noticed Lumi’s absence. He was often around during the day to dole out bits of entertainment if he wasn’t horizontal for someone. He was always at dinner no matter what, and he’d only missed it once when half of the court had been laid up with sniffles and fevers because he'd joined their number.
“Where’s Lumi?” Elswere asked a few minutes after the meal started.
“I don’t know,” Jaki lied. “You haven’t seen him?”
“No.”
Elswere had a servant check his rooms since he must have been ill. The servant returned with a frown and a note tucked in her hand that she discreetly passed to him. Jaki already knew it had been there. He’d been too tired last night to do a thorough search, and he’d decided to leave things alone for the moment. He’d read the note and left it there so Father could naturally find out that his pleasure slave was gone.
Elswere held it low and squinted. “Jaki, read it for me.” He shooed away the servant.
“You could try wearing your spectacles. Do you even know where they are anymore?”
