Jason

  Jason stomped through the house and walked into the garden. His anger dissipated as he saw Darion calmly sitting on a bench, drinking Kava, and gesturing to the seat next to him.

  "Can you do anything?" Jason sat down next to Darion. He didn't need to explain more.

  "I don't even recognize him. He's not the man I knew." Darion's sorrow was at the edges of his voice and in the edges of his eyes.

  "We have to help him somehow."

  "I agree, but he resents me too much."

  Jason's brow wrinkled. "Why?"

  Darion poured Jason a cup of kava from the pot and topped off his own cup.

  "Because I'm living a life he wants."

  Jason sipped the hot, bitter drink slowly, trying to make sense of Darion's words. "He's a Val with an inheritance. How can that be possible?"

  "He's also a wild dog in a cage. I get to fight out all my energy and get faster and stronger each day. I get to eat good food, sleep deeply, and sit in the garden drinking kava in my evenings. Sure, at some point, I'll be 'guarding' him, which he won't even need, but I don't have the weight of expectation or responsibility unless I want it. I'm strong when he feels weak. And then there's Tragst."

  He said the name of the prison like a curse.

  Jason took another sip of his drink. "Is this spiked?"

  Darion smiled, but said nothing. It was not quite the easy grin that Jason was used to.

  "But he can also do those things," Jason countered. "He just doesn't."

  Darion shook his head. "No one treats him like a commoner. He can't fight with the men or flirt with the old cook—"

  "Why would he want to flirt with the cook?"

  "I mean, he wants to be normal."

  "It might surprise you to know, but flirting with the cook is not normal."

  "Would you rather I flirt only with you?" Darion smirked, and Jason couldn't tell if he was joking.

  "Do what you want," Jason said, unconvincingly.

  "Good, because she gives me extra food when I do."

  "It's her job to feed people."

  "True, but why risk it?"

  Jason changed the subject. "Out of curiosity, why are you taking command of Laude Granthor's guard?"

  "Because they're incompetent, but good men. I need something practical to do…to keep myself from thinking too much."

  "Do you think something practical would help him?"

  "Well, sure as Nekthor's blood, sitting at a desk reading and thinking isn't helping him. I think getting him up and moving would help, but I can't force him to train. His fencing practice isn't helpful because he hates losing."

  "I see," Jason stared out into the distance."We should come up with something soon. And we'll need Laude Granthor on board."

  Darion snorted. "That should be easy. She's desperate to see him improve."

  Jason tilted his head. "Really?"

  "Wouldn't you be?"

  Jason nodded in agreement.

  Darion tapped a finger to his lips. "Maybe even desperate enough to listen to me."

  Elaine

  Elaine gave Jason a long look before speaking. "You've expressed your concerns well."

  He stood, his hands folded behind him, a paragon of professionalism. Of course, she heard he behaved more casually with Alensar, but this wasn't something she would reprimand him for. She might be paying his salary, but his loyalty should be to his Val.

  She continued. "I hope you will forgive me for bringing up a difficult topic, but does Val Alensar's behavior resemble that of your late brother's?"

  "To some extent, Laude, though I dare make no predictions."

  "So you have no ideas?"

  Jason shook his head. "I have some, but I think we should ask Darion, Laude. He does know Val D'Ambrosia best."

  Elaine pressed her lips together. "He's known Val Alensar the longest, which is not quite the same as best."

  She saw Jason withhold his disagreement, so she conceded. "But I suppose in this case, it's one and the same."

  She had known Gregor D'Ambrosia almost longer than anyone, but she hadn't really known him. A brief memory crossed her mind of the same dual colored eyes Alensar had. But in her memory, they were crinkled up in mischievous laughter in a way that Alensar's did not. But sometimes that laughter was also cruel, so maybe she knew him better than she cared to admit.

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  She pulled a cord near her desk.

  They could hear it was Thaniel before he entered, the characteristic click of his wooden leg echoing in the hall.

  "Thaniel, I would like to speak to Darion. Please fetch him." Elaine's voice took on an upturned lilt, betraying her awkwardness at the request. She didn't like to burden Thaniel with carrying and fetching.

  He bowed slightly, then left without comment.

  Given her family and position, Elaine did not have a particularly large house, but it was large enough that it would take Darion several minutes to appear.

  "At ease, Jason." Elaine was back to her writing as she spoke to Jason.

  She had only written a paragraph when Darion came swaggering into the room. His uniform looked fresh, and his hair was damp. Likely, a training session had just ended.

  Marie told her that he had come up with some nonsense about outranking the other guards, which they believed.

  She probably should have done something about it, but given the positive results, she let it go. Maybe she was just tired.

  Darion didn't bother with any official salute or greeting. Elaine, while aware of his presence, did not look up from her work. Elaine could see him in her peripheral vision as he draped himself on the chair.

  "Jason looks anxious enough to jump out of his seat, so let's get to whatever you need me for."

  Elaine lay down her pen and stared at Darion, who was smirking. She sighed yet again.

  "Well, we must not cause Jason further duress. I brought you here to discuss something quite simple. What shall we do about Val Alensar? He is clearly not doing well. All of us are concerned for his well-being."

  "Meaning, you want to stop him from dying. Am I understanding you correctly?" He then added a 'Laude' as an afterthought. At least the young man was showing some sense.

  If his bluntness meant to catch her off guard, he underestimated her.

  "Do you have any insight?"

  "Well, think about it this way. Let's say you have a hunting dog, but you beat him and starve him and keep him cooped up. Then you take a bit better care of him, no beatings and good food, but he's kept on a leash. Of course, he'll be unhappy and lash out. He needs to run."

  "You're comparing Val Alensar to a dog?" This caught her off guard.

  "It's not an insult. What I'm trying to say is that Alensar needs to be under the open sky. Maybe go horse riding. There's no reason to hide that he can ride better than any prancey noble."

  "Your solution is horse-riding?" Elaine expected something better than this.

  "My solution is letting him feel free. Riding horses. Hunting in the woods alone. Convincing him to train again. Find a way for him to do the things that make him feel whole."

  It was obvious, now that she heard it said out loud.

  Darion continued. "Also, talk to him about these things, even if he's being an ass. I'm sure he could tell you what he needs if you took a moment to listen."

  Jason winced at Darion's words, and Elaine nearly did, too. She wasn't even sure if it was due to the insult he delivered or the insight that came with it.

  "I will take your suggestions under consideration. There is wisdom in them, though you need to work on your delivery."

  "Fair enough." Darion stood to leave, but he paused at the doorway. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go back to walloping some discipline into your guard."

  "Yes, that was all I needed," Elaine said, the closest she could get to a dismissal, before Darion gave a curt bow and left the room.

  She thought for several minutes, considering her options. Then she looked over at Jason, who was dutifully awaiting orders.

  "Would you be so kind as to summon Val Alensar?"

  ***

  Elaine watched as Alensar walked into the room. He wore one of the outfits she had picked out, a dark blue shirt, with a brown jacket and pants. He had none of the swagger of his adopted brother. He was too thin, meek, and kept his gaze down. Elaine was aware that he was curious and intelligent. He learned manners and proper speech much faster than expected. Professor Tannen was impressed with his progress and mathematical aptitude.

  An excellent heir, given the circumstances. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to trust him. Was it because he physically resembled his father too much?

  He did a bow of equals and sat down. In contrast to Darion, he sat up straight and waited politely. Not quite the deference of Jason, but close. She leaned her elbows on the desk and rested her chin on her folded hands.

  "What do you wish to speak to me about, Laude Elaine?"

  "Val Alensar, I am concerned for your health and well-being. I wish to know what you believe might improve it."

  "Undoubtedly, you already have something planned." Alensar's voice was flat, as if he were not living in it.

  "I do have some thoughts on a good course of action, but I was advised that I should consult you. I apologize for not having done so sooner."

  "Apology accepted. There is no particular need for it, since I do not have any ideas on how to improve my condition." He did not quite shrug, but something about his posture suggested it. As if shrugging was too much effort.

  "You may be pleased to hear that Darion and Jason inspired this idea. You have some family in the country. I think you should visit them, get some fresh air, and a change of scenery. While I need to write a few letters to arrange it, I don't expect it to be a problem. I will come with you as a chaperone, of course. Though I may hand off responsibilities to your half-uncle."

  Alensar furrowed his brows. "Wouldn't visiting cousins in the country infringe on my probationary period? The more people who meet me, the more inconvenient my death would be."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I was told that if I do not cooperate, my life is at risk." His voice had the barest lilt of frustration.

  Elaine's heart started beating faster, but her voice remained calm. "I was unaware how seriously you took the threat on your life."

  Alensar's pleasant, meek demeanor dropped in an instant. He didn't raise his voice, and his voice took on the Karangasz accent. "Who in all of Nekthor's Five hells makes idle death threats?"

  Elane's back pricked with sweat. She started to speak, "I thought–"

  "No." Alensar cut her off. "You didn't."

  He paused for a moment and looked her directly in the eyes–the blue eye peering into her soul and the brown one a dark void. "It will not happen again. And I do not make idle threats. Is that clear?"

  "Yes." Elaine could hear her heart pounding in her ears. She cleared her throat, and mercifully, her voice did not shake. "Given your progress in etiquette and education over the past several weeks, there stands little reason for you not to be formally accepted as the D'Ambrosia heir, as long as your health improves. Should Laude Oberon decide you are unworthy of heirship, most likely you will still receive benefits due a bastard royal."

  "I'm unfamiliar with that term." His voice once more had a proper noble accent, but the aura of anger did not abate. Was the switch intentional or accidental?

  "Typically, full use of a small manor house, and a stipend, as well as the use of an appropriate number of servants. Darion will receive a pardon, though it's sponsored by your family, so it can be rescinded."

  "And you didn't think it fit to inform me of this sooner?" For the first time, Alensar gave off the air of a nobleman or perhaps just someone used to being obeyed.

  Elaine swallowed. "I will take greater care with my words in the future. Now, do you think a visit to the country would improve your current state?"

  "Yes, Darion made a good suggestion. I think the information that came to light today will also improve my mood." There was a little more light in his eyes. He was angry, but perhaps also happy? She couldn't know.

  She closed her eyes for a moment and let herself show her feelings. "I don't suppose apologizing will be of much use?"

  "Not right now. Maybe someday."

  That was better than she could have expected.

  "Very well. I will go ahead and make the arrangements."

  "Much obliged," Alensar said and stood to leave. As he drew near the door, Elaine called out.

  "Alensar?"

  "Yes?"

  "I know my words mean little, but I am deeply sorry." And she meant it.

  Alensar gave a slight nod and then left the room. Ambiguity bottled and distilled.

  Elaine stared into the empty room. Then she rang for some tea.