"How did it go tonight?" Sarik asked from his deep armchair, when he heard his door open and close. Marcus all but marched up to the drink table and poured himself a tall glass. Sarik glanced up from his book to see what his friend was doing.
"Hmmm…am I to assume that the evening ended badly?" He asked with a cheeky smile. "Did the little frightened fawn kick you with his young hooves when you spooked him, or something of that nature?"
Marcus downed his glass with a wince and a shudder, immediately plunking it down and filling it all over. His voice was somewhat rough and strained as he spoke the single word,
"Kavieh."
The name wiped the smirk off Sarik's face, and he frowned, closing his book at once without even bothering to mark his place.
"What happened?" He asked, concerned. Marcus ran his fingers through his hair and then shook his head.
"He couldn't keep his distance."
Sarik rose from his chair, eyes flashing as he approached his friend.
"Meaning?"
"He obviously couldn't stay away," Marcus said, now sipping at his second glass, "he started talking with Sable the moment he spotted him. The conversation was neutral enough that there was no reason for me to intervene, but let me tell you I was tense as a wire all night and my muscles are screaming right now."
Sarik's look was intense, showing the furious workings of his mind through his clenched jaw and staring eyes.
"How did Sable react to him?"
"How do you expect?" Marcus asked, moving away from Sarik and leaning against the window seat, "he's a good lad, so he was polite, and then became engaged in the conversation. They talked nonstop for more than an hour and the lad seemed completely happy."
Sarik now poured a glass for himself as well, but did not toss it back like Marcus had, simply tasted it fully before he spoke,
"He's dangerously close to breaking his own contract." Sarik said worriedly, moving back to his chair. "I thought he was going to steer clear of all of us. Wasn't that the arrangement? You handled all the paperwork, you know better than I."
Marcus let out a puff of air, placing the cool glass to his temple.
"No, he never stated that he was to stay away, only that his identity was to be preserved in anonymity. Thinking back of it, I probably should have insisted that he include a section about proximity to the Ward in question…how foolish of me. But I don't understand…I never did from the moment he came to me. If I can't understand his motives from the beginning, how can I hope to comprehend now? The entire situation is…odd."
"That is what you have been saying," Sarik observed, taking another sip from his glass, "is it really so strange that someone would act so? Kindness does exist in the world, you know."
"Of course I know that!" Marcus said almost angrily, "But Kavieh has never answered the question 'why'. Months ago I asked him point blank why he wanted to do this, and he refused to tell me."
"We are not entitled to an answer, Marcus," Sarik said, "that is outside the realm of the business arrangement we have made, and you know it."
"Fine, I'm guilty of having a severely overactive curiosity!" Marcus fumed, turning to Sarik, "Tell me you haven't found it strange at all? Haven't you wondered-"
"Marcus."
"It's just all so-"
"Marcus!" Sarik's voice was gentle, but insistent. Marcus paused a moment to catch his breath, and looked at his friend. Sarik looked right back at him kindly, and asked him, "Why are you getting so upset about this?"
The other man shook his head a second time, and sighed wearily.
"I just…Sable's such a good lad. I understand now that he deserves whatever can be given to him. But that's why…I suppose I've become so protective that I perceive threats that may not exist."
Sarik nodded his head,
"I would say so, my friend. After all, Sable's wellbeing is the only reason we are all here, so just calm down. Kavieh means no ill toward him; you should know that better than anyone. So just relax and let things play out. If you feel Kavieh is behaving in an unfit manner you can call him on it and even he will know that he must comply."
Marcus nodded, downing the last of his drink after a long silence. Sarik dipped his head slightly to look at him like an adult might to a child they were trying to talk to.
"There is something more you have to say." He said perceptively, and Marcus frowned at him, forever amazed at his friend's ability to see what other's tried to kept hidden.
"You're right, of course you are." He said, sitting down finally in the other chair. "There's just…something different about this lad, Sarik. He's so…pure. I…I almost feel guilty about giving him to you."
Sarik nodded, having felt the same unease many times in his life, doing what he did. He remained silent, however, having not heard this kind of tone from Marcus since their partnership began years ago.
"Sarik, just," Marcus looked up at him, his deep brown eyes slightly pleading in the firelight, "be good to him. He's a special little thing."
Sarik reached forward to place his hand on Marcus' broad shoulder. He gripped it firmly.
"I promise."
((()))
The next few days literally seemed to fly by for Sable. Never had he felt more alive than he did immersed in the rush and bustle of the big city. He was beyond amazed every day by what he saw and the people he met. The food was spoiling him to be sure; he felt like he'd gained five pounds since he'd arrived. His pallet had never sampled such intense flavors before, spices and such being used in moderation back home. Sable wondered if he could ever return home without being discontent, but whenever the though came up he suppressed it quickly. This entire trip was to ensure a better life for himself, and that would certainly not happen if he were to start complaining about his own home and upbringing.
Marcus was very good at his job, arranging everything that they did and making Sable feel comfortable and safe. That was what an Emissary did, and Marcus was excellent at it. Sable found out accidentally over the days that Marcus was actually married, but when he pushed eagerly for more information the man told him that he did not merge his work and his private life. That had stung just a bit. Sable had forgotten for while that he was indeed, part of a job for Marcus. While the man treated him kindly, he was being paid for it all the same. Sable became a bit moody that day, sulking and blatantly keeping quite. It was hard to remain so, however, when he was taken to the very first musical production he had ever seen.
Music had been something that Sable loved back home, but their connection on the little radio had always been patchy at best. He was blown away by the power of the performance as well as the music. He had forgiven Marcus after than when the man bought him a player with all the songs from the production. He was more than giddy. No one had ever given him such an expensive present. In reality, the cost was not to hefty, but to Sable it was a treasure that would provide much needed entertainment at home. He spent the rest of the days listening to it when he could, even beginning to learn the songs.
Another odd little happening was that the man named Kavieh seemed to keep popping up over the next four days. At exhibitions, museums, even restaurants, he seemed to show up however briefly, at least once in each day. Some days they just shared a passing hello, other days they would talk for a longer period, and even ate together once. Sable might have been young, but he was no idiot, and he could tell that these appearances irked Marcus greatly. The man would speak to Kavieh occasionally in the conversation, but otherwise Sable had the impression that he was fuming silently while standing guard over him. Sable had to admit to himself that it did seem strange. Out of all the people who he had casually spoken to at the various locations, Kavieh was the only one he ever met more than once. Let alone four times. The man seemed interested in him, eager to be kind and share information as well as hear about his family. What he offered in return about himself was very little, however. Sable learned next to nothing about what Kavieh actually did for a living, let alone if he had a family. All he really knew was that Kavieh seemed an exceptionally kind man, but beyond that, nothing more was divulged. As strange as it was, Sable just put it down to the oddness of city behavior, and did not dwell on it too much.
Finally, the fifth day came, and it dawned with a surprise. Marcus greeted him at breakfast, as usual, but his demeanor seemed a bit more serious. Then he spoke the words that sent a shock through Sable's body,
"Tonight's the night, then, lad."
Sable's already pale face went white. He could feel the blood drain from it.
"What?" He asked softly, having thought that he had one more day at least. "Already? I thought…I don't know what I thought…"
Marcus spoke calmly,
"The fifth night is always the tryst night when a Ward is given a week. The next day you and Sarik will spend together as you wish. The day after that you will return home. I did tell you this on the ride here on the first day, lad."
Sable swallowed a bit,
"I'm sorry, I wasn't really paying much attention when I first met you."
"No, that's for sure." Marcus said kindly, "I'm sorry, I suppose I should have updated you throughout the week. Forgive me."
"It's alright." Sable said, drinking from his water glass. "It's not like I have forgotten or anything."
"Well, have you forgotten what is on the schedule for today then?"
"Completely."
Marcus grinned slightly.
"You, my lad, are going to be pampered within an inch of your life."
