They Who Fell by Kevin Kneupper Read Free Book Online

ropes, and you can entertain us in return. It’s tedious up here at times. Someone new would liven up the place.” He was smiling now, welcoming, and looked almost friendly.
    Jana turned to the woman again, trying to make eye contact and to get some hint as to what to do. But she was studiously ignoring the entire conversation. For a few moments, Jana couldn’t decide. Part of her was fascinated, and even wanted to join them. The angels could all be dangerous, but Rhamiel oozed confidence and charm. She’d often wondered what their lives were like up here, and what it would be like to be one of them. She’d never had so much as a kiss, and now here was one of the tower’s most well-known residents talking to her. Maybe even flirting with her, if she was reading things right. It was flattering, even if Jana herself found it all somewhat inexplicable.
    In the end, she decided to sit. There really wasn’t any other choice.
    “You’ve got a little rebellion in you. We like that,” said Rhamiel, smirking at the woman who had escorted her up. “Have you met Zuphias? He used to run around inducing miracles before things became unpleasant. I can’t tell you how many pieces of toast bore the image of the Maker’s son because of him.”
    Jana believed him, but just for a second. Zuphias must have seen it in her face, because he jumped in quickly. Rhamiel may just have been teasing her, but Zuphias didn’t look like he wanted this particular rumor spreading about.
    “Nothing as banal as all that,” said Zuphias. “Bleeding statues, mostly. A few cases of stigmata. I could show you that one, if you like.” He was well-dressed in a scarlet robe that had been precisely tailored to his figure, and he carried himself with an aristocratic bearing. He looked older, his hair graying and fading into a widow’s peak. While his face wasn’t as clean as Rhamiel’s, he had minimal scarring compared to most of the others, with just a few burns running along his jawline.
    “No, thank you,” said Jana politely. He could have been joking, too, but it was best to assume it was a serious offer.
    “Care for something to drink?” said Rhamiel. “I know they don’t let you have anything but swill down there. If you’re to be joining us, you’ll have to upgrade your tastes. It doesn’t do to have someone so lovely consigned to our basements.” He motioned for one of the other, higher-class servants to approach the table. “Bring us a bottle of wine, from Zuphias’s stock. Something nice, to toast to new friends.”
    The servant darted away to retrieve the wine, as Jana marveled. She was being served. By someone who by all rights should be able to order her around, and who otherwise would have considered it beneath him to even speak to her without using an intermediary. She didn’t know how to feel about that. Part of her was delighted. She’d been young when she was brought to the tower, and barely remembered her parents. Virtually her entire life had been spent in serfdom. No one had ever fetched things for her or cared about her comfort. On the other hand, she knew full well what it was like to be on the receiving end of those orders.
    “Now, girl,” said Rhamiel. “What brings you up among us? What troubles are you here to drink away?”
    Jana sputtered, nervously trying to start a sentence. She wasn’t sure where to begin, or where to go. In the end, she didn’t have much of an idea herself, and so not much came out. “I don’t know,” she said.
    “She doesn’t know,” said Rhamiel, leaning in closer. He flexed his wings, and brushed the tip against her arm as he made himself more comfortable. It sent a chill down her spine. She’d never touched one of them before, and she’d heard stories of all manner of horrible things that could happen if you did it without their permission. She instinctively clasped her arm with her other hand, waiting for whatever the terrible consequence would be. But her skin didn’t