Navarre sat up then, and patted the seat next to him. When Asher didn’t move, he repeated the motion, this time more exaggerated. Asher sighed and dropped onto the step. Hours of riding in the carriage had made his behind sore, and no amount of shifting could make the seat comfortable. He sat a few steps down from Navarre, and Navarre lowered himself to be even. The stairs were nowhere near wide enough for both of them, and their sides were pressing together, firm and obvious.

‘What’s on your mind?’ he asked. ‘Evelyn get under your skin that easy?’

‘No,’ Asher said. ‘I’m just thinking about what happens next.’

‘Like what?’

‘Like meeting up with the Dalvany Lieutenant. There’s only one up here and I need to touch base as soon as possible. I also want to see how much is actually public knowledge, even with this new heir coming in, and --’

‘Hey, relax a bit,’ Navarre said. ‘One step at a time. No wonder you look like you’re going to explode.’

‘How do you know we’re not against the clock here?’ Asher asked.

‘We don’t,’ Navarre said. ‘But there’s not much we can do either way.’

There were plenty of things Asher could be doing, but he was also exhausted. Days on the road had worn down his muscles, and whether he went back up to Valenda tomorrow or into town, there was only more time on the road waiting for him.

‘I didn’t expect you to be so ready to throw yourself at this,’ Navarre said. ‘I hope you’re not trying to prove anything. I’m in charge of you and I already know you’re up to it.’

‘I just want to do what I came here to do,’ Asher said. ‘People are missing, and others are going to be scared. I’m not comfortable with just waiting for something bad to happen.’

‘Wow, they really push that “for peace and the kingdom” stuff on you city watch boys.’

‘What do they push on you royal guard boys?’

Navarre chuckled. ‘Touché.’

He leaned over then, and nudged Asher’s shoulder with his own, hard enough to push Asher into the wall. They were both so close. Close enough that Asher could smell the must on his clothes, feel the warmth of his breath. Each sensation made Asher squirm, but it was also a relief to be so close, to be able to take in those marble-like details without feeling as though he was staring.

‘Evelyn does have a point, you know,’ Navarre said. ‘You could make a good leader. All you’d have to do is say so.’

‘I won’t,’ Asher said. ‘That’s dishonest.’

‘Did your ma teach you that?’

‘My father actually,’ Asher said. ‘Both of them were hard workers, but my father had his position because he earned it. He started the same as my mother, the same as I did. I don’t think it’s true to his legacy to just take that for myself. I’d rather do it the same as him.’

‘Make a name for yourself?’

Asher shrugged. He didn’t think he would go so far to be a Lieutenant, and hadn’t considered going any further. If it came up, maybe he would give it a try, but he was happy where he was, how he was.

‘Would you ever consider coming back to Valenda with me?’ Navarre asked. ‘Work for the King?’

‘Not really,’ Asher said.

‘I wish you would,’ Navarre said. ‘I’d get to see more of you.’

Asher met his gaze. His own reflection flashed through those pale eyes. He looked waxy and pale, his dark curls tussled, his own pale, grey eyes red around the edges. ‘Do you miss me?’ he asked. ‘Is that what you mean?’

‘Of course I do,’ Navarre said. ‘We’re lucky to see each other twice a year.’

‘I won’t come and work for the King,’ Asher said. ‘But I can make an effort to keep in touch more.’

‘I’d appreciate that,’ Navarre said. ‘But I hope you’ll forgive me for taking your attention for one night.’

‘Do we really have time for something like that?’ Asher asked.

‘Right now?’ A sly grin crossed Navarre’s face. ‘Sure. We’re waiting for this girl to arrive. I think we could use the distraction.’

There was something in his expression that Asher hadn’t seen in a long time. Back when they were teenagers, back when he was a shy little dock boy shoved into a big boarding school, and this man was the older boy who had a wing named for his grandfather. Back then Navarre had enjoyed watching him squirm, and sometimes watching him bleed. It took all of Asher’s effort not to squirm now. He struggled to remember the moment Navarre stopped being a bully and started being a friend.

He was far too close.

‘I suppose I could use a rest,’ Asher said. ‘It’s been a long journey.’

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

‘I could take you up to your quarters, if you like,’ Navarre said. ‘Do you know which one your trunk got taken to?’

‘You can if you want, but I was just going to ask the maid.’

‘So formal,’ Navarre chided. ‘Loosen up a bit, Asher. The hard stuff starts tomorrow. Don’t you want one night where you’re not worried about any of this? I want to catch up with my friend. I haven’t seen you in so long.’

‘I think you should have asked me that before I saw the fie--’

Navarre placed a hand on Asher’s thigh, the touch gentle but enough to send a shock through all of his nerves. His thoughts scattered as he stared down at the hand, at the finely defined lines tracing down from the knuckles, at the deft, practiced fingers pushing into his pants. He turned to ask Navarre what was happening, but as soon as he lifted his head, Navarre’s mouth crashed into his, a wet smack of flesh on flesh.

Asher jerked to his feet, throwing himself into the wide space of the foyer. The air had grown hot and heavy, his clothes wrapped too tight across his chest. Again, the slimy feeling returned, leaving everything clammy and gross.

Navarre paled, and held his hands up in surrender. ‘I’m sorry. That was too far.’

Asher struggled to pull in breath. He didn’t know why it had suddenly become so hard to pull air in, but even in the wide, empty foyer, everything was still far too close. He could still feel Navarre’s hand on his leg, and something bitter now covered the bottom half of his face.

Navarre had kissed him. Navarre, beautiful, intimidating, moulded to perfection, had kissed him.

‘Asher, I’m sorry. I thought...’ Navarre slowly lifted to his feet. ‘Say something, please.’

‘I...’ This was not what he had come here for. This was not in the job description. ‘This...’ he swallowed. ‘This isn’t right. You’re my superior. It’s not appropriate.’

Navarre’s brow creased. ‘That’s what you’re worried about? We don’t even work in the same line.’

‘No, I...’ Asher forced a deep breath down. Navarre would always be older, would always be the leader more than an equal. He was so strangely perfect, so unreal, like a statue come to life, but now his skin crawled and he could feel something wet and sour covering his entire chin. He shook his head. ‘No.’

Navarre’s face fell, showing a pain that made Asher feel three inches tall. Asher knew he needed to say something, apologise maybe, but confusion had wiped any and all thoughts from his mind. Had he ever felt the same about anyone as he had about Navarre? Not really. Sometimes the other watch members talked about it, with one or many people, but they seemed to figure after a while that Asher just wasn’t interested, and they stopped talking to him about it. He had always assumed the same too. Now, he could see what they were saying, but he didn’t want this. He didn’t know what to do with this.

An entire city had disappeared without a trace. He didn’t need to be worrying about this trivial bullshit right now.

‘Don’t be upset, please,’ Navarre said. ‘Can we talk about this?’

Asher shook his head. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to be worrying about this when thousands of people were missing. The room was shrinking by the second, the floor tilting, the walls closing in. He couldn’t breathe.

‘Asher...’

‘I need air.’

He turned and ran for the door, ignoring Navarre shouting after him.

Asher crashed into the stone fence enclosing the patio, the frame punching him in the gut hard enough to almost send him onto the ground below. Bile rose in the back of his throat, and he forced it back down. The sun was starting to disappear behind the woods that lined the property, setting the sky and the grass ablaze in a harsh orange light.

This situation was already such a mess, and he hadn’t even started looking into that fucking Palace yet. He should have known that coming to Dalvany would do this, and these petty social dramas would get in the way. There was something about this place that wanted to get under his skin and crawl around until he snapped.

He’d have to worry about it later. Hopefully by the time this new heiress came and he started working with the city watch, he’d have enough distance and enough things together to explain how it all worked for him. Hopefully by then, he would know how to explain it.

Asher pulled in a deep breath. There was a reason he stayed away from drama and socialite circles. At least out here he could separate himself from everything. The night air was already slicing fast and cool through his clothes, and the stones along the grass cast long shadows across the ground. Shadows shifted beyond the treeline, small animals tucking away for the night as nocturnal critters came awake.

The door opened behind him, and Asher’s mood dropped, but the footsteps that came out onto the patio were quiet and harsh and quick, nowhere near Navarre’s heavier step, nor the click of boots that Evelyn or Magnus wore. He didn’t turn as the newcomer came to a stop next to him, standing straight and tall and staring out at the treeline.

Something cracked in the shadows, and both of them jumped.

‘Nothing to worry about, I hope,’ the stranger said.

Asher turned. The woman was unfamiliar, younger than he had expected with how deep her voice was. She held a strange grace he had never seen on another person. Her Euthrian heritage sat clear in her tan-brown skin, her arched eyes, and her thick black hair. She wore a travellers coat; thick navy felt lined with crisp, white fur around the edges, and worn riding boots peered out from underneath.

‘Just wolves,’ Asher said. ‘They won’t bother us.’

‘I’ll take your word for it.’

‘You must be Lord Tremboui’s daughter.’

The woman turned her attention to him, raising an eyebrow as she glanced him up and down. ‘If it must be the case. Are you one for introductions?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’ Asher straightened and pressed his fist into his chest. ‘Lieutenant Asher Wulverman.’

‘Adalynn Norrah. Just Norrah is fine.’ She held out her hand, and Asher shook it. Her grip was firm and steady. ‘So you’re going to speaking to the public in my behalf in all of this…. situation.’

‘It seems to be that way, ma’am,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to impede on anything you might already have planned though.’

‘You won’t,’ Norrah said. ‘I will make it clear to you now so I’m not repeating myself tomorrow. I may have always known about my ties to this place, but I had no idea that my lineage would lead to this position. Nevertheless, I plan to take it very seriously, and if I am to be in charge, I will be treated as though I am in charge. I hope that is understood.’

‘No protests from me, ma’am,’ Asher said. He almost asked if she had practiced that in the journey here, but thought better of it. He didn’t blame her if that was the case. Only a few minutes ago, he was offered the alternative of being in her position, and now he was sure it wouldn’t take long to notice an equally negative reaction from her – the nerves, the need to hold control. He didn’t envy her.

‘What’s your position here, Lieutenant?’ Norrah asked.

‘I’m touching base with the Dalvany Captain and his Lieutenant tomorrow. We need a communication with the general public.’

Norrah’s eye twitched. ‘I see.’ She turned back towards the forest, as if waiting to spot the wolf. ‘In that case, it seems I will go back inside. I have more people to shake hands with before I decide what’s going to happen next.’

Before Asher could reply, Norrah turned and marched back into the house. He turned back to the forest. He had to pull himself together and stay professional for at least one day, because this wasn’t about to get easier. Steeling himself, he turned to move back into the house, feeling the eyes in the woods watching him go.