3. A Warm Season #5
“They live at the estate outside Sallansa. With about a dozen other mares. And two stallions.” Noble shrugged and said, “I make it a point to see them every time I go home.”
Aria's mouth opened, but no sound escaped. Then, “You're just joking.”
“That would be an odd joke.”
“You bought my horses?”
“Well, they weren't your horses at that point…” Noble reasoned, wagging a hand midair between them.
“Why did you buy my horses?”
They weren't your horses, Noble didn't say again. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, and said, “I liked them.”
“Why didn't you tell me that you bought them?”
“I didn't think it was important. How would I have even found you?” And, Noble now recalled, he hadn't liked Aria much at that point.
He'd saved the girls from their life pulling carriages in the bustling city not because Aria had seemed concerned for them.
He saved the girls because it was the right thing to do.
“You could have found me,” Aria said. “You're an earl.”
“Future-Earl, at the time.” Aria's eyes dropped to Noble's ring, and he sighed. “Right, right. You're right. I apologize.”
“Thank you,” said Aria. Noble cringed, and Aria said, “No, I thank you. For saving them. Not for the apology.” He paused. “But I suppose I thank you for the apology, too. I'm sorry too. I'm just surprised.”
“Surprised?”
“Saving Lima and Pinto was a selfless act. I guess I didn't realize you had it in you. I recall you being infuriatingly self-serving. I suppose I was wrong. Twice now. About you.”
Noble grinned. “Memory is a funny thing, isn't it?”
ARIA
Aria stepped onto the platform at Middle Hall, in central Sallansa, and breathed in the briny evening breeze. He needed only to take five steps to the edge of the train station, through the windows, to see the ocean.
New Hieroph had twin rivers that ran through the city, and Aria grew up on the edge of the world's largest lake, but neither of those compared to this. The blue water went on, and on, and on, until it vanished into the silver horizon. It took his breath away.
“You've never been to Sallansa, have you?” asked Noble. His boots clipped upon the black stone floor of the platform.
“No. This is my first time.” Aria pulled his eyes away from the rising tide, back to the station interior.
It was built like a conservatory, with tall glass walls, and the roof overhead was open to the air.
A seagull cried out as it passed. The bustle of the other passengers waned as they departed, and Aria noticed Noble's friend waiting by the exit gate with their things.
Noble noticed him too and gave a friendly wave.
The man had no response. Aria smiled, amused that there was someone else used to, and annoyed by, Noble's unique sensibilities.
“Would you like to have dinner? I can show you some of my favorite parts of the city.”
Aria remembered his last conversation with Noble, when they arrived in New Hieroph. “I thought we couldn't be friends.”
“Did I say that?”
“You did. Accused me of trying to use you for your connections in high society, or something like that.” Aria raised an eyebrow.
“Well,” Noble tilted his head back and forth, “I don't have to worry about that now.
You've got Ellor.” Aria scoffed, and Noble grinned.
The smile hadn't changed in all this time, even though the beard around it had grown thicker, and darker in color.
“I amend what I said before. We can be friends, if you'd like.”
“I don't think so, Noble.” Aria tightened his grip on his suitcase. His grip on himself. Noble was—well. Like Ellor said. He was weird. He saved Lima and Pinto, and Aria’s soul wouldn’t shut up in his presence.
It’s him, him, him. For Elysium’s sake, Noble was married, and to a woman.
And Aria? Aria was in love. He strengthened his resolve and said, “But I thank you for the dinner invitation.
You're married now. You're managing an entire estate. Even if Ellor and I ever decide to appear in public—” Why did he choose that phrasing?
Aria forced himself to continue on, over his own subtle implication that he was being kept secret.
“I doubt we'd be at the same events as you.”
“You make it sound like we'll never see each other ever again after this,” said Noble.
“We may not.” Aria turned on his heel. He needed to catch a tram down to the docks.
“It was nice to see you again, Noble, under better circumstances.” This was the ending he'd wanted the last time they parted.
Amicable. Not friendly—but not at war. Over his shoulder, he said, “I hope you have a good life.”
Noble, for his part, remained rooted, allowing Aria to leave first. Noble's friend held open the gate for Aria to pass through unencumbered, and did not return the smile Aria flashed his way.
And Aria—Aria pretended that he did not care about the flash of hurt he saw in Noble's face. Of everything he'd said, all afternoon, all the insults that were playful or sincere, Aria declining to dine was the one that hurt Noble the most.
He pushed it out of his mind. He meant what he said. Aria believed he would never see Earl Noble Yves St. Clair ever again.
His soul knew better.