Cross Purposes (Chronicles of Ylandre, Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

on Keosqe’s attractions? He cast around for something to distract him from such disturbing ideas and the images they conjured.
    “Why are you here, Dyhar ?” he abruptly asked.
    “Tris!” Veare said reproachfully.
    But Keosqe replied, “I came to invite you and Ver to stay at my house.”
    “And I accepted,” Veare added.
    “There’s no need for that,” Tristen protested. “We aren’t staying long.”
    “I insist,” Keosqe firmly said. “This is no place for a thein and his family.”
    “He’s right, Tris- min ,” Veare concurred. “Come, pack your belongings as quickly as you can. Let’s not keep Kes waiting.”
    Realizing there was no gainsaying either Deir, Tristen reluctantly acquiesced.
    * * * *
    When he once visited the Deilen townhouse several years before, Tristen had pondered the absurdity of calling so large a structure thusly. True, it was only about a fifth of the size of the Deilen mansion back in Sidona but that was not surprising given the Sidonan property sat on a huge estate the size of a hamlet. However, the townhouse was considerably bigger than the Marantes’ original home in Nivare and that had been a substantial dwelling. Really, a fourteen-bedroom, six-parlor residence was no mere townhouse, especially when half of those bedrooms were suites, complete with sitting rooms and built-in bathing chambers, two of the parlors served as function rooms for small parties and the main reception hall was so capacious it almost took up one wing of the building.
    Many of the lots in the north district were large, allowing Rikara’s affluent residents to build three-or even four-story homes with expansive gardens and spacious stables in back and enough room below the stairs and occasionally up in the attics for the virtual armies of servants needed to maintain such dwellings. Such was the lot of the moneyed of the land. Yet despite childhood memories of wealth and high social standing, Tristen did not feel comfortable in such settings.
    Perhaps he’d been too young to acquire a taste for luxury when the Marantes forfeited or sold their baronial properties, let go of most of their servants, and moved to a smaller house away from Nivare. Veare, on the other hand, had found it difficult to adjust to a modest lifestyle.
    Looking across the dining table at his brother, Tristen noted how easily Veare fell back into his role as a privileged Deir. He accepted the servants’ attention as his due and spoke to them with the authority of one born to the blood. Come to think of it, Veare had been quite affronted when, upon their initial visit to the Deilen abode, none of the staff asked them to stay. Now there was a touch of righteous condescension in his manner toward them, as if in retaliation for ignoring him previously.
    Tristen glanced at Keosqe, wondering if their host felt unease over his friend’s behavior. But Keosqe was going through his correspondence and paid Veare’s actions no mind. Tristen sighed with some exasperation. Small wonder Veare behaved thusly in his presence. Keosqe was much too lenient with him in his opinion.
    However, he did not turn his nose up at the sumptuous breakfast served their first morning in residence. His mouth watered as he eyed the slices of honey-glazed ham, roehart sausages, poached eggs, sautéed vegetable mélange and fried bread piled high on his plate. On a platter before him were fresh-from-the-oven scones, slices of farmer’s cheese, a bowl of whipped butter and a jar of roseberry preserves. And to wash it all down, a mug of steaming milk tea.
    If there was one luxury he would never refuse it was good food. Many starved from want of a slice of stale bread. Who was he to turn down a meal, however extravagant? He happily tucked into his breakfast.
    Conversation picked up once the food was served. Tristen took only a small part in it. Much of the talk dwelt on things the other two had done together and meant little to him. However, he became interested when