Chapter Text
Matherion
The decision to send Berit in Sparhawk's place while they tried to outmaneuver Cyrgon and Zalasta left little more for the group to discuss, at the moment. Sephrenia and the Anarae moved away to confer about combining their magics and the rest of the party disbanded to the far corners of the castle.
Despite Sparhawk's insistence that everyone would fix their own mistakes, given time, Aphrael couldn't help worrying over her cobbled-together little family. Besides, checking up on them wasn't the same as interfering. She needed to be aware of any problems before they got in the way.
Whistling an eons-old tune, she wandered from room to room looking in on each of her charges. Stoic Sparhawk and distraught Kalten, inconsolable Mirtai attended by a hovering Kring. Vanion, Sarabian, the Knights and warriors and sundry others who had gathered together to save the world.
Finally, she sought out Talen. Aphrael always left him for last so she could linger and watch him, unseen, for what the rigid Elenes would consider an unseemly amount of time. The young thief had stolen her heart in way she had never experienced. He was endlessly fascinating to her.
She found him sitting on a bale of hay in the stables, watching Khalad prepare the gear for the long journey ahead.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Khalad?" Talen asked. "It's really dangerous."
Khalad picked up another pack to check over. "Everything we've done since crossing into Daresia has been dangerous."
"Yeah, but I don't have to worry about you when we come up against serfs or soldiers. You could probably even hold your own against a troll. But there is a god out there who wants Sparhawk dead. And something that's apparently worse than a god willing to destroy the whole world to get Bhelliom."
Khalad set the pack into the pile of things he'd already checked and glared at his brother.
"So I should let Berit wander out to face that on his own?"
Talen opened his mouth to answer, then shut it with a snap, leaning closer to Khalad with an assessing look.
"No," he murmured thoughtfully. "I don't suppose you could let Berit go all alone into danger without you."
Khalad blinked and flexed his hands, turning the movement into a stretch to pick up the next piece of equipment needing to be checked. His sharp eyed brother probably wouldn't miss the tell-tale flinch but it was worth a try.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, feigned disinterest flattening his tone.
Talen leaned back against the wall again, eyes glittering with self-satisfaction.
"I followed you and Sparhawk, you know. When you went to shoot Incetes full of crossbow bolts."
"Why? Did you want to learn how to shoot?" Khalad asked, not sure where Talen was going, but hoping to derail the conversation before it went somewhere he didn't want it to.
"Don't be absurd. It was just the most interesting thing going on that morning. And I like to keep my sneaking skills sharp," Talen answered, but the glint of smugness remained and Khalad knew his brother hadn't been deterred in the least. "Anyway, I heard you asking Sparhawk about Berit and Elysoun. I thought that was kind of strange, since you've never taken much interest in anyone else's personal life."
Talen paused, watching for any subtle signs but Khalad kept his eyes on his work and refused to give anything away. After a minute of silence, the thief shrugged and continued talking.
"After that, I couldn't help noticing how much you watched Berit. How you seem so much more patient with him than with any of the other knights. Patient by your standards, anyway."
Khalad rolled his shoulders in a half-shrug, keeping his eyes and hands and voice steady. "Berit's willing to listen and learn. Unlike some people."
"Yeah. Maybe. But when Sparhawk read the note for Krager, you were by his side, ready to take his ax before any of the rest of us even noticed the lock of hair. You tried to hide your concern, but I could see how worried you were when he volunteered to masquerade as Sparhawk."
Khalad sighed and set aside the piece he was working on before turning to look at his brother. "Just leave it alone, Talen. It doesn't matter."
"Why not? He could make you happy and we've all suffered enough. We deserve to be happy. You could do worse."
"Maybe I could do worse but he couldn't. I'm about as low as he could stoop."
"Oh, not the class thing, again."
"Yes, the class thing. That's part of it."
"It's ridiculous and you know it. You're the only one with class prejudice around here. Look at Kalten and Alean, or Stragen and Melidere. No one cares. Berit respects you."
Khalad pinched his lips together, keeping his face hard when he spoke. "That's not the only problem. In case you missed it, we're both men."
"That's an even more ridiculous excuse. While, technically the Church frowns on it, no one except fanatics make a big deal about it. Half the Pandions are 'bachelors' who have been bunking in with the same partner forever. From what I've seen of the other Orders traveling with us, it's not exclusive to the knights from Elenia, either. The Peloi and Atans each have words for it that translate to shield-brothers. Or shield-sisters, as is sometimes the case with Atans. They believe it makes both partners in the pairing stronger warriors." Talen leaned back, looking sly and amused. "Rumor has it, that was the real reason Sparhawk was so furious with Martel for betraying them."
"You gossip worse than our mothers. And that's not what I meant. I meant, Elysoun."
"What about her? They've been pretty much done since we all went off to fight the trolls. Sparhawk already told you that. I mean, I know she's still available, but he's finally learned how to be a guy about it and let it go with a little fun. That flush of first love has definitely lost its sparkle, though, and he's ready to move on."
"Second love."
"Huh?"
"Elysoun was his second love. Ehlana was his first love."
"So?"
"So, that was what I meant about us both being men. Berit likes women."
Talen stared at him, then shook his head.
"You're always going on about how nobles don't pay attention, but you're just as blind. Berit is fascinated by you. He looks to you first, he watches you the way you watch him." Then Talen leaned even closer and dropped his voice into a whisper. "And among the many, many things I learned on the streets is people can enjoy variety. Kalten slept his way through both the chamber maids and the stable boys of Eosia."
The young thief looked smug and relaxed when he leaned back, very sure of his arguments.
"So there's no reason why you can't enjoy yourself out there, alone for who knows how long. Take your time and seduce Berit and have a little fun for once."
"Sparhawk."
"What?" Talen blinked in confusion.
"Berit will look like Sparhawk. As far as our enemies are concerned, he will be Sparhawk. Any hint that he's not who he's supposed to be will endanger us, Ehlana and Alean, not to mention the real Sparhawk. No one's going to believe that, while his wife is in mortal peril, Sparhawk suddenly has an overwhelming desire for his squire that he can't resist."
"Oh."
"Now can I get back to work? We're going to want to get started as soon as the ladies finish rearranging faces."
Aphrael moved out of the stables before she stomped her feet and gave vent to her frustration. The horses couldn't see her, but they could sense her and the last thing anyone wanted was a riled up Faran.
Damn the practical squire for ruining all of her plans with his logic.
She'd been amused and proud of Talen for seeing what not even Sparhawk had seen between Khalad and Berit. She had very definite plans for the two of them. And Talen had cleverly laid groundwork for her, to wash away all of the usual objections. It had been fun to watch and, while she liked to prod these things along herself, Talen had done a masterful job. Plus, Sparhawk wouldn't be able to accuse her interfering.
While she eavesdropped, she'd been working on her plans, thinking of all the ways she'd nudge the two of them onto a path that would make them both happy. Then Khalad had gone and ruined everything by pointing out the flaws.
There was no way she'd endanger her mother or father, or any of the others, for that matter.
So she'd have to bide her time. When they were done with Cyrgon and Klael, though, she'd arrange all the happily-ever-afters that she wanted to.