The Ambassadors (3 page)

"Are you all right, pretty artist?" Calo asked, touching his cheek lightly.

"I'm fine," Anike said wearily, crossing his arms to keep his hands close. That way he wouldn't be tempted into returning the teasing touches or worse.

"You're tired," Reni interpreted, a softer smile curving his lips.

"Yes," Anike admitted, his shoulders slumping. Not that it mattered. It had never mattered with Taleir, and Anike had no doubt that Calo and Reni knew many ways to wake him. That he was even thinking such thoughts meant he really was tired. At least his dreams would be pleasant that evening, especially if he continued to receive the soft, playful caresses that Calo and Reni seemed intent on drowning him in.

"Where is your room, pretty artist?" Calo asked as they reached the wide doors that led to the bedrooms of the palace. Every guest stayed there, as well as some of the nobles who dwelled there permanently. The servants' quarters were both underground and on the first floor. Anike had a room at the end of the second floor, something that had not endeared him to the other servants of the palace, but was necessary for the light he needed to do his painting properly.

"At the end," Anike replied, thinking after the words left his mouth how much of a bad idea it might be for Calo and Reni to know where his bedroom was. They could easily ask a servant and find out, though, so it wasn't like he was divulging a state secret.

Calo and Reni led him down the hallway slowly, both of them miraculously refraining from touching him. Anike took the respite, taking slow breaths to calm himself down. He just needed to figure out some way to make them go away once they got to his room. Then he'd be okay and he could hide away in his room for a while with the excuse of working on the paintings for the ball.

They reached his room more quickly than Anike expected, and he hesitated, unthinkingly glancing at Calo. Hopefully his face didn't betray his anxiety, and Anike tensed a bit as Calo stepped close … but he merely pressed a soft kiss to Anike's forehead before stepping away.

"Sleep well, pretty artist," Calo told him, and a slight shift of clothing made Anike glance at Reni. His confusion only grew as Reni kissed his cheek softly and gave him his sketches back, his fingers lingering only for a few seconds on Anike's.

"Good night." Reni smirked, stepping away, and Anike watched the two ambassadors walk away, confused and not at
all
disappointed. There was no reason to be disappointed. Anike let himself into his room quickly, locking the door behind him. He deposited his sketches on his worktable and merely kicked off his shoes before crawling into bed. Perhaps sleep would erase all thoughts of the strange and beautiful ambassadors.

Anike managed to hide in his room for a week. He was surprised he saw no sign of Calo or Reni, since they did know where his room was, but he took full advantage of the peace and worked out a dozen paintings. And if he lingered a little too long getting every last detail of them perfectly right in a few paintings … well, no one would know the difference.

It was only when the prince summoned him that Anike put down his paintbrush to leave his room. He had time to change into something more presentable, but he didn't bother to try to scrub the paint smears off his fingers before he answered the summons. That would take too much time and it didn't really matter. The prince was used to seeing him smeared with paint.

Honestly, Anike should've known something was up. A whole week without being tormented by the too-beautiful brothers was too much time for them to not be planning something. Anike could tell by the matching smug looks on their faces that they'd done something. The prince looked much the same as normal as he gestured Anike to have a seat. Anike sat down slowly, trying to not look at either Calo or Reni as he did so.

"As you know," the prince began, in his pompous tone that meant he was about to say something about preserving his praiseworthy reign for all future generations. "Our two ambassadors from Marana are the first to come to our country in over a centuries."

Anike nodded, keeping his eyes on the prince.

"Therefore, their arrival is momentous," the prince declared, and Anike nodded again. That was why he'd painted the conference and the ball, wasn't it? "I would have you do portraits, to hang in the grand hall."

"Yes, majesty," Anike agreed. He couldn't very well refuse.

"Good," the prince smiled at him genially, standing and letting one of the hovering servants settle his royal robe on his shoulders. "I shall leave you to work out the details."

Anike stood, dropping a low bow as the prince swept from the room. The servants followed him, and Anike was once more alone with the ambassadors.

"Is there anywhere you would like to have the portraits done?" Anike asked quietly, wondering if he'd survive, since he'd barely managed to escape after the ball.

"Wherever is most comfortable for you, pretty artist," Calo replied, and Anike glanced up to see them approaching, one on either side of the table.

"The gardens?" Anike suggested. He'd done plenty of portraits out there, and it gave him enough light.

"Sounds … delightful," Reni said, putting emphasis on 'delightful.' Anike blushed, hiding his paint-stained hands under the table.

"How long does portrait-making take?" Calo asked, leaning against the table to the left of Anike's chair.

"Half a day," Anike answered without hesitation. He'd done more than enough portraits to answer that confidently, though if he were going to get all the details—especially their skin—it might take a little longer.

"During sunlit hours, too?" Reni asked, and they seemed almost normal for a moment except that Reni was sliding his ankle along Anike's calf.

"I need the light," Anike confirmed, moving his leg away. Reni smirked a bit but took up a matching position to Calo, leaning against the table to Anike's right.

"Do you have tomorrow free?" Calo asked. Anike nodded slowly; he really didn't have anything on his schedule unless the prince requested his presence.

"I can only do one of you tomorrow," Anike said, frowning. "And that's provided it doesn't rain."

Calo and Reni made matching faces.

"Yes, let's hope it doesn't rain," Calo said distastefully, and Anike smothered a smile because that wasn't cute, not at all.

"All right, then I'll see you tomorrow," Anike said, standing. Pushing his chair back, Anike wasn't surprised at the light touch to his arm, and he glanced back at Reni, blushing a little because of course they weren't going to let him leave without touching him. Reni and Calo gave him simultaneous smirks, and Anike froze as they both moved forward, pressing light, teasing kisses to his cheeks.

"Until tomorrow, pretty artist," Calo drawled. Reni caressed Anike's lips with a light touch, and then they both stepped away. Anike made his retreat quickly, covering his face with his hands as soon as he got a few hallways away. He was never going to survive drawing portraits of them.

The gardens were one of Anike's favorite places in the palace. They were always beautiful and calm, and the gardeners were friendly to Anike, whereas the household staff often were not. Anike had gotten to the gardens early, letting the gardener tending the roses by the entrance know where to direct Calo or Reni when one or the other arrived. Then he made his way to the rear of the garden.

The gardeners were geniuses, in Anike's opinion. They had segregated each little section of the garden from the rest with their creative placements of trees, bushes, and other plants. Anike had always gravitated to the nook with crab-apple trees, near the rear of the garden. He typically used it for portrait sessions; the was a convenient tree swing where he'd done a few of the young ladies' portraits, as well as a few natural benches carved into fallen trees.

It took him a few minutes to set up his canvas and supplies, setting everything in careful order so he could work without having to fuss over where things were. He'd just gotten everything to his liking when Calo and Reni both strolled into the grove, talking in low, hissing tones. They stopped when they saw him, breaking into identical smiles.

"Good morning, pretty artist," Reni greeted as they walked towards him.

"Good morning," Anike replied politely. "I only need take the day from one of you," Anike pointed out, sliding his hands together. The paint still dried on his hands rubbed against his skin roughly.

"I wanted to watch," Calo divulged, giving Anike a secretive smile. Anike blushed, wondering if it were possible for him to think clean thoughts when Calo said things like that, with that suggestive look on his face. Probably not, and probably that was their intent. Anike nodded, turning his gaze back to Reni.

"You can sit anywhere you like, though I suggest you pick a position you can hold still in for a few hours?" Anike offered, gesturing towards the bench and tree.

"What position do you suggest?" Reni drawled. Anike choked a little, and really, that was just unfair.

"On the bench?" Anike blushed furiously because that wasn't really any better. "Just sit comfortably and don't change your expression."

"All right," Reni agreed easily, looking amused and Anike rolled his eyes, focusing on his canvas for a long moment as Calo sauntered over to him.

"My watching won't bother you, will it?" Calo asked intently, his eyes on Anike, and Anike stared back for a moment before managing to gather his wits enough to reply.

"No. Just don't … break my concentration," Anike instructed. Calo smiled slowly, walking behind him and trailing a few fingers across his lower back.

"I'll sit over there," Calo said softly, close to Anike's ear, and then he moved away. He took a seat on the bench half-hidden behind and to the left of where Anike had set up his canvas.

Anike took a deep breath. Then another, and collected his pencil. He glanced at Reni, who was lounging almost seductively across the bench. His arms were stretched across the back and his legs were spread indecently wide, and it was
not
an invitation because Anike had work to do.

"This will hang in the front hall," Anike reminded him, and Reni laughed, but straightened, sitting more appropriately with his legs crossed and his hands folded together in his lap. Anike nodded and set to drawing an outline.

"May I interrupt?" Calo asked softly, drawing his attention. Anike hesitated, but lowered the brush, frowning at the half-completed painting.

"Yes?" Anike asked, turning away from the canvas and towards where Calo's voice had come from. Calo smiled, and hefted a basket that he hadn't brought with him earlier. Meaning he'd snuck off and returned without Anike noticing.

"Lunch?" Calo offered, and Anike wavered. He was making good progress …

"I'm hungry," Reni spoke up, but he didn't move from his pose. He was good at holding still, and Anike was impressed. He rarely got portrait sitters who were that patient and collected.

"All right," Anike accepted, glad he'd gotten a good base of Reni's face done already. He only needed to add details. "It's all right if you move."

Reni laughed, standing up and crossing the garden towards them. Anike added a few last brushstrokes to the canvas before turning his attention to covering his paints and taking care of his brushes.

"Nice," Reni complimented, and Anike shrugged, ignoring the warmth Reni's comment caused.

Anike smiled at the canvas, careful to not show Reni. "I'll finish it after lunch."

"Come join us, pretty artist," Calo spoke up as Anike dithered over his paints.

"Just a moment," Anike deferred, arranging his brushes carefully. They were expensive and even if he could have them easily replaced, he wasn't going to treat them callously. Finally satisfied, Anike turned around and walked over to the bench were Calo was lounging. Reni was stretched out at his feet, looking quite like he was dozing in the sun. Except that he was chewing something.

"Have a seat," Calo invited, gesturing to the other side of the basket, which was sitting next to him. Anike nodded, wordlessly picking his way around Reni to sit gingerly on the bench. A quick glance in the basket showed a few small bottles of wine, and enough food to feed a small army.

"Help yourself," Calo directed, tearing a strip of chicken off the chunk he held. Anike snagged an apple and one of the bottles of wine, pleasantly surprised to find it cool to the touch.

"How did you come to be the court artist?" Reni asked, slitting his eyes open to look at Anike.

Anike swallowed the bite of apple he'd taken, a little surprised at the question. "The prince saw my work and liked it." He shrugged, taking another bite of apple. "He has some grand plan of documenting his momentous reign through great works of art."

Calo hissed something in amusement to Reni, and Anike sighed, hooking his ankles together. Setting the apple down a moment, he pulled the cork from the wine bottle and took a swallow.

"Do you like it?" Reni asked, apparently ignoring Calo. Anike shrugged, picking up his apple again. "Surely it gets boring, drawing and painting the prince's whims?"

"I'm not normally this busy," Anike answered, dismissing the out-of-place thought wondering how hard Calo and Reni's language was to learn. "Just your arrival is momentous, since contact with Marana is something that hasn't happened in a hundred years."