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Kirst blinked sleepily as he stepped out of his room. He stared for a moment at the cleanliness of the rest of the house, confused before his foggy brain remembered the events of the previous day. Right, Falen had cleaned for him. Kirst turned to stare at the pile of blankets in front of the fireplace. Those hadn’t been there last night. Walking over slowly, he stared in surprise as blonde hair peeked out from under the blankets.

As Kirst stopped beside the blankets, Falen suddenly rolled onto his back. The blankets fell away, leaving Falen’s legs exposed. Kirst’s eyes were drawn the pale flesh and his curiosity was replaced with wonder as he stared at the beautiful picture Falen made. Slowly Falen’s eyes blinked open, pale blue orbs looking up at him dazedly for a moment before Falen suddenly bolted upright in panic.

Kirst dropped to one knee beside Falen. “It’s alright,” he said gently, touching the faradhim‘s shoulder without thinking. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Falen blushed slightly and adjusted his skirt. “It’s okay.”

“Why aren’t you sleeping in the bed?”

“I’m too used to sleeping on the ground,” Falen answered easily though he didn’t meet Kirst’s eyes as he spoke. “The bed just didn’t feel comfortable.” He turned worried eyes on Kirst. “That’s alright, isn’t it? That I sleep out here?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Kirst nodded quickly. “As long as you’re comfortable.”

“I am.” The boy smiled brightly and stood. “Do you want me to make breakfast?”

Straightening, Kirst nodded. “If you’d like. You don’t have to.”

“I want to.” Falen answered quickly. “I got some eggs when I was out yesterday. What do you think about….”

Kirst let the boy’s words wash over him and he found himself smiling as he nodded absently. He could see himself getting used to having the faradhim with him everyday and the idea scared him a little. Eventually the boy would want to go back to his village. That was where he belonged after all. He was Miyagi, used to the sun and the open fields of the grassland. There was nothing that Kirst could offer him to stay here that compared to that freedom.

A knock on the door distracted him and Falen turned away from the frying pan he’d set on a wire framework over the fire to glance at the door, indecision clear on the boy’s face as he tried to decide between cooking and answering the door. Standing quickly, Kirst went to open the door before Falen could move.

“Morning.” Kirst’s friend Ossan nodded slightly as he walked into the house. He paused just inside the door, glancing around appreciatively. “Impressive.”

“It wasn’t that bad before,” Kirst muttered.

Ossan merely shrugged and nodded silently to Falen. Emotionless brown eyes turned to regard Kirst. “The elders want you and the faradhim to speak to them today. They’ve sent out riders to the other villagers to call in the full Council.”

Kirst nodded in acquiescence. He’d figured the elders would want to speak to the boy sooner or later. They’d most likely called Priest Beryn in as well.

“Do we have to leave now?” Falen looked up nervously, his gaze shifting between them and the frying pan.

“No,” Kirst shook his head quickly. “They won’t be expecting us until much later so we have time to eat.”

A smile lit up Falen’s face and he relaxed visibly. “I made extra.”

An echoing smile crossed Kirst’s face at the blatant suggestion in Falen’s words. “Would you like to join us for breakfast, Ossan?”

The other warrior looked once between Kirst and Falen before nodding once. “Sure.”

With a happy smile, Falen set three plates down on the table, taking a seat across from Kirst.

Ossan nodded once to the faradhim and extended his hand. “Ossan Jos.”

“Falen DeMorgan.” Falen beamed as he answered. Kirst guessed this happy mood was more Falen’s usual state. The smiles that played across the boy’s face seemed to spring up naturally, and Kirst had to admit that they were fairly endearing. Already he felt himself relaxing around the boy’s easy smile.

“You’ve caused quite a stir,” Ossan remarked offhandedly as he ate. “It’s been a while since there’s been a faradhim in the village.”

Falen’s smile dipped for a fraction of a second. “I was the only faradhim in my village as well.” The boy’s expression seemed slightly forced and Kirst refrained from commenting on what he expected was the village’s reaction to a faradhim. Obviously the threat of the Goddess’ wrath was the only thing that had kept Falen’s village from full hostility against the faradhim.

If Ossan noticed the souring of Falen’s expression he didn’t show it. But Ossan hardly ever showed any sort of emotion. “The chief of Kiradon, that’s one of the northern-most villages, is bonded to a faradhim named Lyse. They’ll both be here for the Council.”

Falen looked up curiously. “Council?”

Kirst nodded absently. “Yeah, the Council of all the Sakano elders.”

A puzzled look crossed Falen’s face and he titled his head slightly to stare at the two warriors. “You mean all the village chiefs are coming here?” A bit of panic crossed the boy’s face before it was carefully masked.

Kirst and Ossan exchanged a confused glance. “The chiefs and the other elders on each village council,” Ossan explained slowly. “They’ll all be meeting here to decide what must be done.” The warrior sent a questioning glance to the faradhim. “I thought the Miyagi did the same.”

Slowly Falen shook his head. “Not for as long as I remember.”

Ossan frowned. “I thought there was a meeting…” The sentence died off suddenly and Ossan turned to Kirst.

Kirst’s brow furrowed as he tried to remember the last time he’d heard of the Miyagi meeting. Had relations between their two clans fallen off so badly that they didn’t even know the basics of the political structures even more? Even before the contest of the Chosen he remembered other brawls but there had to be some areas that were still in contact. They were different clans, separated by their choice of habitat but overall they were one tribe. They worshipped the same goddess.

“There’s only been the village chiefs,” Falen answered quietly. A pained look crossed the boy’s face but he continued speaking. “All the chiefs answer to one chief. There isn’t a council or anything.”

“Are you alright?” Kirst watched Falen, a little surprise at his sudden concern.

Falen waved off Kirst concern with a forced smile. “I’m alright. I just get headaches sometimes.”

Ossan nodded silently and glanced out the windows. “We should go. The elders will be expecting us soon.”

Kirst stood quickly and offered a hand to help Falen to his feet. The faradhim looked up with surprise, studying Kirst’s face for a short moment before smiling widely and taking Kirst’s hand. A trace of pain still showed on the boy’s face as he cast a glance back at the dirty plates on the table.

“Leave them,” Kirst said quietly. “I’ll wash them when we get back.”

The boy opened his mouth to protest but Kirst just shook his head. He quickly guided the boy out of the house, not noticing until they were already a few paces down the road that his arm had slipped around Falen’s waist seemingly of its own accord. Falen looked up at him curiously and Kirst started suddenly, quickly pulling his arm away. Something akin to disappointment flitted across Falen’s face but Kirst told himself he had just imagined that.

“You said that your village chiefs all answer to one chief?” Ossan asked quietly as he strode slightly ahead of them on the road.

Wide, startled blue eyes looked up suddenly and Falen nodded. Obviously the boy’s thoughts had wandered elsewhere and a faint blush slipped across the boy’s pale face. “Y-yes.”

“Who’s that chief?”

“My chief. Dyne Serin.”

Kirst frowned but said nothing. Falen’s body had gone rigid suddenly and Kirst knew better than to press the boy.

“How many people will be coming to this Council?” Falen asked suddenly.

Ossan cocked his head slightly and thought for a moment. “Around twenty-seven.”

Falen stopped in the middle of the street, eyes wide. “That many?”

“Well, the full Council totals around thirty-three, including the elders that live here and Priest Beryn.”

“Is that a problem?” Kirst asked curiously.

Quickly, Falen shook his head, an uneasy smile playing across his face. “No, it’s alright. I’ll do what is needed, I just didn’t expect it to be… that many.”

“I’ll go with you,” Kirst offered quickly.

Falen smiled slightly at him but didn’t seem at all relieved by Kirst’s words.

Conversation trailed off as Ossan lead them quietly towards the council hall. He nodded once at the warrior stationed at the main entrance before confidently leading them through the halls of the building, bypassing the large main room that would be used later when the full Council arrived. Instead, they proceeded to a small conference room in the rear of the building. Ossan knocked once on the door, waiting for a muffled response before opening the door and ushering Falen and Kirst inside.

Four of the village elders sat inside behind a large table. All but one of them were late in their years though the youngest of the elders was absent from the table. Kirst knew each of them personally. Most had held their positions since Kirst was a young child. With wide eyes, Falen quickly dropped to the floor, his head pressed to the floor in a low bow. The elders seemed just as shocked as Kirst at the strange behavior and Kirst quickly grabbed the boy’s arm. Falen resisted as he tried to pull the boy to his feet. He opened his mouth to speak but one of the elders beat him too it.

“Rise, little one, and be at ease. We do not care for formality here.” Elder Kraine Field had a kind smile on his face as he spoke. He’d held his position for nearly forty years, one of the oldest elders in the entire Council.

With a confused look Falen slowly stood with Kirst’s help, though the boy remained silent. He shifted closer to Kirst slightly, almost as if he were seeking protection. The move did not go unnoticed by the elders.

“You’re the faradhim that was Chosen?” Elder Field asked, taking the lead in the discussion as he normally did. The other elders normally deferred to him. Even the chief of the village sought Elder Field’s advice before making a decision.

Falen nodded hesitantly. “I am.”

“Your name?” One of the other elders, a dark haired man by the name of Kal Wis, asked quietly. A pen was held in his hand, poised at the ready as he waited for the boy to speak.

“Falen, sir.” Elder Wis jotted the name down quickly.

“And what encampment do you come from?”

“The Evan encampment, sir.”

The elders shared a glance. “That’s one of the main encampments, isn’t it?”

Falen simply nodded but didn’t offer any further information. Kirst shifted closer slightly as he recognized fear in the corners of Falen’s eyes. “It’s alright,” he whispered quietly, low enough that only Falen would hear him. “They’re not going to hurt you. You’re safe here.”

The faradhim shot him a grateful look but didn’t seem to relax any.

“Why were you Chosen, Falen? Surely your clan honors the tradition of faradhim.”

Hesitantly, Falen answered. “I knew too much about my chief. They hoped to be rid of me without risking the chance of the Goddess’ wrath.”

Every one of the elders sat up at Falen’s words. “The chance?” Chief Meryn asked from where he sat on the far right.

“They have escaped the punishment for minor infractions.”

Elder Field’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”

All emotion fled Falen’s face as he turned slowly and tugged apart the ties that closed his dress. The fabric fell to pool around his elbows, revealing a multitude of bruises crossing the boy’s back. Kirst felt his eyes narrow and he would have been gripping his sword hilt if he’d been wearing one. Instead he settled for clenching a hand around his belt, the feel of crumpling leather bringing him a tiny bit of relief.

“Who did that to you?” Outrage filled Chief Meryn’s voice. As Kirst turned his gaze away from Falen’s back he saw similar looks on the other elder’s faces though Meryn practically vibrated with rage.

“My chief and his warriors.” Falen answered calmly as he pulled up his dress and retied the fastenings.

“They dared to harm a faradhim?”

“There was no punishment. The Goddess no longer protects me.” Falen answered quietly.

Elder Field nodded silently. “You have given us ample reason to call a full Council. We will save the rest of our questions until the others arrive.”

“Thank you,” Falen bowed slightly, relief evident in his tone.

“Kirst.” The word was a command and Kirst nodded once before leading Falen out of the room. Ossan was waiting on the other side and he followed the pair silently as they left the council hall. Falen was silent, his cheer from this morning gone completely, hidden behind a calm and emotionless mask.

As soon as they stepped outside of the council hall a familiar face appeared before them.

“Hey!” Tyrnan practically bounced with enthusiasm. “How’d it go?” He turned expectantly towards Falen, his expression falling as he suddenly took in the boy’s somber face.

Hesitantly Falen smiled but he said nothing.

“It went well,” Kirst answered for the boy. Falen looked up at him with a silent question and Kirst smiled back as best he could, the expression feeling slightly foreign on his usually somber face.

“Good! That calls for a celebration.” The brunette shrugged in response to the skeptic looks he received from the two warriors. “Or a distraction, whichever you prefer to call it. Either way, let’s go!”

Curiosity played across Falen’s face as they slowly fell in step behind Tyrnan, chasing away a bit of the blank mask he’d worn previously. “Where are we going?” He asked timidly.

“Why, to the pub of course. Well, the Barrel’s Fill to be specific, but it’s really the only pub in town so the name doesn’t get used much.” Tyrnan fell back to slip an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “It’s a little early at the moment but it’ll fill up in a bit.”

For once Kirst didn’t say a word to discourage Tyrnan’s bubbling conversation. Slowly the exuberant man was drawing Falen out of his shell and that was more than enough for him to overlook the normal annoyance that accompanied Tyrnan’s presence.

*****

“I can’t believe you got a faradhim drunk.”

The voice washed over Falen and he smiled happily, all his earlier worries forgotten as he leaned into the strong arms holding him.

“I didn’t get him drunk. You were the one shoving drinks in his face.” The second voice sounded much closer, rumbling under Falen’s cheek and he pressed just a bit closer to the vibration. “You’re not much better yourself.”

Falen stumbled slightly but didn’t so much as tilt. He frowned slightly as he considered that physical impossibility before he realized that arms were holding him up. A huge grin split his face at the thought. How nice of them to keep him from falling. Quite nice, he thought, and he would have kissed them if they’d had a mouth. Or just if they were anywhere near his own but they seemed a lot farther down and he had a feeling he’d fall over if he tried to kiss them down there.

“He gets quite affectionate when he’s drunk.” The first voice slurred from further ahead. Falen concentrated on the sound for a moment. It sounded familiar. Oh yes! He remembered. That was the nice hunter, Tyrnan.

“Which is why you’re over there.” If Tyrnan was over there that meant Kirst was the nice man holding him up. How very nice, he thought and smiled wider. He liked Kirst holding him. It was comfortable and he turned to wrap his arms around the big chest with a happy grin. There was a pause in the movement and they wavered for a second.

“Falen, I can’t walk with you like that.” Was that directed to him? He guessed not. Kirst could walk just fine.

“Mmm.” Falen burrowed closer to the warm chest.

There was a deep sigh from above him, warm breath tickling the hairs on the back of his head before the world suddenly spun. His stomach lurched at the movement but everything seemed to stay put and then Kirst started walking again, though his steps seemed to be bouncing Falen up and down instead of forward like they had been.

Blearily he looked around and saw Kirst’s head was on the same level as his own. He’d suddenly gotten taller, Falen decided, since normally Kirst stood a good head above Falen’s own.

“Hi,” Falen said happily and he watched a not-quite-smile play across Kirst’s face. Wiggling forward, he shifted in the nice arms that kept him from falling to wrap his arms around Kirst’s neck, resting his head on Kirst’s shoulder. The hands holding him didn’t shift with him and one came to rest lightly on Falen’s rear as he moved to something resembling a sitting position in Kirst’s arms. He inhaled slightly, liking the combination of leather, musk and pine that seemed to be Kirst’s scent. He also liked the feeling of the large hand on his backside and decided Kirst should do that more often.

“Aww. I think he likes you,” came the voice from ahead.

“Shut up, Tyrnan,” Kirst rumbled.

After a moment of breathing in Kirst’s scent, Falen sat back slightly to stare into Kirst’s face. Or at least he thought it was Kirst’s face. He might have been off by a few inches. “You’re comfy,” he pronounced with a nod.

Two voices laughed in front of him and Falen realized there was someone supporting Tyrnan the way Kirst was supporting Falen. Well, not exactly the same. Theirs was more like the way Kirst and Falen had started out instead of the comfort Falen currently enjoyed.

“Shut up,” Kirst grated out, glaring at the two ahead and Falen knew Kirst wasn’t mad at him. Smiling happily Falen let his head fall back onto Kirst’s shoulder. He must have dozed slightly because he blinked and suddenly there were wood walls around them and the other two men were gone, leaving Falen and Kirst alone. Slowly Falen was lowered to his feet but he didn’t let go.

“Go to bed, Falen.”

A beaming smile lit Falen’s face and he nodded. Kirst eyed him warily as he slipped out of Falen’s grasp but he didn’t say anything. Kirst turned to enter his bedroom. Falen followed and then smacked into a broad back as Kirst stopped suddenly. Strong arms caught him before he could fall and he smiled as Kirst glared at him.

“What are you doing?”

“Going to bed,” Falen answered simply before launching himself at Kirst, knocking them both onto the bed. He felt the mattress bounce as they landed and he giggled.

*****

“Falen.” Kirst glared down at the blonde boy currently attached to his middle. Apparently being drunk gave the boy complete immunity to Kirst’s glares because the boy just giggled slightly and moved closer. Kirst hadn’t thought it was possible for the boy to get closer considering he was already pressed full against Kirst’s side but then the boy shifted to practically straddle Kirst and yes, he was closer.

“Falen.” He tried speaking louder but there was no response from the boy. He really needed to get the boy off of him. The boy’s position was doing bad things to his insides and it really didn’t help that the back flap of Falen’s dress was raised almost obscenely high. “Falen?”

Kirst watched suspiciously as the boy’s breathing evened out to a low, steady rhythm. With a curse Kirst let his head fall back on the bed. Falen was asleep. The Goddess had to be taking some sort of perverse delight in this situation. He tried gently lifting the boy but the delicate arms held strong, gripping Kirst like a leech. A very beautiful leech, and he was tempted to think even sexy but that brought with it several things Kirst didn’t want to consider at the moment. Still a leech nonetheless and Kirst gave up trying to pry the boy off of him.

Shifting backwards, he pulled the boy with him as he moved so he was at least fully on the bed and carefully kicked off his boots. With a sigh he let his head fall back against the pillows and hoped the boy didn’t take it too bad when he woke up.

*****

The first thing that hit Falen was that his head hurt and the sun was too bright. The second thing was that his back was cold but his chest was pressed against something warm. Blearily cracking open one eye, Falen discovered that was a bad thing as it brought the sunlight in through his eye like stabbing hot knives. He noticed that the warm thing was moving, a soothing up-down motion that was somewhat familiar to Falen and he chanced a second look, shading his eye with one hand. Kirst was looking down at him, eyes wide open and very close.

Startled, Falen jerked back on the bed suddenly. Only there wasn’t really any more bed behind him and he found himself tumbling gracelessly to the floor. The pain in his head spiked as he hit the floor and he at least landed on his backside instead of any other part of his anatomy. Clutching his head, Falen curled into a ball on the floor with a loud moan. At least there was no sunlight on the floor.

“You alright?” There was a hint of a smirk in Kirst’s tone and Falen had a sudden feeling he didn’t want to know what he’d done last night.

“Sorry,” Falen muttered, hoping it covered all the idiotic behavior of the previous night.

The bed creaked and then two feet stood directly in front of Falen before Kirst dropped down so that Falen was staring directly at… Falen looked up quickly at Kirst’s face. “Are you alright?” Kirst asked quietly.

“Aside from the herd of gazelles that’s running through my head, I think so.” Hesitantly, Falen broached the question that floated in his mind, filling him with dread. “I didn’t do anything… strange… last night, did I?”

A smirk fixed itself on Kirst’s face and he knew if they were on better terms, Kirst would be using the events of last night for blackmail for ages. “No, nothing too bad.”

Falen breathed a tiny sigh of relief before he looked up at the bed towering about him. “And that?” He lifted a hand to wave slightly at the bed.

“Just sleep.”

“Right.” The floor felt really comfortable at the moment and he didn’t think he wanted to move.

“Come on, I’ll make breakfast.” With a smile Kirst lifted Falen easily to his feet and guided him into the main room.

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