Perian smiled in the dark. “Yes, until you found me. I’m so profoundly grateful.”
“Me, too,” Brannal said softly. “I could never have imagined it.”
Perian couldn’t have, either. He’d longed for something without being able to put any sort of name to it. He’d grown up an only child with a single parent, and he hadn’t been able to identify the nuances of his loneliness.
Brannal had swept all of that away—and it seemed like maybe Perian had been able to do that for Brannal, too.
Before Perian could think better of it, he asked, “Do you think we could plan a visit to my estate in the fall?”
“I’d like that,” Brannal said. “I spoke to Cormal about doing the fall inspection, and he said he would as long as I took the winter one. I’d have to speak with him again about a visit. Or if he’s willing, maybe we could attach a visit to the winter inspection, and you could meet me there?”
Well, no time like the present.
“Would you consider letting me come with you?” Perian asked.
“What?”
“On the winter inspection.” Perian cleared his throat. “I know I’m not exactly useful, but I could pay for supplies or something—”
Brannal reached for his hand and squeezed it. “You wouldn’t have to do that. Would you really like to come?”
“Of course.”
Brannal hesitated. “I spend a lot of time doing inspections.”
Perian snorted. “Really? You do a lot of inspections during your inspections?”
Brannal huffed a laugh. “I just mean that there are long days of travel and then long days of work. There wouldn’t be a lot of spare time.”
“But we’d get to fall into bed together?”
He could feel Brannal’s smile. “Yes, we’d get to do that.”
“And travel together, and I presume eat together?” Perian prompted.
“In the presence of a group of people who are updating me on what they’ve been doing or are anxious for news of the castle. It’s not a lot of privacy.”
“Would you… not like me to come?” Perian asked carefully.
Brannal’s grip on his hand tightened a little and he said firmly, “No, it’s not that. I always enjoy your company. I just don’t want you to have unrealistic expectations. It wouldn’t be like our holiday.”
Perian shook his head. “I understand that. You’d be working, just like you do at the castle. But we’d get to be together, and I, uh, really prefer that.”
“I prefer that, too,” Brannal assured him, and he sounded very genuine. “If there were reports of demons, you’d need to stay inside the watch station, where it’s safe.”
“Of course,” Perian agreed. “I’m well aware I’d be no good against demons.”
Perian didn’t ever want to meet any demons.
Brannal was silent for a moment, and then he nodded. “I’ll speak to Cormal.”
“That’s going to go well,” Perian muttered.
Brannal gave his hand another gentle squeeze. His voice was a bit chiding. “He’s my Secundus.”
“And you know he won’t want me to come,” Perian challenged.
“He may have concerns,” Brannal agreed. “It’s not usual to take a partner along.”
