Smoke rises as he lights the first candle. He watches the wick sparkle and become engulfed. The tiny flame dances sporadically as his breath whispers out of his nostrils. He feels the heat on the tip of his nose. A pin-prick of scorching, pulsating warmth.
"Of course," Ramsey is saying. "The goose couldn't outrun my hounds. They overcame her and in a frenzy tore the head from its neck. But still they carried its body back to me like good little dogs, both of them grinning as they each held a stretched-out wing in their bloody jaws."
Reek blinks and moves on to the next candle, a melty pillar sitting stumpy on the wash basin counter. Above the basin is a mirror, and Reek glances at it not to see himself, but Ramsey, who is sprawled stomach-down across the bed, feet up in the air, picking grit from beneath his fingernails with a paper-thin dagger. Reek looks down at the candle and lights it.
"They slept in the kennels that evening, but not without a reward. Each of them got a leg of the goose to gnaw on throughout the night." Ramsey finishes cleaning his nails and watches Reek walk across the room to the window sill, where three candles await. Outside, through the dingy curtains, the sky is turning a deep violet as the sun ducks behind the hills.
"Do you understand why I'm telling you this, Reek?"
Reek flinches at the sound of his name.
"Yes, my Lord," he answers after a moment. He finishes lighting the three candles and turns away from the window in his search for more candles. He catches Ramsey staring at him and stands hesitant.
"Then why did the dogs get a leg?" Ramsey asks.
"You rewarded them. For obedience." Reek blinks rapidly, and stares.
"And why did I do that?"
"Be- because you are a nobel and just Lord. Generous and-"
"Come here, Reek."
"An-and..." Reek swallows.
Ramsey gestures for him to come. Reek moves forward. Ramsey sits up on the bed, letting his feet touch the floor. Once Reek is close enough, Ramsey extends his hand and places it on top of Reek's head, and pushes down. Reek immediately drops to his knees and sits there between Ramsey's legs. Ramsey strokes his hair, which is knotted and greasy and thin. He tears his fingers through the knots, relishing the flinch it brings out of Reek.
Reek stares unseeing at Ramsey's crotch, immobilized by his master's touch.
Ramsey puts both hands on Reek's head and runs his fingers methodically through his hair. He scratches gently at the other's scalp, smooths his fingertips along his skin, feeling odd bumps and sandy textures hidden beneath his hair.
"Do you like this, Reek?" Ramsey asks.
Reek jerks his head and immediately holds himself still.
"You are very dirty, do you realize that?"
"Yes, my Lord," Reek answers.
"Reek."
Reek looks up. Ramsey is close, smiling. Reek feels his breath warm upon his dry lips.
"Kiss me, Reek," Ramsey says.
Reek struggles to swallow, staring up into Ramsey's electric eyes.
Hesitantly, Reek sits up on his knees until he his close enough. With his arms hanging slack at his sides, Reek tilts his face into his master's and kisses him gently on the lips, then sits back.
Ramsey is still smiling, his eyes closed. He hums a happy sigh. His eyes open. He thumps his palm on Reek's head, twice.
"Good boy," he says lightly.
Reek cannot help but tremble.