Chapter 13
Tristan
“Hm. I don’t know, Tristan. This dog doesn’t look right. And you said she’s barely four months old? Isn’t she a bit… big?” Luke asks, squatting in front of Lady with a frown. He might be the Lord’s Dark Companion, but I’m a little offended on Lady’s behalf.
For almost two months, I’ve done nothing but pamper Nate’s pup, followed all instructions, and took the advice of the humans at court.
“What do you mean? She looks perfect to me,” I say with conviction and pet her ear.
Lady has indeed grown very fast and now her head reaches my hip, but she was a puppy. Of course she’s bigger than when I arrived at the palace. It’s frustrating to hear that I might have done something wrong when I’m putting all this effort into taking care of her.
I want Nate to see her when he comes back and be amazed by how well-nourished she is, how well-behaved and nicely groomed.
Lady’s smooth coat is mostly black, save for the tan areas on her muzzle and massive paws.
Her eyes shimmer like rubies, and her teeth seem to overfill her jaw, which further likens her to the wolves from our realm.
Deep down, I suspect Luke is right, and growing up in the Nightmare Realm is changing her.
It’s the biggest reason the Nightcloaks try to keep a lid on smuggling in any animals.
We don’t always know what threat they will end up posing.
But Lady is no threat. She’s the sweetest girl, no matter her size.
Luke pushes back his long dark hair. It’s dyed a dark green halfway through, and today, that color matches his vest, which is iridescent satin, like a beetle’s wings. Lady is getting a bit too interested in the voluminous sleeves of his shirt, and I worry she might soon wish to pounce on them.
The only reason Lord Kyran has let me keep the dog is because I promised she would be my responsibility, though I suppose seeing Luke pet the puppy’s belly and whispering to it so intensely their pet bat, Flap, started getting jealous, also had something to do with it.
Kyran’s a tough ruler, and the greatest shadow wielder I know, but his heart is soft and sweet as cherin where his Dark Companion is concerned.
Luke cocks his head but pulls his hand away when Lady attempts to lick his fingers. The last time he played with her, Flap sensed it on him and got so offended he hissed at Luke for three days straight, so I imagine he’s trying not to trigger that reaction again.
“But she is now the size of a fully grown rottweiler while only being about four months old. And her eyes are red. And she can hide her claws like a cat.”
I hide my face in my hands for a moment. “I’m doing everything by the book.”
Literally. Nate brought a book with him titled So, you got a Rottweiler’ and I’ve studied it like no other book in my life. It’s not my fault she’s growing a bit… different.
Luke sighs and straightens. I caught him here at the stables as he was about to go for a ride on the Lord’s kelpie, and I’m not wasting this opportunity to chat about Lady, and… other matters.
“Has there been no news about Captain Gloombane and his promised?” I try to act casual, but the blood moon is in two days, and arrangements should have already been made for a ceremony, even if it wouldn’t be anywhere close to as lavish as the Lord’s.
Luke grabs a pair of riding gloves off the wall. “I only know a ceremony might happen, but unless the court officials got an update from the captain, your guess is as good as mine. Why? Are you this eager to ditch my company for another human’s?”
I know he’s saying it in jest, but my heart twitches with discomfort. I’ve been keeping my true feelings for Nate a secret since I got back, and the last thing I need is causing a scandal right before he arrives here with his promised.
But I miss him like I’ve never missed anyone, and his prolonged absence is grating on me with each passing day.
It’s been two months now since I saw him disappear in the enchanted fog.
Our parting was meant to only last three weeks, but as I put everything in place, ready to start courting him as soon as he’s Gloombane’s Dark Companion, news came that the captain wished to instead wait another month and make the bond during a blood moon.
I was inconsolable and spent the whole day hunting a leviathan on Stone’s back, but once my anger had burnt out, I had to acknowledge there was merit to the date change.
I don’t like that we’re so close to the blood moon, and the ceremony has not yet been officially announced.
When I sent inquiries about visiting them at the tower, Gloombane responded with a letter saying that they’ve been away for a trip to Lykasir, which was especially frustrating, because had I known sooner, I could have gone there, and ‘accidentally’ bumped into them.
But would that have helped? I get back one letter for every three of mine, and each one feels increasingly distant.
I fear Nate is pulling away from me, and there’s nothing I can do.
I’m fucking jealous, like that damn bat is over Luke.
I’m losing my mind, I really am, and it’s not helping that I can’t tell anyone why I’ve been so touchy lately.
Luke might understand how I feel, but I can’t trust he’d keep the secret from Kyran.
Then, two people would know, and while I trust them both to not spread gossip, I can’t stand them knowing of my failure if Nate’s feelings have cooled since our parting.
If he brushes me off after I’ve yearned for him, not once taking another lover in the meanwhile, I’ll look like an utter fool.
I decide to change the subject to one that partially serves my purpose. “How’s the letter training going?”
Luke’s been trying to teach some bats to carry mail, and if he managed to succeed, my correspondence with Nate could drastically speed up.
Luke shakes his head. “Flap is not doing bad, since he’s the most domesticated.
He delivers messages within the castle with ease, and that’s exciting, but he’s also afraid to venture out much, because he’s such a gentle soul.
And to be honest, I don’t want to risk his safety.
The ones I’ve befriended in the caves are tough but don’t follow instructions and are hard to train. ”
“Maybe… I don’t know. Maybe we could get more dogs and train them?” I pet Lady’s head when she yelps in excitement, as if understanding every word. So maybe she’s not growing ‘right’, but unlike the bats, she’s perfectly sweet and obedient.
“To carry post?”
“Why not? Her size and strength would ensure nobody attempts stealing the letters, and she’d be able to fend for herself against other beasts.
” But who am I kidding? I’d never let this dog leave palace grounds on her own.
I must be at my wits end to even propose such a thing.
If I secretly followed her, however, I could even watch Nate accepting my message.
“Oh, and… what-was-his-name, Nate, the promised, he’s great with animals.
He could help you.” And stay with me at court. Forever.
Luke frowns, approaching the kelpie. “Why are you pretending you don’t remember his name?”
I stare at Luke, dumbstruck and getting hot under the collar. “I… what?”
“You spent two whole days with him. You know his name.”
The stableboy has left a set of portable stairs at the beast’s side, and Luke settles in the saddle, ready for his morning ride.
Looking at me from above, he makes the picture of a perfect Dark Companion to the Lord of the Nocturne Court.
His eyelids are painted with dusky shadows, his skin is so pale, and he carries the aura of someone who knows his position.
For the two years he’s been here, he’s grown adept at navigating court intrigues and has become his husband’s biggest asset in that regard.
Yet all I crave is the sun-kissed human who blushes quickly, smiles almost too widely, and is so kind he died saving a puppy. I’ve fallen for his openness and honesty as if it’s what I’ve been missing after a whole life at court.
I’ve never been much of a schemer, so I might have overdone it with pretending how much I don’t care about Nate. It’s a tricky balance I’ve never been able to strike, so instead I usually rely on brashness and confrontation. When it comes to Nate though, I want to keep my cards close to my chest.
I shrug and grin at him. “You know me. Memory like a sieve.”
Not when it comes to Nate. I remember every beauty spot and freckle on him. The way he smelled of wood and amber, how two of the dark curls on his forehead were longer than the rest.
How he pressed his face to the crook of my neck and teased me with his warm breath all night long. How he looked at me, cold and forlorn, right after I fished him out of the River of Souls. And maybe one day, I will have the best of artisans work on a tapestry woven out of all the memories we make.
But first, I need him back at my side, not soaking up Gloombane’s poison.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the gradual cooldown of Nate’s interest in me had something to do with his promised besmirching my name every day. Telling him what a failure I’ve been to let Prince Kyranis die, or that I’m incompetent as a Nightcloak, or any manner of lies for that matter.
I’m deep in my thoughts when Luke hums, “And there’s the mail. Let me know if they’re arriving,” he says, and he’s off.
Might be for the better, because I don’t want him to witness my disappointment, if the missive proves as dry as the last one
The postman is on horseback, and I rush to stop him before he even gets to the stables. Lady is right by me, just like I taught her.
“At last!” I say, standing in the middle of the paved road.
The glow of the swamplight lamp attached to his saddle reveals a frown on the man’s handsome features.
I suppose it isn’t often that someone stalls him before he can reach his destination.
Other than perhaps bandits somewhere along the stretches of road leading through the forest.
His gaze passes me up and down as he looks for clues to my identity, but I haven’t made it easy for him.
I was never much into fashion, and unless I’m somewhere in an official capacity, my clothing of choice consists of leather pants and loose, flowing shirts.
Granted, it is cold enough that I’m wearing my jacket, but the Bloodweed crest is embroidered on its back.
I suppose he must have noticed the green gold of my buttons and buckles, because he bows, lowering his head until I can barely see his face.
“Ser?”
“Ser Tristan. Prince Tristan Bloodweed. Is there any mail for me?” I ask impatiently and hold out my hand. It’s highly irregular for a royal to pick up his own post, so I don’t blame him for not recognizing me. I just want to read any message coming from Nate as soon as possible.
I have never been in such a frenzy over a lover. My stomach is clenching in anticipation, because there must be some mail from the tower.
The postman freezes, then slides off his horse and bows much lower than before.
“Prince Tristan Bloodweed! My apologies, I have never delivered to the palace before. Of course… I mean, there is plenty of mail for the royal family. I am certain I’ve seen your name on one of them,” he adds, opening one of the saddlebags to reveal neat rows of folded paper.
He licks his lips, briefly glancing at Lady, but seeing me pet her forehead seems to have a reassuring effect on him. “That’s... an unusually tame wolf, Ser Tristan. Will they too be off the menu, like the bats?” he asks, browsing through the letters.
I’m so focused on the envelopes it takes me a few seconds to catch on, but I eventually laugh.
Right. Luke loves bats, so the Lord of the Nocturne Court forbade all the elves in his principality from consuming them.
Wolves aren’t particularly tasty, with the exception of their hearts, so they’re rarely eaten anyway.
I know the answer as soon as I look into Lady’s big, glowing red eyes.
“Very probable. She’s a dog though. They’re different. Obedient and kind, even if protective.” The postman raises his eyebrows at me. “She’s from the human realm,” I add quickly.
His full lips form a funnel perfect for the whistle he makes next.
“I’ll be damned! I’ve never seen such an exotic creature.
I would… very much like to learn more about them,” he muses, approaching me with a single piece of paper bearing Gloombane’s seal.
“I hate to be so forward, but would that be possible, Prince Tristan?”
I’m so focused on the seal, I only realize now that he’s trying to catch my gaze, and he’s a little flushed. When he passes me the letter, he slides his fingers over mine for just a moment, but enough to be bold.
My mind is so far away from even considering anyone other than Nate that I’m taken by surprise. I hold up the letter. “This is too urgent. Another time maybe, thank you,” I say to soften the blow, and walk off, because I’m greedy to be alone with the precious piece of paper that holds my future.
I whistle at Lady when she stays back by the postman for too long, and she makes a happy yap before following me.
I break the seal as soon as I’m on the stairs inside, my heart pounding.