Page 51 of Kneel Before Me

“Then why has your student never won?”

The Seneca’s brow furrowed. “Why is your student not in first place already?”

“The competition has barely started. I have time.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps you have finally met your match. Perhaps there will be victory for the Senecas.”

“Do not speak of the future as if it has already happened.”

Rowe laughed. “It will happen if you are not careful.” His eyes slid to Apollo. “Both of you.”

Apollo leaned in. “Is that a threat?”

Eros leaned in too. “It is a prediction.”

Caspen did not live his life according to predictions. He never had. It was time to end this conversation. “Focus on your own lives,” he said firmly. “And we will do the same.”

Eros laughed, still watching Apollo.

“Always the peacemaker,” Rowe said again, his voice a mocking lilt. He turned to Eros. “Come, Brother. I tire of this.”

Without another word, they left.

Caspen turned to Apollo. “You must control yourself around Eros,” he said. “They are both unstable. If you anger one, you risk angering the other.”

“Do not lecture me, Brother.”

Caspen closed his mouth. Their moment of camaraderie was clearly over.

Apollo turned to leave, swirling his goblet of elixir. “She said she would come to me tonight,” he threw over his shoulder. “You can have her after.”

He disappeared the same way the Seneca brothers had. In his absence Caspen sighed, alone once more. The only sound in the courtyard was the gentle burbling of the fountain, which flowed no matter what time it was. He stared at the shimmering liquid, wondering whether he should indulge in it. Before he could decide, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

“All alone tonight, Caspenon?”

It was the same question his brother had asked him earlier. Only this time Caspen turned to see a woman standing beside him. Adelaide. She was a Seneca, and as far as Senecas went, a decent one.

“I do not seek company,” he said.

“I see. That is a shame.”

Adelaide’s mouth was turned up at the corner. Her eyes were bright; she had been drinking elixir. Was Caspen the only one under the mountain who was not in the mood for merriment tonight?

“What are you doing here?” Caspen asked. “Everyone else is hunting.”

Adelaide shrugged. “I hunted this morning.”

“In the daylight?”

“Yes.”

“That is dangerous.”

“Actually, it is fun,” she said. “You should try it sometime.”

“My father would not approve.”

“Do you do everything your father says?”