Allan moved away a little when Rush took the seat next to him, but by now Rush knew to not take offence. Most of what Allan did, he only did for show.

Everyone was at the table except David. When Lord Rolan saw Rush arrive, he told Rush to never miss breakfast again, the way he did yesterday. "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," he said, then waved someone over. "Where is David? Get him here right now!" He turned back to Rush again. "Rush, start eating. Don't wait, the food'll get cold."

To be invited to eat with Lord Rolan and the Generals was probably a great honour, and Rush wasn't someone who usually skipped breakfast, but he ate without much enthusiasm. He was trying to avoid this by running for the barracks first thing in the morning like he did yesterday, but one of the servants caught him before he managed to leave the castle and said Lord Rolan wanted his presence.

Of course, it wasn't that he didn't want to see Lord Rolan. And it wasn't like he didn't want to see David, either, but after the other night things just felt awkward. It was so stupid of him to think he could do anything at all to help David, as if he was special in some way. He was the guy who happened to be in the right place at the right time but that was about it. If it'd been Blocter or Emmy who broke the news of Lord Rolan's decision to David, then they would have comforted him there, too. Who did he think he was to go to David's room on a night like that and insist he was what David needed? How naive. And this wasn't even the first time this sort of thing had happened to him. He really needed to learn.

But David wasn't a bad guy, hell no, Rush could never think of him as one. It was his own fault he was mistaken about the nature of their relationship. And now that he'd made such an idiot of himself, he didn't know how to talk to David any more. It'd just be easier if he focused on his tasks instead.

"Oh, you are already here," a voice said. David entered the dining hall, his eyes on Rush.

"David, what time do you call this?" Lord Rolan asked.

David took his seat next to his father. "I went to the guest wing to look for Rush, since he skipped breakfast yesterday. I didn't realise he was already here."

"Why did you go yourself? You could have just sent someone." Lord Rolan took the bread basket and passed it to David. David took two rolls whilst someone poured him a glass of juice, which was drunk and immediately refilled.

"My apologies. Good morning everyone."

Almost everyone replied. Rush managed a small smile, wondering if David got the note he wrote last night. He hadn't had time to check if it got delivered. Anyway, it was a surprise that David went to look for him just now. Probably he knew his father wanted Rush there? Maybe he wanted to talk about Rush's note. Maybe he just woke up late and used Rush as an excuse.

Rush stuffed the lasts of the food on his plate into his mouth and wiped it with the napkin. "I er... really need to run..."

Lord Rolan frowned at him.

"I only have a few days to teach the troops the monsters basics. It might really help them and I don't wanna muck this up..."

"Sit down." Lord Rolan gestured for someone to refill Rush's plate. "Assistance from Celapaleis is arriving this morning. Did you think we'd make you do all this on your own?"

"Oh..."

"You put your life in harm's way for David. If we weren't about to go to war I'd treat you to banquets and dances and exotic women - "

"Father," David warned as Emma and Emmy both gave Lord Rolan a sidelong glare.

"You know I'm joking!" Lord Rolan sat back and smirked. "Women would throw themselves at your feet anyway if they knew about your gallantry. Rush, I'm not having you working yourself too hard when you're in my castle!"

Not sure whether he should play along or not - probably not, seeing the deadly looks on the women's faces - Rush decided to ask questions so that he didn't really have to say anything.

"So who are these people from Celapaleis?"

"They are fighters hand-picked by Lord Qubine. Some of them are warriors belonging to the Sword of the Three Realms Guild and some are Celapaleis's agents," said Pagus. "Gladiator-class warriors like you are rare, so I don't think many of them specialise in monsters, but they definitely still know far more than our troops. They're going to follow your instructions."

"If Qubine chose them, then we can use them. That man is beyond cautious. He's suspicious of everything!" Lord Rolan shook his head and laughed as if talking about an old friend.

"Sounds good." Rush smiled. He wasn't going to teach all ten-thousand men who were going to march, since Blocter had already picked about a hundred for him to focus on, but with help they could probably teach a few more and with better success.

"Rush." From across the table, David spoke softly, but his voice carried over well. "Let me know when you leave for the barracks. I will go with you. I need to choose some men to take with me to the aqueducts and I'd like to learn a bit about dealing with fiends as well."

"Sure." It wasn't as if Rush could turn him down. Today was going to be a long day.

When they headed out, a coach was waiting. The roads in the city were always busy and the official coach made sure they got to places at speed. David drew the curtains once they were inside. Rush lamented the loss of the view but people probably would try to look inside the transport bearing the lord's coat of arms, so it might be better this way even if it did mean he and David were now completely alone together.

He put an elbow on a ledge and rested his cheek on a fist when the coach started to move.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

"Huh?"

"I went to your suite last night and you'd already retired to bed."

He came to visit? "I was really knackered. But I've got help now so maybe today'll be better."

"I got your note..."

Rush kept his eyes on the black lacquered interior of the coach rather than its other occupant. "Oh, right. Yeah... sorry, I was a real pain the other night."

"Rush - "

"I've been told before that I don't know when to stop." He glanced at David briefly, flashing him a smile. "And that I try to crash my way through everything like a battering ram. But I'll stop now. What I did was really inappropriate. Sorry."

David seemed exasperated. "Don't apologise. I - "

"Lord David! Rush!"

The coach stopped. Rush peeked out the curtain - they were at the castle gate and Emmy was running towards them. He opened the door.

"Would it be all right for me to join?" She beamed up at the young men. "I'd like to learn a bit about killing fiends too. I didn't ask earlier because I thought I wouldn't be able to finish the morning's tasks in time..."

Rush knew David was staring at him. "Sure, hop on!" He pushed the door open wider and Emmy climbed in, taking a seat opposite Rush and David, saving them from having more difficult conversations. Rush had apologised and made his point, any more time alone would be extra awkward.

"How are you finding Athlum so far?" Emmy was very pretty when she smiled. Well, she was pretty even when she wasn't smiling. But there was something about her that made Rush feel uneasy. Probably because she looked so much like Emma?

"Yeah, it's nice," Rush replied automatically, then thought about it a bit more. "I haven't gone anywhere except the castle and the barracks in the last few days, but I've been here before for family holidays and work. Athlum's a good place."

Emmy was happy to hear that. "Isn't it? I love travelling, but after a while I always want to come home."

"I know the feeling."

"You're from Eulam, right?"

Rush nodded.

"Lord David's spent a few months in Eulam before. I wanted to go too, but couldn't."

"Eulam is a lovely place," said David. "You should take a holiday with Emma there after everything has settled down... it will take a while, but I'll do my best."

The conversation died, Rush and Emmy suddenly lost for words.

"Sorry," Rush said first, followed by Emmy. A war was happening, David was preparing for an ascension that was coming far too soon, and here they were, talking about family holidays.

"No, I am sorry. I didn't mean to kill the atmosphere." David seemed annoyed with himself.

All of a sudden, Rush realised what it was about Emmy that ticked him off. It was the way she looked at David when she talked. "You need to take a holiday, my lord. Of course not so soon, but you should go. And take Torgal with you!"

The suggestion made them all laugh. Rush didn't know what the others were thinking, but in his mind was an image of the sovani wearing a floral-printed shirt, shorts and sunglasses, strolling along a beach.

"Torgal, maybe, but I cannot. Besides, I just came back from a holiday."

"You can't call that a holiday! There were people trying to take your life and you had to use the Gae Bolg!"

"But I still enjoyed the journey," David settled his gaze on Rush and smiled, "thanks to having great companions."

Damn, it was sweet of him to say that. Looking away from David, Rush felt his heart beat a little faster despite having already decided he wasn't going to fall for the guy. This was the David Rush had come to know, not the one who put him in his place two nights ago. But Rush knew better than to fall right back in.

"Heh. Allan's funny, isn't he? Kept us entertained the whole way. And he knows everything and can do everything. Made life so much easier."

"Yes. I have been wondering if there is a way to entice him into working for Athlum."

"You're gonna make Torgal's life hell if you do that."

"Do you think so?" David inclined his head to one side. "I am actually starting to think he enjoys having Allan around."

"Really?" Rush and Emmy asked at the same time.

"I am only guessing. Whatever had come to pass between them, they obviously still care a lot about each other. And to not live with any of your own people for so many years has to be lonely, even if sovanis are rather solitary amongst themselves, do you not think?"

Rush hadn't even thought about it. "Hasn't he got family or anything like that?"

"There is none that I know of," said David. "But not to worry, I certainly will consult him before making Allan any offer. One of the things I learned during the trip is that I mustn't assume to know what's best for others or what they want."

When David smiled at him again, Rush couldn't look away. Scratching his neck, he made a sound of agreement in his throat. Was David referring to what Allan said about Torgal and Rush's decision to ask whether he should come to Athlum, or was he hinting at what Rush did the other night, thinking that he could help David through a particularly difficult time? As put off as Rush was, he still didn't think David would make a nasty hint like that. He wouldn't gain anything and it wasn't as if David had been trying to make Rush feel crappier than he did already. He wasn't that sort of a guy.

Maybe he should talk to David properly. Maybe things weren't how he thought they were and he was being unfair to David. It would've been perfectly normal if David just lost his temper back then and didn't mean what Rush thought he meant...

Hell, now he was defending David in his mind. Been there, done that; get a move on, Rush.

Noticing that Rush wasn't returning his smile, David dropped his own. The coach was pulling to a stop. "I need to talk to you. Could you please give me several minutes before you start your lesson?"

"I er..." Rush opened the door and jumped off the coach rather than use the steps. Emmy followed, wisely moving away a little after detecting the change of tone in her lord's voice.

"It is important." David climbed out.

Was there no way out of this? "Fine."

David relaxed slightly. "There are rooms here in which we can talk in private. I will lead the way."

They had only just set foot inside the reception when Rush suddenly stopped, spotting a familiar splodge of pink in his vision. That couldn't be...

The splodge of pink moved a bit. It was a very short girl and that girl was looking at him. "Rush? RUSH?"

"Khrynia! What are you doing here?"

Khrynia ran towards Rush, stopping just before she collided with him. "When Lord Qubine said we're going to help someone called Rush, I thought about you but didn't really think... oh my God! You're working for Athlum?"

"You work for Qu- I mean Lord Qubine?" Khrynia was a Celapaleis agent? Rush felt faint.

"This is like, amazing!" Khrynia giggled. Then she spotted the people with Rush, or more specifically, David. "Hey there handsome... haven't I seen you before? I remember your pretty face. Aren't you the guy who was with Rush back in Ghor? Do you work for Athlum as well?"

There was no easy way to break this to her, Rush thought. "Khrynia... this is Lord David, son of Lord Rolan of Athlum..."

He counted to five, then Khrynia yelped. "Oh my God!" She actually leaned forward and buried her face in Rush's chest, crumpling up the brim of her huge hat. "Please tell me you're joking. I... I said... didn't I say..."

"There, there. It's okay, nobody took any offence." Rush patted her hat.

"Oh, Rush, kill me now!"

Beside him, David chuckled softly. "It's all right, Khrynia."

"Lord David? Rush?" Emmy looked between her companions. "What did I miss? What did she say?"

Khrynia lifted her face. She looked at Rush, who stared back at her, and then at David.

"Nothing." They all said at the same time.

Emmy was obviously confused, but knew better than to ask again. "Khrynia, is it?" She shook the other girl's hand. "I'm Emmy. It's nice to meet you. You're Rush's friend?"

Grinning, Khrynia did a half twirl, slipping her arm into Rush's. "We're g - "

Rush knew what she was going to say. In a panic, he pulled himself free and covered her mouth with a hand. "Say that and I'll..." Well, it wasn't as if he would hurt her. But he'd probably go and kill himself - so to speak - if she told them they were "girl friends", as she was prone to do. There was a time and place for everything, and the army barracks was definitely not the place to be outed. Rush would forever rue the day he got drunk in front of her after he broke up with his previous boyfriend.

When he was sure the girl understood, he let her go. "We're friends. That's all. Don't believe anything she says, she - ow!" He crouched down, rubbing his shin. "Kick me again and... I'll tell Lord Qubine!"

Hearing that, Khrynia pulled faces at Rush but didn't try to attack him again.

"So where's the rest of your group?" Rush asked. There seemed to be no one else here.

"They've all gone to the cafeteria for drinks."

"I suppose I need to go meet them." Maybe he could just slip away like this?

David stepped forward as Rush started to leave. "Rush." It was difficult to say what his voice sounded like. Upset? Annoyed? Put off?

"I know. But this isn't really the right place to talk," Rush told him, liking the excuse he just came up with. It actually made sense. "We've both got things to get on with, right?"

With a bit of reluctance, David agreed. "We will talk when we get back to the castle."

"Okay."

"I need your word on this."

The girls were staring. David's eyes were boring into him. Rush knew he was trapped. "You have it."

After getting that promise, David finally let him go. The rest of the morning and the afternoon was uneventful. Rush talked to the people from Celapaleis, found out what level of experience they had, then they came up with lesson plans and a rota. The troops were divided up into several classes and taught in turn by each tutor on different things. Finally Rush ended the day with a demonstration and practice session using the monsters he'd caught yesterday evening.

All the while, unlike Emmy, who sat on her own, away from everyone, David sat with the troops and listened. He'd changed into his military uniform, with a jacket in black and dark red, dark red trousers and black boots. He had two cords on his left breast pocket and epaulettes on his shoulders, showing his rank. Sitting with everyone else, he should have blended right in but Rush somehow picked him out straight away.

David looked amazing in that uniform. Rush had a fairly good idea what he was going to dream about tonight.

It wasn't evening yet when the classes were finished for the day, but Rush was ready to collapse onto the nearest piece of furniture. He still wanted to go and catch some monsters, though. Nothing could beat real practice.

"Now I see why you were so tired yesterday," said David after nearly everyone left the yard, save a few who were clearing up the dead monsters. He took a look at Rush and somehow understood his intentions. "Let the others do the work tonight. Go back and rest, or you might get hurt doing what you are trying to teach others to do."

"Yeah, I suppose..." That meant they'd have to talk. It was unavoidable, in the end.

When they left for the coach, Khrynia tried to make Rush go to the shops with her, but Rush felt his excuses were getting old and he was too tired for shopping anyway, so he turned her down.

Rush fell asleep on the coach. He hadn't intended to, but he was tired and the swaying of the transport coaxed him to sleep, and David and Emmy just let him be, only waking him when they reached the castle.

"If I was fighting actual monsters I could do it all day. Talking about it takes brain power," he said, yawning at the same time, not unaware that David's eyes were on him all the while. "So... you wanna talk?"

"Yes." David checked the time, then turned to Emmy. "Could you let someone know I will take dinner to my father, as before? I will only be a little late."

"Of course, my lord." With a suspicious glance at Rush, Emmy left the young men. This must be the advantage of being a lord, or Emmy's very good manners. If this was any of the girls Rush knew, they would be demanding to know what was going on and making a huge fuss about it by now.

He followed David to the reading room he had used the first day they arrived at the castle. The fire had just finished burning and the room was still warm; someone must have been here not long ago. Still in his uniform, David flicked open the buttons on his high collar, then did the same to the shirt underneath, loosening both and exposing his neck. Rush half sat on the small table, trying not to be mesmerised by such small things. His previous boyfriend always said that in another life Rush could be a vampire. Rush never disagreed with him.

"Rush," David began, standing stiffly as if he was an army officer on duty, "I'm sorry about the other night."

Rush didn't move.

"You offered your time and even... I did not only throw your kindness back in your face, I trampled upon it. Having personal problems doesn't give me the right to hurt you, but still, you wrote me that note to keep the peace. In comparison I was completely childish. My behaviour was shameful." David looked at Rush with guarded hope, then smiled emptily when he received no response. "I understand you've been avoiding me and you don't wish to talk to me. It's what I deserve. I just want to make an apology. Now that that is done I shall leave you in peace."

Silence followed, David taking a step back, as if waiting for Rush to walk out of the room. Instead, Rush moved forward.

"What?"

He really wished he could phrase himself better, but that one word summed up his reaction quite well.

"Dave I thought - " oh God, this was going to be stupid to say out loud, "I thought you were mad at me for overstepping the line!"

Looking puzzled, David tilted his head. "I'm sorry - what line?"

"Oh." Rush didn't know how to say "that line that separates casual sleep buddies from proper couples" to the young lord of Athlum who had just poured his heart out apologising to him whilst dressed in a military uniform and standing inside his own castle. Hell, Rush didn't know how to say that to David, Athlum or no Athlum. "Don't worry about that. I just felt shitty about being so in-your-face with something you didn't want. Sorry, really."

"I've never lost my temper before. I didn't know what I was doing." Shaking his head, David looked more irate than relieved. "It was my fault, yet you still wrote me that note..."

"But I really was..." This was getting nowhere. Stuffing his hands inside trouser pockets, Rush hunched his shoulders and rocked back on his heels a little. "Hey. Remember a few days ago you said we need to stop constantly apologising to each other?"

There. That earned him a smile. "Yes."

"Thinking about it, it wasn't that big a deal. You're having a rough time, people shout a bit when that happens. Everybody does it." The knowledge that David never lost his temper before was mind-boggling to Rush. Not even once? Really? "I just went a bit too far on the defensive. We've only known each other for two or three weeks. I didn't know how to react... I guess, well, really, I don't know you well enough."

"Ah... yes." Brushing the hair away from his eyes, David allowed his gaze to soften. His smile was small but it was there. "Sometimes I forget that it hasn't been that long since we first met on the train."

"Lots of things happened and it's been really crazy." Rush didn't know how else to put it. After fighting for their lives and sharing a bed together, it did feel like they were at least old friends, but when he thought about it, he really didn't know David that well. Or maybe he did know Dave on a very personal level but nothing about David, who was the next ruler of Athlum. Whichever way it was, it had been crazy.

Understanding what Rush meant, David nodded.

Rush pulled his hands out and stood still. Some things had to be said with more seriousness and respect. "I'm really sorry about your dad, Dave."

It took David a moment to respond. "It's... not so bad," he said, surprising Rush. "It's better to know it is coming than to lose him suddenly and regret not having spent enough time with him."

Rush didn't know what to say.

"I'm from a family of fighters; not many Nassaus lived to an old age." David's voice was calm. "When I think about it this way, it isn't so bad."

Rush couldn't agree with that completely, but David wasn't seeking his agreement. What he said was only how he was rationalising everything in his mind - an act of self-protection.

"I will be fine, don't worry." David's gaze shifted, looking to the side briefly. His whole stance relaxed and his tone lightened up. "Though, if your offer is still open, I would not say no..."

Rush didn't miss a beat. "Oh yeah, you've still got the beef jerky." When their eyes met, he shrugged and grinned. David snorted. They were okay, now. Rush still didn't know what they were, having done things backwards, but he liked the general direction they were moving towards.

Someone knocked on the door. "My lord?" It was Emmy.

"Yes?" Instead of telling her to come in, David raised his voice.

"Lord Rolan wishes for us all to dine together and asks for your presence at the table."

"I will be there right away." When the sound of footsteps faded, David said to Rush, "before we go, may I ask you something?" He wasn't really going to wait for Rush's permission, though. "Khrynia is..."

The mention of that girl made Rush roll his eyes. With her, he just didn't know if he should laugh or cry. Or maybe he meant strangle her or punch her. "She likes to call me her girl friend. Go figure."

The revelation made David laugh. "I see."

Rush seized his chance. "So, you and Emmy aren't..."

"Emmy?" The suggestion seemed to have surprised and amused David. "She is like a sister to me."

Rush wasn't sure if Emmy felt the same - David was basically completely awesome, after all - but he only needed to know how David felt and he was happy with the answer he got.

"Let's go."

At dinner, Rush sat next to Allan again, and David between his father and Emmy, at the other end of the oval table. Emmy was saying something to David with a lowered voice, and David chuckled.

"Like a sister" - Rush knew what that meant. It ruled out any chance of a possible relationship, like what Torgal had said about Imogen. He could watch those two without feeling even a tinge of jealousy.

"Hn. You do remind me of him."

It took a moment for Rush to realise Allan was talking to him. "What?"

"That mitra woman is a beauty, but do you really need to drool?"

"I'm not drooling." Well, he was staring a bit blatantly, perhaps. "'sides, it's not her I'm looking at."

Frowning, Allan followed Rush's gaze again, trying to figure out what he meant. After nearly a minute, he put his knife and fork down and just sat there.

"Allan?" Rush asked when Allan pushed his chair back and stood.

"Nothing to do with you," he told Rush. "I'm not hungry."

The chatter died down when everyone noticed Allan leaving the table. Rush shrugged. "He said he isn't hungry."

"I guess it is hard to enjoy the company of people when your son is in danger... given that he doesn't seem to enjoy the company of people to begin with..."

Watching the servants close the door behind Allan, Rush wondered if Pagus was right. He didn't think so; his mind was telling him something else but, oh God, please let him be wrong.