Ardaik 15th - Southern Serellia

As the last rays of light split between the brush of the evergreen trees, Rowan returned to their small camp with his arms filled with wood for their fire.

Kam had already gathered up the rocks, fish, dug a hole, and used her breath to start the fire. Now that Rowan thought about it, Kam was far more efficient at camping or living on her own than he was. He supposed that was why you had never heard about dragons making cities... they didn't need the shelter and comfort of a house as humans did. In fact, the white dragon looked quite cozy and curled around the clearing while Brice huddled next to the fire, feeding it twigs frantically, trying to warm himself.

"Can tell we're getting further north, heh!" Brice said light-heartedly as he scooted a little closer to the fire.

"Yes, well past the border, I think," Rowan agreed as he dumped the culmination of his work for the past few minutes next to the fire.

"Never traveled to Serellia without a wagon before. Suppose there's a first time for everything, isn't there?" His shivering a little less shook Brice's words as the flames caught the larger logs and began to put a nice sear on the fish.

"Where did you get that wagon you had back there? You don't seem bothered leaving it behind," Rowan asked.

"You think I stole it?" Brice surmised rather quickly, but the merchant continued before Rowan could say no. "I did, and I didn't... Malton's merchant guild had a couple of wagons in their livery. I didn't exactly fill out the proper paperwork for them, though... but there are plenty of merchant guilds in Serellia. So I figure if we're heading to Homenil, I can pick up a wagon and supplies there, and if I work until the first snows, I should be able to make enough to pay them off and still have enough to catch a boat to Cardenar before the sea freezes." Brice explained, looking a lot more relaxed and less chilled now.

"You're not returning to Lorellia then?" Asked Rowan, noting that Brice was clearly Lorellian himself.

"Eh... Not for a while. I think I'll try to avoid the undead and Vadal for a few months," Brice said with a small smirk that barely pulled at the corner of his mouth.

"Vadal... the Emissary that arrested you. What did you do?"

"The official charge was smuggling and unlawful trafficking of goods across a border or something along those lines."

"So, you're a smuggler?"

"Eh, sort of... Look, sometimes ya need to break the rules to do the right thing."

"That sounds awfully self-righteous..."

"People, Rowan, I was smuggling slaves out of Cardenar," Brice said bluntly after it was clear that the young noble hadn't caught on to his subtle hints.

"Slaves? Lorellia doesn't recognize slavery..."

"Exactly, and to be honest, smuggling makes it sound like I had women and children stuffed under tarps in the back of my wagon... which I didn't! They were just riding with me. They just wanted a new life in a new place."

"But that isn't against Lorellian law?" Rowan knew the Lorellian border laws, and Boreven policed most of the northern Lorellian border.

"Lorellia, no, but the Merchants guild is another story. They span many countries, and in Cardenar transporting escaped slaves is illegal... so if the guild wants to operate in Cardenar, they must follow their laws."

"So in the guild's eyes, even people are nothing more than property..." Rowan thought aloud as he stared into the flames while Brice took the fish off the fire and gave one a test nibble.

"Slaves are goods, and escaped slaves are illegal goods... they don't concern themselves with the details," Brice explained between blowing on his fish between bites. Then, after he'd swallowed, he continued. "That's why I wasn't hung up over helping you or borrowing a wagon, sometimes rules just get in the way."

Rowan didn't respond. Instead, he just ate his fish and let what Brice had told him sink in a little. While Brice's explanation did paint a nice picture of a roguish merchant just trying to do the right thing, Rowan wasn't one to just take something for face value. If what Brice told him was true, then Brice was still a criminal and had broken the law knowingly. Even if it was for a good cause, he wasn't ignorant of the consequences. So either Brice was fine with the results of his actions, or he was arrogant enough to believe that he could avoid them.

"What about you?" Brice wondered after it had become far too quiet for his liking.

"Hm?" Rowan replied, his mouth still full and unable to form words.

"Will you be returning to Lorellia before the passes snow over? Not many months left." Brice wondered.

"Won't matter with a dragon." Rowan and Brice's gazes both traveled over to the giant sleeping form of Kamuhr.

"Hah, I suppose not. Say you could make a good living transporting goods by dragon during the winter months in Serellia or becoming a dragon rider." Brice suggested.

Rowan nodded but once more fell silent, he wasn't sure what the future would hold, but he indeed hadn't assumed that he and Kam would be working together for that long. He hadn't even really considered returning to Boreven, not before finding Artus. He had so much he wanted to tell him.

***

Ardaik 15th - Tulot, Serellia

Steam rose off the surface of the bath water, filling the room with a misty haze, made golden by the glow of the candles. The heat instantly worked to melt any tension in Flann's muscles that the drink hadn't taken care of, drawing a sigh from deep in his chest. He made himself comfortable. While seated, he was submerged up to his mid-chest, and his knees just barely poked out into what now felt like chilly air.

Artus was still fiddling with his clothes, and for a few moments, Flann found a lump in his throat. He couldn't decide if Artus was struggling because he was tipsy, or nervous, or worse...having second thoughts. Either way, he figured if the beautiful Lorellian was going to back out, now would be the time. Even at their closest, he'd never seen Artus completely undressed. But as Artus continued to delicately undress, more was exposed to Flann's eyes with every layer, and he was utterly transfixed. Elbows. Thin ankles leading into knobby knees...the slightest tease of thighs, shoulders...

Flann's breath physically caught in his throat as Artus pulled the last article, his Lorellian-style undershirt, over his head, and carefully draped it onto his pile of clothing. Artus was breathtaking. Time almost seemed to slow as Artus pulled his black waves back, gathering them into a tiny ponytail that he secured with a length of ribbon before gingerly stepping into the bath with him. Artus's attempt to tie back his hair had also given Flann a view of what appeared to be a tattoo on Artus's inner bicep. A crest. Flann never would have imagined it being there. Inking skin was common in Serellia, though he supposed it might have caught on with the Lorellian sailors Artus had spent time around in the past. Artus's parents might not have even known about it.

It took Flann a moment longer to realize that Artus wasn't sure where to fit himself with him taking up much of the bath.

"Should I...just," Artus whispered, crouching down slightly.

"Aartie," Flann's tone came out gruff, and he gently cleared his throat as his hands found the backs of the Lorellian's calves. "Make yarself comfortable."

Artus took a deep breath, as if he were about to jump off the deck of a ship, and seated himself in the tub. Goosebumps covered his flawless skin as he adjusted to relax against Flann's side, resting his head on his shoulder.

Their hands were already exploring each other beneath the privacy allotted by the water, made as dark as the sea by the dim light when Flann spoke. "Ya nervous?"

"No," Artus replied.

"Yar heart's beatin' fast..."

A soft smile graced the Lorellian's face when Flann lifted Artus's chin towards him.

"I'm excited," Artus whispered, his golden eyes dropping to Flann's lips just before they met.

A chuckle rose from Flann's throat. Deep, and reverberating. "Aye. Me too."

Artus cupped both of his cheeks and kissed him again deeply, desperately almost, and he didn't even tense when Flann gripped his hips to lift him up and seat him atop his own. Their needs brushed, and the gasp from Artus that parted their lips threatened to drive Flann mad.

"Flann."

"Aye?"

Artus pressed his forehead against Flann's. His lips parted to speak, but only the softest, need-filled whimper came out. Flann all but scrambled to reposition Artus again, splashing a bit of water to spatter out onto the floor. This time so that the Lorellian's slender back was against his broad chest. "You'll tell me if ya want me ta stop?" Flann asked, his breath fanning across Artus's neck. "Artie?" He needed the other prince's answer now. He'd never wanted anyone so badly as he did at this moment, but even in his state, he needed to know Artus wanted it to. Wanted him.

"Don't." Artus finally gasped, his voice just as breathless as Flann felt. "Please don't stop."