Valleus felt quite drained once he’d returned to the castle. He went right to his room, deciding to try and sleep it off. The anger he’d felt once he’d realized the hideout was empty–even though he’d known from the beginning it was probably the case–had surprised him, and worn him out more than he’d expected. 

The chief knight had noticed the wrath building up within him, and ordered him back to the castle, the sixth and seventh squads accompanying him. Besides the first four squads still looking through the realm, the eighth squad remained at the hideout to investigate. The chief knight assured Valleus that they’d have a lead soon enough, and that due to everything he’d been through recently, Valleus needed rest. 

The young knight had surprised even himself by attempting to argue with his superior officer, but he’d cut himself off before saying something he’d regret. Coriund had reminded him that even going back to the castle was an honorable task, considering the heir to the throne was currently there. Valleus had finally been able to relax once Coriund had said something, and went back to the castle with his and Coriund’s squads in tow. Carmine followed as well. 

‘I hope I can chalk this up to exhaustion,’ Valleus thought to himself, concerned. Even in rut, he was known to be an exemplary knight. Pheromones, hormones, alcohol– none had ever caused him to lose control of himself entirely. He was unsettled by the way his raw emotion had torn through him when he was back in the cave. He decided to interrupt his thoughts before allowing his anxiety to take him any further. ‘Worrying does no good,’ he told himself. ‘I’m sure some sleep will help.’

He closed his eyes and felt his fatigue swallow him up. 

As he slept, he dreamt of a clearing in a wide, ancient forest. He was laying in it, bruised and battered. Fury overflowed from his soul as he lay in pain. In spite of his misery, the woods around him were warm and bright. A shadow fell upon him, and he looked up to see who had come to torment him now. In his dream, the face he saw was one he knew quite well. He couldn’t put his finger on how, though. 

The figure spoke gently– the voice was kind and soft. The hand that reached down tenderly to touch his torn skin felt so warm. He could feel both pain and anger dissipate. The last thing Valleus saw in his dream was the figure’s deep azure eyes.

He awoke with a gasp to a knock at his bedroom door. “Valleus, it’s me. May I come in?” 

Valleus swallowed dryly. It wasn’t a nightmare, but he felt his heart pound as though it had been. “One moment,” he called back hoarsely. He sat up, wiped the sweat from his brow, and took a deep breath. He couldn’t tell if he felt wholly himself, but he at least felt better than he had earlier. “Come in.”

Carmine opened the door gently. “Sorry to bother you, but it’s getting late. I thought you might want to grab dinner before the kitchen staff starts cleaning up.” Valleus glanced out the window as Carmine spoke. Sure enough, it seemed the sun had set some time ago. 

Valleus took a deep breath, rising as he did. “Thank you Carmine; I had no idea how long I’d slept.”

His cousin chuckled. “Not a problem. You probably needed it.” After wiping his face, Valleus followed Carmine down to the mess hall. 

It was mostly vacant, aside from a few small groups scattered amongst the large room. Coriund walked towards the pair, gesturing towards an empty table near the entrance. He held two large bowls of stew. Carmine excused himself to go get his own, and Valleus sat down across from Coriund, who had just shoved a large bite of stew in his mouth.

Valleus, figuring it was a better option than attempting to make awkward conversation, followed suit. 

When Coriund had finally swallowed, he looked up at Valleus. “So uh, did you ever reply to that letter from Baron Reicken’s daughter?” Valleus blinked in response to the unexpected question. “You said last week you’d get around to it, but I forgot to ask if you’d replied.” 

“Replied to what?” Carmine asked cheerfully as he approached, hands cradling the last bowl of stew the kitchen staff had. 

“A love letter,” Coriund responded playfully. He seemed more comfortable than he had all day as he teased his friend. 

Valleus rolled his eyes, but had to smile. He was grateful for a mundane topic after the days he’d had. “Hardly. I guess it could be called an attempt at courting.” He paused, recalling the contents of the letter. “She wasn’t very subtle in her mentions of my position, my appearance, and my secondary sex.” 

Carmine laughed. “I hadn’t heard about this one. Who’s it from? Anyone I know?” Valleus was famous around the castle as quite the heartbreaker. Women who’d worked at the Northern Castle when he first arrived remembered him declaring himself to be “married to knighthood” to the first poor maid who’d attempted to flirt with him. He proved to be a notoriously difficult target, avoiding being alone with women who gave off even the slightest tinge of interest in him. 

Valleus was described as a decided unromantic, who ate, breathed, and bled the knighthood. His promotion to second-in-command a year prior had leant itself even more-so to his favor– his new most common excuse for turning women down was that he was “going through a lot while he got used to his promotion”. Some of his suitors, though, were more stubborn in their approach. As of late, the available women from the local noble families were quite unwilling to give up. In fact, Valleus had already been told (or rather, threatened, as he saw it) that if he was still single when the duke’s daughter came of age, he’d marry her to him in a heartbeat. 

Narrowing his eyes, Valleus answered Carmine’s question. “Baron Reicken’s eldest daughter.” 

Carmine’s expression turned to one of distaste. It wasn’t that he didn’t want his cousin to be happy by any means– ‘but a noble…’ he thought to himself in irritation. Valleus knew how his cousin generally felt about nobles, and Carmine in turn knew how his cousin generally felt about women– they shared a knowing glance as Coriund continued his teasing. 

“I’ve heard she’s awfully pretty, y’know,” he said, poking his friend’s elbow from across the table. “And she’s an alpha, so you don’t need to worry about–” Coriund’s eyebrows twitched as he caught himself. 

Valleus shook his head softly. “It’s fine, Carmine knows.” 

Coriund sighed. “Well, anyways, what I’m trying to say is, she’s a real catch.” 

Valleus cocked his eyebrow in response. “I think you’re forgetting something.” He held up his left hand still thick with black scales. “How many noblewomen, or even women in general, are going to want me in this state?” 

Though his tablemates nodded in understanding, they shared the silent thought of: ‘I’m sure you’d be surprised.’

“Besides, it’s like I always say: I have no time for love. I’m married to the knighthood.” Valleus, eyes on his food, didn’t notice both Coriund and Carmine mouth the last five words as he said them. 

“Valleus, a word please!” A large voice echoed in the mess hall; the chief knight was beckoning him over from the other end of the room.

The young knight rose immediately. “I’ll be right back,” he said to his companions wth a smile. He was really enjoying this meal with his two closest friends. He felt normal again.