“Would you like to hear more stories of the stars, Mizel of the Tialttyrin?” The formality of the question did not calm Zelli although Tahlen’s touch was a balm to his every other problem. “Or to gaze at them with me?”
As though the fog and the trees would allow them to see any. But, as with Arden and Mil, perhaps it was not about the stars but the company.
Zelli looked into Tahlen’s beautiful eyes. “The others think I’m using you,” he worried aloud, chewing his bottom lip. “But I would like to hear your stories and sit with you.”
Tahlen shifted to the side, giving Zelli room to come closer. “I could tend to your hair,” he offered, leaving Zelli to imagine sitting with his back to Tahlen’s chest and breathe harder.
“It will only be a mess again by morning,” he answered after much heated thought. He wanted to ask if Tahlen meant the offer as it sounded, but Wain hummed snatches of a song and one of those already fast asleep began to lightly snore. They weren’t alone. Tahlen had suggested they wait to speak of it. “I could comb yours for you.”
Zelli could barely be still. But he did not have to be for long. Tahlen waved him toward one of his packs, which Zelli looked away at last to dig into. He found the comb and more slips of cord, and then Tahlen, thinking of the future as Zelli could not without bursting into flame, moved forward to let Zelli kneel behind him.
Remembering last night’s lesson, Zelli undid Tahlen’s braid with his fingers first, then began to comb the ends as gently as he could. A shiver ran down Tahlen’s back more than once.
Zelli glanced over and up, found Wain observing them, then kept his attention firmly on Tahlen.
“Do you have another story about the constellations?” he wondered, letting the heavy length of Tahlen’s hair fall across the back of his hand.
“Did you know that the Rossick call the Waterfall the Lover’s Plait?” Tahlen asked, not remarking on the eager sound Zelli made.
“Is that the origin of the trend?” Zelli demanded in a whisper. “I thought the hair braiding around the capital was the fashion because the tastes of some forgotten ruler. Did the braids once have meanings? They must have if one was named for lovers.”
“I hadn’t considered it,” Tahlen was thoughtful. “I don’t even know how long different braids and waist-length hair have been the style. I have a vague memory of my great-grandmother complaining about the work involved in her hair, but she had curls. I suspect you’re right and they did once mean something. Something more than simply ‘the time to fuss over hair several times a day.’”
“My family have done what we pleased for the most part,” Zelli informed Tahlen when he remembered to speak again, after getting distracted by the fall of shining brown hair and thinking of waterfalls and lovers. He pulled strands like silk thread from Tahlen’s neck. “With our hair and with most things, although my cousins seem to have embraced palace tastes. I like the idea of meanings,” he confessed. “I bet a Master Keeper at the Great Library would know if there had once been meanings and could find out if I asked. Maybe I could write to them.… No, I suppose they have other things on their minds right now.”
He separated a section of Tahlen’s hair to weave a small, thin braid that would fall behind Tahlen’s ear. “I’ll imagine a meaning for this one.” Zelli said it to be playful, but touched his work tenderly once he was done. He started another simple braid for the rest, knowing Tahlen would comb it out and redo it properly in the morning. The little braid nearly disappeared from sight, exactly as Zelli had thought it would.
“And you won’t tell me what that meaning is?” Tahlen asked in the lightest of whispers, almost as if he were dreaming.
Unable to put it off any longer, Zelli draped Tahlen’s finished braid over Tahlen’s shoulder, then moved back to sit near Tahlen’s elbow. “I’ve been embarrassed enough for one day. For once, I will keep my foolishness to myself.”
Tahlen half-turned, one hand sliding down the end of the braid. “Will I think it’s foolish?”
“I don’t know,” Zell returned honestly. “I still don’t understand you. But I care for you,” he glanced down and then back, “which everyone seems to know. And I think it’s ridiculous that you will stay awake again tonight for me. Do not deny it, Tahlen.” He nearly raised his voice for that and for Tahlen’s frown. “It’s ridiculous for you to do it when you clearly like these people, and it’s bad for you personally, and also you cannot protect me if you’re tired, you know you can’t. You should sleep. I will stay awake for a while, and watch over you, and wake you if I need to.” He liked this solution once he had it, and nodded firmly. “Yes, that’s what I’ll do. There’s no use arguing, Tahlen.”
Tahlen was not arguing. Tahlen frowned and then unknit his brow. The light was behind him, so some of his beauty was dimmed, but that did not make it any less of a struggle for Zelli when Tahlen moved and suddenly they were even closer.
“You’re going to keep watch for me?” Tahlen asked, unsmiling. Zelli would have said it was a challenge, except that Tahlen was now only inches away and his voice was feathers upon feathers. Zelli nodded. Tahlen’s lips curved up.
Zelli was so preoccupied with this hint of good feeling that he did not notice Tahlen’s hand until just before Tahlen gently lifted Zelli’s chin. He swept his thumb over Zelli’s lips, which parted for him. Something hot shot through Zelli, up and then back down again, making him shiver and fight not to push forward.
Tahlen touched Zelli’s mouth again but didn’t lean forward as he did in Zelli’s fantasies.
“Biting, Zelli?” He looked away from Zelli’s lips to meet his eyes. He left his hand where it was.
That was all that kept Zelli from flinching away. “Not to bleed,” he closed his eyes to say. “I don’t think. Maybe? Am I too wild?”
“Bed partners often nibble,” Tahlen told him, breath at Zelli’s cheek. “But I don’t think that is what you mean.”
“I don’t know,” Zelli exhaled it in a rush, his eyes fluttering open. “Have your lovers nibbled you?” He was too lit up to snarl, though he wanted to. He tipped his head in a way that seemed to make sense with how Tahlen held him. Not that Tahlenheldhim; his fingers merely curled under Zelli’s jaw. “But we’re not lovers?”
He hadn’t meant it to be a question.
Tahlen inclined his head a fraction. “That was partly my fault, but not my doing, Zelli.”
Zelli flexed his hands because when he bit his lip, Tahlen watched closely and then biting only himself did not feelenough. “Are you teasing me?” Tahlen shaking his head for ‘no’ was almost cruel. Zelli put his hand on Tahlen’s knee, snatched it away, then let it creep back. “Tahlen.” He had no idea what to say or why his voice was rough. “Tahlen, we’re not alone. I want…. We can’t. But what if you change your mind tomorrow?”
Tahlen twitched as if surprised, pulling away from Zelli by the smallest of distances before sliding his hand beneath Zelli’s messy braid to the back of his neck and tugging Zelli closer.
