Jason

  Jason startled awake. The room was dark, and he stumbled his way over to the bed. Alensar wasn't making a lot of noise, but Jason hadn't been sleeping deeply. Being in a new place made it harder for him to relax.

  Jason knelt next to Alensar's bed and tried to let his eyes adjust to the darkness, but with the curtains drawn, there were only shapes. Jason didn't touch Alensar and spoke very softly, "Hey now, it's alright. Everything is okay."

  Alensar made a strange, pained noise.

  "Wake up, please."

  Nothing, then...

  Another noise.

  Jason couldn't stand it and, with his touch like moth wings, put a hand on Alensar's shoulder.

  Alensar gave a shuddering breath and pulled away from him.

  "It's Jason."

  "Oh, okay."

  He could hear Alensar's shuddering breath, the accented words a whisper.

  Jason didn't reach out again. "I want you to breathe with me, okay? Inhale, 1...2….3….4…."

  Alensar stopped panting.

  "...9...10. And exhale. 1...2….3…"

  He wasn't sure how long they did the exercise, minutes drifting by.

  Alensar grasped Jason's forearm. "Thank you, I'm okay now. That was helpful."

  His accent was thick, almost like a different person.

  "I'm glad." And the dread inside him eased a bit.

  "I don't think I'm going to sleep anymore. You can have the bed," Alensar said, and Jason could hear him getting up, a shadow passing by. "I'll watch the dawn break."

  Jason had no idea how deep the night was.

  "But I can't sleep on your bed."

  "Can't I order you to do something like that?" Alensar said, his sarcasm touched with exhaustion. The chair scraped as Alensar moved it close to the windows. When he drew the curtains, the night was still deep, but the room got just a bit lighter.

  "I suppose you can," Jason muttered.

  "Then sleep...the bed is comfortable." Alensar's voice sounded distant.

  Jason settled into the bed, still warm and full of Alensar's scent. He felt strange and panicked for a few minutes. But it was very comfortable, and he was tired.

  ***

  Jason waited as Laude Granthor finished writing something. She set the pen down and sighed. The flickering light of the lamp didn't hide her worry.

  Jason said nothing and waited with his hands clasped until she addressed him.

  "Is the situation any better?"

  "No Laude. He didn't sleep this past night either."

  She rubbed her eyes with her hands.

  "How many nights has it been?"

  "Three nights of waking up early. The last two, not sleeping at all." Jason reported, though it may have been a rhetorical question.

  She tapped her fingers on the desk. "Any ideas?"

  Jason bowed. "I'm not certain if my idea will help."

  Laude Granthor sighed deeply again. "Say it."

  "My mother is a temple healer. She may have some insight."

  Laude Granthor shook her head and looked out the window, dusk having settled over the city, "Well, it's too late now."

  "We could probably go to my home and stay the night there. She could then perform a healing with the sunrise. If Alensar agrees." Jason hadn't actually asked his mother about this, since he hadn't been home for a few days.

  Laude Granthor shook her head. "It's late, and the streets are dangerous at night."

  Jason deliberately made a blank expression, but adjusted his sleeves.

  Laude Granthor narrowed her eyes. "What are you not saying, Jason?"

  He looked up. "I doubt we would be in much danger with Val Alensar there."

  She raised her brows.

  "He told me a bit of his history."

  "He should be more careful with that." She said, but there was no real conviction in her voice. She looked at Jason for a long moment. "I feel that this is unwise, but we should try something. I'm holding you responsible if anything goes wrong."

  Jason nodded, and his heart sped up. "Of course, Laude."

  "You're dismissed."

  Jason bowed smartly and left.

  Alensar

  Alensar was lying on the bed, the crook of his elbow over his eyes, but he was awake.

  "Val?" Jason sounded hesitant.

  Alensar didn't say anything for a moment. His whole body hurt, the daily 'practice' from Val Walter leaving a persistent ache. It made him so angry that he just had to take this and smile, but what could he do?

  He finally moved his arm away and looked at Jason lingering nearby with a polite posture. He focused on not taking his irritation out on Jason. Jason was also losing sleep, and it was his fault.

  "Yes?" he finally asked.

  "Would you like to go outside the house?" Jason asked with a slight smile.

  Alensar shot up. "When do we leave?"

  ***

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  When they stepped outside of the walls of Laude Elaine's home, Alensar stopped and took a few deep breaths of the cool night air. He leaned his head back, his eyes closed, just breathing. When he opened them, he saw a riot of stars. "Hello, old friends."

  "What was that?" Jason was watching and tapping his hand against his leg.

  "Nothing important."

  "We don't want to get the attention of the Nightwatch. We should get going."

  Alensar took one more deep breath and followed Jason, their boots clacking on the cobblestones. Their hurried pace made them more noticeable, but Alensar didn't say anything about it.

  Instead, he surveyed the surroundings, which admittedly, there wasn't much to see. Each house was surrounded by tall walls, some with guards at the gates. Many of the houses were taller than Laude Granthor's, and he could see windows and rooftops over the walls. Most of them had gardens with trees poking over as well.

  At the end of the lane, there were even larger walls and a gate. The main gate was closed for the night, and only a small door for foot traffic was open. They headed toward the smaller door, Jason leading the way.

  "Halt!"

  The night watchman stepped forward from a guardroom. He likely had been watching them come for some time.

  Jason shifted his weight from one foot to the other, but Alensar was relaxed. He stood tall and tilted his head up slightly.

  "It's a lovely night, isn't it?" he said with a condescending lilt.

  The guard seemed taken aback. "Uh, yes sir, it is."

  "I'm glad to see you're keeping the scoundrels away." He flashed his best charming smile.

  The watchman gave a bow, "My pleasure, sir, have a good night."

  They continued unhindered.

  "Where did you learn to do that?" Jason said, but Alensar couldn't tell if he was concerned or impressed.

  "You would be surprised with how much you can get away with when you have the right face and the right tone of voice." They walked in silence for a time, and then Alensar spoke. "Why are you afraid of the Nightwatch? You should have nothing to fear."

  "I've had some bad experiences."

  He didn't elaborate, and Alensar didn't ask.

  They started to enter poorer parts of the city. The paving grew steadily shoddier and the houses closer together. Alensar focused on keeping track of all the shortcuts and alleyways they entered.

  Jason unlocked a metal door into a courtyard, and then they went up wooden stairs on the outside of the house. The wood was smooth with footsteps but didn't creak. At the top was a small landing and a solid wooden door. Jason knocked rhythmically on it. They waited a few moments before they heard the sound of sliding wood as a peephole opened.

  "Hello, Mom!" Jason's demeanor immediately became more cheerful.

  The peephole closed, and several metal bolts slid open.

  "Come in, come in." She gestured at them. Jason pulled Alensar into the home.

  An older woman, a head shorter than her son, with gray-streaked hair, greeted them.

  "I'm glad she finally let you come home! But at this late hour! Helion's heart, it's a good thing you didn't run into any ruffians." She spoke in a rush, hugging him and then brushing non-existent dust from his coat. She then turned to Alensar. "And I see you brought a friend."

  "I'm Tsarek, ma'am." He gave a slight bow, and then remembered he was supposed to be Alensar.

  "You can call me Shasta." She locked the door behind them. "Come in, come in. It's late."

  They stepped into a small room with a bed in the corner. Jason's mother held a candle, and Alensar could just make out another person sleeping on the bed. There was another doorway leading to a second room. There was a small hearth with coals in it, providing warmth and a soft orange glow.

  Alensar followed Jason's lead in removing his boots.

  "What brings you here at this hour?"

  "He's recently joined Laude Granthor's household, and there were unforeseen circumstances, so I offered for him to stay here," Jason said, measuring every word.

  "Hmmm, that's not like Laude Granthor to not have a place worked out for you."

  "If I might be overly revealing, I've very recently begun suffering from battle demons, and Jason has offered to help me."

  Shasta's eyes filled with an old sadness. "Aye, well, I welcome you then. If my home can offer any help, you are welcome to it."

  Jason hugged his mother. "I was thinking perhaps trying the ritual of the sunrise?"

  "That will be a short night." She said.

  "If it's inconvenient–" Alensar began, but she waved him away.

  "It's no matter for me, but will you manage?" she said.

  Jason yawned. "We can go back to sleep after. Laude Granthor gave me permission to come in late tomorrow as a token for the trouble."

  "Well, I'll brew some calming tea, and you boys get the cots set out in the other room. I'll stay here with Julia."

  She handed him the candle, and he went to the other room. A bed was laid out next to a couch covered in padded mats.

  Jason grabbed one of the mats. "We can lay these on the floor for beds. There's also some blankets and sheets in the wooden chest."

  He grabbed one of the mats and dragged it to the other room, leaving the candle on a bedside table.

  Alensar opened the chest and could smell the scent of cedar to keep away the insects, as well as the earthy smell of dried herbs.

  He pulled out a few blankets and sheets by feel in the semi-darkness. He tossed a few on the remaining couch mat and then brought the rest to the main room.

  Shasta handed him a cup of tea. "It's camomile, with a little bit of dried lemon."

  She then pulled out a tiny bottle and gestured for Alensar to lean forward. She put a tiny drop onto her finger and then onto his upper lip. He managed not to flinch. The scent was strong, but not overpowering. "A bit of lavender water helps as well."

  "Thank you."

  She nodded. "It's only a little thing."

  Jason stood nearby and then leaned down so she could kiss him on the cheek. "Good night, duckling."

  She turned to Alensar. "Good night to you too, and I look forward to a proper introduction in the morning."

  They went into the other room, and Alensar sat on the mat, rather than the bed. He could just make out Jason's distress in the candlelight.

  "Sleeping somewhere harder might do me good. Most of my life was on the ground."

  That wasn't strictly true, as they had wagons in addition to tents. And they would winter in lodges in the north. But it was true enough.

  He sat cross-legged, drinking the tea. It reminded him of the tea his mother made when he was small. Darion had always thought it was disgusting, but Alensar liked it. They would sit together drinking it, and she would tell him the names of the stars.

  "I would trade all the riches I have for a mother like that," Alensar said, staring at his cup.

  "Your mother wasn't like that?"

  "She was. But she's been gone for many years."

  Jason seemed not to know what to say. He sat on the bed, and Alensar could not read what he was feeling. He finished the tea and then started taking off his jacket. Only then did Jason seem to snap out of his reverie.

  Jason did the same, and then hesitated. He then started unbuttoning his shirt. Alensar instinctively looked away, affording his servant some privacy. He lay on the mat and breathed deeply again, keeping his own shirt on.

  "Have a good night."

  "You too." And in a few moments, the candle was snuffed out.

  ***

  Alensar woke to a gentle touch on his forehead.

  He looked up to see Shasta's face resolving in the candlelight. She held a finger to her lips.

  He put on his jacket and padded barefoot after her, letting Jason sleep.

  Outside, the sky started to lighten. The air was chilled from the night. The half-balcony next to their door faced the east. There was a small table with two chairs next to it.

  Alensar sat on one of the chairs, but Shasta did not. She placed a lacquered box on the table, in which a palm-sized ceramic dish was cradled in the velvet. She pulled it out, closed the box lid, and placed the dish in a divot in the lid. He could see a swirl of gold designs on it. It was the sort of thing that might be an heirloom.

  "What's that?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep.

  "It's holy oil. I make it on the summer solstice. It's for the ritual of the sun." She took the lid off the container, scooping out some of the oil with her finger. It was solid, but with the warmth of her hands started to melt.

  "Should I do anything?"

  She smiled warmly. "Be still and receive Helion's blessing."

  She drifted her hand to his face, and he flinched, though he didn't want to. But he couldn't help it. She didn't touch him, just hovered her hand near his face. He glanced over at her, and she seemed perplexed. She pulled her hand away.

  There was something sad in her eyes.

  "Is something wrong?"

  Her brow furrowed in the same way as Jason's did. "I'm not sure. There is a darkness about you."

  What was he supposed to say to that? He supposed it was true.

  "If you…"

  "No, no, I'll continue. I was just startled."

  This time, he tried closing his eyes to see if that would help.

  When she touched his face, his whole body jerked, knocking the table. There was a shattering sound as the container with the oil turned into a hundred shards.

  They both stared at it.

  "I'm so sorry, I'll find a way to pay for it," he stuttered, hoping Laude Elaine would help, since he didn't have any of his own money.

  He knelt to pick up the pieces while she stood, looking down at them. He tried to see if they could be put back together, but the fragments were too small and scattered everywhere.

  He held them as he looked up at her, and she was crying.

  "I'm so sorry," he said again uselessly.

  She wiped her eyes with the back of her wrist. Her hands were still covered in oil. "I shouldn't cry over something like this. It was precious to me, but it's only a thing."

  She sniffed and then went inside, coming back out with rags and a trash bucket. Together they finished cleaning everything up and sat on the chairs to watch the sun cresting over the slanting rooftops of the city. The smell of fragrant oil overpowered any of the city smells.

  She reached across the table and took his hand. He managed not to flinch, and she squeezed it. "Don't fret, it was a small thing, and now it is now daybreak."

  She let his hand go, and they watched the sunrise together.

  He didn't say anything more and sat in silence with her. He wondered if she was praying.