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Giric, of course, waited until Noe had split from Luca, heading to the corner market to buy a few essentials, before asking the serious questions.

“So he had to see the whole package before he proposed, huh?”

Noe wanted to be offended but a snicker escaped, so that rather ruined his effort. “You’re such a prat. Although I don’t think you’re exactly wrong.”

“In all seriousness, isn’t this fast?”

“It’s why we’re going to live together for six months while engaged before taking the next step. Look, Giric, I admit that if this was a romantic relationship, it’d be way too fast.” Noe shrugged, hands splayed to either side, then regretted the action when a sharp wind cut through his coat and went back to hugging his body instead. “But this is almost a contract relationship. We both have what the other wants and needs. We happen to like each other’s company, and the sex is good, so we’re moving forward with it. That’s what it amounts to.”

Giric eyed him with severe mistrust. “And your crush factors in where?”

“He knows I like him. I asked him if he’d be okay with me being all touchy-feely and emotional, and he’s completely fine with it. He’s not attracted to men to begin with, so I’m severely pushing my luck as it stands. I’m grateful he likes having sex with me. I’d probably have agreed to this even if he didn’t. There’s so much he offers, including hot tea on a cold work morning, and I won’t refuse it because this isn’t some star-crossed romance.”

With a hum, Giric let that be for a few seconds. “So long as you know what you’re getting into. Personally, I think you could stand to do a year’s engagement, but it’s up to you.”

“I honestly think we’ll be fine. I just want to give us more time to prove it.”

“Fair enough. I never imagined you’d become a foreign lord, though.”

Noe pulled a face. “Me neither. I don’t think it really sank in until recently, when he made the comment that I’d need a signet ring.”

Side-eyeing him, Giric commented, “You’ll have to get better at actually confronting people.”

“Lies. That will be my husband’s job. My job is to keep the fortress up-to-date and repaired.”

“Somehow, I knew that’d be your answer.”

Noe knew that wouldn’t work out in reality. Giric was right, he would have to put his big boy pants on at some point and learn how to face people down. But he didn’t know how. In his experience, confrontation never led to anything good, so it was hard to gather the courage to yell back. Luca likely didn’t have the same problem because the man had the shoulders of a mountain and the resting stony face to match, so he could intimidate people by just standing there. Being shorter and with glasses, Noe had no prayer of duplicating that.

They stepped into the corner store and he switched mental topics to things he needed. Let’s see, shaving cream, shampoo, a small sewing kit to replace the button on his coat, and—

The door behind him swung open, more felt than heard because it let in a cold draft. He glanced up automatically to see who had entered and felt his heart jump a little. Not in alarm, but a sort of uneasy anticipation.

Three of Luca’s men had just entered—Caedmon, Devaughn, and Ewan. He knew them, of course. He’d worked alongside them many a time. Considered them to be sort of friends, even.

But how would they interact with him now that he’d become engaged to their laird?

Ewan didn’t seem to realize Noe was there at first, instead speaking over his shoulder at Caedmon, “I wasn’t a bad kid, just a numbskull.”

Caedmon challenged this with a drawled, “Was?”

“Shut yer trap, ye bastard.” Ewan sniffed, as if offended.

Devaughn had already turned his attention to Noe, blinking as if not realizing he’d been standing there. “Well, well. Hi. Been meaning to talk to you.”

There was a loaded statement. Noe gave him a game smile. “I bet you have.”

Devaughn came in closer, the other two right on his heels, because drama lovers, those two. Always ready for some good gossip.

“So, how’d you and our laird get together?”

Giric chose this moment to open his mouth. “They bonded over mutual sex having.”

Noe slammed a hand over his friend’s mouth. “He kids.”

Devaughn had a distinct twinkle in his eye. “Does he?”

He didn’t look upset…? Or ready to throw hands. Noe dared to lower his guard a notch and try for some honesty. “Half kidding?”

“Ha! That’s more like it.”

Caedmon snuck in sideways—the aisle wasn’t big enough for two people abreast—to get a word in edgewise. “Relax, relax, we knew what his plan be before ye did. Talked of it on the voyage over here. We be fine with it then. Just, a few questions. We need to talk about bein’ gay.”

Noe blinked at him. “You need a demonstration, or…?”

Ewan threw his head back on a hearty laugh, the sound much like one a wheezing hound would make. “Ooh, our laird be havin’ our heads if we ask that of ye!”

It was heartening, actually, that they knew Luca would be jealous if Noe gave another man his attention. Noe had sensed it ever since they’d started dating, but these men knew him far better, so it was reassuring.

Caedmon rolled his eyes and tried to get the topic back on track. “Not like that. I meant, bein’ gay in Bhodhsa. It not be much better accepted there than Scovia, although the country be startin’ to make strides. I wanted to say, we’ve got yer back, man. Honestly, anyone who can put a smile on Himself’s face be fine by us, but he picked a fine man, didn’t he? We already know ye’ve got the skills and the smarts to run the fortress with him. It be a relief, man, an outright relief. That be all I wanted to say.”

Noe seriously wanted to hug him. In fact, he felt a little choked up. He had been worried about not being accepted by Luca’s men—a fear he hadn’t voiced yet to Luca, as there had already been so much to talk about and find solutions for. To have Caedmon so baldly state he had Noe’s back truly meant the world. Especially since it was unprompted.

Ewan looked between the two of them, brows compressed in confusion. “Do that not go without sayin’?”

Caedmon shot him a dry look. Desert dry, as if the man’s brains had been left out of his body upon birth. “Ye sure be stout of heart and dumb of ass.”

“Hey!” Ewan paused and then wrinkled his nose. “I have a hard time arguin’ that.”

“Yeah, do not bother,” Devaughn advised. He grumbled under his breath, “Why do we keep bringing idiots to the village?”

“I heard that!” Ewan gave him a glare.

“Mind I said no names, but good on you for recognizing I meant you anyway.”

Caedmon sighed, rolling his eyes. “Can ye two stop until I leave?”

“No,” Ewan answered promptly.

“I know.” Caedmon sighed again.

Giric lifted a hand. “Question. Does General O’ Broín just bring you three along for the comedic value?”

“You’d think that, wouldn’t you?” Devaughn inclined his head toward Ewan. “But really, we bring him along for the sheer dumb luck.”

Ewan huffed. “Just because I be a better diver than ye—”

Noe sensed the argument was going to get worse, and while entertaining, he’d never get his shopping done at this rate. “Tell me the story when we’re drunk. I think I’d appreciate it more. I am very happy that none of you have a problem with my engagement. Thank you.”

Caedmon gave him a wide smile. “Sure, sure. Now, not sure if Himself has thought of it, but I think ye best start yer lessons soon.”

“On…?” Noe was so utterly lost.

“Bhodhsan, man. Ye don’t speak our tongue, right?”

Oh. Shit. Noe hadn’t thought of that at all. “I really don’t, not even a word. Um, do people speak Trader?”

“In our area, sure, ’cause we be on a trade route. But most of the country does not, or at least not reliably. Best ye get some words under yer belt. Find a time to, eh?”

“Sure, that’s a great idea. Thank you for thinking of it.”

“I’ll teach ye, too,” Caedmon promised.

It was a very kind offer, and Noe felt like he’d been semiadopted. “Thank you. Let’s find a time to do it later, something routine. Although, oy vey, it means I’ll be learning two languages at once. My head might explode at this rate.”

“Eh, ye’ll be fine. The Shiirein isn’t so necessary, as ye likely won’t come back to the country after we’re done here.”

Hopefully they would only come for vacations, and they wouldn’t have to come back for any other reason. “I would love for you to be right.”

“It’ll be fine. Finish yer shopping. I know yer eager to get back to yer man.” Caedmon shot him a lewd wink.

It startled a laugh out of Noe, but he grinned back. “I sure am.”

They moved past him, and Noe heard Ewan complain from the other aisle. “Why be ye so weird?”

“Only because the two of ye act weird.”

“I’m only acting weird because Caedmon’s acting weird!”

“I be actin’ weird ’cause I be weird,” Caedmon owned up proudly. “Eh. Wait, what did I do that be weird?”

“Yer wearin’ yer scarf on backward, the both of ye.”

“What? That not be possible. Ye can’t wear a scarf backward, it don’t be havin’ an innie or outie!”

Giric snickered and softly said in Scovian, “Those three are a walking comedy tour.”

“Tell me about it. Well, at least living with my new husband in a foreign land won’t be boring.” Noe smiled, and he had a feeling it would linger for a long while. He went back to shopping, still smiling, still hearing the bickering going on in the other part of the store.

He was keen on taking Caedmon up on his language lessons offer. It was smart, for one, but he also had a feeling it was an offer of friendship. And having a friend in his corner as he traveled to his new home sounded very fine indeed.