Page 32 of The Lost Art of Revealing Hidden Truths (The Lost Arts #3)

Chapter Fourteen

B rannal laughed. “Do you think that every time I use magic? No matter what I’m doing?”

Perian winked at him. “I guess you’ll have to keep using your magic so we can test that premise exhaustively.”

Brannal was smiling. “We can definitely do that.”

They sat back down on one of the logs, cuddling close together. The moon was waxing more than half full, and the sky was awash with stars, which reflected in the now dark waters in front of them. It was so very beautiful and gave them enough light to see dimly by.

Perian listened to the sound of the world settling around them, the rustling of the trees, the occasional hoot of an owl or noise of another nocturnal animal, the faint lapping of the water. It reminded him a lot of those nights camping with his father. The sounds were soothing.

“Would you normally just sit here during a watch?” Perian asked quietly.

“It depends on what kind of watch it is,” Brannal explained. “We’ve got the water and rock formation protecting two sides, and we’re within the royal park. We’re not that far from the city and the castle. The dense woods aren’t ideal, though we’d be likely to hear certain predators coming.”

Perian nodded. That made sense.

Brannal continued, “If we were on patrol and especially if we’d been dispatched because of a demon sighting, the situation would be different. Then, we’d be expecting to be overrun at any point.”

Perian made a face.

“If it were just me tonight,” Brannal added, “I would probably walk around, less because I’m concerned we’re likely to encounter anything and more to make sure I don’t fall asleep. That’s actually the bigger danger when it’s a quiet, boring night. It’s crucial to stay awake.”

Perian nodded. “Of course. Is that why you agreed to company?”

“I always want to spend time with you,” Brannal assured him simply.

Perian leaned his head against the man’s strong shoulder.

“Thank you for coming out here with me. I really appreciate it.”

“Is it everything you imagined?” There was a lilt of amusement in Brannal’s voice.

Perian laughed softly. “It’s absolutely nothing at all like I imagined, but it’s still been really fun. Just different fun from what I originally expected.”

Brannal nodded.

“But I am really glad to be doing this,” Perian added, wanting to make sure Brannal understood. “And I appreciate that you came up with ways to have training that are also fun.”

Brannal was silent for a moment before he said quietly, “I do try.”

Perian curled their fingers together and then pulled up their joined hands to press a kiss to the back of Brannal’s hand. He’d said he’d keep his body parts to himself, but he hoped this didn’t count.

“That wasn’t a complaint.”

Brannal sighed. “I know everyone would have preferred if this were simply for fun.”

“Molun likes to complain for laughs and because it’s expected of him,” Perian countered. “Everyone has enjoyed everything we’ve done so far, and I’m sure they’ll enjoy tomorrow as well. They know who you are, Brannal, and they understand Summus.”

Another sigh, and Brannal pulled Perian a little closer. “Sometimes, it’s hard to figure out how to be that now.”

Perian considered this. “It was easier before?” he asked quietly. “Before me?”

Brannal pressed a kiss to his head. “I suppose so, yes. But it was also lonelier before you. And I didn’t have you, which obviously makes it worse.”

And Perian could only smile.

“It was simple on the estate, too,” he admitted.

“After Father died, it got a little too simple. There was absolutely nothing I needed to do and almost no one I needed to interact with. The days could slip away like they weren’t even happening.

It was actually a pretty weird feeling, to be honest; I would suddenly realize that weeks had gone by.

Coming to the city was sort of an act of desperation.

I did it a few times, when it got unbearable, but then it would feel too weird here in the city, too empty even with all the people, so I’d go back home again. ”

Brannal pressed a kiss to his head. “I’m sorry you lost him.”

Perian nodded. “He was my one person. It never occurred to me that I could lose him until I did. I wasn’t prepared at all.”

“It’s an awful feeling,” Brannal agreed.

Perian squeezed his hand. “Sorry, that was insensitive.”

They’d both lost their families, but Perian had only been thinking about himself.

Brannal shook his head. “It isn’t a comparison.

It was terrible for both of us. I was even younger than you, but it was the precipitating event that led me to the castle and to the great purpose that has sustained me for almost twenty years.

You lost your father, and it sounds like it cut you loose from everything. ”

Perian swallowed heavily, a lump in his throat.

“That’s what it felt like, as if I was in danger of becoming unmoored, and so I tied myself to the estate, because that was what my father had bought for us, where he wanted us to be a family.

It was really the only connection I had left, but it’s not a person .

I couldn’t imagine where else to go or what else to do. ”

“Until I found you,” Brannal said.

Perian smiled in the dark. “Yes, until you found me. I’m so profoundly grateful.”

“Me, too,” Brannal said softly. “I could never have imagined it.”

Perian couldn’t have, either. He’d longed for something without being able to put any sort of name to it. He’d grown up an only child with a single parent, and he hadn’t been able to identify the nuances of his loneliness .

Brannal had swept all of that away—and it seemed like maybe Perian had been able to do that for Brannal, too.

Before Perian could think better of it, he asked, “Do you think we could plan a visit to my estate in the fall?”

“I’d like that,” Brannal said. “I spoke to Cormal about doing the fall inspection, and he said he would as long as I took the winter one. I’d have to speak with him again about a visit. Or if he’s willing, maybe we could attach a visit to the winter inspection, and you could meet me there?”

Well, no time like the present.

“Would you consider letting me come with you?” Perian asked.

“What?”

“On the winter inspection.” Perian cleared his throat. “I know I’m not exactly useful, but I could pay for supplies or something—”

Brannal reached for his hand and squeezed it. “You wouldn’t have to do that. Would you really like to come?”

“Of course.”

Brannal hesitated. “I spend a lot of time doing inspections.”

Perian snorted. “Really? You do a lot of inspections during your inspections?”

Brannal huffed a laugh. “I just mean that there are long days of travel and then long days of work. There wouldn’t be a lot of spare time.”

“But we’d get to fall into bed together?”

He could feel Brannal’s smile. “Yes, we’d get to do that.”

“And travel together, and I presume eat together?” Perian prompted.

“In the presence of a group of people who are updating me on what they’ve been doing or are anxious for news of the castle. It’s not a lot of privacy.”

“Would you… not like me to come?” Perian asked carefully.

Brannal’s grip on his hand tightened a little and he said firmly, “No, it’s not that. I always enjoy your company. I just don’t want you to have unrealistic expectations. It wouldn’t be like our holiday.”

Perian shook his head. “I understand that. You’d be working, just like you do at the castle. But we’d get to be together, and I, uh, really prefer that.”

“I prefer that, too,” Brannal assured him, and he sounded very genuine. “If there were reports of demons, you’d need to stay inside the watch station, where it’ s safe.”

“Of course,” Perian agreed. “I’m well aware I’d be no good against demons.”

Perian didn’t ever want to meet any demons.

Brannal was silent for a moment, and then he nodded. “I’ll speak to Cormal.”

“That’s going to go well,” Perian muttered.

Brannal gave his hand another gentle squeeze. His voice was a bit chiding. “He’s my Secundus.”

“And you know he won’t want me to come,” Perian challenged.

“He may have concerns,” Brannal agreed. “It’s not usual to take a partner along.”

“Bennan and Chamis are going together,” Perian pointed out.

Then added hurriedly, “And yes, I know they’re both actually Warriors.

But Bennan said it’s a push to see if partners can still work effectively together, and then maybe it’ll be expanded to non-Warrior partners.

Onadal is at least considering it. I hope you will, too. ”

“I might need to speak to the Queen.”

She was the only one who could actually stop him. Cormal could be an ass about it, but Brannal outranked him.

Perian couldn’t help but add, “You manage to do your job just fine when we’re both in the castle, so I don’t see why you couldn’t do it just fine when we’re traveling together.”

“The potential for danger is more immediate on patrol.”

Perian was definitely not bringing up the time wraiths invaded the castle and killed a bunch of people.

“That’s true,” he conceded. “But I’d be traveling with Mage Warriors and Warriors who are best suited to keeping me safe. And shouldn’t it be my risk to take?”

“To a degree,” Brannal agreed. “But the safety of everyone has to be taken into account. Will other partners be accepted as a result? In what number?”

“But if you don’t try,” Perian countered, “how will you ever know if it works? Like Bennan and Chamis. Couldn’t we be a test?”

“Perhaps,” Brannal agreed. “I’ll talk to the Queen. You’re correct that practical tests are sometimes the most productive.”

Perian pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you. And maybe just… figure out a way to bribe Cormal in the meantime?”

“It’s not that bad, is it?”

Perian considered this for a moment. “Well, I mean, it’s been worse . ”

The man had thrown a fireball at him in a training session. That had been months ago, and there’d been no physical altercations since. But Perian was quite sure that if you asked anyone in the castle, they’d have the same opinion.