Redamancy

by T D Cloud

  Sorin furrowed his brow, sensing correctly that it was over. “What does that mean?”

  “It means,” Navidae said tersely throwing down the letter, “that things aren’t stable right now. That if I don’t work hard and lean on as many favors as I can, things are about to get dangerous.”

  “For you?” the human asked, resting his hands against the desk as he leaned forward.

  Gods, if only he alone were at risk here. “For all of us. For myself, my House, for Khouri…” Navidae crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, staring off at the hearth lit with ever- present fire. It warmed the room but not the mood. “I called you back for a reason. I may miss Khouri when he’s gone, but I learned my lesson the hard way that it’s better to let him be if it’s something he wants to do. I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t have to. If I didn’t feel it necessary.”

  Sorin seemed to ponder his words for a moment or two. He stared down at the letter in question, his gaze strong enough to burn a hole in the parchment. He drummed his large fingers on the desktop before moving his gaze to Navidae. “So, you’ve done something bad enough to get the government on your ass. Okay. But why does that mean Khouri and I had to cut our time short? What good does it do to have us, to have him, back in the Duskriven instead of on the surface?”

  Navidae stared at him for a few seconds. He had expected Sorin to be angrier or more distrusting of his actions. He sat a little straighter and cleared his throat. Perhaps Sorin wasn’t just a jealous brute angry over his time being cut short. What a thought that was. He may need to lie down after this just to process it all.

  “The good it does is… Well, it’s proactive on my part. Call it paranoid if you wish, but my fears are based in fact.” Navidae ran his fingers through his hair, longing for a drink. “I know the one accusing me of these crimes. I know her methods intimately, and from this I know that what she wishes to do isn’t see me killed for my transgressions.”

  He paused there to snort derisively. “No, it would be much simpler if she did. What she wants is to tear me from my position. Strip me of my title and see me absorbed into some lesser House, just another piece to be moved and married off should it become advantageous.”

  A cursory glance at Sorin told him he was losing him. He quirked a smile and rubbed at his eyes. “Let me keep this simple for you, since I can see you aren’t grasping the weight of the situation; if I am stripped of my title, my power goes with it. My power alone is what keeps Khouri safe at my side. Without it I can’t protect him.”

  Sorin raised a brow. “Can’t Khouri protect himself?”

  Despite feeling no measure of mirth, Navidae managed a humorless chuckle. “They asked for a list of my assets.” He looked at Sorin intently. “I own Khouri in the eyes of our society, and they very well know that if I can’t protect him, those who… those who desire him can easily do as they see fit to make him their own once he’s on that auction block. Because that’s what will happen; Khouri—along with everything else I have—will be repossessed. Sold, bartered, and scavenged by those parasites—”

  Navidae’s eyes widened when Sorin gripped the edge of the desk hard enough to make the wood groan in protest. He glanced up to look at the man properly and found Sorin’s teeth clenched.

  “Who is it instigating all of this? Who is this Lady Lichenith?” Sorin demanded as if he would even recognize the role she held if it was told to him. “Why haven’t you dealt with her the way you dealt with the other Houses? Isn’t that how Drow operate? Just kill her and the charges will be dropped.”

  Navidae buried his face in his hands. “You are so stupid,” he muttered, keeping it in a language Sorin couldn’t understand.

  He looked through his fingers, judging what he saw. He hadn’t wanted to tell anyone of this issue. He wasn’t convinced he couldn’t still find a way out of it, and the more people knew, the harder it would be to let the whole thing die once it was settled. Sorin was practically fuming, filling the room with his anger until the air itself was thick like smoke. What were the advantages to telling Sorin? What were the disadvantages?

  It was perfectly clear that Sorin had no idea how things worked in the Duskriven. He was operating off of hearsay and his own sense of justice; Navidae steepled his fingers and ran through the situation as quickly as he could. “You really have no idea how we conduct ourselves, do you?” he murmured, keeping his tone cool. It wasn’t Sorin’s fault he was ignorant. At least, not this time.

  “Then explain it,” Sorin gritted through tightly clenched teeth.

  “I’m going to,” Navidae muttered, sitting back up. “But before I do, I’d… prefer it if you’d keep this between us,” Navidae said delicately. “This is sensitive information. Not many are aware of what’s going on. The things Alacrita told you, well, that is still hearsay at this point. The more people know, the harder it will be for me to do what I need to do and then distance myself from it all once it blows over.”

  Sorin narrowed his eyes. “And who exactly would I tell?”

  Navidae narrowed his eyes right back. “I think you know what I’m saying.”

  “You mean don’t tell Khouri,” the hunter said blandly, resting his hands on his hips. “You’ve lied to him already, so what’s the harm of lying some more? Is that what you’re thinking? He has a right to know what’s happening around him. What if shit doesn’t get better? Will you wait for the government to tell him instead?”

  “No,” Navidae nearly spat, his teeth clenched tight as he looked at the human before him. “I don’t intend to let it get that bad. But even I can’t control everything. If things get worse, then it’s even more important that Khouri doesn’t know what’s going on.”

  “Really,” Sorin drawled. “How do you figure that?”

  He was making fun of him, wasn’t he? Navidae let out a breath but not the tension that had taken up occupancy in his gut. No, it’d take a lot more than a few exhales to alleviate him of that anxiety. “Because if things become untenable, I intend to make him leave,” he said. The words almost made him smile.

  They tasted just as bitter aloud as they had in his head. “I will remain here to pay for what I’ve done, and you will take Khouri above and keep him from ever stepping foot in the Duskriven again.”

  Navidae kept his eyes down as the room fell silent. His smile quirked his lips at the thought that he’d finally found a way to strike the human dumb. It wasn’t going to last; oh, no, his luck wasn’t that good. But he’d earned himself a few seconds of a reprieve.

  It was just a shame it didn’t last longer.

  “You have to be out of your mind,” Sorin said quietly, so quietly that Navidae had to look up to see what sort of expression he wore. It was… Well, it looked dumbstruck still, and a little angry. More than anything though it just looked stunned. “You’d just… You’d just send him away? Never see him again as you, what, rot here? Alone?”

  Navidae rolled his eyes. He’d thought about this too much to take those words with any weight at all. “I’d hardly rot,” he mumbled, fiddling with some useless trinket on his desk, and then with the bracelet on his wrist. His fingertips stroked the smooth shell. “They won’t kill me despite the extent of the charges. At worst I’ll be stripped of my rank, assimilated into a lesser House, and married off to some…”

  He trailed off, stomach sinking. That part… That part was something he really didn’t want to think about.

  “You’re an absolute idiot.” Navidae blinked. “Excuse me?”

  Sorin glared. “I could live as long as you and still not have enough time to name all the reasons why this is a stupid idea,” he declared. “Let’s pretend for a moment that tearing Khouri from this place and leaving you behind is for the best. Let’s pretend that it makes sense for a moment; why on earth are you asking me, me, of all people, to do this. You hate me, don’t you?” he demanded. “You wanted to kill me not even six months ago, but now you’re asking me to do something like this?”

 
And here it was, the question Navidae had been waiting to hear. Why indeed. Sorin was a rather simple creature, wasn’t he? Navidae had never hated him. No, hate was too precious a thing to waste on someone he simply didn’t like. He had hated his father. He didn’t hate Sorin.

  “Why you?” he echoed, staring off at the shelves lining the walls. They were filled with charms and baubles, most taken from the surface as oddities meant for decoration. He’d spent a lifetime building his collection, but really, none of them mattered. Not when compared to what he risked losing now.

  He looked at Sorin. Looked him straight in the eye. “Who else could I trust?” he said simply. “Who else cares about Khouri the way…” He paused there and cleared his throat. “You won’t let him come to harm. You want what’s best for him, and I know you aren’t stupid enough to cast aside the threat before you out of stubbornness. I’m not asking you to betray him. I’m asking that when… if the time comes and he’s no longer safe with me… I’m asking that you do what’s best for him.”

  Sorin stared. He blinked and looked at the floor, and then off at the wall. The sound of his thoughts were nearly audible in the silent room.

  “How likely is it that you can get the charges dropped?” he asked after the silence had long grown heavy. He brought his gaze to Navidae, his expression heavier still. “What are you doing to avoid it?”

  Navidae swallowed, sitting straighter as the topic slowly moved back to things he could discuss without feeling sick. “I think my chances are high,” he said, running over it all in his head as he spoke. “I’ve already begun spreading word that the charges are false and that another House is to blame for it.

  They’re weaker. Less political clout. If my ruse is believed, they will take the fall.” He sorted through his letters, looking for one in particular. When he found it, he lifted it up to Sorin. “My spies sent word that the Gorgew House has also received a notice similar to the one I have. At this point it’s merely a race to see who can amass more support.” Sorin nodded along, his eyes shrewd as he took in the writing he couldn’t read. He licked his lips, and then looked at Navidae. “So, tell me if I’ve got this straight,” he began, speaking slowly. “The Council responded to the accusations of this Lichenith woman. She has a high enough rank that they’ve decided her claim is valid, or at least worth investigating. But you,” he said, gesturing with the letter towards Navidae, “are able to foist the blame on another. Both will be investigated and the guilty party is… is what, the one who isn’t able to lie their way to innocence well enough?”

  “That’s rather simplistic, but I suppose it’s not wrong,” he answered. Navidae interlaced his fingers and leaned back in his chair. “There are many minute things that come into play too. I don’t have to convince the Council alone, but my peers with influence as well. The Council is not a grand judge, jury, and executioner; they merely set the law into motion. The nobility dictates the rest, and as you can guess, the nobility are rather… capricious when it comes to their stance on any given day.”

  Sorin snorted softly, rolling his eyes. “Can’t imagine it,” he jested. “So, you’ve begun the process of fighting for your innocence. What comes next, then? How do you get the support of your peers?”

  Navidae waved a hand in the air dismissively. “A gala,” he said with a sigh. “We have them regularly here, the hosts switching based on a schedule. I’ve traded with another to get it in a few days time, and it’s there that I will do what I must to get them to support my claim.” He skimmed his eyes along the mountain of correspondence in front of him. “I’ll be writing them all regularly though. Just to make sure that they attend.

  Even if they don’t, I still want their opinion of me to be better than that of Gorgew.” “Sounds like you’ve got it all thought out.”

  “Well, let’s just say I’m not taking chances given the one who has it out for me,” Navidae murmured. He looked at Sorin, taking in the hunter towering above his desk. “You haven’t answered me yet,” he said. “Will you help me with this? Will you keep it quiet until I finish what I have to do?”

  The human met his eyes easily, staring at him quietly. “From what it sounds like, you’ve got things under control.” He tossed down the letter he still held. “I don’t like it. After the last time, I really don’t like the thought of keeping things from Khouri...”

  Navidae heard the but. He raised a brow, and Sorin went on. “...but I know how he is. If he knows what’s happening,

  he’ll…” Sorin and Navidae shared a look, grimacing a little.

  “Yeah. So, fine. I’ll keep it to myself. I’ll… If something happens, I’ll make Khouri’s safety my first priority. But I expect to be kept apprised of things,” he said seriously. “If there are updates, I want to know.”

  Navidae rolled his eyes, smiling despite it. “Oh, I suppose I’ll put up with your prying in that case. Inden knows it will be a trial, but sacrifices must be made all around.”

  Sorin looked ready to insult him right back but the door chose that moment to open. Navidae and Sorin startled as one, first looking to each other before looking over at the door.

  Khouri entered carrying a small tray, a bright smile on his face as he shouldered past the door. Navidae quickly cleared his throat and began tidying up his desk, pretending it was in anticipation of Khouri and not just him hiding the incriminating letters.

  “Hello there, pet,” Navidae greeted, noting how Sorin slipped away from the desk to lean against the wall. The man was watching Khouri intently, but really, Navidae could hardly blame him. Khouri had dressed himself properly after they parted ways following breakfast. He’d opted for something long-sleeved once more, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t seductive in its own way. The mesh of the top was faintly see- through, and the silver glint of Khouri’s piercings and chain jewelry was just visible when the shiny black fabric caught the light. His legs were covered in soft leggings, tight and movable so they framed his shape without restricting his movements. All in all, it really was a stunning sight.

  “I was wondering where you went,” Sorin said casually, smiling gently. “You disappeared for awhile. I had to come ask Navidae where you were.”

  What a quick human he was, lying so easily like that. Navidae couldn’t help but be impressed. “Yes, yes,” he crooned, turning his gaze back to Khouri’s lovely form. “We were absolutely puzzled as to where you could possibly be.”

  Khouri reacted just as Navidae figured he would. He shifted on his feet, blushing a fetching shade of indigo. “Oh, I was just… I wanted to do something special, so I brought some snacks,” he said, looking down at the tray he carried. The tips of his ears were flushed dark too. Navidae smiled, pushing aside his frustrations for the moment. Khouri was so intoxicating like this. It really had been too long since they were together.

  Sorin let out a snort, startling Khouri into looking up. The man was laughing, his eyes locked on the tray and its contents. “Is that what I think it is?” he asked, his smile making Khouri fume. “I thought you ate all of that on the trip back here.” Khouri pouted, holding the tray tightly in his hands. “I saved a jar!” he said defensively, moving forward to present the tray on Navidae’s desk. He met Navidae’s eyes for just a moment before looking down. “I made jam. Learned how, I mean. Up above. I wanted you to try it,” he mumbled. “So... I made you some snacks with it.”

  Navidae felt his heart give an abortive squeeze. He cleared his throat and looked at the assortment before him. Hrea bread was cut into small little triangles and smeared with what looked to be fruit jam. Small slivers of cheese were paired alongside it, along with a few slices of an apple Navidae recognized as one he’d had brought down in the latest grocery run. A small saucer filled with the jam rested beside the plate, a tiny spoon included for easier sampling.

  “I’ll leave you two be,” Sorin said suddenly, breaking Navidae from his cataloging.

  Khouri lifted his head, his eyes wide. “What? But weren’t you looking for me?”
he asked. He glanced at Navidae for a second before looking at Sorin. “You can have some too. We could all share.”

  “I’m still full from breakfast,” he said, pushing off the wall. “You enjoy that though. I, on the other hand, am going to enjoy my unanticipated vacation. It’s not often I get a break from babysitting you.” He gave Navidae a veiled look, smacking Khouri lightly on the ass as he brushed past him. Khouri yelped and Sorin laughed. “See you at dinner,” he said, closing the door behind him.

  As far as deflections went, Navidae supposed Sorin could have done worse.

  “What’s gotten into him?” Khouri muttered, rubbing his rear as he stared at the door. His cheeks were flushed even more now. “I don’t need a babysitter.”

  “Of course you don’t, blackbird. Now, come sit with me,” Navidae said, scooting his chair back to pat his knee invitingly. “Tell me about what you made. It looks delicious.”

  Khouri couldn’t hide how excited he was to sit in his lap, and he scrambled around the desk quickly, making himself comfortable with a few cute wiggles. Khouri tucked a lock of hair behind his ear, leaning over the desk to look at the tray properly. The tips of his ears were still flushed. Navidae couldn’t resist the urge to kiss them. Khouri fidgeted and giggled, pushing him away gently with a kiss of his own.

  “I made jam at Mastha’s. Apple jam. There were trees all over and the harvest had come, so it kept us really busy getting it all stored for winter and the markets.”

  “Oh? They don’t just use magic to store things?” Navidae wondered, tugging the tray closer to get a better look.

  Khouri shook his head, picking up one of the little triangles of bread, cheese, and jam. “Not everyone can afford such things,” he murmured, lifting the morsel to Navidae’s lips. “I saw Mastha giving the jam and cheese to her kids as a snack, so I tried pairing it with hrea. I think it’s really good.”

  Opening his mouth, Navidae let him feed him. It was indescribably sweet to see how much thought Khouri had put into this. Usually every meal they had was taken care of by the cooks that came in at regular hours to make their meals for them; Navidae himself had never bothered to learn the layout of the kitchens or involve himself in anything more hands on than creating his lists for the traders responsible for filling the larder. He chewed the food and let the creamy cheese and soft bread coat his mouth. The lightly spiced jam cut through the savoriness with a subtle sweet-tart burst soon after.