Chapter 4
Will woke with a start that sent a stab of pain through his pounding head and he lay back down with a grunt.
Too much wine, he thought to himself and gingerly rubbed his temples.
~And you used magic,~ Ashiná helped unasked for.
~Oh, be quiet.~ he grumbled and his mouth drew into a crooked grimace.
Yes, he had used magic even though he knew very well he shouldn't have when he'd been drinking more than he was used to. Wine wasn't the best substance to have running though your bloodstream when you needed to concentrate and use the deep power of healing. He should've known better. But the prince had looked so damned good last night and Will couldn't forgive himself for forgetting that cut on his face. He just had to heal it.
Will's hands stilled on his head as he remembered the prince's appearance last night. A black and gold tunic that brought out the golden in his hair, the color deepened even more by the light from the lanterns and candles. Gods, and the eyes! Will had never seen eyes that deep blue. When he had met the prince's gaze for a moment during one of Piotry's stories the eyes had been so dark they almost seemed purple. Will had asked something then, he couldn't remember what, and the prince had stared at his lips.
Even now the memory of that intense, lingering look made Will blush.
"So, you're finally awake?" Piotry popped his red head through the tent flap with a far too cheerful grin. "How are we feeling today, master hero sorcerer?"
"Oh, be quiet," Will grumbled for the second time this morning and pulled the blanket over his head. "Master what?" he asked then from under the heavy wool.
"Well, something like it anyway. The whole camp is talking about you and how you saved the prince. The word is you slew a hundred men and a fire breathing dragon." Piotry chuckled and crawled into the tent. "Without even breaking a sweat."
"That's not true." Gods, he hadn't expected gossip in a war camp.
Piotry laughed and that sent a new stab of pain through Will's head.
"Feeling a bit out of it today?" Piotry put a gentle, long fingered hand on the top of Will's dark head and the tingling magic flowed generously. Pain subsided and the persistent hangover was gone between one breath and the next.
"Thank you," Will said heartfelt. "I wouldn't have lasted the day with that headache."
"Most definitely not. And I wasn't about to hold your head while you threw up." He began to roll up his bedroll and blanket. "We break camp in half an hour. There's still bread and cheese and some fruit left in case you want it."
Will stretched and pulled his shirt over his head. Food probably was a good idea to settle his stomach a bit, and he needed the strength for the march back to main camp. Then he remembered the prince had offered to clear out the back of a wagon. Gods, he didn't want any favors from the prince.
~Why not? He owes you his life.~
~Gods of mercy! Like I need the attention. He's a nobleman and the prince! I'm just a carpenter's son.~
~No. You're the sorcerer that saved his life.~
Will grumbled something unintelligible and scooted out of the tent.
The camp was already coming down around him and he hurried with his morning rituals not to slow the others down. Soon enough it was back to the dusty road and the long march back to main camp.
Will and Piotry walked to begin with. Will trying desperately to hide from the prince's attention, but he knew the respite wouldn't last long. The prince was on a mobile horseback and Piotry's red head was like a beacon to anyone who knew what they were looking for.
"So, there you are."
Will started at the voice from behind and pulled together the open front of his grey coat. The prince sat with ease in the saddle of his tall legged horse, smiling down at the two sorcerers. A sword rested against his hip and the dark blue tunic he wore over his chain mail brought out the color of his eyes, Will noted reluctantly as he peered back through dark bangs. Dark golden hair was loosely pulled back in the neck and strands of it had escaped the leather bindings to flutter around the prince's face.
Ashiná sighed happily.
Piotry bowed his head with a smile at the prince and politely thanked him for the supper last night.
"It wouldn't have been as enjoyable without you, Piotry. Your stories always lift the spirits," the prince replied and nodded back. "There's a wagon up ahead where you should be able to find enough room to sit comfortably."
"You go ahead, Will." Piotry nudged his ribs with an elbow. "If it's all the same with you, I might join the others for a while."
"Then you should have a horse. You can't walk among them; you'll sprain your neck looking up." The prince turned in the saddle and waved a hand at somebody down the line of men and wagons.
A minute later a man on a dark gelding came trotting up to them with a brown horse by the reins, and offered it to the sorcerer without hesitation. And just like that Will was alone in the prince's presence again.
~Don't be so pouty, Will,~ Ashiná chided with a smile to her voice.
~I don't pout!~
The prince jumped gracefully off his horse to walk next to Will on the side of the road. The large animal's body shielded them mostly from the men walking and driving the wagons, and Will could almost forget they were there at all; the prince's nearness was that overwhelming. He walked so close their shoulders bumped into each other from time to time.
"So, where does your family live, Will?"
He turned a surprised expression to the prince. Why was he asking all these questions?
~Because that's what you do when you want to get to know each other.~
~I'm not asking him any questions!~
~Then you should begin now.~
"Um… well, they live in Diamban, my prince," he said, tripping over his tongue just a bit.
"Diamban." The prince gazed past Will out over the field they were passing. "I never had a chance to see the city up close when we headed out here in the beginning of the war. But I saw the houses on the hill, though. Is it true they're all white?"
"Well, the noblemen's houses are. When you get down into the actual city they're more like beige or grey."
The prince nodded. "That's where your family live? Among the beige and grey?"
"Yes. Well, father's house is on the foot of the hill, so it's as close to white as a common man could ever hope for." Will managed a smile.
"I'd like to see it someday."
Will didn't quite believe that, the prince was just being polite, making small-talk. Will returned the gesture without further thought. "I've never seen the sea."
The prince looked at him with a surprised smile that turned into a distant look of remembrance. "It's beautiful. You can see it even from the windows of my rooms."
"You can? What does it look like at dawn?" Will wanted to know. The sea held some alluring sway over him ever since Sharican had told him of the powerful presence the vast expanse of water made. Will wanted to know if it was true that that much water could boost his strength with waterkin spells.
The prince thought for a moment before he answered. "I believe the water is dark in the light of dawn, but as the sun rises the light turns it deep blue. Then it darkens to purple at dusk."
Will studied the prince's profile; he had fallen quiet with memories of his home after that brief yet warm description. "Like your eyes, my prince," he murmured without thinking. So very blue.
The golden head turned abruptly and the eyes were wide in surprise. He blinked a few times before he found his voice and by then Will was blushing deeply. "My mother used to say that too," he murmured.
"I'm sorry, my prince. I didn't mean to bring you any grief with my questions of home," he said quickly, remembering the almost pained lines around the prince's eyes last night when he had spoken of his family.
"No. Remembering is good. It reminds you of what you're fighting for."
Will nodded and turned his eyes to the road. "I suppose so." But memories could hurt as well.
Suddenly there was a loud, wet snort from the horse by the prince's shoulder and the large head rubbed up against his side. The pure force of that friendly reminder of the animal's presence sent the prince stumbling into Will. By grace and luck they managed to stay on their feet, but Will found himself standing in the tall grass by the side of the road with chain mail covered arms around him. Will had braced himself with his hands on the prince's slim hips.
The prince was laughing, he realized then, a joyful, deep laugh that definitely came all the way from the heart. It made his skin tingle and the hairs on his arms prickle. He could hardly breathe so close to the prince, his every breath was filled with the scent of earth and wine and the faint smell of some kind of flower the prince must have had in his bath.
"You scoundrel!" the prince chided the horse, which stood on the road with its ears pricked at them. "Runner always craves my undivided attention," he explained with a smile and looked at Will.
"I see." Was that all he could say? He searched desperately for some comment but not even the simplest reply came to mind.
The prince disentangled himself a bit slower than should be proper and one hand lingered close to Will's neck. Shivers went down his spine at the brush of a finger. There was reluctance in the prince's movements that reflected the reluctance Will felt; his own hands were still grasping those slim hips.
Gods! What am I doing? He's a man! The prince! This isn't moral.
~Love knows not what moral is,~ Ashiná murmured and Will felt warmth in her voice.
"Are you okay?"
He forced his eyes up at the prince's smiling face.
"You didn't hurt anything, did you? Otherwise I and Runner will have a long talk about proper behavior."
"No, I'm fine." Will shook his head.
"Then you can let go now."
"What?" Will blinked stupidly.
"Your hands?" The prince's smile grew wider when Will jerked his hands away and stumbled backwards. Then he turned and gracefully climbed back up on the road and Will stood alone in the grass, hardly breathing.
Gods of mercy! I could lose my hands for that touch.
But the prince never showed any such intentions. He scratched the horse's dark head and murmured to it.
~Have you even considered the fact that he enjoyed that as much as you did?~ Ashiná whispered to him.
"I didn't!" Will exclaimed out loud before he could stop himself and that earned him an odd look from the prince.
"Did you say something?"
"No." He glanced around to see if any of the wagon drivers were looking but they all kept their eyes and comments to themselves. Will scrambled back up on the road and busied himself with brushing off dust and grass from his clothes.
"Your talkative guardian again?" the prince asked.
"Yes," just a bit grumpy.
"What did it say this time? Seems to me you're always arguing about something."
"We're not," Will muttered.
"I've always thought guardians were supposed to be very wise. Perhaps you should listen to it?"
~A very smart boy, your prince,~ Ashiná said with a most satisfied tone.
"I don't think that's true about every guardian," Will grumbled and started down the road in the wake of a tall wagon loaded with tent canvas. The prince pulled his horse with him and in a few long strides he was next to Will again.
"Perhaps. But they are ethereal beings, are they not? They have lived longer than any humans have ever been around, so they must know what they're speaking of at least half the time, right?"
"Not my guardian." Will kicked at a stone. "Daft, dumb, slowwitted, meddling, stupid…" he tried to make the list longer but was interrupted by the prince's laugh.
"I've also heard the guardian chooses someone alike itself, so if your guardian is all that, then what does that make you?"
Ashiná laughed loudly in Will's head and he abruptly shut off his internal ear to rid himself of that annoying sound. The prince had earned himself one of Will's best glares for the discomfort he was presently in and the prince stifled his laugh when he saw it, though he couldn't quite hide his grin.
The prince pulled for breath and let it out in a deep sigh. "It feels good to laugh like this again. The camp has been far too gloomy without you sorcerers around." He collected the reins and swung up in the saddle. "We'll be stopping for lunch soon. I'd be honored if you'd join me."
"I bet you would," Will muttered before he could stop himself, he hadn't meant to say that out loud either.
A crooked smile and a wink and the prince was reaching out his hand for Will. "You'll get lunch sooner if you ride up to the front with me."
"I can walk." The prince had winked at him? He tried not to stare.
"We are all the way in the back, sorcerer. It'll take you half an hour to walk all the way up there." He pointed up the road and the twisting line of wagons, men and riders. "The break will be over by the time you get there and then my invitation will have been for nothing." He tilted his head slightly and a golden strand fell down from his shoulder.
Damned, daft, slowwitted, easy…
~… sorcerer.~
Will chided himself for even considering taking that hand. But he took it and was hauled up on the horse's rump by a strong arm. He wrapped his arms around the prince with a yelp when the horse took a sideways step.
"Gods of mercy, Will. I do like my lungs just where they are."
"Sorry," he mumbled and let up just a touch on his grip.
The horse answered to some signal his master gave and set off in a trot down the side of the road. It went fast past slow, heavy wagons and trudging men, and Will wondered how they were ever going to make the animal stop.
But it did easily enough when they neared the front and the prince pulled on the reins. Aron, Piotry and Sernan paused in their conversation and looked at them with wide grins on their faces.
"I see you're riding after all. Seems not every horse fears your guardian." Piotry smiled pleasantly.
Will glared back at the redheaded sorcerer. "I thought you didn't like the dumb beasts?"
"Well, I can make an exception now and then. And you must admit it's much more comfortable than walking all the time." There was a twinkle in Piotry's eyes and even Aron had a smirk on his face.
Comfortable or not, Will was very aware of just who's waist it was he hugged tightly. But he didn't dare let go or he might fall off. He decided promptly the rest of the march he'd take refuge in that wagon.
* * * * * * * *
The return to main camp that evening was all but a calm event, every man present was shouting, whistling and clapping their hands, and they were crowding in from every side. Apparently word of their victory had preceded them.
Will was glad he had found a safe haven in the back of a wagon and now he discretely stole away in the falling light to avoid the churning of bodies. He wasn't much for large crowds or the attention that he would undoubtedly receive, if the cheers boosting into the air were any indication. He shouldered his pack and made his way between the tents to the sorcerers' small encampment. There was a silence and a stillness there that helped settle nerves and calm breathing.
Will sighed and threw his belongings into the tent he shared with Piotry and sank down by the unattended and dwindling fire. He fed it with a few sticks and it soon raised new fingers towards the darkening sky. It felt good to finally be able to let go of restrained manners and to flex tense muscles.
The afternoon had been a relief for Will after having endured the overwhelming and almost imposing presence of the prince the entire forenoon. As if riding behind him on his charger hadn't been enough, he had insisted on sitting next to Will during lunch as well. Gods, he wasn't used to being so close to someone, especially not a stranger, which in fact the prince was.
~He won't be once you get to know him.~
~Welcome back,~ Will muttered to his guardian. Ashiná had been very quiet the entire afternoon when Will had hidden in the wagon, like she was sulking or something. Guardians didn't sulk.
~He likes you, Will. And you should admit you like him too.~
He cursed under his breath.
~Is that so? Well, let me know when you've learned some manners. We'll talk then.~
~I'm sorry, Ashiná. But this whole situation scares me. I don't know how to handle it.~
~You needn't handle it, Will. You've always been good at following your instincts, let them lead you now and everything will turn out for the best.~
~You know where that will lead us.~ Apprehension had crept into his voice now.
~Most definitely.~
~How can I? He's the prince, he's to become king one day, I can't tie him to me. What if we…~ he fell quiet on that last thought.
~Fall in love? Would it be a possibility?~
~…yes...~ so very quietly.
~Then why hesitate? You know sorcerers take lovers of both genders. He knows it too and so far he doesn't seem to be uncomfortable with your presence.~
Will pondered that, going over all the little looks and smiles and near touches the prince had given him during the day and the days past. And he was handsome, almost dangerously so. Will wondered how many lovers the prince already had taken or forsaken on his hearts whim. He had such a charismatic personality and an overwhelming presence it was hard to believe he didn't have any lovers, or perhaps even a bride to be. Gods, let it not be so. Will refused to come between two people bound to each other in marriage, despite how much his own heart longed for the prince. Best then, to stay away.
~You shouldn't deny yourself. He makes your heart flutter.~
~More than that.~ He glanced up towards the large tents on the hill.
~I'm with you, Will. In your every choice until you die.~ There was so much warmth in Ashiná's voice Will wanted to hug her.
~You won't have any offspring between him and me, you know?~
Ashiná laughed softly. ~Now, that would be a miracle.~ She caressed Will's mind, encouraging. ~I know. But your sister bears the gift as well, her children could be just as powerful as you.~
~I don't want to disappoint you, Ashiná.~
~You never have. You never will.~
* * * * * * * *
The crowding men let the tall stallion through and Kell jumped off Runners back and tossed the reins to one of the horse master's helpers. The commanders had stayed in the crowd to calm the men down, but the cheers still reached sky high and they'd been doing so for the past ten minutes. Gods, this was a war camp, not a carnival.
Kell smiled to himself. But he couldn't blame them; their victory at the river crossing was not the only one, though perhaps the largest. The battle at the south crossing had been far bloodier and the loss in life greater than Kell would've liked, too many wives and mothers would receive the black news this month. But still, they had won and driven the enemy back with their tail between their legs. King Uriche wouldn't be pleased.
The feigned attack on their main camp had been just that, and when the small troop had realized they were outnumbered and wasn't receiving any reinforcements, they had turned and fled faster than morning mist under blazing sunlight. King Uriche would definitely not be pleased; Kell hoped he would be so furious he gave himself a heart attack.
Janu was waiting for him in his tent, a broad smile on his face and a tray with food on the table. Kell wondered where the man had gotten it so quickly at this hour, though his stomach appreciated the gesture. But Kell barely had the time to divest himself of armor and change into clean garments, before there was a rapt knock at the tent post and Rión stalked in.
"My prince." He bowed stiffly. "There's a courier at the border of the camp."
"From where?"
"High commander Jayce. He needs reinforcements at the Knee. The Iloron has dispatched their bands of marauders and they're too many for him to handle."
Kell sighed and glanced wistfully at the still covered tray with food. "Summon the commanders then and bring the courier to the tent as well." He reached for his sword. "And send someone for the sorcerers."
Rión stalked off again. Kell headed for the large tent up the hill on his own. He knew he should be concentrating on the news he'd just received, but his last order to Rión had not failed to distract him. The young sorcerer seemed to do that a lot. Disconcerting perhaps, considering the circumstances, but a pleasant distraction none the less.
Will had vanished after lunch that day and Kell had stoically fought the urge to seek him out again. The forenoon in the sorcerer's presence had been pleasant enough, but if he rushed it now Kell was certain he would end up with nothing, and that was just not an option in this case.
That realization was as startling as the fact that he had any interest in the sorcerer to begin with, but why not? He didn't have to take this further than a mere acquaintance, there was no need for him to commit to a relationship that in the end would have to end sooner or later, though he was fairly certain it would be agreeable while it lasted. He was trying to talk himself out of this, he knew, deep living fears made him tentative when socializing with other men despite his best efforts to burry and forget them.
But the sorcerer seemed to be excluded from those fears. His shy, adorable manners were very appealing and it seemed Kell's brain stopped functioning every time he was near Will and his heart took complete control. He couldn't keep himself from smiling and touching just a little bit, and it was so nice to see the spontaneous and almost startled reactions, Will blushed practically every time and that made Kell's heart beat just a little bit faster.
He had just rolled out a large map of the region on the large table, when Rión marched in with the commanders and a tired courier in tow. The sorcerers were not far behind but Will was not with them. Kell wasn't surprised, not really, the young sorcerer wasn't used to the goings on in a war camp. But he would've wanted Will's presence now, certain his advice would be well though through no matter what the courier had to say. His absence made Kell disappointed in a way that made his stomach clench.
"Report!" he demanded of the courier to direct his thoughts back to the business at hand and the man snapped up in salute.
"High commander Jayce sends his regards and asks for your aid to quell the enemy marauders, my prince." He handed commander Rión a folded and sealed paper. "He wishes to meet with your force at the Knee in three days."
Three days.
"We have just returned from a battle, courier. I can't expect my men to rush into the next one so soon. High commander Jayce should be able to take care of these marauders by himself, he is a soldier by profession after all and his men are quite able."
The courier bowed his head. "Yes, my prince. But the marauders are cunning and they use methods of warfare we haven't encountered before. They seemingly disappear in thin air and lure the soldiers into ambushes like a pack of wolves."
Kell frowned and the man cut off his words. "They have magical powers? A sorcerer?"
"No, my prince, not that we know of. But high commander Jayce is in dire need of your aid. His troops are poorly decimated already since he had to divide his men between his main camp at the Peaks and the camp north of the Knee."
Kell sighed discretely; he had hoped the battle at the river crossing would've been the last one, at least for a while. It had seemed like the Iloron king had lost his energy and his troops was in poor shape, according to the scouts that had ventured into enemy territory. But then again, Uriche had never been known for an intelligent head or a just leadership, it was obey his orders or find yourself rotting in a shallow grave. Kell looked at Rión's grim face.
"We don't have much choice, my prince. The marauders are just as much a threat as the organized forces."
Kell nodded. "Fine." He turned to them all. "Give the men tomorrow off, but prepare a chosen troop for departure the day after tomorrow." He turned to the courier. "Tell high commander Jayce we'll meet him at the Knee in four days. If he complains about the delay tell him to discuss the matter with me when I see him."
The courier bowed.
"Soldier," Kell stopped him when he was about to leave. "Get yourself some food from the cook and see the horse master for a fresh mount before you leave. Good job."
The man bowed and looked not quite as tired when he left, as he had when he arrived.
The commanders and the sorcerers began to discuss this new conflict and Kell listened in silence. He was tired and his thoughts were too scattered at the moment to make him of much real use to the decisions in tactics. After almost an hour he told them all to go to bed for the night and despite some dutiful protests, they all complied with relief and weariness plain on their faces.
Kell stopped Aron before he left. "Is Will alright?" he asked the old sorcerer.
"Yes, my prince. Why wouldn't he be?" Aron's jaw clenched slightly.
"I thought maybe I had offended him somehow. He just vanished after lunch today."
Aron gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "You haven't offended him, my prince. But Will is a private person and he requires his solitude from time to time."
Kell nodded thoughtfully, a bit relieved the young sorcerer hadn't taken offence by his admittedly rather forthright behavior that day.
"I'll tell him you said hello."
Kell smiled faintly. "If you think he'll appreciate the gesture."
"He will, my prince. He will."
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