9. Chapter Nine #2
“I never want you to worry.” Viau lightly brushed a curl from Rafi’s forehead before Rafi could remember where they were and how that might look.
“I thought I was back for good the other day, and then a different relation decided to be an idiot. Such an idiot that I have to leave again soon, but this business will be in the palace, and I will return in two days. If I don’t, believe me when I tell you that it’s because royals are a pain in the ass.
Not you. Not anything we do. I enjoy our time together. ”
“The sparring is your indulgence,” Rafi remembered aloud.
Viau drew in a long breath and exhaled it with a sound of deep pleasure. “The sparring, certainly.”
“You know, we actually need to get going.” Laure stood up and gestured to Katoh, who startled Rafi by getting to her feet too.
“There’s something I promised an instructor I’d do,” he explained to Viau.
“But I haven’t touched any of my bread or butter if you wanted to eat something before you’re off again. ”
Laure hadn’t mentioned any promise to any instructor to Rafi. But within moments, he was gone, and Viau sat across from Rafi, not touching the bread or butter either.
“You’re not eating much,” he observed. “And you looked exhausted. Have you been well?”
“I don’t know why you care,” Rafi answered without thought, then put his elbow on the table use his hand to hold up his head because he was exhausted.
“I have not been sleeping, but I’m well enough.
It’s—Viau,” he objected with the name as Viau pushed Laure’s small plate of bread toward him. “You’re acting like a miné.”
“I am a miné.” Viau didn’t even smile. His gaze stayed dark and intense enough to make Rafi worryingly swoony. “Am I not to indulge myself there?”
“By nannying a nex?” Rafi took the bread, at least, since he knew that would have appeased Laure when Laure was feeling especially protective.
He nibbled the crust, then, his hunger sparked, ate the rest of it.
It was only when licking butter from the corner of his mouth that he thought of Chief Healer Emma’s words and shook inside.
He looked at Viau, who watched him eat with close attention.
“I’m glad to see you,” Rafi admitted, “even just this. But I won’t be able to spar with you.
They have me sparring your way with the first-and-second years.
I’m supposed to bruise them to teach them. ”
“Our way,” Viau amended lightly. “You don’t like your dumplings?”
“Are you going to try to feed them to me?” Rafi wondered with real concern. He’d seen miné do that, and Viau seemed to be feeling like one of those miné at the moment.
Viau’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t considered that I would be allowed to.” His expression brightened with interest as he leaned in. “Would I be allowed to?”
Rafi didn’t catch the whine before it left his mouth. He put both hands in his lap and looked to the side of the room where all the tables and benches were empty. He tried to think like he normally would without aedis looming and his newly awakened body starving for touch.
“What?” His voice was faint. “You didn’t come here to feed me.”
“No,” Viau admitted. “I came here to see you and to explain my absence, and I’ve ended up apologizing and begging to feed you.” He took a deep breath, then his expression changed, his interest growing more intent. He inhaled again and held the breath in his lungs for a moment. “Oh, I see.”
His voice was almost a purr.
“You do?” Rafi shook his head, which had not been clear for days and wasn’t clear now. “I don’t, but I’m… very tired.”
Viau went serious in a heartbeat. “Tell the instructors that you require a break.” He raised a hand to cut off Rafi’s objection before Rafi made it. “If you don’t, I will.”
“You won’t be here,” Rafi pointed out. “And I can’t ask that.”
“I said ‘tell.’” Viau took another deep breath. “But I can write from the palace.”
“That’s not even why I’m tired,” Rafi complained. He couldn’t believe himself, whining to Viau, moping over some extra work.
“Then why are you tired? Truly, not a single dumpling?” Viau nudged Rafi’s plate even closer.
“I….” Looking over his shoulder now would make Rafi appear guilty, so he didn’t do it. He hoped no one was paying them any attention but he doubted that was so. “Must you be so famous?” Another whine escaped him.
Viau reached out to take Rafi’s hand. “I’ve failed you.”
Rafi rolled his eyes as though his heart wasn’t pounding. “I didn’t say that. You’re teasing me again.”
Viau stroked the back of Rafi’s hand and then considered Rafi’s fingers, the sword calluses and the bruising at his knuckles. Rafi shivered with fever at the idea that Viau might kiss those bruises.
But he didn’t. He sighed and said, “It’s my fault you’re wearing those.
And they weren’t even from me.” He met Rafi’s stare and held it.
“Two days and I’ll be back. If I have to scruff my cousin, then so be it.
At least when I am in the stocks or the dungeon, you’ll know I meant it.
Now you are gazing at me in such a way that would be calculated from anyone else.
One day, it probably will be. I doubt I’ll care then, either. ”
“I don’t know what you mean and I’m not… I’m not feeling well.” Rafi didn’t hiss it, but he feared he was cross, and Viau would take offense or a new rumor would start. He was hardly going to shout about his aedis, even if he had made a scene the last time.
“I know.” Viau released him to clench his hands into fists on the table.
“I’ve never been in this position. All those scenes in all those plays and poems are alive as they weren’t before.
And my family has the audacity to call me away.
” He clucked his tongue, probably for Rafi’s frown.
“You were glad to see me? If you weren’t feeling so poorly, you’d never have admitted to that. ”
And he called Rafi a killer.
“Everyone likes you.” Rafi grumbled it. “Too much.”
“I can’t even stay to treat you kindly.” Viau was complaining, or pouting, or teasing Rafi; Rafi couldn’t tell.
“Viau, please.” It wasn’t giving in. It was playing along until he saw his chance to strike. Or more likely, at the moment, to be killed and get a chance to lie down.
Viau stood up. “Two days.” If he was teasing, he hid it well. “Two days, and I will feed you then if you don’t do it yourself. On your honor, swear to me that you will finish those dumplings and allow yourself some butter.”
Other people would definitely hear him.
Rafi stared up at him. “I’ve been looking after myself since I was a child.”
“I’ve no doubt of that.” Cold but also furious, Viau still did not smile. “Swear to me, and believe me when I say I’ll return for you.”
“My honor for dumplings?” Rafi grumbled, hot in the face, hot everywhere, quivering inside where no one would ever see.
“It matters that much?” Evidently it did if honor was at stake, although who would Viau duel over it?
Rafi? Killing him to get him to eat was ridiculous, but Rafi didn’t laugh.
“Yes. All right. On my honor.” He wanted to squirm.
“They’re only dumplings, though. Miné are foolish. ”
“Undoubtedly,” Viau agreed. “I am not in my right mind and all here would agree with me. But thank you.”
“I haven’t done anything but go along.” Rafi was arguing again, grumpy and slouched, and smiling about it.
“Two days, Rafeli Tizzan,” Viau responded as if he didn’t care who heard him, and reached out to brush Rafi’s curls away only to stop and pull back before he made contact. He bowed instead, like the hall was the royal court or maybe a stage, before turning.
Rafi watched him until he was out of sight, then lowered his head so that he wouldn’t have to see how many eyes had been on Viau that were now on him. He sat, facing down dumplings with something light in his chest.
Then he ate them. His honor was involved, and he was starving.