Paole hung up his jerkin on a clotheshorse and answered with his back to Yveni. “They’re very hospitable, certainly. They honour you a great deal.”
“And you. With Ferdi’s help, you and Raina can really set yourselves up. Can’t wait to see you do well, Paole. You deserve it, and I’m glad to see Raina achieve her dream. She really hated being stuck in her village. I’ll do anything I can to help you both.”
“You should be concentrating on your own dreams, boy.” Yveni pursed his lips at Paole using a term he knew perfectly well annoyed him. “Time you stopped worrying about other people and their prospects and hurried up with getting home and sorting out that mess.”
Yveni rolled over to look at his friend, slowly undressing still with his back to him. “Well, I will, but there are a lot of things to take into account. I can’t just board a ship and charge back.”
“So, do what you need to. Leave Raina and me to deal with our own affairs. You have a different path to follow. Get on with it.”
“Yes, sir, master lord Paole. What’s got into you?”
“Nothing. I think you forget that this is all temporary.”
“I forget nothing. I don’t see any harm in wanting to help those who’ve helped me. I owe you and Raina a good deal.” Paole didn’t answer. “Oh, don’t be so grumpy. Which bed shall we sleep on?”
Paole turned. “I’ll take this one, and you’ll take that one, Your Grace. That’s something else to put aside now you’re here.”
“Why? What harm does it do?”
“Your reputation for one thing. You said yourself that your people look badly on those who sleep around outside marriage, and since you can’t marry someone like me, it’s better that you stop it right now. You’re with people you’ll need to support you. People who may even be your subjects one day. You have to start acting like a duc and behaving responsibly.”
“But we’re not
doing
anything.”
“No. Not yet, and not ever, so it seems. What if a servant walks in and we’re wrapped around each other? Word will get around and before you know it, everyone will know the Vicont Yveni has a male lover.”
Yveni stared at Paole, unable to believe his ears. “Why didn’t you mention this while we were travelling?”
“Saw no need to. We didn’t know what we’d find when we got here, where we’d be staying, or any of it. Now I know the reality. You’re not a private citizen any longer. You’re the heir to the ducal throne and I’m just an ex-slave from another country. Our future paths won’t cross.”
“Yes, they will.”
“How?”
Yveni stopped, undone by that one word. “I’ll…I mean…I can…you said you’d train in Sardelsa!”
“No,
you
said that. There’s a perfectly good university here, and people who look like me and don’t scorn me. Sardelsa threw out all my kind, remember? Even if you return, you think I want to live among those who let that happen?”
He had a point and Yveni hated it. “But…I want us to be friends, Paole.”
“We are. We will be. But not lovers. And when you go home, I won’t be with you. Fact of life, Your Grace.”
“Stop calling me that.”
“Get used to it. Even Gil won’t be able to call you by name in public once you’re duc. That’s your destiny. Accept it or leave it to Konsatin. Now, is that bed acceptable or do you want to swap?”
“I want you in whichever one I choose.”
Paole shook his head. “Sorry. It’s over.”
“Paole, please.”
“Yveni, leave me be or I’ll find Sofia and ask for another room. I mean what I say. It’s unfair of you to keep pushing.”
Yveni shut his mouth, but his heart ached. He
wanted
Paole with him. Needed him. Maybe if he’d pushed matters all those months ago at the cabin, Paole wouldn’t be…
But though Yveni hated it, Paole spoke the truth. If he built an immoral reputation, it would be one more weapon Konsatin could use against him. Paole being male mattered less than him being Uemirien, but neither fact would go down well with a population already primed to think him foolish and flighty.
Paole lay down on his chosen bed. “Douse the light when you’re ready,” he muttered.
Yveni slipped off his bed and crept across the gap between them. “Boy, I told you—”
Yveni bent and kissed his forehead. “Don’t think you’ll escape my heart so easily, Master Paole, whatever must happen.”
Paole’s expression softened. “Nor mine, sweetness. Go to bed, and don’t waste time maundering.”
He may as well bid Yveni to stop breathing. Others had sacrificed their lives and livelihoods to send him to a safe haven. He had a duty not to squander that by making himself an unappealing alternative to the current regent.
But no force on earth could stop him regretting the necessity.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“The new shop looks very professional, don’t you think?” Gil paused as he asked the horse he was working with to lift a hind hoof. “Raina did a lovely job with the lettering over the door.”
“It all seems fine to me. I wish them well.” To tell the truth, Yveni’d had a month of listening to Raina chatter about the shop Ferdi had let to her and Paole, and all the fitting out. He was a little sick of it.
“You sound less than enthusiastic.”
Yveni roused himself. “No, I am. I’m sure they’ll make a great success. Paole could have made a fortune if he’d stayed in Karvis. He’s wonderful with patients, especially the elderly. He never gives them the impression they’re wasting his time even when there’s nothing wrong with them but the want of a bit of company.”
“A knack our miss might have to learn, I suspect. Easy, boy.” He used the pick to dig the irritating stone out of the huge hoof. “Though she might find the theoretical study easier than him.”
“Paole’s clever, and he’s already read so many medical texts. It’s not his fault he was kept as a slave so long.”
Gil stopped and looked up at him. “Peace, lad. I meant no insult. Raina’s a little younger, that’s all, and she reads Uemi somewhat more readily. Master Paole’s a very intelligent man. I know that.”
“Uh, yes.” Yveni had made a bit of a fool of himself. “Of course.”
“Are you all right, Yveni? I know the meeting with the governors was disappointing but you’ve been out of sorts for a while now.”
“Have I? Sorry. I’m upset about what’s happening back home, that’s all. I’d hoped the governors could offer more help, but I didn’t expect much.”
“No. Even if they had a standing army, taking on a member of the Unity would be something even Karvis would hesitate to do. Uemire’s a poor country, and thinly populated.”
“Yes. I know all that, Gil.”
“I’m sure.” Gil extracted the stone and dirt from the horse’s hoof, and patted the huge haunch when the animal whickered a little in distress. “Now that didn’t hurt, so don’t pretend it did. You’re a big old softie, aren’t you?”
Yveni smiled. He loved watching Gil with horses. Sofia often said he had to be part equine, he had such a feel for them.
“So…you’re happy Paole’s moved out then?”
Yveni blinked. “What?”
“That he’s set up his own place. You must be happy for him.”
“Uh, yes. I mean, not that he’s moved out, but that he’s doing so well.”
“You probably miss his company, though. You’ve been together for so long, I mean.”
Yveni looked narrowly at his friend’s apparently innocent expression. Gil only possessed the Vision, but Yveni had to wonder if he saw more with those sharp eyes than the physical. “It’s not like he’s moved across the ocean.”
“No. But one day
you
will.”
“I’ll deal with that when it happens.”
“Aye. He’s a good friend though. A fine man. The gods brought you together, I feel.”
“And the gods will separate us. My future’s in Sardelsa.”
“And producing heirs.”
“Yes. I can’t exactly count on Serina doing that, can I?”
“Not with Konsatin, no.” The hated name soured Gil’s expression for a moment. “There have been childless ducs before, I recall.”
“Yes, but with Konsatin and his loathsome brother panting at the gates, our line can’t afford not to secure its future. If my father had not had his stroke, I’d be betrothed already.” Why the hell was Gil talking about this? He’d never had any interest in Yveni’s future wedded bliss before.
“Yes. But you’re not.”
“Is there a point to this?”
“None, really. Just making conversation while I deal with this handsome gentleman. You best run along. Ferdi gave up Raina with the expectation of you taking her place, so it might be wise to occasionally show your face at his place of business.”
Yveni screwed up said face. “I can’t imagine how I survived the last year or so without you managing every second of my day, Master Gil. I’m so glad you’re here to do it now.”
“Take your sarcasm and be off, lad. Some of us have work to do.”
Yveni walked away, considering there was, just occasionally, a negative side to being with people who felt so at ease with him. He wished people would stop talking about Paole moving out. It was hard enough dealing with it without being reminded all the time.
Paole found his patient lying on a couch in the servant quarters, damaged foot bandaged and elevated, and the man himself looking rather chagrined. “I’ll leave you with him,” Sofia said. “He’s unbearable when he’s injured.”
Paole smiled at her as she left, then moved over to the stool next to the couch. “Now what have you done to yourself, Gil?”
The man pulled a face. “Let a damn horse catch me unawares. I haven’t made a misstep like that since I was twenty. I’m getting too old for this.”
“He stood on your foot?”
“Aye, and then I managed to twist it again, tripping on a rope. I made a thorough bugger up of it.”
“Let me look.” Paole used his gift to seek out the damage, exploring the inflammation and crushed blood vessels. “No bones broken, but it’s a bad sprain on top of some heavy bruising. It’ll be a couple of weeks before you’re walking normally, and only if you stay off it, keep it raised and use plenty of cold compresses on it.”
“I know the treatment. I just thought it might be broken. I appreciate you coming over to check. You must be busy.”
“We are, but I just tell my lad to ask people to come back, or take notes. I can give you something for the pain and the bruising. It’ll speed things up a little.”
“Thank you. Can I offer you some tea?”
“No, I’m fine. How is…everyone?” He hadn’t been to Ferdi’s house for over a month, not since they’d opened the shop. Paole told himself he’d been too busy, but it wasn’t strictly true. He’d avoided the house, despite—because of—his fondness for the residents. Or one resident.
“Everyone’s in good health. He’s been a little down in the mouth lately though.”
“Who?”
Gil gave him a look. “Who do you think? Has he been by the shop lately?”
“No, I don’t think so. Not that he needs to. Raina can tell him all he needs to know.”
“I suppose so. Ferdi was saying he’d like you to come to dinner soon. Meet some of his associates, make contacts. Some people in the import trade who can obtain medicines and herbs to order, that kind of thing.”
“That’s kind of him. Yveni would be there?”
“Oh, I think so. Ferdi wants him to make contacts too. Seeing how it’s possible he won’t be able to return to Sardelsa, Yveni may end up having to make his life here.”
Paole straightened up in alarm. “Has something happened? Why won’t he go back?”
Gil made a “settle down” motion with his hand. “Calm yourself, man. Nothing’s happened. The governors weren’t very encouraging, that’s all, and we had some reports from Sardelsa of Konsatin strengthening border controls. Yveni will still try but we’re being realistic.”
“He has to go back. You said it yourself.”
“I did and I meant it. But it could take a lot longer than we hoped. One option is Karvin mercenaries but Yveni utterly refuses to consider them. Not that I blame him, but without that kind of help, it’s hard to imagine how he’ll retake the throne. Once he’d old enough to rule in his own right, it might be easier. Turning up at Nukin Port as the rightful duc, and not just heir, might work. Then again, it might not.”
“Is he upset?”
“He seems to be, but not about that. I wondered if you had any idea what was troubling him.”
Gil had a way of looking at a man that made Paole think he could read his damn mind. “No, I don’t. I haven’t seen or spoken to him in weeks. I suspect it’s this matter that’s on his mind. Perhaps he’s worried about his sisters.”
“Perhaps. Did you want to give me the bruise remedies now or just a script?”
Paole left him with some powders for the pain, a salve for the bruising and firm instructions not only to Gil but to Sofia as well that the man needed to stay off the injured foot as much as possible for the next few days. “Don’t come complaining to me if you end up with a sprain that goes on for months if you don’t do as I say.”
Gil gave him a rueful grin. “I wouldn’t dare. Thanks for coming, Paole. It’s very nice to see you again.”
“Same here. Good day, Sofia.”
He half-hoped and half-feared to run into Yveni in the house, but there was no sign of the boy. Probably for the best. Yveni hadn’t been happy about Paole moving into the little apartment above the shop, but Paole wanted his own place, somewhere he could put the books and his few possessions, and most importantly, stop being tormented by Yveni himself. Not that the lad had done or said anything the least improper. He’d been cheerful and helpful in assisting Paole and Raina set up the herbalist shop. Only his eyes betrayed his real feelings. Paole would rather be stabbed in the heart with a knife than see the pain in them.
The boy would get over it in time. It wasn’t as if they had been lovers in truth. Their relationship had changed, that was all. Moving on was the right thing for both of them.
Paole promised to repeat that advice to himself as often as necessary.
Things grew easier, as almost everything did over time. Paole could hardly avoid Ferdi’s house and business completely, and if he tried, he soon found Raina or Sofia or Gil enquiring if there was a problem. So he didn’t. He encountered Yveni a number of times over the following weeks without there being any unpleasant discussion, and the boy appeared to be resigned to the situation. It helped that Yveni was surrounded by people who cared for him and that Ferdi was determined to involve him as much as he could in the running of his business. Paole wondered why he bothered, because the training would be of little use to Yveni once he left, but it was Ferdi’s business, not his.
As the months passed, though, it looked like Yveni might really have to remain in Uemire. Each new arrival from Sardelsa—a few came with every boat into the port—brought information about the situation, which the governors’ office collected and passed covertly to Yveni. None of it offered any encouragement. Konsatin had firmly entrenched his hold on the country since Yveni’s father had died and Yveni had fled the duchy. Yveni and Gil believed Konsatin was not yet ready to challenge the Unity between the twenty duchies in Tuelwetin, but it couldn’t be ruled out.
The politics held little interest for Paole. He only wanted Yveni to be happy, whether in Horches or in Sardelsa. Selfishly, he hoped the situation would not change, and Yveni would stay in Uemire. For Yveni’s sake, he hoped there would be a breakthrough. Whatever happened, he dared not express his feelings for Yveni to anyone. The freedom to do that had long since gone.
“Be with you in a moment, Gil. Just let me finish this… There.” Paole looked up from his notes. “How’s that mare?”
“Bulging.” Gil grinned. “Raina assures me it’s not twins but it’s going to be the biggest foal I ever saw.”
“I’m sure it’ll be a fine little horse. What can I do for you?”
“Wanted to pick up some more of the liniment. We’re nearly out.”
“Couldn’t Raina have brought some back with her?”
“She could, but I wanted to stretch my legs, and invite you over to supper tonight with Sofia and me. I could do with a break from talking about infants.”
“No longer besotted with your new granddaughter then?”
“She’s a darling but sometimes a man wants an evening talking about horses’ bowels, not teething babies. Even Jaime wants to escape from time to time and he’s the father.”
Paole grinned. “I’m sure. Though I imagine once your mare gives birth, Sofia will be around begging me to save her from talk of weaning foals.”
“Most likely. Anyway, usual time. Yveni’s going out to dinner with Ferdi so he won’t be around.”
“Ah. Hope he enjoys himself.” Paole was never sure if Gil deliberately engineered visits to Ferdi’s house mostly when Yveni went out for some reason, but he appreciated it nonetheless. He’d been to supper with him there, but Yveni never appeared to enjoy himself, and Paole hated watching him trying to be cheerful. Easier to avoid the situation completely.