A Call to Arms: Book One of the Chronicles of Arden (25 page)

Nawaz sounded tired but jovial, his voice dipping lower than typical. “So how are you and Gib getting on?”

A moment passed before Joel cleared his throat, and Gib could imagine his roommate wringing his hands. “We’re getting along well. Why do you ask?” Another pause, this one heavy with insinuation. Joel’s voice raised an octave. “Don’t give me that look! Say what you mean.”

Laughter blossomed from the other young lord. “You know damned well what I mean. Don’t think I didn’t catch the two of you sending doe eyes back and forth.”

Gib’s face went hot as he listened to Joel’s stammered response. “We—I have no idea what you’re talking about. Gib and I are friends. That’s all. I’m fortunate to have found such a pleasant roommate.”

“Enjoying one another’s company then?”

The question itself could have been innocent if not for the tone. Nawaz knew exactly what he was saying and Gib’s face went from hot to scorching. Why would the young lord say such things?
Have I been so obvious? If Nawaz figured it out then Joel must surely know
. The floor tilted beneath Gib’s feet.

The mage trainee gasped. “Stop it with your crude insinuations! You hardly have any room to speak, seeing as I just caught you in Tabitha’s room.” Joel gave a nervous laugh. “Gib and I are only friends.”

Nawaz chuckled. “Hey, Tabitha invited me in. And besides, you wouldn’t be turning so pink if I weren’t right.” Another silent lapse entered the conversation while Gib wondered how badly Joel was floundering. Nawaz filled the lull for them. “How serious is it?”

Gib pressed his face against the wall as he listened.
Serious? Serious about what? There’s nothing to be serious about. We’re friends! Nothing more
—

Joel’s voice was unsure. “Truly, we’re only friends—and I know it should stay that way. It’s just—” He stopped there. If the lump in Gib’s own throat was so caught in place he could hardly imagine how Joel must feel. “It’s lonely being so different.”

The sound of clothing rustling made its way to Gib’s ears. Someone was moving. Gib took a step back. He didn’t want to be caught spying. He never intended to eavesdrop. He heard a patting sound, one of them clapping the other on the back. An embrace, perhaps?

Nawaz’s gentle voice lent itself well to Gib’s theory. “Not as different as you imagine. Gib is a good boy. I like him and I’m sure he’d be good to you but—he’s thirteen. And you’re fifteen. I just want for you to be careful.”

Gib’s head was swimming. Nawaz was right. The two students were just that, students. Both old enough to be considered men by law but neither so experienced they knew of the world and its workings. Any relationship would be difficult at their age. But—had Joel admitted his attraction? Gib’s heart hammered, but he was unsure if he was excited or nauseous or a combination of both. If his feelings were his own, he could contain them, pretend they didn’t exist, but if Joel felt the same way, what would happen then?

Gib jumped back when Joel and Nawaz rounded the corner, nearly getting run over. Gib had been so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he hadn’t heard them coming. Nawaz made an ungraceful sound and Joel froze in place.

“G—Gib! How long have you been—what are you doing here?” the mage trainee clamored, face red and eyes wide.

Gib’s own racing heart took its time slowing. “I—Tabitha sent me. I ran into her in the hall.”

Nawaz cocked an eyebrow, white teeth visible as he grinned. “You’re pretty damned good at eavesdropping, aren’t you?”

“I didn’t mean to, I swear! I was only trying to find the two of you.” Gib thought to spare Joel—and himself—some embarrassment. “I only just arrived. You two startled me as badly as I startled you.”

Joel smoothed down his hair, loosening his rigid stance. Glancing around, the mage trainee’s face evened back to its natural color. “Sorry about that.”

“No, no. It’s fine.” Gib stood awkwardly, wishing he could think of something to say or do. His mind was blank. Any wit he normally possessed had abandoned him. Joel likewise seemed at a loss.

Nawaz broke the silence. Storming past Joel and Gib, he shook his head. “Pffft. A fine couple you make. Ask Lady Mrifa for a kissing bush, why don’t you?”

Joel shot a poisonous look at his cousin. “
Nawaz!
”

The young lord turned back, a mischievous grin in place, and mocked a quick bow. “No, no! There’s no need to dismiss me. I know when I’m the third wheel. You two have fun.” He wagged his eyebrows at them before bolting out of sight.

Gib’s knees wanted to give out and he wondered if this was what it felt like to die, with his heart pounding and lungs working overtime. His vision blurred around the edges but he could still make out Joel’s blush.

“I suppose we should join the others,” Joel said, clearing his throat. He was avoiding any sort of eye contact.

Gib’s voice jittered as he forced himself to speak. He didn’t want to ask the burning question, but he just couldn’t stop himself. He had to know if his feelings were returned. “J–Joel?”

The mage trainee held up both of his hands as though he were deflecting a blow. His voice was hushed and quivering as well. “I’m sorry, Gib, for all of that. Nawaz means no harm, but it still must be—uncomfortable to be accused of—” He trailed off, unable to say it. Gib raised a hand, reaching for his friend, but Joel took a step back and diverted to go around Gib altogether.

“It was inappropriate and I apologize.” The older boy raced off before Gib could respond.

Gib pulled his hand back to himself. So this was it then? He was destined to remain quiet and, therefore, alone. Why did his voice fail him when he needed it most?
 

The fire bathed Gib in drowsy heat. His eyelids were heavy as bricks, yet every time he started to nod off, the roaring flames would issue a crackle and he would be jarred alert. He raised a hand to his mouth as a yawn escaped his lips and tried to focus on the letters on the page before him.

It was late. The guests, Neetra Adelwijn and his family, had long since bid their farewells. Koal had returned to the palace shortly after, stating he had work to finish there, and that snake Liro had managed to slip away without so much as a goodbye. Gib had helped Tabitha and Lady Mrifa wash and put away the fancy porcelain dishes used during their meal and then he and Joel had retired to the sitting room to study.

Joel graciously declined to bring up anything pertaining to their relationship, and Gib had been more than content to sit in silence. He needed time to process the events from dinner and thereafter, especially the conversation he’d unwittingly stumbled upon between Joel and Nawaz. Was it true? Was Joel harboring feelings for his roommate?

Gib let loose a sigh. He tried again to focus on the book which sat in his lap but his attention seemed to be everywhere else.
My feelings for Joel aside, I really need to work on my reading. I’m so far behind the rest of the class
. He swallowed. It wasn’t exactly his fault. He’d been busy with chores and sentinel training, but now that he had some free time he had no excuses for not dedicating time to his studies.

Joel stirred from across the room. “I’m going to retire for the night.” His tone was as aloof as it had been for marks now.

“I think I’m going to stay up a little longer,” Gib replied, watching out of the corner of his eye as the mage trainee stood and stretched his arms. “Lady Beatrice says I need to practice my reading.”

“All right,” Joel answered with a nod. “Be sure to snuff the fire on your way out. Goodnight.” Joel excused himself, and Gib was left alone, listening to the soft sound of the older boy’s footfalls as he retreated.

Gib turned back to the book in his lap and focused on the whimsical words in front of him. A smile crossed his lips. Joel had found a copy of
Tales of Fae
buried in the family’s study and had given it to Gib to read while he remained at the Adelwijn estate.
Joel is always thinking of everyone else’s welfare instead of his own. What would I do if I didn’t have him?

Gib wasn’t sure how long he read, but the fire had nearly burnt itself out when the sound of a door opening caught his attention. He shifted wide eyes to gaze down the corridor, muscles tense. Who would be here so late? Surely not a thief of any sort? After all, what kind of criminal would be bold enough to use the front door? Gib glanced at the fire poker and wondered if he could reach it before the intruder made his way down the hall.

The soft steps didn’t shuffle or hesitate. Even in the dark of the home, the person seemed to know where he was going. The churning in Gib’s stomach subsided a little. Perhaps it was Otos returning. Gib had almost persuaded himself of this when the footfalls grew louder. The person was coming for the sitting room. The fire must have alerted him. It had to be Otos. A shadow fell across the room, and Gib knew he was no longer alone.

Gib sank into his seat, ice in his guts. It wasn’t Otos. It wasn’t a thief either. Seneschal Koal Adelwijn came into the room and went straight for the fire, muttering something under his breath—no doubt lamenting the flames being left unattended. He hadn’t appeared to notice Gib, who played with the idea of trying to sneak away. It wouldn’t work, of course, but it was tempting. He didn’t want to be a bother—he likewise didn’t want to be thought a deviant.

Gib opted to clear his throat. At the sound, Koal whirled about, his crimson cape billowing around his shoulders. Gib was pretty sure his own face was the same shade of red as he jumped back in his seat and stammered a polite greeting. “G–good evening, Lord Adelwijn. I’m sorry if I gave you a fright—”

Koal relaxed his tense stance when he seemed to recognize Gib. “Likewise. Apologies, little one.” The seneschal’s voice was tired but not unpleasant. “I didn’t realize anyone would still be awake this late.” Bringing a hand through his short raven hair, Koal stepped closer, the light cast by the fireplace illuminating the small creases around his mouth and eyes. “It’s Gibben, right?”

The sentinel trainee nodded. “Yes. Gibben Nemesio, sir.”

“Is Joel awake as well?”

“No, sir. He retired a bit ago. I was just practicing my reading.”

One of Koal’s dark eyebrows twitched. He motioned toward the book in Gib’s lap. “Is that
Tales of Fae
?”

“Oh, uh—yes,” Gib replied. He winced when realizing it was possible the seneschal didn’t approve of him “borrowing” the Adelwijn family’s possessions. “S–sorry, Joel said it would be all right if I read it while I’m here. I can put it away if—if you’d prefer, sir.”

Koal raised both hands in front of him. “Oh, I wasn’t implying you stop. By the light of Daya, you have to be the only first-year student I’ve seen practicing his studies outside of Academy.” The seneschal fixed Gib with a warm smile. “I was merely curious. It has been several years since any of my children have dusted the cobwebs off that book.”

“Joel wanted to help me with my reading.” Gib blinked with surprise when the seneschal settled down into a cushioned chair across the room but continued on tentatively. “As you might imagine, I, uh—I didn’t have much time for reading before I came to Silver City.”

“You hail from Willowdale, yes?”

“My family’s farm is within a dozen leagues of the village, sir.”
Is he going to stay and talk to me?
Gib fidgeted in his seat. It seemed odd that someone as important and busy as Koal Adelwijn was taking the time to chat with him.

Clever eyes gleamed in the waning light as the seneschal took his time replying. “I recall Willowdale being quite charming, as most farming communities tend to be. It’s been a long while since I journeyed through those parts of Arden though.” Gib was surprised to hear a soft chuckle rise from the seneschal’s chest. “Of course, it’s been a long while since I’ve journeyed beyond the inner walls of Silver City. I sometimes feel as though I may as well pitch a tent inside the palace for as much time as I spend there.”

Gib didn’t know what to say, so he opted to stare at the floor. What could he say? What could he possibly have in common with the seneschal of Arden, the second most powerful man in the realm? Why was Koal even bothering to converse with him at all?

“I’m sorry you weren’t able to make the journey to see your family,” the seneschal continued before the silence had a chance to overwhelm the room.

Gib’s stomach churned. “I miss them.”