"I didn't know I needed your approval."He mused, looking down at her out of the corner of his eye.
She captured the errant chunk and pointed it at him. "Learn something new every day."
"You're awfully cheeky today aren't you?" He smirked. She'd been awfully cheeky most days lately, having discovered he was generally more entertained than annoyed by it. Which was a relief for her since her natural sense of humor had always tended towards the sardonic. It was a relief to not have to suppress it as she did with all but her closest siblings.
"My deepest apologies, I'd hate to make you angry my lord" she leered.
Demitri made a disgusted sound. "Do you mind, I'm trying to eat here."
Thelios chuckled, though not before returning her look. She grinned back and returned to her food, and turned her thoughts back to where exactly he was off to. She decided it must be related to the messenger who had come two days ago, who true to Demitri's predictions was someone new, and did his best to keep his distance. Any who came had also done so. She felt a little bad, and tried to be pleasant with the others, but they only eyed her suspiciously.
It would be strange having him gone, she considered, even for a few days. She'd become so used to him. Well it was a chance to sleep in her own room she mused, though that thought didn't cheer her up much. There wouldn't be much to do with him gone... there wasn't much to do with him here for that matter. As far as masters went, he was extremely low maintenance. With him gone she'd be bored silly. She'd have to look after the flock, otherwise she'd go mad.
There wasn't much to do at home since she'd discovered what few other rooms existed were mostly empty and never used, and the depths of the caverns held only a cistern for rain water, which explained the clever plumbing. She'd pulled a few things out of the so called storage room, which looked more like a treasury to her, just to have something to keep her busy, even sneaking the golden Apollo into her own little room. Well, sneaking wasn't entirely correct. She'd actually marched it past them as they watched in silence and closed her door behind her. They never said anything, and it remained where she put it, so she decided they must not have cared one way or the other. It wasn't like they'd noticed it much before.
A new and sudden thought interrupted her musing. What exactly was 'family' business for a giant? His Aunt the sphinx taken ill, a cyclops reunion? She knew very little about him when it came down to it.
"Whats so funny?" Demitri was looking cockeyed at her across the table. She started and blinked at him.
"Nothing."
"Then what's with the grin?" Thelios was watching her too.
"What, do you two have nothing better to do but watch me for unusual facial expressions?" Thelios shrugged carelessly in afirmation.
Demitri pursed his lips, "pretty much."
She sighed. "Family business."They both frowned. "I was trying to picture your family business." Demitri got it, but Thelios still frowned. "You know what sort of family business you'd likely have. You lineage isn't particularly banal I imagine," she continued when he just stared at her. Still nothing. "Sick aunty sphinx?" she offered.
Demitri nearly spat out his wine and Thelios finally grinned. "Ah, I see. No nothing that exotic. Just checking in with cousins and brothers... not my idea, but they insist."
"Are they giants as well?"
"Most."
Interesting. She didn't want to pry... well didn't want to seem like she was prying, so she asked no further questions and no one offered any more information. She cleared the table and washed up. They were still talking when she returned. She paused at the door to see if she could catch a snippet of interesting information. She'd long ago stopped feeling guilty about listening since the two of them were terrible eavesdroppers.
"And your father?"
"What does he care? And why should he. I can't imagine it becoming a problem, and certainly not for him. My cousin is an over confident fool, and he's managed, though apparently just barely. It will be a lesson to others." There was a pause. "My only real concern is if he compromised another as well. Specifically me."
"I see. What about you then? Are there many who know?"
"I can count the number of people on one hand."
"Does it include her? I've never heard her say it aloud." There was a longer pause, and she wondered if they'd figured out she was there.
"Yes" Thelios said finally.
"Is that bad?"
"I hope not." Beat. "No.... I trust her." She knocked on the door and peeked in. They both looked up at her.
"Goodnight." They nodded and returned to their wine. She paused a while longer but the conversation changed. It must have been the 'business' he was speaking of. She wondered who the 'she' was they spoke of. She headed to his room and undressed, tossing her dress over the top of a nearby chest and settled herself under the skins. There was an unusual chill in the air and it made her skin bump. She'd fallen asleep before he'd arrived and didn't hear him enter.
"Caliope?"The sound of his voice stirred her out of her light sleep.
"mmm"
"Asleep?"
"Was" she cracked an eye. He was already lying next to her, leaning over her on one arm. He looked serious and she sobered quickly.
"Do you remember me telling you not to tell anyone my name?" She blinked for a moment, wondering where the question had come from.
"I don't think," then she remembered, 'I have a reputation....' "Oh well, maybe. Yes. Yes I do, vaguely... why?"
"It's important that you don't." Perhaps it had something to do with what she overheard earlier.
"Alright." who would she tell anyway?"Demitri?"
He shook his head. "He knows."
She nodded thoughtfully."Any particular reason... besides your reputation?" She would have grinned, but his expression dimmed it to a wan smile.