“Cavish! You ass, you didn’t tell me you were planning on declaring!” The first to reach them was the younger Harmon, followed by his partner who was chiding him for being too rambunctious. He was a fresh faced youth, or looked like one. He was actually a year older than Rhindov and the eldest of their circle. He was a tanned man with dark brown hair that was too curled to lie flat despite his attempts to make it do so.
“Jeshua, please..! Ugh… I apologize Rhindov, he’s already made up his mind to give you a piece of his,” Lord Kelva said, echoing his husband. Silvas was a fairly prim man; dressed in his parade uniform with long blond hair pulled back in a simple que.
“-give you a piece of my mind! How could you keep something like this from me, Rhin?” Lord Harmon huffed and slapped his shoulder. “I thought we trusted each other with everything?” Rhindov opened his mouth, but Yirel beat him to it.
“Don’t blame him. It was me who asked that he keep quiet on the matter.” Quaice swept his skirts out and took a step forward, voice pitched soft and sweet. Jeshua gave Darling his attention immediately, a broad smile wiping away the frown he’d been pointing at Rhin.
“If it was for your sake, then I’ll forgive him.” Jeshua took Yirel’s hand in his own and bowed over it. “Darling, I have been dying to meet you properly! Of course we all know the woman by reputation but-” here he looked around and exasperatedly stood up once more. “Oi, get over here you lot!” Yirel gigged as Silvas rolled his eyes at his husband and joined his side. “I swear you lot enjoy making me look a fool.”
“No one has to do that for you, dear one,” Silvas remarked, wrapping an arm around Jeshua’s shoulders and smiling at Quaice. “Pleasure to meet you. Please forgive my idiot, he means well.”
“Hmn, the pleasure is mine, I’m sure,” Yirel said as he pressed his lips together to keep from laughing.
Rhin kept his smile mostly to himself as well, but it did peek out. Jeshua was as mercurial as always, but he wouldn’t have him any other way. He suspected Silvas thought the same.
Coming up at a more sedate pace behind them were the rest; Romin Dascus with his mop of dirty blond curls, Galaden Keirn with her sleek black waves, Kelnry Vesor and her brother Wesmond were the last the fall into the loose circle around them, he with his short cropped red hair and hers falling blunt around her shoulders. They were a collection of heirs from the Old Blood, fostered off in their youths to the same finishing school and bonding there.
“There we are, as we should be!” Jeshua flashed his smile and went around, introducing Darling to the rest and not giving anyone a chance to get a word in edgewise until Silvas tapped his shoulder. “-they look stark but don’t let the stares fool you, Kelnry writes poetry too, ah, yes dear?”
“You’ve done enough, let them speak for themselves,” he said with an endearing smile.
They all shared a soft chuckle together and Yirel came back to his side and wrapped himself around Rhin’s arm. The way he hugged close, the ever so faint tremor Rhin could feel in his grip, it made him catch his breath for a moment.
“Why are we standing in the middle of the walk? Come on, there are better places for conversation.” Galaden shook her head at them and swept forward and took Rhin’s other arm to get them all moving. She was a petite, voluptuous woman who took great pleasure in showing off her beauty, or any other thing she found lovely. If she’d been vain, Rhindov didn’t think any of them would have taken a liking to her as they had. She knew how others saw her, embraced it, and tried to bring as much and as many with her as possible. Looking across Rhin she smiled at Darling. “Evening, Dearie! It is so wonderful to have the chance to get to know you! I do hope you understand it wasn’t lack of interest that stopped any of us -Rhin here excluded it seems- from calling upon you in these years. Simply social requirements, yes?”
“Of course Lady Keirn..! If anything I should be thanking each and every one of you! I was taking advantage of my cousin’s invitations after all. And I will not fool myself into thinking those were more than polite observations of relative status.”
“I suppose so, but I was quite thrilled with your moxie. More ladies and lads from the country should do as you did, I think. How many are languishing out there for want of some excitement? How many could find a niche here in the city? It sets the mind afire.”
“Really?” Yirel’s grip lessened a bit on his arm.
“Really,” Romin drolled, walking up on Yirel’s right and bobbing his head. “If you let her, she’ll pick your mind over like a crow.”
“I’m not that bad..!”
“The last time you talked with the merchants from Trosha, you delayed their journey by a full day talking to his wife about… What was it again?”
“Just because you get bored doesn’t mean anyone else does,” came a voice from the back- Wesmond. “It was impossible to separate the two.”
“We were discussing the week-long market that happens there in the spring and it’s going to be the perfect opportunity to breathe some new life into this stuffy old place.”
Yirel was looking back and forth, following the conversation and grinning. Rhindov more or less led them to their usual space; a cozy alcove surrounded by hedges and a bit overgrown with ivy. It nestled next to the library wall, with a small understated door leading the way in, and the balcony over them. They each threw up their own mage lights to light the dim space, as the nymph was set to walk the more public paths. The multi-hued orbs cast a soothing light that reminded him of being under stained glass. Gala let go of his arm and settled down into a carved stone lounge that she claimed was surprisingly comfortable. Rhin took his usual seat in a heavy wooden chair softened with cushions, and pulled Yirel onto his lap with him.
There was a moment when Quaice huffed, but then settled with his head on his shoulder while Rhin wrapped an arm around his waist, hand resting on his knee.
Jeshua flopped down across a chair that was similar to Rhin’s, sprawling like a barn cat. Silvas tsked at him and took a seat in a wicker garden chair next to a round table. Romin, Kelnry and Wesmond took the rest of the seats.
“Well I’m sure Jeshua already said it; but Rhin, you have explaining to do! Not you Darling, so don’t fret,” Kel said, crossing her arms and leveling a stare at Rhin.
“I did say as much luv, but thank you for the back up. It’s not that any of us disapprove-” Jeshua paused and looked around to make sure, and everyone motioned for him to continue. “-Right. It’s just that out of all of us, you’ve been the one most against the idea.”
He sighed and Yirel shifted against him to face out towards the group. Fingers teased the top of his hand as Quaice traced out idle designs. “I understand your confusion, and you’re absolutely right; this is not like me at all.” He shrugged and looked down at Yirel, who caught his eye and blushed before looking away. “But Darling is worth it.” He turned his hand and captured Yirel’s, twining their fingers together.
“You can’t say that and expect us all to move on,” Galaden said from her spot. “I must know when all this started, if no-one else does!”
“Oh you are not alone Gal,” Jeshua chimed in.
“So?” Kelnry sat forward and rested her arms on the table.
“It started with letters,” Yirel said, glancing back at Rhin. His smile was just a touch devious. “Well. To call the first one a letter might be a bit forgiving.” Darling bit his lip and pressed a free hand to his cheek with a nervous laugh. Rhin smirked. Quaice was right on que, and his friends were already hanging on every word. “The first was, oh… A little over this time last year?” Quaice lightly touched the water silk and laughed softly. “He was quite forthright: ‘Who are you?’ with his name and nothing else.” Quaice flicked the silk and looked back at him, “As if I would respond to that.”
A chorus of snickers at his expense made the round of their small gathering. “Rhin, even I wouldn’t think it would work,” Romin said with a shake of his head.
“It worked well enough, didn’t it?” Rhin shot back, lifting Yirel’s hand in his.
Yirel giggled and shook his head. “After a fashion. Just not right away.” He looked back at the rest of them. “And to be honest, I did reply. How could I not, when the Lord Cavish himself sent me a letter? It just wasn’t what our dear Lord wanted. I told him that I would not tell him, or anyone.” Here Quaice looked down, and his voice got quiet. “Believe this or not as you chose, but I really had intended to enjoy a few years of entertainment and nothing more before going back to my life. I wasn’t looking for anything more grand than a dance and some wine…” There was a moment of stillness before Yirel inhaled and cleared his throat. “But they say the only plans to take stock in are the Gods’,” he said more cheerfully.
“Agreed,” Wesmod said. “But what then? Obviously it didn’t end there.”
“Well I think we all know that Lord Rhindov doesn’t take well to being told ‘no’,” Yirel remarked to another round of laughter.
“All too true,” Silvas said, and cast a pointed look at Rhindov. He ignored it.
Yirel didn’t seem to notice because he continued on with the fable unabated. It was more than believable and romantic; they had spent time getting to know each other in small clandestine letters. They each knew what the other looked like so it was a matter of discovering personalities. What had started as nothing but Rhin’s curiosity became understanding and perhaps more. While Darling’s caution had waned and been replaced with intrigue.
Rhindov was relieved, and impressed. Quaice was doing as well as he’d hoped. Give him an audience, and he was a natural performer. It wasn’t just that as Darling he was pretty. There were plenty of pretty faces that could catch someone’s eye. He was just… bright. His personality was vivacious and he didn’t seem aware of the magnetism. Not fully. Or maybe he was perfectly aware of it like Gala was, and just saw it as a tool to use for others and not a hammer to beat them down.
“I will say it was a surprise when he asked if he could declare openly, but I understand it as well.” Yirel sighed again and smiled. “And I will admit; it has made things easier already. I get to meet all of you and know from more than just his words who you might be. You can tell a great deal about a man from the company he keeps,” “Indeed you can, Darling,” Gala said.
“Ugh, yes, yes. I agree. You’re off the hook this time Rhin,” Jeshua said, pointing at him. “But only this time. And only if you bring the wine soon; why are we talking without wine?”
“Because you are already flighty enough without being drunk too,” Kelnry said, “And we were talking about important matters, we don’t need wine for that.”
“How can you be so smart in everything else Kel? Important matters need wine the most of all!”
They began to bicker, and in the friendly chaos Rhin whispered in Yirel’s ear, purposefully grazing the tender shell with his lips, “You’re an excellent storyteller.” Yirel’s breath hitched, and he shifted on his lap to inch away. Rhin let him, and smiled. From the library an automaton walked out with a tray of glasses and a few bottles of wine. It set the tray on the table and poured, and as soon as one glass was filled it was taken and passed out by those closest.The construct wandered away again after that, its job done.
And then the attention turned to Darling herself.
Gala was the one to broach that topic. “Well then Dearie, I take it that your True Name is still off the table?” She giggled at her own joke.
“Hmn, yes. As much as things are going well, and I am not thinking they will turn, but-” Yirel fretted and cast a long look over his shoulder. Rhin felt something in his gut squeeze before he looked away to give the same worried look to the rest. “-I must have some insurance towards my future peace,” Yirel said before looking down at his wine and swirling the dark liquid.
“Of course, I do understand. A woman must have her secrets after all. But then what can we know about you? I know we are all alive with curiosity,” Gala urged, taking a sip of her wine.
“Quite so! There were few enough hints that you shared to us in your story. I know we aren’t Rhindov here, but surely his friends earn a bit more than that?” Jeshua stretched and rearranged himself on the chair to be mostly sitting as he should, sans one leg over an arm. “To make things fair I’ll go first; I spent most of my time as a brat running away from tutors and hiding the garden to the point that I ended up learning more about cooking and healing plants than most of my peers by accident.”
“When did you stop being a brat or running from your duties,” Silvas asked dryly, casting a fond look over.
Jeshua waved his hand at him and shook his head. “Hush. What about you then luv?”
Chuckling he tapped his chin. “Putting me on the pulpit now? Fine.” Reclining in the chair, Silvas clicked his tongue, “I study the dulcimer for pleasure. And Jeshua already told you about Kel’s prose. So that’s three of us, what about you?”
“You don’t have to be like that Silvas,” Kelnry said. “But he is right..?”
Yirel nodded. “Yes, he’s perfectly correct. Hmm..” He leaned back against Rhin’s chest, and he wrapped his arm around Yirel’s waist without thinking. Yirel settled into the curve, the top of his head tucking just under his chin. He took a deep breath, enjoying the sweet scent of soap and the tinge of sweat that clung to the lordling. “I cannot ride a horse to save myself, but I’ve found a strange ability to keep my seat on the lesser chimera mounts that have been becoming popular.”
“Oh is that right? Rhin, you’ll have to take some pointers,” Wesmod teased, and he frowned at him.
“I need no such aid, thank you for your concern,” he grumbled, taking a drink.
“Is that so? I’ll be glad to tell Master Rige then.” The redhead smiled at him and pulled out a porcelain and gold hummingbird from his coat pocket, letting it sit in his hand.
Rhin tensed and growled softly as Kelnry stifled a giggle as her brother put the messenger away.
“Wait, what is going on?” Yirel looked around between them, grinning and biting his lip.
“It’s noth-”
Silvas cut him off, “Rhin here can’t ride chimera at all. They’re too intelligent for him.”
“That’s not true.” He glared at Silvas before looking down at Yirel who was trying to hold a smirk back. “It’s not a matter of intelligence, it’s one of control.” He locked their eyes, and Yirel met his gaze unflinching.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me, Lord Cavish?” He smiled.
“Oh I like her,” Gala said with a giggle. “That’s going to make convincing Mama so much easier. She’s desperately put-out Rhin, you could have given us some warning.”
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