When Bran had returned from his wandering, Isabella was still deeply engrossed in a conversation about toadstools, but Bran was in no hurry to interrupt or get home.
He was grateful that Isabella had dragged him out. With the exception of the medical clinic and his produce stand, Bran was almost always stuck working at the manor. He took a moment to breathe in the cool evening air, pausing to savor the peace he was experiencing.
His thoughts were interrupted by a rough tapping on his shoulder.
“That was quite gallant of you.” Bran turned around and came nose to nose with a man. A beautiful man. He was shorter than Bran, like most full-blooded humans, but he had a general air of confidence and warmth that gave him a larger presence. Despite the shadowy hood that was obscuring the stranger's face, his golden hair and cherubic features seemed to glow in the evening light. It gave him an unearthly quality.
“Excuse me?” Bran answered.
“Standing up to that thug, making a speech, causing a ruckus. You could have landed yourself in some real trouble just to allow entrance for a woman to that auction. You’re very chivalrous.” The young man gave him a megawatt smile, as if he had just used the smoothest pick-up line in the world.
Bran stared at him quizzically. “Just to allow entrance? I did what any right minded person would. If that’s all chivalry is, then I truly pray it isn’t dead.”
The blonde man stifled a laugh and looked at him skeptically. “I don’t know. It seems like an awful lot of work for something so trivial. Who really cares if a single woman can buy an old, dusty book?”
Bran gaped at the stranger. His initial feeling of attraction towards the man was quickly replaced by annoyance.
“Reading isn’t a privilege. Everyone, regardless of sex or status, should have the opportunity to learn and become educated. The mere idea that someone would disagree is completely ineffable; no matter what this backwards monarchy may think. It’s suppression at its finest.”
“I mean...women can still go to school...” the striking blonde trailed off, scratching the back of his neck. “So I wouldn’t use the word suppression…”
Bran glared at him bitterly. Of course this stunning young man would say that. He drew himself up to his full height before continuing. “Oh? Pray tell,” he hissed. “What word would you use instead?”
The blonde's confidence waned slightly. “Well, anyone can rise from their status if they try hard enough. Anyways, it’s not like we need an entire population of doctors and professors.”
Bran bristled and the stranger took a step back. Bran looked over the man’s fine clothing and jewelry. The fabric of his tunic alone could fund the medical clinic for a month. It was apparent that he came from a well to do family. Bran glanced at his soft, callous-free hands; he’d probably never worked a day in his life.
The halfling pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. “Let me get this straight,” he exhaled. “Are you saying that success has nothing at all to do with the circumstances of your birth? Are you so arrogant as to assume that your obviously inherited wealth has nothing to do with your success?”
“I, uhh…” the stranger spluttered. His expressive brown eyes darted back and forth nervously. It was easy to assume that the conversation was not going as he had intended. “I- I just think we shouldn’t let fate decide everything,” he backtracked.
Bran took a calming breath in an attempt to recenter himself and turned around. “I’m sorry, but one idiot has almost ruined this evening for me and my friend already. I’m done dealing with insufferable people for the night.”
The man put his manicured hands up defensively. “Wait! Please don’t leave! I’m sorry. I promise I didn’t mean to offend.”
“Ha!” Bran threw his head back. “No, I’m sure you didn’t. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that a man such as yourself is so out of touch.”
The stranger focused his warm brown eyes on Bran’s face. He was reluctant to admit that the extra attention made his heartbeat quicken.
“Well, I’m surprised that a captivating man like yourself isn’t also ‘out of touch’.”
Bran was pleased, but also annoyed by the complement of being called handsome. As if flattery could change his opinion of this arrogant stranger.
Did he really think he could salvage this interaction?
“You're obviously very passionate about these issues,” the mysterious man continued. “Why is that?”
“I don’t owe you an explanation,” Bran complained. “But think about it. How do you expect people to ‘rise from their circumstances’ if they don’t receive a proper, comprehensive education? I care because the educated differ from the uneducated as much as the living from the dead."
“Hmmm…” the stranger hummed. “Wasn’t that said by the same man who wouldn’t let women study at the Lyceum? I’m surprised you’re a fan of Aristotle with your attitude on gender equality.”
Bran was taken aback. Maybe this stranger wasn’t as dumb as he had originally thought.
“Well,” he stuttered “Well... I mean.. no one is perfect....”
The stranger let out a warm, childlike laugh at Bran’s blustering. It was so genuine and full of mirth, that he couldn’t help but join in.
“I'm impressed,” Bran admitted. “Most of the people around here aren’t quick to discuss Greek philosophy.” He took a moment to give the unusual, light haired stranger another appraising look.
“It’s not that impressive,” the blonde replied. “I’ve just had enough tutoring to make me very much alive.” Bran let out a reluctant laugh and the stranger looked at him inquiringly. “Didn’t you buy more books earlier?”
“What?”
“Yes, multiple volumes for yourself, not just the woman you were with. You seemed excited when you walked up to grab them, not surprising of someone that's read Diogenes Laertius.”
“You were watching me?” Bran asked.
The tips of the stranger’s pale ears turned pink as he looked away. “Don’t sound so surprised. You did make a scene before the auction.”
Bran shrugged. He supposed that made sense. “I gave most of them away,” he replied honestly.
“What?”
“I gave them away to some of the children in the village. All the reading material for the entire town is in that rundown scrap of a bookshop, and most people can’t even afford to purchase anything.”
The unfamiliar man looked at him in shock, his perfect blonde eyebrows pulling together. “No... It’s not really that bad…. is it?”
“What?” Bran questioned, raising a dark eyebrow in return. “It’s no secret. Have you never left the royal courtyard before? Also,” Bran pushed ahead, “Did you think I was buying all of those fairytales for myself?”
The stranger snorted. “Oh, don’t look so cross, sunshine. Would it be so bad if I did think you enjoyed the occasional work of fiction?’
“Oh please don’t call me that,” Bran mumbled. He didn’t even know this man’s name. It was way too early for endearments… though he did suppose it was better than Branny.
The blonde man appeared to be even more intrigued by him now. He almost looked like he was blushing.
“Why haven’t I seen you here before? I thought I’d come across all the nobles in town.”
“I’m not from around these parts,” Bran quipped. He had gotten so caught up in their conversation that he had forgotten he was very much not a noble and was very much not supposed to be there. “I’m just visiting family in this village for a spell.”
“Well,” the handsome stranger gave a dazzling smile and stuck out his hand, “My name is Rowan. Welcome to Gallan.”
“Oh, that's easy to remember. Just like—”
Bran was interrupted with the cry of, “Prince Rowan!”
They both turned to see a tall man with a red, angry scar across his cheek.
“Shit,” Rowan whispered. “Stay here, sunshine. I’ll be right back.”
As Rowan turned, his cloak shifted and Bran could see the embroidered royal crest of a flaming phoenix. Realization slowly dawned on him as his heart rose into his throat.
Oh no no no no. There's no possible way. It couldn’t possibly be…
The blonde ran towards the guard and started whispering fiercely in his ear.
Oh God, it was.
Fuck.
Bran ran as soon as Rowan’s back was turned, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He grabbed Isabella by the hand, yanking her away from her conversation.
“What the hell has gotten into you? “ she yelped.
“Dear, you wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
With his heart racing and his best friend by his side, Bran ran home while feeling a thrill he had never experienced in his life.
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