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Chapter 20: Singing Tempest

Nevermind clandestine, possibly rebellious operations in the kingdom, embedded right inside the Farstriders. There were more important things for Sunthraze to consider that night. Sunthraze goosed Tempest the moment they were out of the restaurant, and she jumped a mile.

Sunthraze and Tempest walked as far as the coast, it turned out. They could see moonlit Quel'danas Isle far out on the water when they got there. Neither of them wanted to head back to the heart of downtown, or the garrison or the suburbs, near to where Sunthraze could take the road home. So they dared to see the ocean. There was a boardwalk built up on the eastern side and a few benches. Tempest sat on one, falling down in a tired way. Sunthraze had undone his simple white cravat. He sat on the edge of the bench and sighed. The ocean was deep blue. The sky was even more like ink. The starts were a dazzling miracle above.

Tempest smiled at them collapsed together, "You would pick the one bench with a broken lantern up above."

Sunthraze frowned, kissed her cheek, "You picked this bench."

"You don't like me sounding so aggressive all the time. I decided to make it easier on you."

"It isn't easy, trust me."

Tempest pulled on him, kissed him deeply. "I meant to say back at the restaurant, you look amazing in that. And you smell really nice."

"You could have said it right in front of Britecleff. I would have felt less scruffy."

"I think it's a little horrible to flirt like that when I'm with someone."

Sunthraze pulled away. Tempest apologized and pulled him in again. "I mean, in public. I don't want to be… Well, this thing with Pyorin is complicated."

"No it isn't." Sunthraze sat back. He dug the heels of his shoes into the sand, "You and I are having an affair. Only thing that makes it different from other cheating situations is that Pyorin knows about it. He and I argue about it all the time."

"Are we having an affair, Sunthraze? Are we really?"

Sunthraze raised a tired hand, waggled it. "Well, there's no sex. None."

"That's your fault."

"Hunh? Oh. Guess it is."

"I'm… not the kind of girl to be opposed to gettin' it on a park bench."

Sunthraze covered his face. He started laughing.

"What? I want to be clear with you. Is that a problem?"

"Don't be angry. I'm just… it's surprising. It's really nice and surprising. I guess I was embarassed. I wasn't ready for it, Tempest."

"I like that version better. Look," she cuddled him, "Is it so terrible that I want you badly?"

"Here. I think the thing is… while was out, well, lassoing the other day, I had time to reflect. I believe the reason I don't want to sleep with you so fast is actually close to the reason why some people wait for marriage. The same reason why Daphne doesn't want to sleep with Britecleff too soon."

"Why's that? You're hardly a demure priestess with an overbearing, strict family."

"She wants to make sure that it happens. The love, the marriage, the happy ending. And I want to make sure it happens, with you. I don't see it as a… ransom, though. Or blackmail or something else, you know, very traditional. It's just that when we sleep together, I want to be sure that we're in it for the right reasons, and yes, that you don't get bored and walk away."

Tempest thought about it some more. Her eyes, her smile were soft, "You're pretty amazing."

"Not really. It's just that I bet a lot more women do it than us men."

"But you're sleeping with other people, right? In the meantime?"

Sunthraze didn't know how to answer that. She kept stumping him.

"Well, don't explode, Sunthraze, while you sacrifice yourself for me."

"I'm not! I just… didn't think that was okay with you, and I'm also fighting down this… this fury that I couldn't find anyone else to sleep with if I wanted to right now, anyway!"

She laughed right out loud.

"So then…" it was the obvious question for him to ask, "Are you sleeping around?"

"You're going to regret hearing the answer. We probably should treat this like we're not involved at all if that kind of thing bothers you, and you're shocked that I'm fine with you being casual."

"Well, what's your answer?"

"No."

"Well, that's fine, then."

"I threatened Pyorin with it, but I didn't actually follow through. So… it's bad, for you, if you think about it."

Sunthraze let that sink in. "Well, it's not… often, is it?"

"Me and Pyorin? You shouldn't keep asking these questions."

"And he's not any good. Is he?"

"Sunthraze—"

"You know, he does cheat on you. It's so obvious."

"I know, but why make it more complicated than it needs to be? And I'm too lazy or stressed out to pick up anyone else, though if anyone makes a move with me right where I eat, work or sleep at the garrison? Both of you fools are screwed."

"I'm not a fool. I just explained to you why I don't want to yet—"

"You know what it is? What is really going on? And I'll leave it there after I've said it, because I don't want to argue about it all evening and ruin this one, stolen night that we have together." She let out a breath, "The only way that Pyorin is going to walk away from this is if you fight him. And I mean, beat him up. He's far too territorial, but you see yourself as an alpha too. And it's not just about me, it's about ego. You hate the way Pyorin treats you and everyone else, the way he's embedded in the palace itself and doesn't deserve it. The way he's a snake. You actually cannot stand him. Maybe I even agree that Pyorin needs his ass kicked. He's a dangerous to everyone, in a way. He could expose any of us…" she trailed off, "You boys are bound to finally settle who's ontop. But you're afraid to do it."

Sunthraze frowned.

"And I'm not breaking up with Pyorin yet because I don't see that I have any better offers. And I'm not fighting him for you. That's unladylike."

"Is that the only thing stopping you?"

"Well, I did consider beating Pyorin's ass myself. I'm trained to do it, after all."

"So you're one of those girls who doesn't move on until there's something better?"

"It's my prerogative. Or maybe I'm just very, very lazy right now, like I said. I don't know. I have work to do, I don't want to worry about it. He's handsome, he takes care of me, physically, since you asked. And he's nice to me… well, most of the time. Moreso now that he knows you're trying to take his place."

"Wait. So me taking my time with things is helping your relationship?"

"When you're ready, go beat up Pyorin. It is going to come to a fight with someone like him, and you will have to win."

"Pyorin is going to pummel me into the ground."

"I didn't take you for a coward."

"Women, everywhere, always, should stop saying that!"

"Well… find another way, then. Because you're a lot of fun, but I don't want to rush into something else that's sloppy, and half-thought out with a man who isn't sure what he wants. And I can't help feeling, Sunthraze, that if you wanted me, you wouldn't let money be an excuse. You would just take me. But you won't do it. Sleeping together has nothing to do with where we are now. You're not sure about me. Or, your life. Or… you answer that question." Then, annoyed, "Hey, can we start walking back?"

Sunthraze didn't want to get up from that bench, but he did. And he didn't want to walk Tempest home, almost as far as to the Garrison, but he did. She wanted a cab, but they didn't see any carriages on the street. It was that late.

Silvermoon isn't that large of a city. It wasn't so bad, about another hour alone together, walking. Tempest had somehow forseen this and worn flat shoes. She later admitted to hoping to steal him away from dinner. On hearing that, Sunthraze pulled her aside at the garrison gate. They were just beyond the watchlights.

Sunthraze kissed her. He grabbed hold of her the way he knew she wanted him to. "I desire you. Every night, all the time, I think about you. I want to make sure you know that, Tempest."

"Good. You'd better."

"And I can't tell you everything but… I just am not able to piss Pyorin off, right now. He and I are working on something."

"Did Kael'thas pull that prank in Dalaran? They said it started out as a prank." It came out of nowhere.

"What?"

"Don't lie to me. You're not protecting our prince by pretending it didn't happen. We'd have to look into it properly, we'd have to get all the facts before we do, or don't do anything about it. Right?"

"Geez. That's pretty much exactly what I said to Pyorin."

"So then, what's next? Is there any evidence?"

"My dog ate it."

Tempest looked him over. He'd forgotten that she did this by trade. "You're not lying about that. So, then it must have been in that letter. I don't know how else evidence of a crime could reach you, of all people, from Dalaran."

"Will Britecleff figure it out this fast, too?"

"He'll see it in a few more days. He'll be distracted with Lady Weaver, trying to get an encore to this date, I know him, and then also setting things up for Pyorin, that fake investigation. But after work and after play," she smirked, "in that order… He'll be ready to focus again." Tempest put hands on his shoulders, "So, Kael'thas pulled a prank that went wrong, allegedly, and he writes home to his hated step-mother to confess it to her? Or was it some kind of innuendo? A hint dropped in his writing, like a brag or something?"

"He spelled it out, in detail. He spent a long time justifying it to her."

"Yeah, that does smell like a set up. I mean, who packages up a confession to a crime and then sends it to their worst enemy?"

Sunthraze grabbed her and kissed her again. "Thank you for believing in me."

"Mmm… Thank you for grabbing me."

Sunthraze stared at Tempest for a while, smiling like a fool.

She winked, "Good night, tiger…"

Sunthraze instinctively wandered off after her a few steps. But then, he pulled himself together and started the long, winding road back home. To the farm. Alone.