[Please provide me with an email address that accepts Internet email from me, this screen name is blocking replies. Thanks, Nifty]
Michael put on the vest and fastened it, cursing under his breath as he fumbled for the ties to the left wrist of his shirt and wondered for the hundredth time why he agreed two weeks ago to host these dinners with Davin. He left the ties alone and examined how the vest looked in the glass. Last week, he had spent an afternoon with Davin's Seamstress and described what he had wanted. The vest was black and simple, the only adornment the vest had were its silver catches that were worked in what reminded him of Victorian style. He wore a plain silver ring on his right hand. Davin walked into the room and smiled at Michael. He was dressed in the same clothes that he had worn before the Great Council except for his circlet. The dark blue of his pants and the lighter shade of his shirt made his blue eyes beyond riveting.
"Plan on setting a new trend?" Davin asked as his eyes drew upon the loose tie. He moved forward and tied it off as he looked at Michael. The vest was simple yet elegant, allowed the full sleeves of his white shirt to fall unimpeded and its color made his brown hair look lighter--which made his eyes appear even darker--richer. His hand moved up Michael's back and they drew together in a quick kiss that soon wasn't.
"We have guests," Michael mumbled around the kiss, his eyes smiling up at Davin. Tonight Lord Caufield and her daughter were to be entertained.
"I never get to see you anymore," Davin grumbled. "Must Blaine work you so?" He asked, his eyebrows drawing down in slight worry. Michael never spoke of his magical studies. If his studies were not going well, he'd be vulnerable. His arms tightened about him slightly--he . . . they had to succeed. Council Master Braxton's early visit made him nervous and wary.
"You know Blaine--do the impossible, then improve on it," Michael shrugged as he stepped directly back away from Davin and opened the door. "Ready?"
"You are eager to meet one of the 'vainglorious, contemptuous, addle-pated opportunists who care only about the increase of their fortunes' aren't you?"
"Lord Caufield is the eldest ruling member and holder of the richest land.
She has ruled for twelve years following the death of her husband. She could be a very good ally to recruit--she's smart, powerful, and what she can't influence, she sells her information to someone who can."
"She is not an armed guard for hiring," Davin mused lightly.
"Of course not--if she was, your grandfather would never have lost the Battle at Aramith." Michael said, a smile quirking on his face at Davin's dumbfounded expression. "I've been studying more than magic," he added. 'So much more,' he said to himself.
"When have you had the time?"
"Mostly when you were either hosting, in special Council meetings, riding out to inspect crops & settling disputes or sparring with Anton."
"I see your point--we both have been busy this past quad," Davin said as he caught Michael's hand and kissed his palm. "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Caring enough to enter the fray."
"Can't let you have all the fun," Michael smiled as they reached the double doors that led to the Great Hall. Marble columns divided the room into two dining areas. With its bare floor and sturdy tables, the outer area was used for everyday use and the inner was used for guests. Richly stained cherry wood, interrupted by small colored mosaics, gleamed in the candlelight. A one-step dais in the corner held the musicians--harpists, flute-players, a man with a small drum, and two men who held something that Michael likened to a lute. The tables were glossy wood banded in gold whose tops were inlaid with colored glass. The matching chairs held inlay on the armrests. The High table was on a three-step dais in the center and he saw that Davin's Council was seated before plates with gilt scrolling, polished cutlery and golden cups.
"Lord Caufield and Heir-Lord Kesalynn," a herald announced as those at the table rose and Michael and Davin turned and bowed. Their guests curtseyed before Davin took Lord Caufield's hand and Michael led Kesalynn to the head of the table. Lord Caufield and Kesalynn sat on either side of Davin and Michael sat beside Heir-Lord Kesalynn with Blaine next to Lord Caufield.
"It is good to see you Davin, you are looking to be in great health," Lord Caufield said with a slight smile. She was a stately woman--tall and attractive with her long, premature grey hair bound up elaborately and held by a small jeweled clip--but the glimmer in her eyes as she noted that Davin's eyes flickered to Michael Jonathan Atwood made her beautiful. She hadn't been able to find out much about Davin's lover until her escort had been sparring with Davin's guards in the practice field earlier today. Her guard had told her his views on the man--saying that he seemed to be proficient in staves and a bit slow with a sword, but passable. Her maid had found out more, but mainly it was about Davin's reaction to this Michael Jonathan Atwood than about the man himself. She adjusted her chair slightly and smoothed the jade-colored brocade and silk high-necked gown as she smiled brighter at the thought of a challenge.
"Yes, I am, verily so, Avonna," Davin said, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners, "due, no doubt to your excellent company."
"Not even on a best day during my youth could I have induced such glowing health," Avonna laughed and was delighted to see Davin blush and Michael chuckle.
"Dav, you see my mother still speaks her mind without minding what she speaks," Kesalynn smiled at Davin.
"Mindful words betray an empty mind, daughter. You needs not be so mindful if you hope to snare a man."
"Mother!" Kesalynn mock-wailed. "You see that I cannot take her anywhere," she added in an aside to Michael. Her mother loved to shock and keep others on their toes for she said that people revealed themselves true.
"But doesn't everyone come to her?" Michael asked with a glint in his eyes.
"Only those I like, Michael Atwood," Avonna replied, a ghost of a smile and an equal glint in her eyes appeared as she nodded briefly at him. 'I see that the child has some learning,' she thought to herself. She had taken on rule as Lord twelve years ago and had quickly been introduced to how unscrupulous most other Lords were. A number of different Lords had visited to console a widow and to offer advice--advice that would gain them an advantage. She had used their view of her as an uncertain woman thrown into strange new territory to undermine them. They all had let varying information slip as she had seemed intent and grateful for their sage wisdom.
This information she would pass on to another Lord to whom it would benefit and then they would do her a good turn. She had made lasting friends--and admirers--of a few Lords and it was this group from which she received most of her information. She had been Lord for two years when Davin had been installed as Regent and Heir. She had readily liked the man of twenty-odd summers and his straightforwardness and intelligence. As she grew to think on him as the son she wished she had had, he grew to care about her as a second mother.
"Avonna, you never change," Blaine muttered fondly.
"Change is for women with inconstant wills and faulty plans, Blaine. I play to win."
The meal continued, course after course and conversation ebbed and flowed along with the music that was softly playing. Kesalynn and Michael talked about the trading in Sarden while Blaine, Avonna and Davin talked of Council matters. As the plates were cleared from the last course, Avonna turned to Davin. "Your musicians are fine--may we take a turn in your ballroom? As you can see, I am having slight trouble civilizing my daughter," she added, gesturing lightly at Kesalynn's silken overtunic and loose pants tucked into short boots.
"I abhor the impracticality of formal dress, Mother."
"My dear, you do not catch a man by endeavoring in his pursuits--you needs be one of them," Avonna said as she rose and looked at Davin. "If you would be so good as to make sure that Kesa is following her dance studies, Dav?" She asked as she moved over to Michael and took his proffered arm as they walked to the ballroom along with a few members of Davin's Council while the rest retired for the night.
The ballroom was a two-story room with a flight of rounded stairs leading from wide double doors to the lacquered golden-colored wood floor. Faint tracings of gilt could barely be seen due to the many dancing feet throughout the years. Four arched doorways with carved wooden doors led out to the gardens. Cream-colored walls rose towards a domed ceiling capped with a stained-glass skylight. The musicians followed them inside and moved to a two-stair rounded dais in the center of the room and began to play. Davin led Kesalynn and Avonna danced with Michael.
"I'm over here, Dav."
"Huh? Oh--sorry, Kes," Davin flushed as she remarked on whom his eyes were fixed on. "I trust Vonna, but. . ."
"She will behave herself Dav--if only for your sake," Kes assured as she smirked slightly.
"It's not Vonna that I am worried on behaving."
"Really?" Kes inquired, her brows raising in disbelief that anyone could rattle her mother and reappraised her view of Michael.
"I hear that you set the Grand Council on its collective ear," Avonna smiled lightly.
"Davin exaggerates--it was more of a spirited debate."
"It was not from Davin that I heard it, young Michael. Set enough people on their ear and their tongues and hands seek you harm."
"I would have been sought out even had I been silent," he said, trying to keep his voice light.
"Verily, but strikes to a target can go awry," her words sounded heavy with implied meaning.
"Avonna, Davin is a grown man--he can take care of himself," Michael told her. "And if they come, it will be my fight."
"Do you think Davin the sort of man that would let anyone come between himself and his lover? But I am not concerned with Davin protecting himself against the Great Council--I am concerned about his being protected against you."
"Me? I'd never. . ." Michael stated, so shocked that he stopped dancing.
"I know for I can see that you love him as he loves you, but what would he be if the Great Council won? What would happen to his heart? It is a deadly game that is afoot--I don't think you are fully aware how they. . ." she confided, cutting off as her hand squeezed his wrist in desperation and found his sheathed dagger. "Or mayhap you do," she said in a quiet voice, her eyes taking on a new look of calculation and appreciation, "but at what cost to you?" Avonna added as she brought him back into the dance.
"Avonna, I won't lose anything--especially Davin--to anyone. If they should try, I'd make them even less than a memory," he affirmed and Avonna heard the heat and the ice of his words.
"A dark road leads only to a darker heart. It's a lonely journey." Her hand moved up to touch his cheek softly.
"They may not exactly give me a choice--stopping them may be my only hope."
"There is always a choice, young Michael."
"I would never have suspected you for being a flower-child-eyed, turn-the-other-cheek pacifist," Michael muttered.
"I have entirely no idea what all that meant, but I can guess that it wasn't very flattering," Avonna laughed. "No, I am not a weak, simpering woman who needs a protector. It will come down to your stopping whatever the Great Council attempts, but you can choose the way in which you stop them. You needs not destroy yourself along with them."
"Are all of Davin's Lords this wise?"
"I hope not--I intend to wrangle one of their sons for Kesa."
"They have no chance, do they?"
"None at all," Avonna smiled and laughed as they finished their dance.
"May I cut in?" Davin asked as he had seen Michael and Avonna pause before they resumed to dance. He had introduced Kes to Lord Aeron and walked over to them, all too ready to hear heated and corrosive words exchanged. Avonna's laugh was a good sign though--he hoped. Vonna could be so. . .Vonna.
"Young Michael, I do believe that your love does not trust us to be genteel and proper," Avonna teased as she read all too easily the unease Davin tried to mask.
"It's not a matter of trust, but more a fact of knowing you entirely too well," Davin laughed.
"Well then, I shall move off and seek someone less knowledgeable--a woman likes to retain some mystery. Michael, my holding is only a half-day along the southern road and you are welcome anytime," Avonna said as Michael bowed to her. She whispered something that caused Davin to blush and moved off to dance with Master Blaine.
"You must have impressed her--she usually doesn't hand out open invitations," Davin said, smiling at Avonna's whispered comment to 'hurry up and marry him, you dolt' and took Michael's hand and started off as the musicians changed to a new song.
"Well, the liking is very mutual," Michael said as he shifted his hand slightly. Avonna was the only Lord that he had genuinely liked since he had been attending these dinners. The Lords were extremely polite, but it was a mask--and Michael was used to recognizing and seeing through them. They brought gifts for Davin and also gifted Michael. The silver ring he was wearing tonight had been such a one. Lord Beltona had given it to him and then made a ploy of seeking his support in a Council matter. Michael had tried not to smile too much as he had told her that he really wasn't involved in Council matters as he wasn't officially a Consort yet. Her face had fallen so that he paused a bit before he said that he'd research her case and talk it over with Davin. Michael had decided that he may need to curry favor where he could win it for he may need a favor in the future--if he was to have one here.
"I'm glad to see that you have become such fast friends."
"One thing I will say for Avonna--she is fast."
Davin laughed and moved beside Michael as a formal dance began. Michael offered his hand and he moved through the steps slowly but correctly, silently thanking Blaine for his lessons in formal dining and dancing--Braen had played a small flute and quipped about learning a new cover. Michael moved his arm carefully to keep the concealed throwing knife from brushing against Davin. Braen had been pleased with his training and one night had asked him to list how many ways that he could be easily taken out and when. Michael had thought about it and replied that besides the Joining--which would draw crowds of people and no better time for an agent to slip in unobserved--he was vulnerable when a Lord was entertained and he kept thinking of all the varied ways that he could be gotten to until it seemed to snowball and his apparent availability sobered him. Braen had quirked a smile and handed the knife to him and said that he had best be prepared and had proceeded to teach him some defensive blocks and attacks.
"I should have coursers so fast," Davin smiled warmly at Michael and was rewarded with a genuine laugh. He had been so involved in his training and it seemed that if he wasn't studying magic or Council law, he was sequestered with Blaine--it all was wearing on him. The dance ended and Michael started to move off the floor, but Davin--wanting to hang onto this one carefree moment--grabbed him by the wrist and his face registered puzzlement, shock then anger as his hand tightened on his wrist and he drew Michael out into the garden, making sure to close the door firmly behind him.
"Just what is this?" Davin hissed as he jerked back the sleeve of Michael's shirt to reveal the wrist-sheath.
"Insurance and protection," Michael stated flippantly. 'What was his trauma?'
"Protection. . .against what--a poorly tuned harp? Vonna and Kes are very dear and honored guests--it is a grave insult to them!" Davin exploded. '. . .and to me--does he not trust me to protect him and keep him safe? I'd battle anyone or anything that dared to take him from me!' "Why do you wear an assassin's dagger? Who taught you to deal in deceit and death?"
"So just how did I swiftly move from 'just carrying' to 'mercilessly killing'?" Michael spat venomously. 'Is that what he truly thinks of me?'
"Who gave you that dagger--it is newly forged--who teaches you?"
'Fuck!' Michael cursed silently, knowing that there would be no chance of him letting this go--he had to think. . .fast. "Make up your mind would you, either I am a skilled and heartless killer or I am an untrained dupe--which is it?"
"Don't you dare try to sidestep this--answer me, I command it!" Davin growled as he slammed him against the wall and shook him. 'Had his love really. . .'
"You command it? You insensate, pious, myopic anarchist! I'm not your subject--I'm myself first and foremost as I have the prior claim. . .known myself since birth!"
"Who. . .trains. . .you?" Davin spat, drawing out each word.
Why? Jealous? I didn't think you were into that kind of thing," Michael spoke before he could think, saying anything to try and divert Davin from this course for he couldn't find out that an assassin--even a non-practicing one--was under his own roof.
"I won't ask again," Davin's voice iced as a banked fire smoldered in his eyes and his arms moved from Michael's shoulders to the wall, barring him from darting away.
"I. . .it's just that. . .he's--my uncle," he spat out, eyes blinking in shock as his mouth formed words while his brain was unhooked.
"What?" Davin exclaimed, this being the very last thing he had expected to hear.
"My Uncle--Joshua--is. . .a working man," he said, trying not to lie--exactly.
"And he. . .taught you?" Davin asked, incredulously, one arm lowering as he felt unease, caution, uncertainty and yet a very certain sense of relief. 'At least he has another skill if his magic is not progressing, but. . .the fact that he knew how to kill--it was just something that he had trouble attributing to Michael.
"He taught me to look after myself," Michael told him as he moved away slightly. 'If I answer indirectly enough, it isn't really lying,' he told himself.
"Have you ever. . ." Davin's voice dropped off as he couldn't bring himself to ask--did not really think he wanted to know.
"Have I ever what?" Michael asked, realization coming almost before he finished speaking. "You think. . ." his voiced whisper-soft before his dark eyes flashed and his anger rose--along with regret and an empty feeling that Davin really didn't know anything about him if he could think that he could kill in a professional way, but the anger won out. "Have I ever what--killed. . .enjoyed doing it. . .gotten paid for it. . .sold out my services for the right price. . .negotiated the value of a life?" His hurt and anger pushed him too far, for at that last remark Davin spun and hit him, knocking him down--hands and knees--to the ground.
'Gods! What have I. . .how could. . .' Davin thought silently as he started to move towards Michael when he saw Michael raise his head. Something beyond human blasted from his eyes like molten rage and Davin suddenly found himself gripped by a force and hurled back forcibly, landing hard on his backside in a grassy square. The air expelled from his lungs and he lay there for a minute or so until he felt ready to sit up. During those minutes, Michael had realized that he had used his magic against Davin and saw him laying stunned on the ground a few feet away. He drew an arm out, hand reaching for his love before fear made him pull back--fear of seeing the light in those blue eyes dim, or worse, be replaced by a different light of fear and loathing. Michael made a raw, choked sound in his throat before he pivoted and ran.
'How could I have. . .he didn't deserve. . .should have just told the truth,' Michael lamented silently, a part of him wondering how a silent voice could seem so loud. He made the stables, barely forcing himself to approach in a normal way. He strode to his horse, saddled up and was glad that the stable was luckily empty of anyone as he led Rossa outside and mounted. His shoulders drew up tightly as he crossed the gate prodded Rossa into a gallop and said farewell to his heart as he left Davin.