1
Ianto was not comfortable with all of this malarcy but knew they had to allow for some, as a show of solidarity with the visiting Lord. This family were from a far corner of the land and they had come to renew their kingdom with Jack's father and assure them that the alliance sill stood, despite the rumblings of war in the wind.
Ianto preferred to stay out of the spotlight and until the evening feast could do so. At the moment he was cloistered away in chambers, listening to the shouts of servants running about in the hallway outside his wing, trying to open more rooms for the extended entourage that had come with this royal family. Seems they are big on a show of strength.
Ianto considered and decided to stealth, moving inside the tapestry that hid the door to the wall, using the servant's inner passageways to head towards the kitchens downstairs, and then out into the keep to escape the smells of strangers all together.
As he headed down the internal staircase that was indicative of these smaller side towers, he became aware of those coming behind him and he moved to the wall to allow them to pass, the harried servants not even stopping to glance at him as they rushed past complaining about the rudeness of the Baronesses and the young tepid Baron who seemed mute. Ianto also noticed the same tepid Baron was right on their heels, moving along at sped as well and he felt amusement bubbling up at the realization that the boy was merely clever. In the half-light of the candle lit passageways, it was easy to go unnoticed, blend in as it were. After all, Ianto did so on a daily basis. To Jack's annoyance.
He fell into step with the Baron "Fabien, right?"
"Yeah, that's me" the boy did not correct with his title as some would have. Clearly he was not above himself. Good.
"I am Ianto. Heading anywhere in particular? Or just away from the bullshit?"
The boy stopped and turned to lo at him for the first time, his sixteen year old face still so young and boyish as he looked at Ianto intently an then asked "Are you following me?"
"Not at all, I am actually escaping to the stables to collect my horse for a canter out there, exploring the madness beyond as my beloved calls it." Ianto smiled "you are simply heading in the same direction, it would seem"
"You can take a horse?"
"Of course." Ianto nodded "I have my own and she is mighty."
"Mine is too. A Fireblood ya know, from this very stable" the boy smiled, showing a straight and briefly shiny set off teeth.
Ianto motioned "Come on then. Care for a gallop? I can show you the river and if we are lucky there may be a dragon or two sunning themselves this time of day, out in the long grass."
"So it's true. There are dragons?"
"Oh yes. Lots. Don't worry, they don't eat people… much" Ianto winked and Fabien laughed with him, then Ianto changed course and he followed. They entered the kitchens at speed and Ianto waved a cheery hello to the cook who waved back and shouted that the boys were playing in the barn today, a little clowder of kittens or something.
Ianto erupted into the bight light and stopped to breathe deep "Smell that? Soon be haymaking time. I do love the smell of the grass this time of year. Come on, might rain late this afternoon, we should want to be back before then to dress for this blood infernal feast thingee."
"I know, like sixteen courses of crap, only one bite enough to taste before it's whisked away for another plate" Fabien agreed as he stomped to a stall and a pretty bay reached out to snicker at him, then see Ianto. Instantly it drew it's head back and let out a loud bellow before lowering its head. "Look at that, I've never heard her make that noise before.'
"Dragon blood. It runs deep and it is the Time of the Dragons once more. So close to them they feel it in their waters" Ianto shrugged, then turned as Rhys approached and bowed.
"My Liege."
"stop it, I shall smack you sir!" Ianto said in a silly voice and Rhys laughed, stepping close to hug Ianto. The two men looked like brothers with their broad shoulders and same hair colour, I guess it was natural to think of them as such and it was not until much later, once he had returned the young man to the guest quarters that it occurred to Ianto that neither had given title during introductions.
Shite.
Was he doing it again?
.
.
Rane was leaning on the butcher's block watching intently as Cook lopped the head from another dead duck. Literally. It was a dead as fuck duck. Haze was whinging in a high itched tone that was really grating, begging his Mama Cookie for ice cream.
"Haze, my old chum, you will not get it that way" Rane finally said in Slaver, turning to his best friend/sort of brother. "Cookie, my darling lady? We are so hungry and all we can think of it your superior ice cream, none like it anywhere else. We will NEVER want any but yours, please?"
The Cook huffed like she was on to that bullshit, but then crowed as she patted the little heads and rushed to get the boys some ice cream form the ice room. Ianto smiled at them and they high fived. It was as she was scooping some in to a bowl hat Ianto became aware of another little head around the table, eyes like saucers as she watched each scoop fall into the bowl like whipped cream.
"Where did you come from!" Rane exclaimed as he saw her too "Are you wanting some?"
She stared at him silently and Ianto knew why "She doesn't speak Slaver son, try Galactic Standard."
"Oh. Sorry. Hi there, I am Rane. Would you like some too?" Rane tried in the High Blood tongue. Instantly her face lit up as she nodded and Haze ran for another bowl, three little heads bobbing up and down with excitement, the whipped cream being spooned on top before the melted chocolate that just happened to have been happening off to the side.
As the children settled to eat their bowls full of love Ianto kissed the cook gently on the cheek "thanks Cookie. You do spoil them so."
"Ach, it's nothing" she said with delight as her hand touched the spot his lips had brushed.
Ianto went to find the little one's nanny.
Must be looking everywhere for her.