On his way out of the kitchen, Warren smiled to himself. Mrs. Dotty was a good woman. There was definitely a reason she was so valuable to the house. He made his way towards his study, but turned over his shoulder and looked down to the hall. There was light coming from inside Gil’s room. Maybe he’d returned from his errands for the day. Before he really had the chance to think about what he might say, he turned and headed towards that small began of light instead, knocking on the door and then opening it gently.

“Why do you bother knocking if you’re just going to open the door anyway?” Gill asked, looking over to him from the couch near the fireplace. That was always his favorite place to feel upset.

“I brought a snack,” Warren offered, walking over to him, showing the plate of bread and cheese. Gil glanced up at it before returning his eyes to the book in his hand. It was one Warren had started reading to him the other night. Despite his attitude, Warren couldn’t help but smile at that.

“I’m not hungry,” he said, flipping to the next page and going back to ignoring him.

Warren wasn’t deterred. He sat the plate down on the table and sat against it so he was facing Gil.

“Tables aren’t for sitting,” Gil said, leaning back against the couch and away from Warren.

“I’m sorry,” Warren said, his eyes locked on his companion. He wasn’t going to let Gil force him out of the conversation again.

“Don’t apologize and then keep sitting on my table,” he shot back curtly.

“No...Gil...I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what I said, back at the Cafe. I’ve never spoken to you that way. I don’t...I don’t know why I suddenly started then. I know your upset about it-” He noticed Gil hadn’t even looked up at him. He wasn’t going to let this go just like that. He was going to make Gil acknowledge him.

He stood up from the table, leaning forward and pushing the book in Gil’s hands down into his lap. He leaned over the younger man, holding himself with one arm against the back of the couch so that he couldn’t just move away. He leaned his face was closer to Gil’s. “I’m sorry!” He repeated, this time with more earnest. “I’m sorry that I spoke to you like you were just some...I don’t know some servant. It was cruel and I’m sorry. You’re not just a servant. You know that. You know you’re more important than that.”

For a moment it looked like Gil was going to forgive him. There was a moment of surprise on his face, and Warren felt relief wash over him cooler than a pond in the middle of the summer but, that relief didn’t stay. It was just a moment of reprise that was taken over by seething anger. He shoved Warren away, making him stagger back a bit. Gil wasn’t physically stronger than him, but he’d been so caught off guard he near tripped over the table behind him.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“That’s it!?” he shouted at Warren. Now it was time for the Lord’s confusion to take hold. “That’s it?” he repeated back to him.

“That’s it? That’s the only reason you think I’m upset!?” He was bubbling with the pent up anger.

“I Thought th-”

“So you’re not just selfish? You’re a fool on top of that!” Gil looked like he wanted to use that plate as a weapon.

“Wait now, Selfish wh-” Gil wasn’t going to let Warren get a single word in now.

“Selfish!” He shouted again. “Selfish, pig-headed, and obviously naive! I’m not only upset because you spoke to me like you needed to remind me of my place. I’m upset because you’re being so...so….so idiotically reckless with your own life! Ever since you’ve found that blasted book you’ve done nothing but dig yourself closer and closer to the pits of the damned. It’s as if your insufferable quest for knowledge includes wanting to know what the blades of torture feel like! I’m more important than that? Have you taken a single moment to think about how important you are? How many lives depend on you? You’re the sole heir to House Salphus. The state hangs on your well being, and you’re willing to turn your back on all the people that depend on you because you wanted to read a gods damned book!?” Gilbert probably didn’t realize it, but in his anger and his shouting small tears had formed in the corner of his eyes, threatening to break from of the dam at any moment.

“Gil, I’m-”

“Don’t! Don’t you dare try and say you’re sorry again when you’re just going to disregard all of this? If you’re going to remind me of my place as your servant then I’m going to remind you of your place as the master. So many of the people in this manor would give their lives to protect House Salphus, myself included. Start acting like you deserve that loyalty!”

The tears finally broke free and rolled down Gil’s cheeks. He turned his head to the side to quickly wipe them away. Warren was stunned silent. Had he really been upset because he was this worried about him? Had Warren really been that naive? He thought that he had been an adequate Lord. His father was still alive and well and he wouldn’t be stepping down from his post for another few years, so he’d rarely thought about himself as someone people would depend on like that but Gil… Gil was right. Maybe this all was a little reckless. Especially with the Inquisitors in town.

He reached towards Gil, pushing his hand to the side and wiping the tears that had trickled down his cheeks away. He took Gil’s wrist, pulling him forward to his chest and wrapping his arms around him. “Gil, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I’m truly sorry. I was being naive. You’re right. The loyalty of these people...your loyalty… I need to earn that,” he said. Gil hadn’t tried to pull away from him but hadn’t looked up at him either.

He was silent for a moment. He didn’t like the idea. He was finally starting to get a grasp on the books and what they meant….what they could do...but he really couldn’t risk everything over that right now. There was only one course of action. “I’ll put them away. For now, I’ll lock the Grimoire away until it’s safer,” he said.

Gil finally lifted his head to meet Warren’s gaze, before pulling away from him a bit. Warren could tell that wasn’t the whole answer he was looking for, but… it was the best he could do.

Gil crossed his arms and turned his back to Warren. For a moment it felt like his heart stopped. Had Gil gotten upset with him again? Was he going to demand the books be thrown into the fire or something? The moment hung in the air heavier than smoke.

Finally, Gil relented. “ Fine,” he said. “Just be careful Warren,” he muttered. “Please just be careful.”