10. A Quick Release #3
“And he said he didn’t feel the same way.”
Noble recalled the scene yet again, and winced in pain at how broken Aria looked. “I think he really cares for Hampenstead. And he didn’t want to be associated with me as an adame…"
Morgan nodded in understanding. “Of course not. People assumed Ellor used him as an adame, sexually. And then they’d assume the same thing with you, if you made your relationship sexual like this.
And he wants to be a bard.” Morgan glanced down at Noble's body and back up. “The gossip about you two wasn’t helping, either.”
Noble raised an eyebrow. “What gossip?”
Morgan stroked his chin, sifting through his memory. “I suppose it began after your date with the Lady Terra. People speculated if the great womanizing Yves St. Clair had been seduced by his adame and turned to men. I’m sure she started the rumor.”
Oh, how cruel the consequences of his poor behavior. “You didn't tell me?”
“I have kept a great many rumors from you. Why would I let you stew in the hurt of things that are not true? I knew that you weren't paying Aria for sex. Or to be your adame.”
Noble’s extremities went numb. “Morgan. Do you think Aria believed that I was asking him to be my adame only? Do you think—is it possible he didn’t know I meant I wanted him in every way?”
Morgan crossed his arms over himself. He replied with only a slow narrowing of his eyes.
ARIA
Viscount Eric Hampenstead was a half-orc with smooth green skin and a stutter that grew more pronounced with lingering eye contact, and Aria thought him terribly charming.
His suits were made of fine materials but not perfectly tailored to his bulky frame, like he’d put on weight he didn’t want to acknowledge, and he carried with him a trunk of books from city to city, because he loved reading narratives about other cultures across their world.
He was smart and gentle and so completely different from Ellor.
Aria could see the peaceful life they’d have together: utterly opposite the fraught, tension-filled relationship he had with his duke.
Which is why Aria felt like a monster as he asked, “Did you make up your mind on what to do about me?”
Hampenstead chuckled, the sound breathy and short. “Aria, you’re a good man. A fine elf. And I’m sure—a talented bard. Of course, I forgive you.”
Aria exhaled and sank against Hampenstead’s couch, boneless with relief. “By Elys. I was worried.”
Aria confessed his near-affair with Noble, and told Hampenstead the truth about how he and Noble weren’t really adame-patron, and Hampenstead had to immediately leave for business in the countryside without giving his response.
It was only now that they were able to discuss the problem in full.
Hampenstead placed a hand upon Aria’s knee and said, “You really were, weren’t you? ”
“I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”
“Truly? I thought perhaps you and Noble were…” He gestured. “On and off, or something like that. The way you two looked at parties together… Well. It wasn’t difficult to make an assumption.”
Aria’s face flushed red. He placed a hand atop Hampenstead’s and said, “We’re just friends. Really. That night… I was upset by Ellor.”
Hampenstead hissed in sympathy. “I know. It was a rough go, wasn’t it? He’s not the kindest man.”
“I was upset, and Noble simply comforted me.” Aria groaned and used his other hand to wipe at his face. “I will never do such a thing again.”
“Then, as I said, I forgive you.” He smiled, thick lips thinning against his large, orcish teeth. “We hadn’t reached such a point in our courtship, anyway.”
“Thank you, Eric.”
“C-can I ki-kiss you?” he asked.
Aria smiled, leaned in, and whispered, “Any time you’d like.”
Later that same afternoon, they walked hand-in-hand in the cold but sunny day, down the avenue where Hampenstead’s hotel towered over other older brownstone homes. Hampenstead said, “I wish you would join me on Winterend instead of working like you say.”
Aria squeezed Hampenstead’s fingers within his and looked up to take in his gray-streaked brown hair and small round glasses.
“I know. It would be lovely to spend the night with you. But I’ve not played a gig in far too long.
And this one pays handsomely. It may be a chance for me to start fresh as a bard among nobility. ”
“I was invited to it, you know. This party you’re working at the Cordelia Ballroom.”
Aria’s stomach flipped. “Oh?”
“I’ve been given a number of invites, actually. One of them is even at the Agolde estate, with the royal family.”
Aria looked out across the lane, at the nearly-bare trees clinging to their last few leaves. “Noble will be at that one.”
“Will he?”
Aria said, “That’s where he is now. I presume yes.”
“I see. Well, it’s the party of the season—I’d make quite a few connections there.”
Aria leaned against Hampenstead’s shoulder and said, “You should go. Meet with them. It may help business. The Agoldes probably always need new ships.”
Hampenstead snickered and said, “It moves at a slower pace these days without war, shipbuilding. But the royal family does always love shiny new t-toys.”
Aria snorted in agreement. Noble asking him to be an adame—like Aria, himself, was a shiny new toy he could procure and place upon a shelf.
“Come with me. F-forget the g-gig.”
Aria looked up and smiled. “I cannot.”
Hampenstead sighed. “It’s a shame I’m at-attracted to stubborn types. I love hearing no.”
Aria laughed aloud, throwing his head back. “I’ll do my best to continue to please you, my lord.”
Hampenstead smiled, and they continued their walk down to the river.
There, Hampenstead spoke again. “I would like to invite you to join me in Nightveil when I travel there in the spring. I’ll be there for two, maybe three, years.
I know it’s a lot, but—” He reached out to stroke Aria’s hair, and he frowned.
“I just wanted you to know now. To think about it.”
No, his soul cried. Don’t.
Aria’s heart pitter-pattered against his ribs as he wrestled the immediate rejection from himself. Why did he have such a visceral desire to flee? He swallowed hard and asked, “You want me to move with you?”
“I do. But—only if you’d like. Maybe it would do you some good.
Getting out of New Hieroph.” The sun sank in the sky, coloring them in a wash of pink.
“It’s not easy to be a bard here. And I know your situation with Noble has led you…
into undesirable patterns…” Hampenstead pulled Aria into a hug unexpectedly, and he said, “I will endeavor to care for you, Aria, the way you deserve.”
Aria hugged him back and said, “I’ll consider it.”
Not him, not him, not him, cried his soul.