“Nikoly doesn’t do whatever I say, Orin.” Tiiran argued before Orin could. “Any more than I do whatever you say. He does as he pleases. You only think he doesn’t because he really is a scheming sunflower.”
Nikoly, head still down, smiled to himself. Then he must have glanced to Orin because Orin’s gaze snapped to him and stayed there.
“Orin,” Nikoly used the same sweet tone he used on Tiiran, and Tiiran understood why when Nikoly reached over to take Tiiran’s hand, “if it pleases Tiiran, you might also call me Lyli.”
As if Tiiran wouldn’t do whatever Nikoly wanted.
“He can call you Lyli when he uses his firm hand on you,” Tiiran decreed, and was pleased with himself for evidently answering correctly and making Nikoly shiver.
The music grew louder, with nearly everyone on the other side of the tavern singing along. The lyrics were enough to make Tiiran’s eyes widen and pull his attention from Orin’s stunned face.
“Honey Bee is the name of the song,” said a somewhat gruff, low voice from Tiiran’s other side.
Tiiran turned to see a stranger seated next to him, which he supposed happened in taverns but he didn’t have to like it.
The stranger was probably not much taller than him, and portly, with a full beard that Tiiran was slightly envious of. His clothes were as bright as Mattin’s, but his pants were tighter and more like the shorter breeches and leg wraps people wore around the capital ages ago. His eyes, when Tiiran met them, were solid black.
“Fuck off,” Tiiran said immediately, more outraged at the beard than the fae’s rudeness in appearing to himnow. Tiiran had nearly no body hair and this one got a thick beard? Then the audacity of a fae speaking to him really struck him, so Tiiran repeated himself. “I said fuck off.”
The goat-sucker actually smiled at that, showing teeth to match the bard’s. The smile didn’t reach the black eyes. Those showed nothing except some shrewdness, unless Tiiran imagined that.
“Not enjoying the song?” the fae wondered, voice deeper than Orin’s, then lighter. “I can ask them to play another.”
Tiiran was only vaguely aware of his pounding heart and Nikoly’s hand tight around his as if Nikoly was trying to pull him back.
Tiiran wasn’t going anywhere.
He jabbed a finger in the fae’s knowing little face. “As if I’m not owed more than a song from any of you—not that I’d take anything.”
The fae startled as if genuinely surprised. “You turn your back on us?”
Tiiran, about to actually turn his back, rolled his eyes. “On what? You aren’t family. The fae are supposed to be everywhere, unseen and nosy. Did I not just say that it does no good to say you love someone if you do not make them feel loved? You did not even say it to me, I should also point out. You left me there.”
“Tiiran,” Orin said, very quietly.
Tiiran raised his chin. “There were no roses in that room with me, Orin. I got scraps of affection from other servants, an education and a future from Lanth. Until I hugged you, I had never hugged anyone. I didn’t even think to ask for more blankets for myself until Nikoly chided me. I thought the library mattered but thatIdidn’t becausethatwas all the fae taught me. So, no, I don’t care if there is a plan for me, if I am touched by the fae in some way. I do not care.” He bit out each word. “If they brought you both to me, it’s all very nice, but they took their time sharing their affection for me—and that is onlyifthey brought you to me. Which they would never say even if they had.” He scoffed. “Instead of asking for my gratitude, you should find some other abandoned child and give them a loving home. That is a better use of your time.”
“You are exactly what they said you are, fire-heart.” The fae was either annoyed or amused, Tiiran couldn’t tell. Maybe they weren’t used to having a human face with human expressions. Or maybe human emotions confused them. That, Tiiran could almost sympathize with. But he shook the feeling away. Whatever the fae felt, the black eyes stayed measuring and clever. “Don’t you think it would be wise to listen to your lovers and remember who has authority over you?”
“Authority?” Tiiran echoed, batting away whichever one of those lovers was reaching for him. “You are mistaken. You havepowerover me, but you have noauthorityover me. None of you do. The only one who does is Orin when I choose to give it to him, and Nikoly when he’s very pretty on purpose to get what he wants.” Tiiran spent only a moment reconsidering that answer. “And perhaps this king,” he allowed, “although I will have to wait and see, and decide for myself.”
He wondered if they could hear him across the table, but it seemed not. No one looked at Tiiran with his bruised face and rude mouth but Orin, Nikoly, and the bearded fae who did not understand Tiiran or anything useful. Like Tiiran, the fae would have to be taught.
“Rulers and fae have power, I don’t deny it. But I am little and alone—Iwasalone, thanks to you and yours, and nearlyeveryonehas had power over me, which is probably why it doesn’t scare me. No.” Tiiran was unbending. “Authority,Igrant. You are irrelevant. And whoever told you anything about me can fuck off too. I’ve been here. My whole life I’ve been here.” He faltered, voice cracking, and then Nikoly’s hand found his again and he could feel Orin’s alarmed affection. “I found love without you.” He turned to look at both of them. “That’s what I feel for you,” he explained to them both, “which I am sure Orin, at least, already knows. I can continue to tell you so until you believe me, but it’s meaningless to say it unless I make you feel it too. It’sactsthat matter. I’ll do my best and I’ll do it wrong, because it’s new to me and no one was around to teach it to me. But I will do my best to love you so you feel it every day, as everyone should.”
He didn’t cough once, although he did wrinkle his nose before he turned away from his lovers to again face the fae.
“So what would I need you for?” he started to demand, only to realize the fae had vanished.
“Couldn’t even manage caution for more than two days,” Orin remarked wryly, although Tiiran doubted he was as relaxed as his tone implied. He knew that was so when he was lifted from his seat and Orin sat back down with Tiiran firmly in his arms.
“Perhaps bold is how the fae want him,” Nikoly offered, but faintly. Tiiran must have given him a shock.
Tiiran reached out, pausing only to briefly glare at Orin as Orin arranged him how he pleased, to stroke the side of Nikoly’s face.Gentle, he told himself. Be mindful of the stitches. He would learn softness and care if they continued to allow him to.
“I’m sorry for worrying you.” That much, Tiiranwassorry for, although Orin seemed intent on punishing him for it anyway. He settled Tiiran on his lap, with Tiiran straddling his thighs and given the choice to either look Orin in the face or hide against his shoulder.
Orin’s shoulder was especially warm, especially with Orin big and handsome in only a shirt and vest and no armor, not even a padded gambeson.
