Lyer & Aluraios | Discussion
Dakram groaned as the present favoured topic of conversation found its insidous way back onto the high table and from there right back into the silence that appeared as the all to familiar question was asked of him for the hundredth time that week, "Don't you think it's time you got married, my Lord?"
He was running out of excuses, and they kept coming up with more reasons.
"What about when you want to, ah, leave the Holm? You need an heir."
Response: "I'll deed the lands as they were deeded to me. I'd prefer a Mage-Lord ruling and you are as aware as I am that magical ability does not always run through generations."
Then there was supposed concern for Lireta, "The Housemaid must be over worked, surely a wife would take some of her work load from her?"
Response: "Housemaid Lireta copes very well with her burden. If she has problems she is entitled to ask any other staff for aid, and I believe a wife would just create more work in the Bower and social events." And when they argued that he could afford extra staff his only response could be that he wouldn't upsurp Lireta's place.
Finally there was the crux of the matter and the only real reason that this topic surfaced with about the same frequency as the rumours about his preferences. "My Lord, surely a wife would keep you warm at night and provide you with a constant companion, as well as taking some of the stress of ruling off you?" The underlying subtext of the fact he'd never been seen with a female companion was obvious and made him grateful that he and Ferel were extremely cautious about the amount of time they spent together in public, even as Lord and manservant.
He caught the eye of the younger man, sitting on the lower table with Lireta and his other major house staff and stopped himself before his eye started to drift over the slim body, watching the lock of blonde hair that always fell across the forest eyes and was only ever tamed when sweat slicked it back against his head.
Ferel nodded in courtesy back at his lover and Dakram once again cursed the laws and opinions that prevented those lips to twitch into a smile whenever their gazes caught. Careful to share his gaze over the rest of the servants before he smiled, a soft laugh tindging his voice as he lifted his glass to toast the name-lord at his side and the servants below. "I have a family. They're enough trouble without taking on a wife." He let a hint of caramadie slip into his tone, winking slyly at the man who had answered the question.
"My lord may be wise." The lord murmured, glancing to one side where his own wife, replesent in a flowing wine coloured robe that heightened the color in her painted cheeks sat, staring balefully at her husband. "Kalarissa is a bit of a handful, and not where I'd want her to be." His own cheeks filled to faintly match the dress at Dakram's chuckle as the woman's sharp look turned into a pointed glare.
"Thank you, I have a hard enough time running the Holm without a wife telling me how to do it better." The quirk of his lips was as much in testament to his lover's silence in the Holm's running, broken only when Dakram needed to hear the gossip among the servants in order to fairly make a descision. Oh, and on their anniversary he usually managed to convince the Mage-Lord to find an excuse for a holiday.
The laughter that rolled from the high table was quickly picked up around the room and Dakram let out a silent sigh of relief as tales of the trials of husbandhood started to be bantered around, already planning on his next line of defence. Guessing from what they'd used so far it'd likely be about his absolute lack of female companionship and how he didn't even seem to have a favoured Maiden.
He smiled politely at a lord's familiar overused story while gritting his teeth, he'd have to be extra cautious about Ferel's duties, while he never gave his lover special or privilaged jobs above or outside his station, he'd probably have to give him more menial tasks to prevent any suspicion. He sighed, hoping Ferel'd understand and turned back to the conversation.
Later:
"As long as it's not cleaning out the stables, I don't care. Now come over here so I can clean you off."
"You just want to get me messy again."
"I'd rather clean you off than a horse out." Teasing chuckle.
"Oh good," Matter of fact, "I was getting worried that you were admiring the new stallion I brought too much."
Soft murmur, "Not as well hung....."
A moment later, "How about cleaning the latrines?"
"Dak, love, shut up." A half-annoyed sigh, "At least the horse keeps his mouth shut."
"I thought you liked my mouth."
Seductive, "Oh, I do and I'll prove it if you'll shut it a moment."
"Hmmm..." Indignant squark, "What do you mean 'keeps'?"
Laughter. "Dak!"
No more words.
© Clare Selley 2009
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