Page 14 of Noble Charms

ARIA

Aria jumped back as Noble manifested right in front of him in the hallway of their inn. “Elys. You scared me.”

“Sorry,” said Noble, not looking sorry at all. His grin had a wolfish quality this evening, glinting in the darkness that settled into the corridor now that the sun had set. “Shall we?”

Aria straightened his taupe tunic robe. Not a bardic robe in design, but more casual, with silver threads that made an angular design along the hem, and cut shorter, revealing his legs from the thigh down. He narrowed his eyes at Noble, wary, and said, “What are you so happy about?”

“Nothing. Excited for dinner.”

Aria had learned many things about Noble against his will, and one of them was that he ate more than the average man. He should probably be far less trim considering the amount of food he had daily, but perhaps his running at a higher temperature made it stick less to his bones. Aria gestured down the hall and said, “Then, let’s eat.”

Noble fell into step beside him as they descended the stairs. “Is your room to your liking?”

Aria knew Noble was up to something, but he couldn’t be sure what. “It’s quite fine. How is yours?”

“Nice.” He paused. “Actually, it’s only alright. Fairly dusty. I had to relocate a spider outside. He’d made a residence in the corner.”

“You could have left him,” said Aria. “The spider was there first.”

“He was the size of my fist.”

Aria blinked wide, startled eyes up at Noble, at his side. “Truly?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you kill it?”

“He did nothing wrong,” said Noble. “Besides, spiders keep other pests at bay.” He paused and said, “I also have a healthy fear of the Spider Court Elves.”

Aria snorted and said, “That’s but a title. They don’t truly have dominion over spiders; none of their ilk would know if you smashed one here in Allbright Kingdom.”

Noble said, “No, but my family hosted their prince and his retinue, once. I was ten, if I recall. And he was…” He frowned in thought. A slow smile climbed back upon his face. “He left an impression. I’d like to meet with him again one day.”

“You didn’t like him?” Aria truly couldn’t tell, watching Noble’s face.

Noble shrugged. “I didn’t in my youth. But now? I think I understand him more. He, like me, isn’t one for stuffy tradition.”

“I know little of that court. They’re in the Northern Isles?” Aria conjured a map within his mind. At the farthest northern point of Allbright, several mountainous islands sat in a cluster, filled with enormous evergreen trees and cliffs that dropped straight into the black of the ocean. Aria could almost see it—it sat silvered, misty in his memory—though he’d only ever read about the place.

“Quite right; they share a kingdom with the orc dynasty. You’re well-acquainted with the nobility after all.” Noble patted Aria once on the shoulder, hard enough that Aria stumbled, and Noble grabbed his arm and said, “Apologies.”

“Quite fine.” Aria straightened his robes. “I know a little bit of everything from schooling.” He’d always had a good imagination, too. The Spider Court was particularly interesting as their branch of elfdom had dwindled down over the last two centuries. The prince Noble mentioned was the final remaining heir of the monarchy, born at around the same time as Aria. “He was quite young, then. This prince?”

“We were the same age,” Noble said. “I thought we’d be fast friends.” He paused. “He was not impressed by me.”

Aria’s smile escaped his control. “Then I’ve even more respect for him than before.”

Noble rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes. He’s the reason I don’t kill spiders anymore. He claimed he could speak with them. I still know not if he said so in jest.”

Aria hummed and said, “I understand. I’d probably spare spiders in your position, too.”

“See.”

“How did you get the spider outside without harming him?”

“I ushered him into a shoe. And put the shoe out near the stables. It’s still there. I’ll fetch it in the morning.”

Aria blinked, nearly at a loss for words. “You sacrificed a shoe?”