“Bennan and Chamis are going together,” Perian pointed out. Then added hurriedly, “And yes, I know they’re both actually Warriors. But Bennan said it’s a push to see if partners can still work effectively together, and then maybe it’ll be expanded to non-Warrior partners. Onadal is at least considering it. I hope you will, too.”
“I might need to speak to the Queen.”
She was the only one who could actually stop him. Cormal could be an ass about it, but Brannal outranked him.
Perian couldn’t help but add, “You manage to do your job just fine when we’re both in the castle, so I don’t see why you couldn’t do it just fine when we’re traveling together.”
“The potential for danger is more immediate on patrol.”
Perian wasdefinitelynot bringing up the time wraiths invaded the castle and killed a bunch of people.
“That’s true,” he conceded. “But I’d be traveling with Mage Warriors and Warriors who are best suited to keeping me safe. And shouldn’t it be my risk to take?”
“To a degree,” Brannal agreed. “But the safety of everyone has to be taken into account. Will other partners be accepted as a result? In what number?”
“But if you don’t try,” Perian countered, “how will you ever know if it works? Like Bennan and Chamis. Couldn’t we be a test?”
“Perhaps,” Brannal agreed. “I’ll talk to the Queen. You’re correct that practical tests are sometimes the most productive.”
Perian pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. And maybe just… figure out a way to bribe Cormal in the meantime?”
“It’s not that bad, is it?”
Perian considered this for a moment. “Well, I mean, it’s beenworse.”
The man had thrown a fireball at him in a training session. That had been months ago, and there’d been no physical altercations since. But Perian was quite sure that if you asked anyone in the castle, they’d have the same opinion.
“He doesn’t like me.”
“I don’t think he dislikes you,” Brannal objected.
Perian laughed softly. “Hedefinitelydislikes me.”
“I know it was a rough start, and sometimes the two of you snap at one another, but it’s been getting better, hasn’t it?”
“It’s been better than it was,” Perian admitted. “But it’s not… great.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Brannal said. “We’re all still getting to know one another, right? There’s still plenty of time for it to get better.”
Perian appreciated the optimism and the fact that Brannal was saying this like Perian was going to be here for a long time. He hadn’t made it very far in his quest to find someone for Cormal, but itwastrue that he didn’t know the man that well. That didn’t seem to be a requirement with some of the other people he nudged, but maybe Cormal was particularly difficult. (Ha! He was definitely particularly difficult.) Perian could make more of an effort, couldn’t he, in a quest to not only make Brannal’s life easier but make his and Brannal’scollectivelife easier?
Obviously, he would be selfishly served by getting to travel on the inspections with Brannal, but if it did work out, couldn’t it benefit other people? Perian would hate for the idea to be discarded just because Cormal didn’t like him.
Yes, he would definitely try to do better. Even if Cormal seemed to be stewing in thwarted desire sometimes, that didn’t mean he couldn’t get past it. (Actually, he might be a much happier person for it.)
“You’re right,” Perian said. “There’s plenty of time. And I’m really glad to be here with you,” he added, because he felt like maybe that sentiment had gotten a little bit lost, and it was the most important one.
Brannal’s arm around him tightened a little. “I’m so glad to be here with you, too. I always will be. I want you to know that.”
Perian nodded, cuddling into him and promising himself that for tonight, at least, he was banishing all these awkward thoughts.
“I love you,” he said.
“And I love you,” Brannal responded, quiet but definite. “Sovery much.”
They stayed tucked up together, quiet and connected, just the way Perian liked best. The future was still out there, looming uncertainly, because no one knew what came next, but at least they’d started talking about trying to shape it a bit. And he was definitely enjoying these moments together.
He’d looked up at these same stars with his father when he was a boy. That ache would always be there, the place where the man had been in his life, but being able to gaze at them now with Brannal soothed the pain a little.
