PO MUST HAVE KNOCKED at least a hundred times on the door of Raffin's workrooms, but this time it proved to be one of the harder tasks, on par with blocking Katsa's deadly series of hooks to confuse Po before she swept his feet out from under him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, feeling Raffin and Bann focused as they were working on an experiment. It was good that they weren't angry, but then again, Po had never seen Raffin angry in the months he'd stayed here.
It was the most opportune of times, made better since Katsa had left yesterday on King Randa's errand. Raffin would take his mind off treating Po's daily wounds from Katsa. He had more time on his hands now, and he would be open to listen. The only worry was that Bann had to leave, and this could be worked around, for he was no ferocious Katsa.
With that fleeting bout of confidence, Po rapped his knuckles on the door. "Raffin, are you in there?" he called, because he had to keep up his act while Bann was present.
"Who is it?" came Raffin's reply.
"It's Po."
Well, and it's only Po. There was a moment of silence before Raffin's voice came again, relieved. "Come in, Po!"
"It's open," Bann put in.
Po opened the door to Raffin and Bann hunched over a mess of beakers filled with blue liquid, one of them boiling over a candle's flame. The two men stared at Po expectedly, and Po stared back as if he'd been searching for them for ages rather than sensed where they were the moment he left his room.
"Ah, here you are. I've been looking all over the castle for you," Po lied with practiced effort. "There's something I must tell you, Raffin."
What does he want to tell us? Raffin and Bann shared curious looks as they put their beakers on the table.
"Alone," Po added. "I'm sorry, Bann."
Bann pursed his lips. I don't like this. He blew out the candle and gave Raffin a last glance. The two came to a silent agreement as Raffin nodded.
"I'll see you soon," Raffin promised him. "I won't be long."
Bann grabbed his papers. When he'd closed the door behind him, Raffin took a breath. Why does he want me alone? He gestured for Po to sit down. "Go on, Po."
Reluctantly, Po sat across from Raffin. He put his hands in his lap and wondered where to start. He decided to start at the beginning. It was easiest that way. "I haven't been honest with you, Raffin," he began. He caught Raffin's uneasy eyes as he continued. "From the first time we met… I couldn't have told you before, but I believe I've gained your trust. Now that Katsa and Bann are gone, it seems right to tell you. Well, I have some ideas. And I think you'd know best. You're quite smart, you think well on your feet, you're good at diffusing tricky situations, you're hard to anger, and you know your science. I quite admire that about you, and I need—"
Raffin furrowed his eyebrows. "Are you in love with me?"
"I'm…" Po's mouth fell open. He struggled to find the right words to say. "I… No. That's not…" He laughed. "Raffin, you're handsome, but that's not what I came to say."
Raffin nodded his head, relieved. "Good. I wouldn't know what to tell Bann."
Po cleared his throat and tried again. "There is no easy way to say this. I'm not sure how to go about it, really."
"Fear not," Raffin said with a smile. "Anything is easier to say now that we got our relationship out of the way. What brought you here, Po?"
This was the first time in his life he was speaking about it to someone outside of his family. "I'm not a Graced fighter. I've lied to you from the start. You, Bann, Katsa, and the world."
Ah. Raffin's eyes grew wide. This isn't easier.
"It's not easier," Po repeated. "My real Grace is dangerous; only my grandfather and my mother know it. Nobody else. Not even my father. If people knew, I wouldn't have a life. I wouldn't be trusted. I wouldn't have any friends. I would live like…" He swallowed. In all the months he'd known her, it was a cruel comparison.
From Raffin poured a thousand apologies. "Like Katsa," he finished, his voice grave.
Po clasped his hands and nodded. "I was forbidden from telling anyone as a child. If people knew my real Grace, the world would be filled with people waiting to use me for it. I came to the Royal Continent because if anyone among the Lienid could find Grandfather Tealiff, it would be me. I have some ideas as to who was behind his kidnapping, but I couldn't tell them without telling my Grace too."
Raffin understood all too well the implication of a continent full of people like King Randa using Po. He put his hands in Po's and gave Po a thankful smile. "You trust me enough to tell me, the third person in all the world to know."
Po was grateful for Raffin's gesture. "I'm Graced with sense or perception. I can sense you and your emotions… and also your thoughts and intentions. If you're thinking about me. So you see, my Grace could easily be disguised as fighting."
He's gone to the hills and back to keep it secret from us. Raffin leaned back in his chair, considering Po's words. "What did you sense when you came into this room?"
It was a good choice to have told Raffin. There was no anger or frustration or fear when Po told him, only curiosity. Po thought back to when he'd asked Bann to leave the room. "You and Bann were anxious to hear me come in and have Bann leave. You weren't sure what I was going to say. You were impatient when I began, and you were worried I was in love with you, because it would hurt Bann's feelings. But you were willing to hear me out, and when I told you my Grace, you understood my pain and wanted to know more. Now you're curious. You want more evidence."
"That I am," Raffin noted without shame. "But anyone could have discerned that. You're going to have to be more specific."
Po mulled it over. Raffin was taking it as kindly as Raffin could. What would suffice as evidence worthy of the medicine man, driven by a love of science, among other things? "The second time we met and you gave me ice in Grandfather's room, you thought my face was as swollen as Bann gets when he eats lingonberr—"
Raffin held up his hand. "Say no more. I believe you." Don't announce things like that around Bann. "Did you hear that?"
Po laughed at his reaction. "I did."
"I can't help but wonder," continued Raffin, flickering with skepticism, "if we're really friends, or you used your advantage in pretending."
All people thought the same, when they were faced with a mind reader. It was only natural Raffin would, too. Po squeezed Raffin's hands. "I may be able to sense your thoughts and emotions, but I would not put months of effort into pretending to be your friend," he confessed.
Raffin was glad to hear so. "You're saying that I'm not worth months of effort?" he asked with a grin.
"Whatever my answer, it'll be wrong," Po said, and the two laughed again. "You trust me now, I gather?"
"I do, truly," Raffin affirmed. "I'm touched you told me at all. You've endured months of hearing my most private thoughts and pretended you don't hear them. I can't imagine what that must be like, or all those times I would think something to tell you, and then tell it to you… and you'd hear it twice."
"I've had my whole life to get used to people's thoughts and behaviors. You're not the first, and you won't be the last," he reassured him. "I've some ideas about Grandfather I wanted to run through with you. He's thought his kidnapping to me, and I'm certain King Murgon was involved."
It was Raffin's turn for his mouth to fall open. "You can see his memories, too?"
"See, hear, feel, sense. All you have to do is open your mind to me, and I'll hear it," Po said, nodding. He thought back to the memories Grandfather had shown him. "Grandfather was kidnapped while on horseback to my father's castle. His kidnappers had a southern accent, like King Murgon's when I spoke with him. They drugged and blindfolded Grandfather, so he didn't see much of anything, but Grandfather did feel the cold wind and the smell of pine needles. Do you know anything about that?"
"It's colder in Sunder, yes. Much colder than the Middluns." Raffin crossed his arms, looking like a real medicine man. Po could almost see the gears turning in his head. "And Sunder does have more than its fair share of forest. Some Sunderan friends of the Council had told us three days prior to riding to Murgon City that Tealiff was hidden there.. They'd told us Tealiff was being held there temporarily for several days, that it was our chance to kidnap him ourselves from right under Murgon's nose." In Raffin's head passed memories of the conversations he'd had and the letters he'd written to a few of the Sunderan friends to organize the kidnapping. A last memory appeared of Katsa approaching Raffin at dawn, a frail Grandfather Tealiff laying over the horse she was leading. As it faded away, Raffin looked back at Po. "I think you know the rest."
"I believe so. After Katsa drugged me in Murgon's courtyard, I had the chance to speak to King Murgon—"
"Courtesy of yours truly," Raffin interjected. "You're welcome."
"Some courtesy it was when I woke up with a headache," Po snorted. "When Murgon saw me, he was surprised to see a Lienid in his court. He thought I'd orchestrated the kidnapping, but obviously I was stopped by someone. He kept talking about a boy Graced with hypnotism who had run from his castle a week ago. He was certain the boy had hypnotized all the guards to sleep, including me. He tried to interrogate me… well, you know how that turned out."
Raffin smiled. "Interrogating a mind reader and winning is something I've yet to witness."
"At the time, I'd decided to give Katsa the benefit of the doubt. I told Murgon I came to Murgon City alone and that the Graceling boy had hypnotized me to sleep to make up for his running away from Murgon's court."
"Did he believe you?"
Po nodded. "He believed me, yet he told me lies when I asked him about my grandfather. He told me something valuable of his was taken, and he blamed Lienid, though that's the only truth he said."
"It certainly does add up," Raffin summarized.
"He covered it up by talking for hours about the gold shipment he'd ordered that had never arrived from Lienid."
"Mmm," Raffin commented. "Typical Royal Continent kings."
Po leaned back in his chair, sighing. "That's how I suspected Murgon's involvement. I wish I'd asked him more about my grandfather, but I didn't want to risk it. I told him I was passing through Sunder to look for my grandfather and settle the gold matter on behalf of Lienid… So much that was. He wants a full reimbursement without paying extra or cracking down on the pirates in his own state, like Lienid is made out of gold," Po grumbled. "After I was released from Murgon's court, I stole one of his horses instead and rode here."
"Because that isn't risky."
"Because that isn't risky," Po agreed. "It's been months since, and Murgon hasn't retaliated. If I go to Sunder, Murgon wouldn't be expecting me."
Raffin weighed it in his mind. "It's worth a visit," he decided. "You would have no trouble sneaking in this time," without Katsa there. "But would Murgon be willing to talk to you? Who's to say that he won't send his men on you, or tell more lies?"
Po hadn't thought of that. "I'll steer clear of Murgon court, then, to avoid attracting Murgon's attention." It would be better this way, too, to lessen the pain and bloodshed if Murgon did send his men. He was an impulsive and foolish Royal Continent king, and there was no use in Po asking about his family while he slaughtered other people's family members.
My thoughts exactly, Raffin thought. "Ask his people instead. Ask them about your grandfather. Bribe the pirates around the coast with that gold delivery. As far as the Royal Continent is concerned, your grandfather is still missing. Perhaps someone in Murgon City knows what Murgon was going to do with him. All the Council knows is that he was held there for a short while."
It was a good plan, but Po couldn't shake his feeling about the Sunderan king. Something was off in Murgon City. "Murgon is a complicated king. He has this… way with words." Po thought back to the interrogation. "He wanted the gold, but he'd insisted that my grandfather was not my concern. He…" Po shook his head. The way that King Murgon had backtracked around Po's questions and still wanted his way… Royal Continent kings were confusing as it was. "I can't explain it."
"He wanted to protect whoever he was keeping your grandfather for," Raffin supplied. "Hard to read or not, this much is true."
"That's what I'm having trouble understanding. Aside from his family, my grandfather has no valuables, Raffin. Who could want him enough to go through the trouble to have Murgon's men drag him across the Lienid Sea?"
"Let's run through our options. You'd visited Nander last month and found nothing," Raffin recounted. He raised his eyebrows. "They were also starting a civil war, so I doubt an old Lienid prince would be their priority. Nander is out of the question."
"We can say the same for Wester and Estill. I'd visited their kings personally and can vouch for them. Lienid…" Po shrugged his shoulders. "Well, that's self-explanatory. It goes against everything we stand for, but if my people had kidnapped their prince, then they've fooled even my perception Grace."
"I can vouch for King Randa as well," Raffin added. "That leaves Sunder and Monsea."
It was worth the ask. "Do your Sunderan friends know anything more about my aunt?"
Raffin's spirits dampened. "I wish something did, for your sake, but no," he answered honestly. "Our Sunderan friends haven't reported anything more."
Po's heart sank. He'd assumed as much. "That's another reason to go south," he decided. "Perhaps they know something we don't."
"Perhaps so," Raffin agreed. "And if they don't?"
"I haven't worked out the details, but I'd like to see my family in Monsea." Po's eyes fell to the table. "If you knew my aunt, you would know how strange it is for her to lock herself and her daughter from her husband."
"Strange indeed, given what we know of King Leck and Queen Ashen." Raffin let out a breath. "It would be best to comfort her with news of your grandfather in the Middluns."
"I should like an audience with Leck as well," Po mused, more to himself than to Raffin.
Raffin immediately rejected the thought. "King Leck wouldn't have taken part in the kidnapping, if that's what you're worried about, Po. You know him."
"I know him from the mouths of my family," Po clarified. "That's hardly knowing a man."
"Hardly indeed," Raffin agreed, "but given all we know of him and his reputation…"
"It's not impossible. In fact, it's quite common for the Royal Continent to dispose of its family."
"But this is Leck," Raffin repeated. He sighed. "I won't discourage you, Po. We need to look into everything for more leads. The Council has looked into it before, and I fear you'll waste your time there, is all. Once Monsea is alerted of your arrival, your grandfather's kidnappers will hide better than ever."
"Perception Grace," Po reminded him. "If they find out, and if they have reason to fear my arrival, I'll know."
Raffin held up his hands in defeat. "When do you plan to leave?"
"That's another thing," Po said. "I'd like to leave in a week once Katsa returns. Maybe she could join me, or teach me some holds not even she can get out of before then. I need to be prepared to face Murgon's court this time."
"If a perceptivist can be any more prepared," Raffin remarked. "You've a solid plan for now, Po. Will you tell Katsa before or after she catches on when you interrogate every Murgon City citizen?"
Po would have laughed at that. Instead, he swallowed his doubts and turned back to Raffin. "I came to ask you, actually. I trust you, and I trust her. If anyone can help me devise a way to tell her, it would be you."
"Telling Katsa now…" Raffin entertained the idea. "I'm not sure," he concluded. "Communication and forgiveness comes easily for Bann and I. It doesn't for her." His shoulders slumped as he thought about Katsa over the years. "Growing up under King Randa, she's… been through a lot. She doesn't take kindly to lies."
"Even to lies meant to protect my life?"
"I'm not sure," Raffin said again. "I must think on it. I must ask Bann." Not about your Grace, don't worry. "I'll disguise it as you wondering how to tell Katsa you're in love with her."
"That's a rather strong sentiment—"
Raffin raised an eyebrow. "Well, it's true, isn't it? I see the way you look at her and the way you talk to her."
Po felt his face go hot. "I can't talk to a friend?"
"Tell me you don't talk to her like you're talking to me now," Raffin scoffed. "I don't need a perception Grace to see it."
"Ah." The element of surprise to a perception Grace must have run in the family, for Raffin had inherited it like Katsa did. "Was it obvious?"
"Quite," Raffin deadpanned. He smirked at Po's reaction. "You think too highly of me, Po, though I'm not entirely sure it's for the right reasons."
"I think I'll have to get in line behind Bann."
"Perceptive and well-mannered," Raffin noted mildly. "The hills are testing my patience."
"Let them keep testing it," Po laughed. "Bann is lucky to have you."
"Yes." Raffin was proud of that. "He is." He shot Po a funny look. "Is that why you've come? To seek my counsel, break my heart, and leave?"
"Me, put you through all that just to leave you? Great seas, where are my manners? I'd say goodbye first before I left, you know. I may be from Lienid, but I wasn't raised in a back alley."
"A true gentleman, in and out. What is the catch, son of Ror, aside from a most dangerous Grace and an interest in our wildcat?"
"A catch of your wit and charms," Po returned smoothly, "both of which you've fulfilled. I trust Bann will get back to me about Katsa?"
"We'll send for you when we think of something… or maybe I'll think it to you." An interesting idea came up in his mind. He lowered his voice and leaned in. "Tell me truly: did you hear all of my thoughts about you?"
"I did."
"About your beautiful face?"
"Yes," Po said with a grin.
"And about your eyes?"
"You'd thought they shined like stars… but not as bright as Bann's."
"Good," Raffin decided. "As it should be." Don't tell Bann I thought that about you.
Po laughed at the irony. Bann had already found out for himself months ago, but that was another conversation for another time. He was content with getting Raffin and Bann's help for now. "I won't tell Bann if you don't tell the whole world my secret."
Raffin held his hand out, relieved as Po grasped it. That's too easy a deal, Po. "You have my word," he vowed, and he meant it with every fiber of his being.
A/N: For obvious reasons, this was among my top favorite scenes to write. The Po/Raffin bromance was heavily underrepresented in canon, and it was very much in need of a scene like this to balance out the melodrama of Po/Katsa. I hope you enjoyed it! :)
Unfortunately, I have some bad news. This will be the last lighthearted scene of the fanfiction. You know what's coming next. :(
