“And beautiful,” Niksa added. “You said it was supposed to be practicalandbeautiful.”
Nikoly exhaled slowly, then turned in the other direction to look at Niksa. “So I did.”
“What of the jewelry?” Tiiran could not stop his mouth. “It can’t be to show off wealth or to only look pretty… as the nobles use it, I mean.” Though obviously Nikoly knew he was pretty. That was more than clear. “Because they’re hidden by your shirt. So what purpose do they serve?Oh,” Tiiran went on quickly, growing even hotter and regretting leaving his robe on when he’d come up here because he had to be sweating. “They’re normally meant for only a lover or family to see, obviously. Forgive me.”
“Theydoserve a purpose.” Nikoly’s voice was soft. “I can show you later, if you like.”
“Sweet, blessed fae,” Xenia said, under her breath and yet clearly audible.
“Fuck the fae,” Tiiran replied out of habit, making Xenia wince and sending Nikoly darting over to her to speak in hushed tones, probably explaining Tiiran’s rudeness.
Tiiran rubbed his cheeks, which were fairly burning now, a situation not helped by one of the other assistants giving a whistle.
He swung a look over to them.
“You can work up here or you can work downstairs, but you should be working.” Tiiran meant it to be a snarl, but not as mean or as loud as it came out. Several of them flinched.
It did not reflect well on him that he’d yelled because he was embarrassed. So he sighed before they had taken more than a few steps away. “But if you wanted to go to the kitchens for a snack, or perhaps some of the lavender bliss I saw them making this morning, feel free. Though you might also bring back some for Xenia and Nikoly. It’s warm up here, and bliss can be refreshing.”
The drink, made from lavender, lemons, and sometimes honey, was not to Tiiran’s taste, but many others enjoyed it, particularly on warmer days. Just mentioning it lightened the mood considerably. The others left with the intention to return, and Tiiran kept his attention on the paper in his lap and the book in front of him so that Nikoly and Xenia would hopefully forget he was there.
Everyone needed a break from time to time. Po said it frequently and it was a sentiment Lanth would have shared. Lanth had several long-term lovers in her day, and a few that she had considered true friends up until the end. She had regularly visited the capital and even traveled to listen to bardic competitions. Tiiran ought to remember that more. The library was important, but copy work was rarely urgent.
Anyway, if the assistants got rest and moments of fun more often, they wouldn’t have run up here to pester Xenia and Nikoly as they had. He supposed that also meant he should arrange for Nikoly to get a rest. Maybe a pleasant surprise like the surprise for Orin that Tiiran was worrying over.
Whenever Tiiran discovered a poem this old with additions and different versions, he assumed it was a song that had been written down more than once in its history. Mattin probably would have spilled in his robes at the historical references, but Orin would like the verse itself. Hopefully.
The version Tiiran was copying neatly was the one he thought had the most flourishes. Unfortunately, it was also the longest version. If nothing else, it would be something for Orin to read on his journeys without worrying about needing to return it in good condition.
After a while, Tiiran stopped to stretch his wrists, and let his tired eyes fall on Nikoly, standing straight, head tipped back and arm extended while he handed tools to Xenia near the top of the ladder.
Nikoly knew the names of the tools, Tiiran noticed as he had noticed when Xenia and Nikoly had been carrying the ladder and other equipment into the library. He knew how to use them too, even though Xenia was the expert—or, considering that she was helping them outside of the usual system of palace repairs, she was still in her apprentice years but more of an expert than anyone in the library ever would be.
She and Nikoly were also friends. Nikolydidhave a gift with people. Less than a year in the palace and he had people to reach out to when in need. He liked to be of use, he had said. Yet Tiiran could think of no merchant’s child who also learned the ways of carpentry. Maybe he was one of many children and didn’t expect a place within the family business, or didn’t want one, so he was searching for a calling that appealed to him. That meant he would leave the library eventually, unless he found a love for histories or songs or poems or maps or any of the other categories of records now without Keepers to care for them.
Tiiran dropped his gaze to his work when he thought Nikoly might look back at him, and kept it there until Amie, with Po trailing behind her, returned with a pitcher of lavender bliss and several cups. They served Xenia and Nikoly—Po leaning intimately close to Xenia until Tiiran coughed—and even Tiiran, before Amie, perhaps interpreting Tiiran’s expression correctly, dragged Po back downstairs with her.
“I hope you warned your friend about the assistants,” Tiiran remarked, putting his cup of bliss to the side.
“Everyone in the palace knows about the library assistants,” Xenia answered for Nikoly, amused again.
“Oh.” Tiiran raised his head. “That’s different then. If you want to allow them to seduce you when you’re done, feel free. There was a shy scholar once who I think believed hearts were involved… which isn’t to say they couldn’t be. But that is not how it starts for them. I just wanted you to be aware. Po likes you for sure,” he added to make up for sending Po away so quickly. “Ah, that is, if you and Nikoly allow such things. That is,” he said again, tripping over his own tongue, “if you two are lovers as well as friends. I am not good at determining things of that nature.”
Xenia raised her eyebrows very high before taking a long drink of bliss.
Tiiran looked over to Nikoly only to regret it when he caught Nikoly with his head tipped back to finish his drink in a few swallows. Tiiran watched his throat move, felt himself mimic the motion with a dry swallow of his own, then pushed his cup toward Nikoly with a rasped, “Take it. I don’t care for lavender bliss.”
He startled hard enough to nearly tip over his inkpot when Nikoly accepted his offer by sitting down in front of him. He crossed his legs and swooped down in one graceful movement, not coming anywhere near Tiiran’s supplies or the full cup by Tiiran’s knee.
“Time for a break,” Nikoly called out to Xenia, who, instead of complaining at being left to work by herself, laughed and started to check her tools.
“Oh.” Tiiran stared foolishly at him: his face, at first, his pleased, hot gaze, then his markings of pretty, practical ivy, then the glint of the jewelry in his nipples before Tiiran realized what he was doing. He dropped his head to glare at the lines he had painstakingly copied out while his blush went to his ears and Nikoly undoubtedly saw it.
“Tiiran most worthy,” Nikoly said softly, startling Tiiran into lifting his gaze, “weren’t you in the middle of copying that ancient clothing book earlier?”
Tiiran’s ears were not any cooler. “It’s mostly done. And today is… not a holiday, but rather a day to change routine. A small rest, in some way.”
“This isn’t work for the library?” Nikoly twisted to read the book opened flat on the ground, scanning a few lines before looking up again. “The heroics of the Outguard a few centuries ago?” He hesitated. “I didn’t know you were interested in outguards. You never play with them as the others do. Not that I’ve seen.”
