by Becky James
While making my way towards the King’s Basin I tried to guess which way Evyn would be coming from as she and her mother stayed in the royal apartments. I still had my bunk in the barracks. I should probably apply for something else to bring us together, an apartment in the castle as fighters with families did, but decided that would be a discussion for another day.
I set myself in a stance along the main castle corridor to wait for Evyn while the press of people grew, filtering around me. The buzz of their excitement rose in a mesh of different languages and accents, the laughter and sounds of merrymaking from the courtyards intensifying. I loved it, drinking it all in from the high vantage point afforded by my height, scanning the crowds for my soul companion and content to enjoy this scenery while I waited for her.
A few people stopped beside me to ask for directions. I supposed I looked like I was on duty, and assisting them led to more people asking where this or that was. I asked where they were from and whether this was their first time here, and met all sorts of lives, from overexcited lords to snobby fish wives, and all walks of life hailing from Dinahe, Rush, Skien, Hanasta and Daron. A retired Skienien Battlemistress and a jeweller who owned a shop in the lord’s district in the city; an old merchant who had travelled the world but had never stepped between the castle gates before. I spoke to couples and families and people on their own exploring, and talked to them all.
“Hello.”
Turning smartly, I said, “Hello there, miss. First time at a festival in the castle? Where are you trying to—” I broke off.
Evyn stood before me. She wore a pretty blouse and what looked to be a knee length skirt, her hair circling her head in a long braid. She grinned, a smudge of ink on her cheek.
“I wash up okay, don’t I? Yes, I suppose it is my first time at a festival in the castle. I’ve seen parts of it, notably the Last Tower and the library, but as this to-do seems to be all over the map, I need someone tall to see over everyone else and tell me where I’m going.”
I smiled, taking out my pocket square and wiping her face.
She put a hand to her cheek, flushing. “Oh dear. I got ready but I had a few minutes to spare, so I could get through three more pages… well, that turned into three more chapters. Sorry, I’ll go—”
“No. Stay. Don’t change a thing.” My soul companion was here at last. Like me she had a singular focus, was single-minded in the pursuit of our interests, and together we formed a strong foundation that we could build ourselves upon. “I’m happy you’re finally here.”
She grinned. “Yeah. You’re not that bad after all. Hopefully I scrub up well.”
“More than well. You’re perfect.”
Evyn groaned. “Nobody’s perfect, Thorrn. There’s a lot of pressure to be perfect.”
I squeezed her hand. “Fine. You’re willing and able to put up with me. Better?”
She grinned. “Much.”
And we went out and enjoyed the festival. Together, at last.
We decided on food before the masses descended, my red uniform and unrelenting strides easily parting the crowd. Some of the trainees, newly promoted to Special Forces and thus under my care as sergeant, saw me and bought me drinks.
I had eight to conquer. “Help me with these?” I asked Evyn. She sniffed one, her lips twisting, and I laughed.
Happily warm from alcohol, I guided her over to the King’s Basin, always decorated with the utmost care, tonight being no exception. I drank in Evyn’s face as she gasped at the flowers bedecking the balconies and the ethereal lights from glowstones along the bridges and trees.
“Good evening, Lord Evyn.” Gerlay made his way toward us. He was the Prince of Dinahe and an officer in the Dinahen Defence Force, specialising in the Dinahen staff. Dinahen Defenders prided in their soldiers’ ability to succeed against violence without bloodshed. Evyn liked that as a philosophy, and as well as picking up the language from Gerlay, she seemed interested in learning to wield the staff.
He grimaced, faltering through his basic Oberrotian. “My sorry. I used to saying ‘Lord’, not Lady Evyn. Deepest apologies.” He looked sincere too, and it helped that even I could appreciate he was handsome, all dark skin and luminous dark eyes.
“It’s alright,” Evyn said, a tremulous smile attempting to form.
“Just this once,” I added. Evyn gave me a wink. Gerlay looked suitably chastened, so I shifted my glower toward a warmer shade.
“So, Evyn, do you think you will be touching my staff soon?” Gerlay asked in halting Oberrotian.
“Well that’s a challengeable statement. Good thing I brought my sword, Gerlay.” He frowned, and Evyn tried to explain what he had said without mentioning key anatomical words, her cheeks quickly becoming suffused with red. I smiled and kissed them. She wiped her face automatically and continued talking.
Slowly, I started to feel something. I took in a breath as a light touch from the metal in my right shoulder wound its way across my chest. My breathing deepened as it spread downwards, along my stomach underneath my clothes. I nearly groaned.
“You okay? Are you drunk?” Evyn paused her conversation to ask me.
“Maybe a little. I’m going to find some water. Gerlay, I know you’ll take good care of her, but if your staff comes out anywhere near her, I’ll beat you into the ground.” Gerlay frowned at that and Evyn started hastily explaining again. I walked off on the hunt.
Where would she be?
Looking toward the royal dais, I saw Gough and Ellesmere holding court there with their souls, and a delegation from the Palais was greeting them formally. I headed in that direction, soft caresses lingering over my biceps and tickling my solar plexus. They stroked downwards and I had to halt and take another deep breath. Some concerned people stopped to ask if I needed help, but I managed to thank them and continue on my way. How I didn’t walk like I had a crowbar hidden in my trousers, I would never know.
Tuniel MasterMage descended the stairs with her assistants following her. I made sure to be in front of her and saluted. “MasterMage, a word if you please.”
Tuniel sighed. “Will this take long?”
“You won’t miss any of the festivities, MasterMage. This way.”
She dismissed her lackeys and I led her into the castle. On the first floor were inset windows with wooden shutters to the outside and long velvet curtains flush with the corridor inside. This left a neat little cosy alcove which no doubt had seen much across the centuries. Perhaps they had not seen anything quite like this, though. I am unique.
I led her into one and let the drapes fall behind her. “Well?” she asked imperiously.
“MasterMage.” I drew close to put my lips against her ear. “You’re under arrest.”
Her pulse jumped under my lips as I kissed her neck. “On what charges?” she breathed.
“Bewitching a man.” The metal held my skin with the urgency of a lover, squeezing my muscles. Putting my arms around her back I pulled her hips toward me. “Fortunately, Special Forces is trained in how to deal with mages. We’re very, very good at it. I’m exceptionally good at it, actually.” I kissed her collarbone, breathing her in and watching her chest rise and fall.
“Oh, are you now? I’ll be the judge of that.” She pushed lightly against my shoulders using a trickle of magic to help. Unfortunately, the armour took that as an attack, blasting us apart. My back hit the opposite wall with a smack and I gasped, winded.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I only meant to turn the tables a little bit. Are you well?”
“I… uh, yes.” I got down onto one knee, feeling around my head, ears ringing. “Seems fine. Are you hale?”
“Yes, I was already braced against the wall. These nice stones took most of it.” She patted the back wall.
“Good. Now, where were we?” I stood, grinning widely.
She bit her lip. It was delicious. “Are you certain you’re well? Are you bleeding?”
“That’s the great thing about red uniform, it hides all that sor
t of stuff.” I leant toward her lips.
She closed her eyes, gently pressing my chest, and I halted. “Thorrn, shut up and take a breath. Evyn will have felt that and be on her way.” Her eyes opened. “That was an interesting reaction from the armour, though. It magnified the power. I’ll want to run some experiments in the morning.”
“What sort of experiments?”
“It has two things you’ll like. One is that you’ll be naked.”
I combed my hand through the silver strands of her hair. “Mm, yes, that does sound good. And the other thing I’ll like?”
Her eyes danced. “I’ll be firing projectiles at you. I want to see what sort of deflection force that’s getting and whether it maintains that or deteriorates over time.”
I pouted. “Those two together don’t sound like much fun. I don’t like words like deflection and deteriorate around my naked body.”
Smiling, she patted my cheek. “See someone about your head. And I’m in the Hunter’s Suite tonight.”
“That’s the one with the sunroom underneath it.” I grimaced. “I’m always terrified someone will look up from their breakfast and see me do the climb of shame back down at dawn.”
She raised an eyebrow at me. “I don’t request these things, you know.”
I sighed. “Yes. I know.” Taking her face in my hands, I gave her a lingering kiss. “Something to keep with you until then, MasterMage.”
“Sergeant,” she murmured back, her coy look over her shoulder a promise as she parted the drapes and stepped out. Taking a moment to calm myself, I let my heart rate slow and my disappointment recede.
I gave her a few dozen heartbeats to make her way back before I followed so there was no risk of being seen together, my heart lifting when I thought of my soul being on her way toward me.
“You!”
My head snapped up, then I smiled. “Lady alt-Evyn. Are you well?”
“Yes, but you’re not going to be in a minute.” She marched up to me in a flurry of skirts, alt-Thorrn following at a safe distance as alt-Evyn pulled up right inside my guard. She glared up at me, and thrust an arm back at her Thorrn. “You tattooed him?”
“Yes, Lady alt-Evyn. It’s an important part of initiation into Special Forces here.”
“It looks awful! Why does it have cars, and why are they on fire?”
“Flames make all campaign tattoos better. It’s symbolic of the battles we faced together.”
She poked my chest. “If I recall it was only you headbutting the cars!”
I tried a different tactic. “It’s beautiful craftsmanship.”
“Oh yes, it’s a beautiful rendition: of a Fiat Punto and a Mini Micra on fire!”
“I’m glad you know the species.”
“What’s all the shouting about?” a man’s voice called down the corridor.
Turning, at first my heart lifted to see Aubin. “Well met! Glad you made it.”
He squinted at alt-Thorrn’s arm. “Yes. Alt-Evyn brought me in about a turn of the glass ago.”
My stomach fell a little. “Welcome, alt-Aubin.”
“Tuniel is going to hit the roof,” alt-Aubin diagnosed.
“Evyn’s currently hitting it,” alt-Thorrn replied.
“I’m not surprised.” His eyes narrowed. “These others here, these dots and dashes and whatnot. They are the same as yours.”
I straightened up. “Yes, these are my identification tattoos. Not the full history but enough, just the important parts to show entry to the Regulars and promotion to Special Forces.”
Alt-Evyn paused in her tirade. “They mean something?”
“Yes.” I decided not to disclose what their ultimate purpose was.
Alt-Thorrn spoke quietly. “Special Forces won’t have me over there. I can be part of something somewhere, even when we are apart.”
Alt-Evyn smoothed her dress. “Oh. Well. That’s actually really sweet. If it wasn’t on his skin for life.”
“I know. Also, you look lovely tonight,” I told her.
“You’re not completely off the hook, mister.”
Leading them back to the main festivities, I asked, “Anyone see my Evyn?”
“She’s in the King’s Basin with Gerlay.”
I nodded to alt-Aubin. “Thanks. Right where I left her.”
But he shook his head. “I didn’t say anything.” He thrust his chin out. I followed where he indicated.
The Aubin from my timeline stood on the open steps that swept down into the courtyard. Leaning against the balustrade, his palms flat on the stone, his head was bowed.
I pulled up next to him. “Hey, Aubin. Glad you could make it.” He grunted. “Enjoying it so far?”
He swept his gaze over the merrymaking below. “A bit ostentatious this year.”
“Well, the royals have a lot to celebrate.”
“I suppose they do.”
Alt-Aubin leant over the other side of him. “Want to get really disgustingly drunk?” Aubin recoiled from him. “Yes, I wouldn’t want to spend much time with me either,” alt-Aubin said amiably.
Alt-Evyn came up beside me. “Hello, Aubin. How are you?”
He stared straight ahead, speaking only to me. “I don’t know how you do it. It’s like being surrounded by dream things.” His lip curled. “She is just wrong enough that looking at her makes my skin crawl.”
“Excuse me,” alt-Aubin said. “That’s my promised you’re talking about.”
“Promised?” Aubin stared at his counterpart.
“Yes. Didn’t Thorrn tell you? In all the worlds we’ve seen, more often than not, the Aubins and the Evyns are together.”
“No. He did not. In any case it’s no certainty. That would imply that neither of us have free will.”
Alt-Aubin cocked his head. “Why does that automatically follow? The Lonely Man is lost until he finds the Spirit Shaper. Then he finds a way out of whatever mental trap he’s set for himself.” Alt-Aubin shrugged. “Sometimes they don’t end up romantically involved. But when he meets her, something in him changes. Was it the same for you?”
Aubin looked down. “Yes. And now I’ve lost any chance of finding that again.”
“You’ve only lost when you give up or don’t try,” I said. “First impressions … kind of matter. And you made a really strong one on both of us. If you feel lost, come find your way back to us. We’ll show you who you are and what you are worthy of.”
I moved away. The alts followed me. I had to will myself to keep my head forward. Don’t look back. Don’t check to see what decision he made. I knew the people I wanted by my side to face whatever was next. Because there would be something next, with an Earthian soul. I knew who I wanted with me for that.
If you enjoyed this book, will you please review it? It really helps independent authors like me – and I do truly want to hear what you think. It only takes a few minutes and it means so much to me. Thank you!
Learn how Gavain and Thorrn’s friendship started. Grab your exclusive copy on my mailing list – you won’t find Dough Boy anywhere else.
www.beckyjamesauthor.co.uk/dough-boy
Look out for the next instalment of Thorrn and Evyn’s adventures!