“Vidvan?”
He had somehow managed to surprise Tavesh. Maybe he hadn’t expected to see him out here. As Vidvan shouldn’t have been out here, he was surprised too. Not at being outside. He had planned that.
But for once, he hadn’t been trying to find Tavesh.
Vidvan tried not to spend too much time readjusting his cloak. “Hello, Tavesh.” Oh, he sounded like a fool.
Tavesh’s surprise faded away, replaced by a smirk. “Any plans?”
Well, Vidvan had had plans, but none of them seemed as important now.
“Your name.”
Vidvan nearly had a heart attack, wheeling about from where he stood at his desk. There was no confusing who stood there in front of him – Tavesh. That was surprising enough, even before Vidvan considered all of the other reasons the man could not have been there.
“Wh-what?” Vidvan didn’t sound nearly as surprised as he felt, but there was still plenty of it.
“Your name,” Tavesh said again. “Is it Vidvan? I’m making an educated guess.”
Vidvan nodded, trying to pull himself together. “You shouldn’t be here. How did you get in here?”
“I’ll leave. But I had to know your name. My apologies.” Tavesh made an exaggerated bow.
He had to know that Vidvan could have him killed for this. Accusing someone of entering the tower when they weren’t invited. Which he could not have been. If he had been, he would be accompanied. No one else was here.
Then he left, before Vidvan could say anything else.
He looked out of the window the same moment Tavesh looked up.
Why he was within the walls didn’t make sense at first. Eventually Vidvan noticed the captain with him. They must have been summoned for some reason. But it took him long enough to see that, because from the second floor it was more than a coincidence of looking in his general direction.
Those blue eyes were focused on him. After a moment of non-reaction, Tavesh smirked. He gave a flimsy salute, something that could have been confused for swatting away a fly.
Vidvan probably should have done something in return, but instead he simply stood there like an idiot. Maybe placed his hands on the window sill. Even as Tavesh looked away, returning to his stride alongside his captain.
That was the moment Vidvan knew he was more than interested, he was lost in the gaze of someone he barely knew. Which didn’t make any sense. Didn’t make any sense at all.
Yet he wouldn’t let the feeling go for the world.
Vidvan knew who Tavesh was long before he met him. His Master had taken in the soldiers who had returned victorious from their protection of the borderland. A large feast was put on for their celebration, along with the honor of being allowed within their Master’s walls.
The soldiers all knew what honor they had been given. Their captain was given such a seat of honor, next to the Master. Vidvan sat near enough to listen as the captain gave the story of their defence.
“I recommend to you Tavesh,” the captain said to Vidvan’s Master, gesturing with his glass at a soldier halfway down the table. “His technique and quick wits is equal to giving me a company twice as large.”
“Is that so?” The Master sounded amused.
Vidvan looked. Average height and weight, Tavesh’s body must have belied the muscle that the captain’s praise suggested. His auburn hair was shoulder length, but barely kept from being mussed by a piece of leather keeping it back. His brow was broad, skin olive and marked a few obvious places, with clear blue eyes.
“He requires a bit more experience, but I promise to you he will become one of your most staunch defenders, my lord. On that you have my word.”
Vidvan returned his gaze to his plate, trying to ignore the lump in his throat.
Tavesh never looked up.
A. A. MacConnell 