The caravan had come again. Daniel had guessed that something was arriving to change their routine by how restless Rosyth had grown with each passing day and his frequent glances out of every window they passed. The day the carts were finally spotted on the horizon, Rosyth dressed more imposing than was his want. His clothing had an austere cut, the colors stark, and his long hair was tied tightly behind. Daniel ran a critical eye over him and frowned. He much preferred Rosyth's usual wear. Sensing his displeasure, Rosyth straightened his collar, picked up a cup of tea and then put it down again forgetting to sip from it.
Daniel picked up his own cup and took a drink, staring out at the flowers. Another day of walking and taking in the sun, possibly another banishment from the workshop in the aftermath of their visitors. He sighed. How he wished the other doors in this castle would open for him! He longed for more places to explore and more ways in which to divert himself.
Rosyth jumped as Daniel turned his head and caught the other man staring at him. The worry in his eyes made Daniel's stomach clench, but he had no idea how to ease it; sometimes he did not even know if he wanted to. The sense of betrayal still stung him, and he delighted in the fact that Rosyth suffered at the cooling of his attitude, even as a part of him ached to forgive. He missed Rosyth's arms around him, the kisses that had been sprinkled through his day. That admission, though it was only to himself, disconcerted him.
Standing, Rosyth stretched. Daniel rose as well, straightening up their luncheon things. Rosyth grabbed his hands and held them; he asked a question and a stab of annoyance pierced through Daniel. "You know I cannot understand you. Why do you even bother talking to me?"
Rosyth bared his teeth and repeated his words more slowly, pulling Daniel towards the door. Daniel dug his feet in, panicked. "No, certainly not! I am not going outside, I have no wish to meet-"
He had no trouble guessing what Rosyth's next question was: What are you afraid to meet? Daniel did not know. More of Rosyth's kind? Something new, something monstrous?
"It is too soon, it is too…big outside."
Tsking, Rosyth tugged on a strand of Daniel's hair. Placing a hand on the back of his neck, he held him still so he could rest their foreheads together. Daniel was shaking. Rosyth ran a hand down his back. He had no trouble understanding the next utterance either: Do you not trust me?
Daniel tucked his fingers into one of the sashes wrapped around Rosyth's waist and held on so tight his knuckles were turning white. "It is safe? You will be there?"
Rosyth kissed the tip of his nose. Daniel closed his eyes and let Rosyth wrap an arm around his shoulders and lead him out.
They rode an ascension room down and the memories it conjured made Daniel feel nauseous. He did hope that he did not faint and embarrass himself in front of Rosyth and whomever they were about to meet. "I do not think I can do this." He clung to the back of the elevator as the doors opened on the ground floor. Rosyth stepped out and turned, offering a hand. When Daniel did not take it, he made a gesture that clearly meant that Daniel could stay or come; it was all the same to him. He softened it with a smile though and, put that way, Daniel really could not refuse.
The entrance chamber was smaller than he had expected. There was some massive machinery against the far wall and a humming barely above the range of hearing reverberated throughout the room. The walls looked to be made of a copper-like metal and strange things were carved into them. Daniel's fear was forgotten as the reliefs distracted him and he wandered closer. He could not tell if they were meant to be figures or creatures at this distance. Rosyth's hand around his wrist pulled him back.
"But the carvings…" Rosyth ruffled his hair and then put it back into order, fingers lingering. He jerked his head at the small corridor that ended at a set of double doors. "Oh, that is right. I had forgotten."
Rosyth laughed at that and led onward. Daniel paused again in the corridor, noting the strange coils and pipes that lined it. It reminded him of something from Brennenberg, but could not exactly place it. Again he was tugged forwards.
Daniel clutched at Rosyth's hand, pressing it so hard he worried that the other man's bones might creak. Rosyth only returned the pressure and raised a hand to wordlessly command the doors to open.
The sunlight was harsher out here than in the garden. It reflected off the sand and dazzled Daniel's eyes. As he raised a hand to shield himself, a voice hailed them and Rosyth responded. Daniel darted a glance at him, surprised at his tone. He had never sounded so…haughty before. A thumb rubbed his wrist. Realizing they were still holding hands and in front of strangers no less, Daniel pulled away. It was Rosyth's turn to shoot him a glance, a frown marring his features. The man let his passions get in the way of his sense of decency entirely too much.
Daniel turned his attention to the riders of the caravan…and immediately took hold of Rosyth once more. The creature was very…blue and was peering at him with unabashed curiosity in its bulbous eyes. Daniel would have shrieked, but his voice seemed to have become caught in his throat. Rosyth attempted to put an arm around him, but Daniel ducked it, moving around behind the taller man the better to hide. He pressed his forehead against Rosyth's back, the sharp bones in his spine pricking his flesh. Focusing on his breathing, he tried his damnedest to not pass out.
The frog-like monstrosity asked a question and Rosyth answered it, something rebuking in his tone. The creature responded, amused. Daniel shuddered. Rosyth reached behind him and Daniel tensed, fearing the other man meant to drag him forward, but he only rested his fingers lightly on Daniel's hip. Daniel sighed. Grabbing onto Rosyth's shirt, he stepped around him, once more at his friend's side.
"I am being rude. Forgive me." Rosyth waved it away. "Please…Please tell…it? That I apologize-" Rosyth looked appalled, slashed the air violently. Daniel raised his eyebrows at his denial to convey his message. He turned his attention back to their visitor and almost stepped back behind the shelter of Rosyth.
"I am sorry. I have never come across your kind before and it surprised me. I behaved abysmally." He flushed. There was no way this creature could understand him. "Sorry," he repeated, bowing.
The burst of laughter made him flinch. Rosyth hissed something, but the creature made a curious flicking gesture at him. Its fingers were not webbed as Daniel had expected, but were long and tapered with more joints than should have been necessary. The creature mimicked Daniel's bow with a sort of awkwardness that belied such a gesture was foreign to it.
Rosyth spat something at it and the reply that was given was curt to the point of rudeness. The visitor flung a hand out at one of the carts of the caravan. It seemed to have strapped to it a huge keg. Daniel wondered if it was water, surely they did not need that much wine! Rosyth grumbled and began to lead him towards it.
The spokesperson of the caravan called him to a halt. It pointed at Daniel-with one finger and Rosyth's glower was unmistakable-and gestured at itself. Daniel tensed and Rosyth made the negating gesture. Again the creature gestured at itself and said something in a chiding tone. If it had eyebrows Daniel was sure it would have raised one. Rosyth wavered, glancing from Daniel back to the carts that seemed to be supplies for the castle. Were these merchants then?
Rosyth cupped his face. He inclined his head back at the front door. "You want me to return?" The answer did not seem to be a firm yes, but it was not a no either. Rosyth seemed ill at ease with bringing him along to the far carts. Well, it did seem like it would be a tedious business, to hear Rosyth natter on while Daniel's only purpose would be to hang off his arm as a decoration. "I will wait here." Rosyth studied him, and then darted in to kiss his cheek. Daniel sputtered and stumbled back. "Rosyth, please! We've an audience!" His friend smiled, pulled his hair and turned to stalk off towards the waiting carts.
Daniel seated himself on the steps, hoping the merchant that had greeted them would follow Rosyth. His luck did not seem to be holding. Soft, chittering sounds made him look up from his clenched hands. The creature was seated on its haunches, holding out what appeared to be a stick. It wiggled the object enticingly. It was as if it meant to call him over, like a cat or a child. Daniel blushed. "I do not want it, thank you." He scuffed his heel into the sand, sending up a small cloud. He tried to ignore that he was very well acting like the peevish child.
The creature laughed, a strange throaty sound. It brought the stick up to its wide mouth and took a bite, licked its lipless chops with a too long tongue and again held what proved to be food out to him. Daniel glanced at where Rosyth had gone. His tall form was no longer in sight, no help from that quarter then. The chittering was started up again. "Here kitty, kitty, kitty," Daniel muttered. He plucked the stick from the creature and took a bite before he lost his nerve. His eyebrows rose. "It's good!" It was an odd taste, all at once smoky and sweet. The creature laughed and pulled out another treat from its many pocketed vest. It held it out and took a step back.
"Where do you want me to go?" Daniel rose to his feet, glancing at the many covered carts before him. The creature pointed at the biggest one, perhaps its own abode on its travels. Daniel groaned. "I am entirely too curious for my own good." The sand shifted under his bare feet and he made a note to ask Rosyth for shoes in the near future. He snatched the treat from the visitor's hand as he passed it. "Lead on!"
"On!" The creature mimicked, making Daniel start. It took Daniel's arm as they walked, helping him keep his balance in the sand. Daniel tried not to mind that it towered above him or that its bulk could crush him easily.
Outside had been warm, but not uncomfortably so, yet the coolness inside of the cart was inviting. Inside was crammed full of shelves and brick-a-brack, chests with cloth spilling from them littered the floor, yet there was a space cleared in the center for a table and two curiously huge pillows. Daniel approached one and kicked at it. A slap on his back sent him sprawling across it. "You could have asked me to take a seat," he grumbled, rightening himself. It did prove to be a very comfortable perch.
His host busied itself, darting around its quarters and throwing various jars of things on the table before him. Daniel fished a ball of something sticky from one jar and held it up to his lips. "Edible?"
The merchant picked up one as well and tossed it into its mouth. It had small, very sharp looking teeth. "Edible!"
Daniel smiled and took a bite. Again, it proved to be delicious. The merchant stomped to the door and called out in a booming voice. It then took a seat on the other pillow. Another of its kin soon entered bearing a pot of something that steamed. Two chipped cups were found and thrown down on the table. The newcomer was a huge brute; its features flatter than Daniel's host. Daniel looked at the shape of it and compared it to that of the owner of this abode. Daniel realized that his host was in fact a hostess. He took another bite of his sweet to hide his mortification. If he had known he would not have acted so boorish!
The merchant jerked its head at the door and the bearer of the liquid grunted, flicked its wrist at them, before lumbering out.
"Thank you." Daniel hastily took the offered cup, not minding that his fingers were being burned.
"Thank you!" Daniel smiled. Here was a person that did not deem his language beneath it! Come to think of it, when Rosyth and the crea- the merchant had been conversing it had been in a tongue different than that in which he usually spoke. Daniel harrumphed.
The merchant picked up her cup and took a hearty gulp then looked at Daniel. Daniel smiled and took a small sip. It was scalding, but it was a familiar taste-the tea-like concoction he adored with his breakfast.
"It's very good."
"Good!"
"What is it called?"
"Called?"
Daniel pointed at the tea and raised his brows.
"Oo-luk." It was pronounced slowly and with care.
"What an unpleasant name for something so nice." He took another swig, glad that it had cooled somewhat.
His hostess touched her temple and spoke a word. "Bel'rok." She then extended her arm and brushed Daniel's temple. "Ut?" Her touch was cool and brought to mind the skin of an amphibian.
"Ut? Does that mean 'you'? Daniel. My name is Daniel."
"My name is Bel'rok."
Daniel laughed, delighted. "You are very quick with languages my new friend. Let me try my hand at yours." He pointed at himself. "Ut…Daniel?"
"Kai'em Dani'el." She corrected refilling their cups.
"Kai'em Daniel. Ut'em Bel'rok?"
"Ei." She smiled and Daniel flattered himself in thinking that she looked impressed.
"This is marvelous fun! Now how do I say 'thank you'?"
The merchant was only too pleased to teach her tongue and began to pull down things at random from her shelves to supply vocabulary. Daniel was thrilled that he seemed to be retaining it all to an almost eerie degree. His fears that his gift for languages had diminished were unfounded it proved. He was most taken with the books. The writing was elaborate and so complicated that it gave Daniel a headache. "Is this your language? Ut'es…?"
"Ut'es Tro'gol? Ni." Bel'rok seemed offended. She jerked her great head at the entrance. "Sor Nel'rum'gol."
"The writing of Rosyth's people?"
"Rosyth? Sor Chi'Rullum?" She laughed and petted Daniel's hair.
"I am so very glad that I amuse you." He flipped a book open at random to hide his embarrassment. The pages were blank in this one. A journal then? His fingers caressed the blank pages. The desire to fill the paper with words was a most unpleasant itching sensation. He would have thought he had had his fill of journals… and what stories did he even have to write nowadays? Was sick, recovered, am now being seduced by otherworldly lord… He flushed and snapped the book shut.
"Do you understand Rosyth's language?" He gestured to the door of the carriage. "Sor…Sor…gol…"
"Ni ni ni!" She closed her eyes-Daniel was unsettled that her lids shut length-wise-and rubbed her temples as if they hurt.
"I can relate all too well." He smiled.
"Yut?" She gestured at the book he had unconsciously clutched to his chest.
"Yut? Is that 'like' or 'want' I wonder?" Either way the answer was no. He made to set it back down on the table, but Bel'rok prevented him, pressing it back to his chest.
"Dani'el'em." She turned and began to riffle through a drawer, throwing things this way and that.
"Oh, thank you. Yosh'kal."
Grinning, she turned and offered him a cylindrical object that tapered to a thin point. When Daniel did not immediately accept it, she grabbed a fistful of paper from another drawer and began to write with it upon them. Her language on paper was simplistic and blocky. The next time they met Daniel hoped that he could persuade her to teach it to him. The second time she handed him the pen he accepted it.
The cloth covering of the caravan was wretched back, flooding the room with light. Daniel flinched, cringed back into his chair. Rosyth's expression faded from thunderous to abashed in mere seconds. Bel'rok chuckled and the stony look returned to his eyes as he turned to face her.
She waved at the pillow Daniel was on and said what Daniel took to be an invitation to have a seat. Daniel immediately scooted over to give him room. Rosyth grimaced and made the negating gesture. "Do not be so rude," Daniel muttered. Quirking an eyebrow at him, Rosyth spoke in his own language, the reprimanding ring to it unmistakable. Hurt, Daniel opened his new journal and busied himself with doodling.
Bel'rok chided Rosyth, her tone was joking but the set of her face showed that she was not too pleased with her customer. She turned, found a thick sheaf of papers and threw them down on the table. Rosyth flicked through them, making comments. Discussing what supplies he would need the next trip Daniel supposed.
"Dani'-" Daniel's head shot up, eyes wide. He had forgotten that he had given away his name to his new friend so carelessly. Thankfully she was very quick in her wits and stopped herself at his panicked look. Her eyes darted to Rosyth who was looking at him with an unreadable expression; her look was far from kind and a bit too knowing. Daniel was disquieted that his new friend seemed to not care for his lov…his slightly older friend.
"Dani?" Rosyth asked, prompting her to continue. Bel'rok only tutted and asked another question.
Rosyth knelt beside Daniel. He asked a question, his voice as gentle as the fingers that were stroking Daniel's face. Daniel pulled away and looked over at Bel'rok, hoping she could translate.
"Yut?" She gave the room an expansive gesture.
"Yut'ni." Daniel tried to ignore Rosyth reeling back with a hiss as he spoke the merchant's language. "I told you I was a quick study with languages once upon a time." Using Rosyth's shoulder, he got to his feet. "Are we done here?"
Rosyth tilted his head to the side and also rose to his feet, much more gracefully than Daniel had done. He did not protest when Rosyth helped him down from the caravan and kept a possessive arm around him as they walked back to the keep; he was already in a foul enough mood as it was.
Bel'rok followed, seeing her customers off to their door. Rosyth gave her a curt dismissal, but Daniel stayed him. "Tell her thank you. The afternoon was entirely too pleasant. Tell her I look forward to another lesson next time she comes."
Rosyth glowered at him and made no move to relay Daniel's message. Daniel gave a mental sigh and placed a hand over Rosyth's heart. "Please, love. Do not be so churlish and do it for me."
With a small growl, Rosyth put a hand over Daniel's and snapped out a rapid spiel in the travelers' language.
Bel'rok laughed. "Ei, Ei." She did a curious gesture with her hand that might have been some sort of salute and then turned back to her people.
Daniel slipped from Rosyth and entered first into their home. "I really have no idea what has gotten into you! Are you that jeal-" Rosyth grabbed his arm roughly, pulling him to a halt. Daniel whirled the angry retort dying on his lips as he watched Rosyth place a hand on the wall next to the pipe lined corridor. Lightening sparked into life and began to arch to and from the walls, guarding them from outsiders, entrapping them within. Of course, that is why it had reminded him of Brennenberg: it was the very same construction which had guarded Alexander's inner sanctum. His knees gave out beneath him.
Rosyth's arms were around him in an instant. Daniel let himself be enfolded, taking comfort and hating his own weakness. "I am fine, just over wearied." He clutched his journal so hard his fingers were beginning to ache.
Rosyth's hand brushed over the book as he caressed Daniel and he pulled back. "?"
"Can you not even speak a language I can start to comprehend?" Daniel grumbled. "It was a gift from Bel'rok." He opened it and leafed through the blank pages. "See? I think it shall be some sort of sketchbook." The page he had been scribbling in as Rosyth and Bel'rok had haggled fell open. "I did not realize that I have a small talent for illustration."
The arm around him tightened as Rosyth ran a reverential finger down the page where his own face had been inscribed.
"I gave my hand free reign and this is what happened. I hazard that you are very dear to me." His attempt at levity fell flat. A hand under his chin forced him to face his friend and Daniel felt a stirring of fear. Was there some sort of taboo in Rosyth's culture against the drawing of a person? There had been some peoples on Daniel's world that had felt such. The expression on his friend's face was too complicated to guess the meaning of, but when Daniel opened his mouth to voice an apology, Rosyth silenced him with a kiss that was at once violent and tender. The sketchbook fell unheeded from Daniel's fingers and he clutched at Rosyth's shoulders, trailed a hand down that curious spine and let himself be pushed down to the floor.
X
I am so sorry for the lengthy interval between chapters! I meant to keep up with this over my travels and...well...good intentions and all that. But I am settled once more and can hopefully go back to updating once a week-ish! This chapter was a bit rushed because I felt so dreadful in making everyone wait for it, so if you see any errors, please tell me. Also you would think that Daniel's mother would have taught him not to accept candy from strangers and then follow them into their carts... I am really, REALLY looking forward to writing the next chapter. Hee hee hee. It's going to be so much fun! Thank you for the reviews, comments and follows, as always. They make my day and encourage me to keep up this writing thing.
