The Warriors were training just as they always did, and Perian waved at a few of them as he arrived. When Onadal had a spare moment, he came over.
“Ready to get to work?” he asked.
Perian shrugged. “To be honest, my head is all over the place. I get to see Renny again after this, and I’m anxious about that. But I’m going to do my best to put allof it out of my mind and concentrate on my lessons. Can’t have all my work go to waste just because I’m gone for a few days, right?”
Onadal clapped him on the back. “That’s the spirit.”
That might be the spirit, but it was harder to execute than Perian would have liked. He was trying to pay attention, he really was, but his mind kept drifting towards Renny’s room, which resulted in him tumbling to the dirt more than once—as well as being tapped on the ass with a practice sword three times, because Warriors could be cheeky.
Perian hauled himself to his feet once again and reminded himself that if he was badly injured, he’d be going to the doctor instead of Renny. He didn’t want that, did he? He needed to concentrate so that he could see Renny later. So really, he needed to concentrateforRenny.
That helped to keep him focused on the matter at hand.
Bennan appeared on this side of the training yard partway through the session. He observed Perian for a few minutes, and then said, “One would almost think you were practicing this weekend.”
Without missing a beat, Perian said, “There was lots of wrestling.”
Bennan laughed uproariously, and their efforts fell apart when the Warrior-in-training Perian was now practicing with faltered and flushed so red their skin almost matched the cylindrical beads in their dark blond hair.
Perian made a face.
“Sorry—didn’t mean to get you mixed up in the middle of that innuendo.”
They laughed a little. “It’s all right. I think I speak for most of us when I say it’s really nice to hear such a happy story. We’re glad Summus is happy. And you, of course.”
Perian grinned at them. “Oh, that’s such a lovely thing to say! Thank you. I certainly do my best to keep Brannal happy.”
Bennan laughed again, his hazel eyes positively lit with mirth and the cleft in his chin on full display. He really was stupidly attractive, but Perian was more glad than he could say that the man was now with Chamis. Perian was admiring from a distance.
Perian protested, “No, I meant that seriously this time.” He gave up and grinned. “Well, I mean, I think he’s pretty happy with the sex, but you know what I mean!”
Still laughing, Bennan waved cheerfully and went back to his position of watching to make sure they all behaved themselves. It was probably a lot harder to do that when you were laughing too much because Perian was saying stupid things.
They managed several more bouts before the morning session was over, and Perian thought he’d done pretty well over the course of the training. It had been shorter than normal for him given that he’d met with the Queen first, but he’d come out of both occasions relatively unscathed, and that filled him with hope. He had no illusions that he was suddenly the smartest, most accomplishedanything, but he was stubborn, and that seemed to be serving him in good stead.
He cleaned up quickly in their rooms and grabbed the picnic blankets even as it occurred to him that maybe there should really be an indoor blanket to go on Renny’s bed. Then he decided he could just ask when he was there so he wouldn’t be late. If she wanted another blanket, he would fetch her one.
He headed to the kitchens next and picked up the basket, which Alona provided, but she looked a little confused even as she welcomed him back.
“Indoor picnic,” he explained. “To lift Renny’s spirits.”
Her heart-shaped face lit up with a bright smile. “Oh, that’s such a lovely idea. Please give the Princess our best wishes. We hope that she’s well soon.”
Perian nodded. “I certainly will. Thank you.”
He made his way to the royal wing feeling a great deal more assured than he had projected the day before. He made it up to Renny’s room without getting lost, and the Warriors at the door were apparently expecting him, because no one tried to take away his basket or turn him away.
Instead, one of them tapped on the door and then opened it, and Perian was ushered inside.
Delana was on duty today with a Warrior Perian didn’t know by name. As always, Delana looked extremely competent and like she might destroy you if you crossed her. Thankfully, she’d mostly decided she liked Perian, as far as he could tell.
“Hello!” Perian said cheerfully. “I’m here to picnic with Renny.”
She nodded. “I can see that.”
“I’m a very obvious person,” he told her.
She smirked, but then said, “I wonder sometimes.”
