Just A Chat

Part 3 of A Hellrider’s Fond Musings

[Author’s Note: This one is a little different, suggested by Seynne on Twitter. Rolan was going to say something eventually after all…]

“What do you think you’re doing here?”

The paladin knew that voice. He muffled a sigh as he wiped his face clean of shaving foam and turned to face the wizard who stood in the cottage doorway. Zevlor knew this moment was coming from the moment Ena had asked him to stay. That it had taken so many months to arrive was the real wonder, and that he stood there half dressed to greet it was just icing on the proverbial cake.

“Good morning, Rolan. I trust you’re doing well,” the elder of the two tieflings greeted amiably as he found his shirt to tug on.

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Rolan replied with affected indignation, his chin slightly raised as he stepped fully into the cottage and closed the door behind him.

“Has Raya joined you? Shall you both be joining us for breakfast?” was the calm reply given as he did up his shirt and tucked it in. He was attired as a common worker, a plain shirt with equally plain pants serving as adequate garb for a man who now spent his days at far simpler tasks than soldiering. 

Rolan folded his arms across his chest and delivered his best glower. He was determined to have a confrontation, Zevlor realized. This time his sigh was audible.

“I do not think I am doing anything here, Rolan. I was invited to stay here. Raya spends most of her time with you, as is her wish and want. I imagine Ena was lonely and wanted a friend nearby.”

“In her bed?”

The blunt nature of the question left the rusty hue of Zevlor’s cheeks shadowing just a little. “Do I inquire as to where Raya sleeps when at the Tower, Rolan? Do I pry into your personal affairs?”

It was so patiently asked that Rolan’s affected superiority wavered, just a little. He narrowed his gaze as he studied his fellow Elturian refugee. “She could be your daughter.”

“If you want to use numbers without context to measure then Raya could be your mother.”

A grumble was all Rolan could answer with as he turned away. He started to pace as he so often did when his thoughts were hard to sort. Zevlor watched with patience and understanding. 

“I am not going to hurt her, nor am I taking advantage of her Rolan. She invited me, and I accepted. That’s all. We are two people who each needed a little looking after, now we each have it. Does that bother you so much?”

Rolan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes closed as he spoke. “No, I just…,” he trailed off and took his time to finish his thought. “Don’t hurt her, okay? If anything happens to her it would destroy Raya and I can’t bear the thought of that.”

Zevlor fought a smile. There it was, the reason for the bluster, the young man still not entirely used to the mantle of carer and partner he now wore. “I will treat her with the utmost, devoted care. Where I failed on the road, I will not fail again. Never again,” he vowed somberly. 

The younger tiefling gave a single nod in response, then a sniff. He had not entirely let go of that false imperious bearing. Not yet. “Good. And if you do, I have cannons at my disposal now.”

“Tut!” Zevlor laughed. “I’ll not hear threats of bombing anything in Halsin’s beloved lands”

“Oh he would be pretty mad wouldn’t he,” Rolan realized, brows upraised. “I’ll come up with another threat. Did you say breakfast by the way?”

There was another laugh as Zevlor shook his head and ushered Rolan along to the kitchen. He had no idea where the sisters were but he knew the scents of cooking would at least have Ena returning before too long. Peace settled back into the cabin as Rolan chatted far more easily now that he felt more certain about Zevlor’s place in this new world they were all forging. Maybe this would not be so bad after all.