3. Chapter 3
Levi
L evi whirled around the tower, hurrying to finish his chores so he could meet up with Grillo sooner—and hopefully see Ashmedai again.
He was almost through putting away the dishes and cleaning the kitchen, with tea for Braxton and Levi’s draught both heating up on the stove.
The draught was easy enough to prepare, a powder Braxton had created that dissolved in hot water.
Levi didn’t even mind the idea of drinking it this morning; he was too excited to go out, to be something—anything—other than only Braxton’s.
Ashmedai had admitted he was closer to Braxton than to anyone else in the entire kingdom, yet Levi was the one he’d walked home and touched with gentle fingers.
If Levi wanted, Ashmedai could take away all his stitches, and he’d be whole someday, his own man.
The thought both terrified and excited him.
He wasn’t sure when or how he would get up the nerve to ask for that, but the memory of Ashmedai’s touch was potent encouragement.
Maybe someday Ashmedai would be as close or closer to Levi than he was to Braxton, which was a terribly jealous, selfish thought, but Levi couldn’t shake it.
“Is there a storm passing through?”
“Hm?” Levi barely paused in his closing of cupboards to answer Braxton.
“You are making quite the ruckus out here. In such a hurry?”
“I’m sorry, Master. I do not want to make Grillo wait on me. I finished all my chores.” Levi spun around, with the final tidying complete. “May I leave now? Do you need anything else of me?”
Studying Levi as he wheeled toward him, Braxton answered slowly, “I suppose not. But are thoughts of Grillo the only reason you’re spinning like a top?”
Levi fought to keep his cheeks from flushing or from averting his eyes too obviously. “I… enjoy being around others too. Like you wanted! As long as it’s not too many.”
Braxton said nothing but continued surveying Levi with an unreadable air.
Levi felt a twinge of guilt for longing to have a closeness with the king that surpassed his master’s. After all, Braxton had only the two of them. “Master? Are you very busy?”
“I am always busy,” Braxton said, despite having left his workshop and making no move to return yet.
“You take breaks though, like now.”
“When someone is being especially noisy, yes.”
Levi dropped his head. “I will be quieter next time. But, if I may say, Master, as important as your work is, you need rest and distraction too. I was talking with Ash about how he hopes to get out more, see others more, have tea with you more.”
“With Ash , were you?”
“Y-yes.” Levi chose not to comment on the stress of the name. “I wondered… why don’t you go out more and make friends, as you’ve encouraged me? ”
Braxton patted the armrests of his chair. “You know it is difficult for me to get around.”
“I could help with that. I could carry you down the market steps. You still can get out more if you want to.”
“ You can. I have no interest in friends.”
“You’re friends with the king.”
“He is the exception.” Very little space separated them, but Braxton wheeled closer anyway, close enough that one of his wheels brushed Levi’s shin. “He is exceptional. You seem to agree.”
“I-I-I….” Levi tensed, eyes widening.
“You handle the friend-making, Levi. I’ll continue my experiments. Don’t neglect your draught now.”
“Y-yes, Master.” Levi bowed, and then went to retrieve the draught. “I made tea for you as well. Would you like some?”
“Is it the bitter stuff you made for Ash?”
“No, Master. Your herbal tea.”
“Then yes, thank you.”
Levi poured the draught, then poured some tea for Braxton, drinking his even as he moved to hand Braxton his cup.
Braxton turned away without further comment, but the last few words between them echoed in Levi’s mind.
Yes, Master.
No, Master.
“Must I call you Master?”
“Excuse me?” Braxton turned before exiting into his workshop.
Levi hadn’t meant to say it, but now that he had, he didn’t want to lose his momentum. “May I call you Braxton as others do? I’m more than a servant, aren’t I?”
It was clear that Braxton hadn’t expected the request. He looked unreadable again but didn’t seem angry. “I suppose you can call me what you like so long as you do as you’ re told.”
“Yes, Ma—” Levi stopped himself, taking a breath before correcting. “Braxton.” He smiled in gratitude.
Braxton nodded and went on his way.
Levi downed the rest of his draught, eager to be on his way as well. His desire to see Ashmedai only grew stronger.
And see Ashmedai he did—for a few moments with barely a good morning passing between them. Levi was all too quickly ushered into the wood to accompany Grillo again. Kenner didn’t join them this time, but he did stop by to say hello to Levi before they left.
In some ways, the day went much as the one before. The shadows still seemed to be watching Levi, but he chose to ignore the feeling and enjoyed working in a way that wasn’t focused on the tower.
The best repeat of the day before was when Ashmedai offered to walk Levi home.
“Would you have any interest in joining the hunt next week?” Ashmedai asked.
“Would I be of use?”
“Your illusion magic—do you have limitations, or can you make anything appear?”
Levi didn’t mean to blush, but he felt heat fill his cheeks, thinking of the many times he had conjured a vision of Ashmedai. “I-I can make anything.”
“Then you may be more useful than you’d think. And I’d have an excuse to spend more time with you outside a brief stroll.”
Ashmedai took Levi’s hand, also echoing the day before, only this time, it was the hand he had healed, and he ran his thumb across Levi’s smooth wrist.
“I-I’d like that,” Levi said with a shudder. He wanted to ask for more stitches to be cleansed, to feel more of Ashmedai’s skin on his, and the pleasant scratch of his clawlike nails, but it felt too intimate to do so outside the tower. “ Tomorrow?”
Ashmedai smiled, gently squeezing Levi’s wrist. “Tomorrow.”
The hunt was days away, but the first thing Levi did when tomorrow came was leave even earlier than the day before to stop by Daedlys’s shop.
“Stitches! I hear you’re the talk of the town,” Daedlys said as he floated over upon Levi’s entrance. “Well, some people have mentioned seeing you at least, which is a good start. I told you your stitches were nothing to be wary about.”
Levi had worn his hood up when entering the market, like usual, but he hadn’t felt quite as much of a need to keep his face obscured.
He’d even met eyes with a few people along the way, who smiled at him or nodded in greeting—and his eyes had been what worried him most. Like Ashmedai had guessed, because he was a creation of Braxton’s, no one seemed to mind.
“Indeed,” Levi said, lowering his hood completely.
“You’re sure you’re not mad at me for mentioning you to Grillo?” Daedlys asked.
“Not at all. Grillo is very kind and easy to work with. I’ve even befriended his son, Kenner.”
“Marvelous! I’d hoped for such an outcome. It would have done you no good if you were still so shy come Festival Day. You’re going to love every minute of it.”
Levi had been so caught up in helping prepare for the festival, he sometimes forgot he’d get to enjoy it. “First, I need to survive the hunt. The king asked me to assist next week.”
“He did? Ash must have taken a liking to you. ”
It was impossible to keep the fresh blush from Levi’s face then.
Daedlys examined him with a crook to his smile. “I see…. Well, how fortuitous. I’ve been fixing Ash’s sword belt. It’s practically brand-new now. I imagine you’re here for a belt and weapons yourself.”
“Yes, please. Braxton said you can make any request as payment, or simply have me help around the shop, if you’d like.”
“I have a better idea—you can be my delivery boy for the day.”
“Delivery boy?” Levi followed Daedlys toward a wall of basic weapons and equipment.
There were other shops more dedicated to weaponry, but Levi wasn’t looking for anything fancy, and he’d always thought Daedlys’s shop had the lovelier belt and accessory designs, with very fine stitching and embroidery like the tunic made from Emerald silk.
“Once we find you something suitable, you can deliver Ash’s belt to him.”
“I….” Levi’s blush heated further. “I can do that.”
“Here, I was just about to package it.” Daedlys levitated a black belt that had been resting on a table in front of the weapons wall into his grasp.
It was beautiful, meant for a longsword, and stitched in gold.
It was always so strange to see Daedlys touch something, since he was see-through.
When he held the belt out to Levi, it almost seemed to levitate still.
Levi reverently tucked the belt into his bag.
“What about you?” Daedlys asked. “Do you have any experience with weaponry? I’m guessing no.”
“I’m a fast learner,” Levi defended. “What do you recommend?”
“A dagger. Right-handed or left?”
“Um….” Levi honestly didn’t know. “I use both evenly, I think.”
“Then you can have two and grab whichever feels most natural in the thick of battle. I have this design for dual-daggers.” Daedlys gestured to a dark brown belt, simple in the front, with a gold buckle, and a gold ring in back where it crossed and connected to twin sheaths that would rest on either side of Levi’s hips.
There was a black version as well, very like the king’s in some ways, but with silver accents.
“Could I… have that one instead?” Levi asked.
“Certainly. Then I’d say these daggers.” Daedlys waved his hand at a set on the wall with silver accents and black grips.
“You’re sure it’s not too much for simply making a delivery?”
“For you? Never. Besides, I already have a dozen preorders for Brax’s black crystals. Now—” Daedlys levitated the daggers into his hands as well, and then spun them to hold them hilt outward toward Levi. “—I wouldn’t be much of a friend if I let you take these without some instruction. Go on.”
Levi accepted them, one in each hand.