Twilight of Ivory

Eulovanic instructed Prith to bring Naru to his tent at sunset, to which Prith nodded in assent but not before Eulovanic caught a fleeting look of anxiety cross his face.

He tugged the reins deftly and his horse side-stepped closer to Prith's mount. "How was he this morning?" Eulovanic asked.

"He was fine," Prith replied, his voice pitched higher than usual. He coughed.

Eulovanic glanced at him. "Did he say something to you?"

"No--why do you ask that?" Prith's voice was even higher and his eyes were averted.

"You're acting strangely, Captain." Eulovanic wondered if Prith was hiding something but concluded that whatever it was, it was probably harmless. Prith wouldn't defy him or betray him, loyalty was in his nature, and Eulovanic had trained and promoted him, too; he certainly wouldn't bite the hand that fed him...not for a boy he had just met...

Eulovanic felt the first tendrils of uncertainty and jealousy prickle at him, but he gripped the reins tightly and consciously, firmly discarded those feelings and changed the subject. "I've noticed he's warmed to you. I suppose he's expressed his unhappiness about the situation?"

"Well...yes, sir."

"He's young, after all." Eulovanic cleared his throat. "He seemed to understand when I told him what other fates could have befallen him, but if he continues like this I suppose it's to be expected." A pang of uneasy regret hit him square in the heart but he pursed his lips, sat up straighter, and refused to let it show. "I remember Ariane...she was remote and temperamental quite often when she was younger. It's just something we'll have to deal with."

"He's really not a bad kid, sir," Prith tried to insert helpfully. "He's very independent, but he's got a good heart. He gets along with all of the men."

"Yes. It's certainly curious."

Prith looked surprised. "What do you mean, sir?"

"It's strange that he...fraternizes so well with the enemy. Not that I doubt your and the squadron's charms, Prith," Eulovanic said apologetically, "but if he's a warrior, and a patriot, and an independent like you say, I wonder why he's so cooperative." With you and the squadron, at least, Eulovanic thought.

"I think...may I give you my opinion, sir?"

"Go on."

"Ah, I think it's just his personality, sir. He lives day by day and doesn't hold grudges, and yes, I think he does want to return home, but I don't think he blames the men for his being captured...he probably just attributes it to a bad case of luck and your playing hardball with hi--excuse me, sir," Prith amended quickly.

"Is that all, Prith?" Eulovanic asked in amusement.

"Yes." Prith was red. "Well, there is one other thing--you know, sir, I think the boy just likes to talk. He probably couldn't resist keeping his mouth shut, and then one thing led to another and now he likes the squadron just fine." Prith took a deep breath. "I'm sure he'll get along with you once he gets to know you better."

"So you know we haven't been getting along?"

"Well--ah--he happened to mention--" Prith fumbled.

"I understand, Captain," Eulovanic said, and Prith sighed in relief. "When was the last time you were back in the capital, Prith?"

"Oh, it's been three months at least, sir. We went back with Oriken during Winter Solstice but haven't gone back since."

Eulovanic remembered something. "Are you still spreading that ridiculous story about Princess Rain?"

"Sir," Prith said, sounding wounded.

Eulovanic laughed and he and his captain rode side-by-side until the noon meal, when Eulovanic left him to take lunch with the other high-ranking officers. Naru, Eulovanic noticed, ate with the men; he caught a glimpse of his tawny hair when he went to go find one of the pack mules to exchange his empty water-skin for a full one.

As he returned to his mount, Eulovanic decided that he would try a new approach with the boy. He was a straightforward person, hence last night's talking-to, but perhaps he had to go about it more subtly, in a more roundabout manner...he had been maneuvering around court for years, this was just another winding road, he reminded himself.

And then, Eulovanic reflected, perhaps the boy would look at him as he did at the other soldiers. As a comrade.

And after that, as a companion.


When Eulovanic returned to his tent that night, he could hear music coming from within--piping, woodwind music. He paused before the tent opening and then pulled back the flap and stepped inside.

The boy was sitting on the edge of the bed--his bed--and playing a small wood flute. When he heard Eulovanic come in, he glanced up briefly and then lowered his eyes back to the ground; he music never ceased. Naru had chosen a quiet, nighttime melody, soothing but with a quick, bright arpeggio now and then. Eulovanic settled down beside him, careful to keep a comfortable but close distance between their bodies. When the music ended with a soft, drawn-out note, the boy laid the flute down on the bedspread and splayed his hands out over the coverlet. He wrung the quilt in his fingers and then said, eyes looking straight ahead and at nothing in particular, "Hi."

Eulovanic reached out as casually as he could and placed his hand over Naru's. He felt a slight spasm in Naru's hand but the boy didn't pull away. "You play the flute very well. Who taught you?"

"My mother. I haven't played in awhile, though. We only had one instrument and I...uh...lost it. This is Djahn's. He let me borrow it." He picked up the flute, thrust it into Eulovanic's free hand, and cleared his throat. "Djahn told me you had a piano."

"I do have a piano."

"And you know how to play?"

"Yes. Perhaps you would like to learn?"

Naru looked up, and Eulovanic was startled by the color of his eyes, blue-green and clear against the tan of his skin. He had never stopped to really look into them before.

Naru jerked his chin at him. "Are you going to teach me?"

His eyes were very steady, and Eulovanic wondered if he was being...coy?

"I could," Eulovanic said, "or you could have a teacher, and when you were tutored you could hold a recital for the court."

"That's okay," Naru said and his lips turned up at the corners. "You can hold a recital for me, and if you're good enough, maybe we can duet." He nodded towards the flute.

Eulovanic jerked on his hand and Naru fell onto his shoulder and chest in surprise. "Brat," he said lightly, even playfully, "maybe we can duet? Are you underestimating me?"

The boy grinned and Eulovanic felt vaguely dazzled.

"No, I just haven't seen you in action yet," Naru told him, drawing his hand away and stretching his arms up above his head. "I'll believe it when you show me."

"So that's the game you play, is it?"

"That's right. You want to know what I've seen so far?"

"Tell me."

"Well, first of all I know that you're good at sneaking up on people and knocking them unconscious. I witnessed that especially. I also know you're agile on your feet because you got out from behind that desk and were on me in a second last night."

Eulovanic's expression was blasé but he was perplexed; was the boy challenging him?

Yet Naru's eyes were guileless. He was leaning back on his elbows lazily and his eyes were canted up towards the ceiling.

"You also want an heir, and you're counting on me to ensure a healthy bouncing baby who'll be a credit to your establishment, whatever that is--" Eulovanic frowned now "--and lastly, Prith and the other guys in the squadron all really respect you, much to my surprise, but I'm willing to forget about yesterday if you promise to treat me like you do them, and maybe at the end I won't mind too much when we bond, considering I don't have many other options."

"Are those all your motives?" Eulovanic couldn't help his frigid tone.

Naru lifted up one finger. "Just one more." He nodded his chin towards Eulovanic's face sagely. "You're not ugly, you know."

The air between them was very still, and then Naru launched into a laughing fit and rolled over onto his side.

"Man, your face!" he gasped out between guffaws.

"Iventhal, come now." Eulovanic took hold of Naru's shoulder and rolled him onto his back. His hands pressed into the mattress on either side of Naru's head. They faced each other directly now, and the boy's laughter quickly faded. He grew sober and more than a little apprehensive; Eulovanic could see it in his eyes. He brushed his thumb gently against the edge of Naru's lips.

"I see you've had a change of heart," Eulovanic said, "but I'm not sure why. Explain yourself to me. I find you very confusing, Naru--were you being serious just now?" He ran his fingers through the boy's hair, from the messy bangs across his forehead to the crown and then down the side of his head. Eulovanic felt Naru shiver minutely.

"Yeah," Naru said. His voice was very low. "I...I'm too far from home." He took a deep breath. "My parents used to say that everything happens for a reason." He scowled at Eulovanic. "Don't prove them wrong."

Eulovanic remembered what Prith had said: I think it's just his personality ... He lives day by day and doesn't hold grudges...

"I won't," Eulovanic said, taking up Naru's hand again and clasping it loosely. "You just have to let me try."

"Will you still make me do all those things you talked about last night?"

Eulovanic was on the verge of answering a flat-out "Yes" when he hesitated. Why undo all this progress?

"We'll bond for sure," he began slowly. "As fast as can be deemed by the king, but as for when we start a family, I suppose I can...wait for you."

Naru smiled and Eulovanic knew why he had relented. He sighed.

"Not too long, mind you. I'm not growing any younger," he warned him.

"Whatever," Naru said with a sunny face before his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "How old are you, anyway?"

"Old enough to have colleagues with heirs and families," Eulovanic replied. He chucked Naru beneath his chin. "So you'll cooperate, will you?"

"Guess so."

"Good. Now, have you eaten yet?"

"No. Prith told me you told him that I had to be here at sunset--"

"Yes, he was right. I haven't had supper yet either. Stay here. I'll bring us some victuals and we can eat together."

Eulovanic pushed himself off the bed and was just straightening up when Naru grabbed the edge of his cloak and said, "Wait!"

"What is it?"

"I--I forgot... Eulovanic, the sword I had with me. Do you know where it is? It was my dad's; it's the only thing of his I have left." He looked troubled. Eulovanic jumped when Naru spoke his name, but the boy didn't notice. "Can I get it back? Do you guys have it?"

"Yes, but we've wrapped it up and stored it away."

"But--"

"No, Naru. Perhaps you can have it back later, when you've proven yourself properly docile," Eulovanic said dryly. "You're quite dangerous with that sword."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Naru said. He crossed his arms and looked disgruntled.

"As you should."

"Really, though--can't I just see it? To make sure that it's safe?"

Eulovanic shook his head. "No, Naru. Like I said, when you've proven yourself, I'll return it to you. In the meantime, you don't have to worry. We won't lose it. I saw it the other day. It's a good sword."

"Okay," Naru said, clearly unhappy. He wasn't sulky, though, and Eulovanic was glad. He ruffled Naru's hair.

"I'll go get our dinner."

As he left the tent, he happened to glance back, and on Naru's face was a most curious expression: pensive, almost cunning, but Eulovanic dwelled on it for only a little while because he couldn't be sure of what he'd seen. Besides, when he returned to the tent, Naru was still sitting obediently right where he'd left him.

They ate dinner at the small makeshift table in the center of the tent, and Eulovanic failed to count how many mugs of honeyed mead the boy downed, which turned out to be considerable. When they bedded down for the night, Naru was tipsy enough not to notice Eulovanic carrying him to the bed and this time laying down beside him, although it was just to sleep and watch his face and sneak a chaste kiss onto his forehead, no more.



A/N: Can't say how many times I avoided my other inbox for fear of chastising reviews lambasting my admittedly slow update schedule, but reader concern definitely propelled me into writing this. Thanks to everyone and especially tamingriki for sticking with the story ^^