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Eddis, her Thief and the magus rode into the courtyard and dismounted. While the magus was distracted with his new surroundings, Eddis caught her Thief’s eye and quirked an eyebrow. He gave her the tiniest smile as they maintained eye contact for just a few seconds too long.
That should keep the rumors going, Gen considered as he made his way to his library, taking care of his sore legs and hand.
The next day, after Eugenides joined the dawn sword drills for the first time in a long time and finally got his breakfast, his favorite brother pulled him aside.
Gen smiled, “Stenides! You’re not-”
Stenides set Gen with a glare. “What are you playing at, Gen?”
“With… practicing sword fighting left handed?”
“No!” Stenides whispered harshly, “The rumors about you and our Cousin who is Eddis.”
“Ah,” Gen responded, his smile dimmed. “You know how the guards are, worse than the washerwomen during winter sports.”
“It’s not just the guards. I saw the looks you were giving each other yesterday after your lunch excursion! You don’t leave your room for months and now this? With our cousin?”
“It’d be hard not to this,” Gen said while making an obscene gesture with a finger and his hook, “with someone who’s not our cousin.”
Eugenides’ gesture had the desired effect and Stenides punched his little brother in the shoulder. “Gen!”
Gen smiled, briefly, before wrapping his arm around his brother’s back and pushing him to walk. He leaned in and explained in a low voice, “It’s a game Helen is playing with someone else.” He continued, louder, “Let’s go to your workshop, show me what you’ve been working on.”