Chapter 15
The tall towers of the keep came within sight long before the rest of the city of Adeban and as relieved Will was to know this march would soon be over, he also worried about all the new dangers that lurked within a city's dark alleys and desolate streets. He kept the prince well within his sights when they rode in under the tall gates in the massive outer city wall and along the street leading towards the keep.
The people of Adeban were cheering and waving to the soldiers marching past them, and they bowed and shouted respectful greetings to the prince and his commanders. Kell smiled and nodded and even bent down once to speak to a young girl that ran up to his horse.
Will knew the prince's cheerful mood and smile was all for the benefit of his men and people. He had been quiet and pensive all morning and Will knew he was more than uncomfortable with the conversation they'd had last night. The prince was not a man to sit idly by and wait for his fate.
~You should take his offer and stay with him at his manor.~
~And what if my mere presence puts him in danger?~
~Then you're in a difficult position, because you're bound to be close sooner or later.~
Will didn't answer that, what was there he could say when he wanted nothing more than to be close to Kell? And still, how could he let his heart into this when they were bound to each other with Fate's chains? Though, wasn't his heart in this already? The rapid beating told him so when the prince turned in his saddle to look for Will.
The walls surrounding the keep were equally massive and intimidating as the city walls, the gate was of thick ironbound oak and there were two spiked portcullises in the tunnel between the city street and the keep's large outer courtyard.
The soldiers took care of their own mounts while the prince's and the commanders' horses were taken care of for them, which seemed to apply to the sorcerers' as well since stable boys hurried overt to take Will's and the brothers' reins. Will gave his gelding a pat on the neck before it was lead away.
He looked around at the stone walls around him and wondered how many men had died building and eventually defending them during the five hundred years they had been standing. And how many lives they had protected and saved, a keep this size could easily hold a thousand men and more.
"Come," Thomy said and gave Will's shoulder a squeeze. "You can admire the stones later, I believe our rooms have been set up for us and it's not more than half an hour until supper."
Will nodded and followed the brothers in through the doors.
Servants and maids ran the hallways to get the last minute things in order for the arriving troops and all of them stopped to bow respectfully to the three sorcerers before hurrying off again. Will felt himself blush each time it happened and decided to ignore Thomy's and Sernan's knowing smiles at each other.
Their rooms were on the second floor across from each other, and Will saw Lieutenant Beyn enter a door further down the corridor so he guessed the rest of the commanders were not far away either. It was comforting to know, he'd never slept anywhere where he didn't have another person close by.
The room was simple but comfortable with a soft wool and feather mattress in the relatively large bed and a heavy drawer with a washbasin and a small mirror. There was a table and a simple chair pushed up against the opposite wall under a narrow window that had likely been a perfect perch for archers when defending the keep. The water in the basin was fresh and Will happily washed off the worst of the road dust from face and torso before he put on a new shirt under his grey coat.
There was a knock on the door and a shy voice asking for sorcerer Will De'Noa. With a puzzled frown he opened the door and looked down into a young maid's round, beautiful face. She looked shyly up at him with grey eyes and a slight blush to her cheeks.
"I was to ask you to join the prince for supper tonight at his manor, master sorcerer," she said and her voice was soft and lilting. She stroked back an auburn curl behind her ear.
"I might not be able to," Will said, shifting on his feet, a bit uncomfortable since he wasn't quite sure how he was expected to behave towards the staff; as far as he was concerned he was no different from them. And this girl was running an errand for the prince; a rather private matter too, Will could imagine what Kell had planned for him.
"I was also to say that the other sorcerers and commanders were also invited, in case you hesitated, master sorcerer." She smiled pleasantly at him.
Will sighed and lowered his eyes only to realize the girl had a very revealing cleavage. He abruptly turned his eyes away and cursed the blush rising on his face. "Fine," Will blurted abruptly. "Tell the prince I'll be glad to join him." Anything to spare himself the sudden embarrassment.
The maid smiled again and curtsied before she headed down the hall towards the stairs and the lower floors, where the prince was most certainly awaiting his answer.
Will closed the door a bit too forcefully and bit his teeth together. Why was he suddenly so confused and frustrated about all this? Hadn't he already let his heart decide which way to go in this matter? But heart and mind weren't always one. Yet still, after having learned the prince was the one he was meant to care for and protect with all his heart, shouldn't the path be even more obvious?
It was, and Will knew it and perhaps that was what frightened him because he saw it so very clearly.
* * * * * * * *
Kell tossed yet another tunic away and Janu hurried to pick it up with a muttering about fretting, young princes. Kell found the blue tunic with the golden embroideries around wrists and collar, and held it up to examine it with a critical eye. Yes, it would do. Black breeches and newly polished leather boots, a thick belt around his waist with his tiger eye dagger. He wore his hair loose except for the strands by his temples which he had pulled back and fastened behind his head with a golden clip. He left the two topmost clasps open on the tunic to show the soft white cotton shirt underneath and to draw the eye to the dip between his collarbones.
Kell had planned his appearance to the last piece of cloth this evening since he was aiming to convince Will to stay in the manor instead of up at the keep. The other sorcerers and the commanders had been invited too for the sake of the appearance that Will was so keen to keep up. Kell could understand that if this whole matter was supposed to be a secret, but he wouldn't let the sorcerer go without at least a few hours in private.
Janu put back the rejected tunics in the closet and Kell saw a forest green one with black and gold embroideries circling around the hem and collar.
That color would look good on Will, he mused with a little smile. As far as he could remember Will didn't have that many clothes except for his greys and one or two pairs of tunics and breeches. He would make sure to change that now back in Adeban when he had access to a very good seamstress. Yes, deep forest green and dark brown, or even black. He thought the stark color would lend a bit of intimidating air to the otherwise gentle sorcerer.
The table was already set in the main hall and the kitchen staff ran around to finish the last minute improvements to a supper which, judging by the smells emanating from the kitchen hallway would be a tasty feast.
A servant hurried up to Janu, who in his rightful position as steward was to know everything happening at the manor, and whispered something with a curt bow. Janu nodded and then told Kell his guests were arriving. Kell smiled and hurried over to a window facing the yard.
Kell watched as the stable boys ran out to take care of the guests' horses; he kept out of sight where he peered out from behind the drapes to identify the arrivals. The manor guards ushered five riders and a small coach through the gates and Kell immediately saw Will among them. Like his fellow sorcerers he was wearing his grey coat and Kell once again promised himself to send for that seamstress.
Lieutenant Beyn and captain Heón wore their formal tunics, though without the chain mails and armor they seemed too loose over the shoulders. The two women they helped down from the coach were just as attractive as Kell remembered them from six months ago, when he had last paid a brief visit to Adeban. Beyn's blond wife, Aineé, shy yet challenging in her very well fitted green dress, smiled at her husband as he offered her his arm. She wouldn't speak much during their visit, but when she did it would be well worth the wait, she always spoke wisely.
Captain Heón's wife, Lanille, was dark haired and pale skinned with eyes that saw everything. She was more for gossip than the other woman but she had a way of talking about it like it was the world's most well kept secrets and you just had to listen. She often knew things that were meant to be secrets too, so Kell made a point of talking to her when he had the chance.
Kell blinked and took a closer look at her. Yes, her dark dress was definitely showing a slight bulge around the waist. So Heón would soon become a father, Kell wished them all the best of luck. He remembered when his brother Shane was born and the nursemaid's fussing and fretting as soon as the baby cried or pooped or hiccupped. Kell wondered if he would become a father one day. He knew he had to produce an heir, but as his eyes once more fell on Will that thought seemed impossible. Not without breaking both their hearts.
He greeted his guests with a charming smile and made sure to tell the ladies just how lovely they looked, as he chivalrously kissed their hands. Lanille looked more than a little pleased that he had noticed the growing stomach and she told him she was convinced it was a boy. Aineé only smiled beautifully and let herself be escorted into the hall by the prince, whom by now had one lady on each arm.
Kell noticed Will kept in the background and he decided to let him, after all the two women would be hard enough on him once they found out he was the sorcerer largely responsible for their victories.
Supper passed peacefully and with an amiable air, Aineé and Lanille kept the small-talk going between each other, and Thomy and Sernan joined them happily; sorcerers were a talkative kind. Well, except for Will, Kell amended. He sat down at the end next to Sernan and seemed content with listening to the others.
"And lord Calon sold that piece of land for a scandalously low price, just before this whole thing started," Lanille was saying.
Kell shifted his attention to her. "What land, lady?"
She looked at him with a delighted smile. "That beautiful strip of groves that runs along the river. I hear the poor man that bought it lost it all when the Iloron king attacked. Lost a fortune when it all went up in smoke. It's a shame on such beautiful trees." She took a small sip of her lemon water.
Kell knew what land she meant, he had spent many summer weeks on the properties when he was younger, and lord Calon had been a close friend then. Before… He stopped that line of thought right there, pushing those unwelcome memories to the back of his mind.
"Why would he sell the groves?" he asked out loud to spark the next bout of gossip from Lanille. "His properties were famous for them."
"I know, my prince. And I hear his sister was devastated. But he obviously had told her that land would be useless soon enough. And he was right."
Kell took a sip of wine and let Lanille continue on her quest to enlighten them with courtly gossip. Her contacts must be many and extensive to supply her with all this information. Lord Calon had been very accurate in his assumption about the land he'd sold. Calon had always been cunning in his business but that had been uncannily correct. Was it because of luck and skill, or something else? Kell refused to continue that speculation; the Shaeraban family was an important supporter of the king and loyal to the kingdom. It was unfair of him to even contemplate any suspicions against them.
They moved into the parlor after the desert had been cleared off the table, and the ladies claimed Sernan and Thomy's attention to continue a conversation about herbs that could ease the monthly pains women tended to have. Kell fell back a few steps to talk to his commanders and he noted Will still kept a bit to himself.
Both Beyn and Kell toasted to Heón's expected son and Kell mused teasingly about all the things he could remember from his mother's pregnancy and birth of Shane. Heón gulped down a few glasses of wine and stoically kept his somewhat dazed but proud smile.
"Excuse my curiosity, my prince," Lanille was saying, saving he husband from another of Kell's dramatic tales. "But I've heard so many rumors about your recent battles and how they were won, and my husband hasn't been able to tell me anything since he wasn't there. So, please, my prince. Can you sate my curiosity?"
Kell smiled amiably. "Well, I'm not sure two lovely ladies such as yourselves should hear about such cruel business." That was quickly discarded as rubbish; men didn't hold soul rights to talk about war.
"What do you want to hear?" he conceded, knowing wholly well Lanille would not give up.
"Well, according to rumors, the battle at the north river crossing was a particularly ferocious one. Is it true you were almost killed, my prince?"
Ferocious wouldn't even begin to describe it. These two women were not fools but there were some things they just wouldn't be able to understand until they had stood in the middle of a blood-soaked battlefield and watched their men die around them.
"Yes, lady. I was as good as dead," Kell said to put the curiosity at ease. "My men fought bravely to keep the enemy at bay, but there were too many of them." He tried to keep the ache out of his voice, but it was hard. It still hurt to have lost so many good men. Lanille hardly noticed once she had realized she would finally learn some details others didn't know.
"But you were miraculously saved at the last moment, my prince?" Lanille was practically jumping up and down on the divan. She was easy to please, this woman.
"Yes, by a very brave sorcerer who had only joined my army days earlier."
"Who was he?" Lanille clapped her hands together in anticipation.
Kell shot a quick glance across the room at Will who was looking at the books in the tall shelves along the wall. Kell knew he had heard the entire conversation judging by the tense shoulders and the clenched jaw. Kell couldn't help himself.
"His name is Will De'Noa, lady. But if you want all the details as they should be told, you should ask the sorcerer himself." In the corner of his eye he saw Will freeze, his hand reaching for a book.
"I wish I could, but sorcerers are often so uptight and always busy with something they refuse to talk about, present company excluded of course." She nodded at Thomy and Sernan, who couldn't quite control their grins. Kell heard captain Heón mutter something about his wife and her damned curiosity.
"Well, this particular sorcerer is not quite like the ones you seem to have met, lady," Kell said and smiled at her.
"I'd like to meet him," Lanille sighed longingly.
Will turned slightly then to give Kell a very unfriendly stare over the heads of the ladies, and Kell sensed Beyn and Heón tense beside him. His smile grew wider.
"Will, why don't you introduce yourself properly to the ladies?" He gestured gracefully at the women and Will's gaze turned positively icy.
It took Lanille a moment to realize who Kell was talking to, but then she turned around in her seat with a delighted exclamation. "Oh, that's not polite, master sorcerer!" she chided and waved a finger at him.
Will shifted his icy glare from Kell to the women and his expression changed just as fast. "I apologize, my lady. I'm not used to all the customs you have to consider in such noble company." He gave her a warm smile that made Kell frown just a bit jealously.
Lanille gestured for Will to come join her on the divan and he obediently sat down next to her. "So, sorcerer Will De'Noa," Lanille practically purred with satisfaction to have gained that invaluable bit of information. "Tell me how you saved our prince."
Will sighed and began reluctantly to give a very simple description of the battle from his point of view, but Lanille soon managed to make him commit to it and elaborate.
Kell had never asked Will how he felt about the battles, he knew the young sorcerer always did his best to save lives instead of taking them; he had been devastated after the ambush at the Knee.
Will spoke now of the panic and desperation he had sensed from the men fighting for their lives in the field, and how he hadn't been able to stay on safe ground while they died. He didn't exaggerate his actions or the number of enemies he faced, his words were so simple yet colorful Kell could almost hear the battle-cries again. For a man who had been there it didn't take much more to bring him back.
There was a short silence when Will had finished, even Lanille was quiet. Kell met Will's gaze and had to swallow at the raw, unguarded emotions he saw in the sorcerer's eyes.
"War is never easy." Lady Aineé was looking at her husband, Beyn's face had a tension about it that spoke of the harsh memories he had from the battle, but as she smiled at him he returned it, albeit a bit forcedly. Aineé turned to Will. "I'm grateful you were there, master sorcerer, for my husband was one of the men you saved that day. I could never go on without him."
Will smiled softly and tried to hide the blush on his cheeks by ducking his head, his bangs falling over his eyes, but Kell saw it. Will was clearly not comfortable with the attention and the praise.
Lanille continued her small talk after that, clearly not at ease with the heavy mood that had followed on Will's words. Will disentangled his arm from the lady's and quietly went back to continue his perusal of the bookshelves.
Kell slowly walked over to him. "I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, Will," he said quietly. Will just gave him a short glance over a shoulder. Gods of mercy! Kell pulled a calming breath. "There are more books in the library, in case you're looking for something special."
"No, thank you. I'm just browsing," Will said dismissively.
Kell went to pour himself another glass of wine.
* * * * * * * *
Thomy and Sernan were the first to leave and they did it discretely, just nodded polite thanks to the prince and left. Kell suspected the brothers knew he wanted Will to stay and in their own way they helped him to achieve his goal. When Will eventually turned away from his book-browsing the brothers had already gone and he seemed a little lost when he realized it.
Capt Heón and Lanille decided it was time to leave when Lanille began to complain about sore feet, and lieutenant Beyn and Aineé joined them, after all they all had rooms in the keep.
Kell turned around to look at Will once they were alone. The sorcerer looked back from under his dark bangs and the expression told Kell Will wasn't all too happy about being the only one left.
"You are free to leave whenever you want to, but I'd like for you to stay." Kell poured a glass of wine and offered it to Will. When he didn't move to accept it Kell shrugged and placed it on the small table before he sank down on one of the divans, making himself comfortable with a pillow under one arm.
Will finally sighed and seemed to admit defeat, the tension in his shoulders loosened and he sat down in a chair opposite Kell.
"Lanille was really delighted when she finally got to meet you," Kell said and gave Will a tentative smile.
"She talks too much," the other grumbled back.
"That she does. I can't imagine Heón hardly getting a word in during their conversations."
"Are all noble women like that?"
"What do you mean?" Kell wondered, glad he had finally gotten the sorcerer to talk to him.
"All gossip and no idea what the world is really like. To her war seemed like a romanticized fairytale."
"I know what you mean. Some of them are like that, but most of the ladies are more like Aineé, they've been around and about court long enough to use their heads more than their mouths. Lanille's had quite a sheltered life, it's only until recently when she and Aineé moved up north to be closer to their husbands that they've come to see the world for the harsh place it can be. Though I guess Lanille has kept her fondness for gossip, at least."
Will glanced up before he reached out to take the glass of wine. "Aineé thanked me for saving her husband's life," he murmured quietly, staring down into the red liquid. "At the time, in that battle, I wasn't even aware he was there."
Kell studied Will's pensive expression. "He was there. Beyn was one of the men with me and he rode up your escape route just moments before us. He respects you a lot, Will."
"I don't want the reputation nor the praise," he grumbled. "I shouldn't have to."
"Well, you've got to get used to it or you won't last a week at court." Kell had meant it as advice, or perhaps concern about his friend. Will didn't take it that way.
He looked up with a sparkle of defiance in his eyes. "I'm not going to court," he stated, perhaps a small retaliation for the unwanted attention Kell had forced upon him earlier.
Kell bit his teeth together. "But I am, sooner or later, and if you're serious about this ‘care for the tiger' business then you simply have to come along."
Will glared at him but didn't say anything. Kell sighed and emptied his glass. He got up and made to leave the room, obviously Will was in no mood to socialize and Kell's patience had all but run out.
"Where are you going?" Will asked and seemed just a little bit concerned.
"To bed, it's been a long day and I've had just a little bit too much to drink." He gave the sorcerer a glance. "There are guestrooms in case you decide to stay, otherwise you can ask one of the guards to show you the way back to the keep." He waited just a moment for an answer before he headed to the door.
"I suppose," Will began slowly and Kell stopped in the doorway, "it's a bit late to go back now." He looked at his glass and the untouched wine. "A guestroom would be nice, if it's not too much trouble."
Inside Kell cheered victory but he only gave Will the briefest of smiles.
* * * * * * * *
As it happened, Will's rooms were just down the hall from Kell's and if you went out on the terrace from either suite you entered the same part of the garden. Will wasn't really surprised about that discovery. What was more amazing was that the prince politely bid him a good night after a brief tour of the rooms and then left. No advancements or invitations or even a sly look, which made Will wonder, just a little bit troubled, what he had done.
~You're rejecting him, that's what you've done, you daft wizard.~
~Ashiná!~ Will had never heard his guardian sound so… grumpy. ~I'm not rejecting him.~
~Then why is he alone in his rooms while you are alone here?~
~I…~
~You have no reason to worry, Will. He wants to be with you more than anything.~
~And what about Sharican's warning? How can I ignore that?~
~Would being with the prince be to ignore the warning then you wouldn't have been sent to his camp so soon. What if the only way to save the prince is to know him… intimately?~
~What is it you know that you aren't telling me, Ashiná?~ Will began to get worried and then felt a warm touch to his chest.
~I know nothing that you don't already. I'm merely trying to guide you. But you are too damn stubborn.~ Despite her words he could hear the smile in her voice.
Will raked a hand through his hair.
~Let you heart decide,~ Ashiná whispered encouragingly.
Gods of earth and air!
Will pushed himself up from the chair and headed towards the terrace, the doors opened easily and cool night air scented with a myriad of flowers from the garden swept over him. He stood for a moment to let sorcerer sight adjust to the dark, before he stepped out onto the path. The pebbles crunched under the soles of his boots and he cursed under his breath, in his ears it sounded like an avalanche.
He hesitated when he saw the prince's doors still open to the garden, the soft light of a single oil fueled lamp the only indication that the prince was still awake. Will pulled a deep breath and went up the two steps of marble and stopped in the door.
After the dark garden the lamp spread more light than Will actually needed and he immediately saw the prince. He was already in bed, lying on his stomach with his arms hugging the pillow under his head and the covers pulled up around his waist. He looked beautiful, the soft light giving both hair and skin more of a golden color than usual.
Kell must have sensed Will's presence because his eyes opened and he looked around until he found the intruder. Will?" The eyebrows arched slightly in surprise and he lifted his head from the pillow.
"Yes." Will stepped into the room and looked around, wondering what he should do next.
"Are you not happy with your rooms?"
He blinked at the question. "Yes, I am. They're more than enough."
Kell tilted his head slightly. "Uncomfortable bed?"
Will gave him a small smile. "Empty bed."
"Well, you can share mine." And then that sly look was upon him and Will's smile grew wider, albeit with a little blush.
Will found a chair to put his clothes over and he discovered when he turned towards the bed that he prince was smiling expectantly at him, lying on his side now, propped up on an elbow and his head resting in the palm.
"Why don't you take those off as well?" Kell suggested and nodded at Will's smallclothes.
He walked up to the bed, suddenly very self-conscious with the prince's eyes on him. "Because I'm not here for that, not tonight."
The yearning expression fell a bit and Kell sighed.
"I'm not ready yet, my prince." For a whole lot of reasons. Will stood by the edge of the bed, as if waiting for an invitation.
"I'd never hurt you, Will," Kell murmured, holding his gaze.
"I know."
Kell looked at him for a moment longer and then lifted the covers slightly to let Will slip down beside him. As he did, Will's thigh brushed against Kell and he realized the prince was completely naked. He blinked and tensed halfway between sitting and lying down.
"What?" Kell wondered. "Something wrong?"
Will gave him a look. "You're naked."
Kell grinned. "I know. I always sleep naked." He leaned closer. "Get used to it."
Will met those blue eyes so intent on his face and decided he would. He lay down and let Kell move closer. Strong arms encircled him and then soft lips were on his, a gentle caress of lips and tongue as fingers slid up in his hair.
Will let his hands move over Kell's back and curiosity made them slip lower than he had first intended. The prince pulled a rushing breath through his nose and the kiss deepened when his fingers slid teasingly down below Kell's waist and hips to touch a firm, rounded buttocks.
"Are you sure you don't want anything more than just sleep?" Kell asked with a slightly hoarse voice and looked into Will's eyes.
"Yes, I'm sure." He moved his hands back up to rest around a slim waist.
"I can make you feel good," Kell whispered, promised, his breath tickling Will's skin.
"You already are, you let me know I'm desirable."
Kell smiled and arched an eyebrow. "Desirable? You're much more than desirable, Will."
"I am?" He was kissed deeply as proof of that.
"You are," Kell murmured against his lips.
After one last look into Will's eyes he buried his face against Will's neck and let out a deep sigh of warm breath. "My patience seems to be endless when it comes to you, sorcerer," he mumbled.
"Then the pleasure will be so much deeper when you receive your reward, my prince."
There was a snort and a nibble of his skin. "It's deep enough already. Feel that?" Kell pressed his erection against Will's thigh.
Will gasped at the heat that sent a thrill through his body and had to swallow to regain his voice. "Yes, I feel it. But you're just going to have to wait."
"Not fair," Kell grumbled but snuggled up against Will's side, an arm and a leg thrown over him to keep him close. His erection still pressed against Will's thigh.
"You know…" Will began but was interrupted.
"If you complain about it you can either ease it for me or go back to your own bed." It didn't sound much like an actual threat and the arm across his chest kept him firmly in bed.
"You should try relaxation exercises, it would do wonders for your temper, my prince," Will couldn't help but tease.
"Be quiet. I'm sleeping."
Will smiled and kissed the golden head that rested on his shoulder.
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