Special thanks to Tav for beta’ing. =)
Dedicated to the Yaoi_Arslan ML.
My Lovely Artist
Author: RoninBrat
Having decided mutually to spend the night at the Inn only to play escort to an unsuspecting Narsus upon the morning, Daryun and Quishward found themselves deep in their cups.
Too deep, by Daryun’s standards.
"By the gods! That didn't take much to get you to fessup," Quishward’s voice boomed drunkenly.
Staring, mouth agape, Daryun shushed Quishward. Luckily only a few patrons remained, the inn’s dining hall having closed hours ago. Had he known they would drink themselves into oblivion and start discussing Narsus, he would have used the common sense given to him at birth and rushed them off to bed. "What? You mean you tricked me?"
"You'll get over it." Lowering his voice, Quishward leaned in almost conspiratorially. "Do you honestly believe, Daryun, that he's going to be available forever?"
"Well... yes..." Daryun started but found himself unable to finish.
"I mean, he's beautiful. He’s... he’s intelligent --"
"He’s got a smart mouth." Daryun injected, staring at his empty tankard, wishing he’d never had the first, and realizing Quishward wasn’t paying a bit of attention to his objections.
"-- and it's not only a surface beauty either. He's compassionate and caring. How many high-born’s do you know that would take in a street orphan and raise him and, I might add, a damn fine job he's done too! Elam is being apprenticed for knighthood."
"Elam got himself apprenticed, his participation in the wars spoke of his integrity, his loyalty... I know! But he's the most damn stubborn irritating man I've ever met." Now it was Daryun’s voice that rose.
"He's opinionated." Quishward spoke softly. "Tell me, Daryun, would you rather come home to a dimwit who has no idea what you've experienced or could even begin to understand what and why you must do what you do, or would you like to come home to understanding, respect and love and a matched sex drive?"
"What do you know about Narsus' sex drive?" Daryun glared.
"I don't! I can only imagine what that sensual body has to offer. You can’t fake sensuality. He reeks of it. He was born to it. I do remember this one incident and you are not to get yourself all ruffled because of it."
"Perhaps." Suspicious now as to what knowledge Quishward had of Narsus, Daryun leaned in further to listen, to not lose a word. He grasped his tankard tightly in his hand in case he should have need to whack Quishward upside his head. It was indeed a tempting thought just for tricking him into this conversation.
"Lord Havak! Remember him? Good fighter, may he rest in peace, had the hots for a young Narsus before Narsus was exiled. He stole a kiss from him once."
"Really?"
"Yes. And you know what Havak told me one night, that it was the most exotic thing he'd ever experienced in his entire life. Said Narsus was totally shocked and caught off guard. Stated that Narsus simply melted into him before he realized who it was."
"Melted?"
"Yes, that was Havak's exact words and you know what else Havak said? He said that Narsus thought it was you who was kissing him."
"What? And tell me how Havak came to such conclusion."
Quishward shrugged. The story was true up til now. "It was dark, a corridor I believe outside Narsus' rooms. Havak was a brave man but not so brave to attempt such a thing in broad daylight."
"Maybe I should be hurt." Daryun pouted, an expression that would never grace his dark features were he sober. "Hurt that he didn’t know me."
Quishward looked heavenward, sighing. Glancing around the room, he spotted the innkeep who stood sleepily leaning against the bar, waiting patiently for his paying patrons to leave. The innkeeper knew exactly what the Commanders wanted and headed to their table with a pitcher.
"If Narsus doesn’t know me from...from...well then..." Daryun left his sentence incomplete choosing the unasked for ale to silence his drunken tongue.
"Who knows what goes through a man’s head, especially if they want something very badly. Dream it. Imagine it. Believe it so dearly..." Quishward shrugged. In reality, Narsus had melted but upon realization of something, had slapped Havak hard enough to redden a cheek for days. "Perhaps Narsus has the same fantasy of you, as you him." At Daryun’s dark stare, Quishward merely shrugged innocently.
"Bahh!" Daryun scoffed at the prospect. "I have not the funds to keep such a man or woman in such a lifestyle. Narsus is extravagance. Narsus is a nobleman."
Quishward frowned. Perhaps Daryun didn’t think highly of Narsus if he was letting a title and funds be a deciding factor. "Well then, let me see. Narsus’ little shack during exile was down-played, he actually lived in a large manor. Even though I was one of his escorts out of the city he’d managed to smuggle in his pack more than just the clothes he wore." Quishward frown went deeper. It had been a sad day when the strategist had left the palace, but everyone knew he’d been lucky to leave with his life.
"You are right. I’m sorry." Daryun ran tired, shaking fingers through his hair. "One of the little things I’ve learned as a soldier is to never dream."
"Hogwash. Dreams keep a soldier going. Freedom, liberty. Those are dreams even a commoner has."
"Those are not dreams, Quishward, they are obtainable realities that often times must be fought for. Dreams are more personal."
"Matter of opinion I suppose, Quishward offered. "Come, off to bed with us. We have a very important mission in the morning, escorting our Lord Narsus to the palace."
Daryun snorted. "The man won’t make it up before noon."
Quishward laughed, rising drunken to his feet. "Perhaps."