18.

Elai is sure he can’t get any more impatient than this. He is excited to see Chay again. It was a pleasant surprise when Connie told him only yesterday. The first good thing would happen to him since he’s been stuck here, either sleeping or picking flowers. Besides the few hours he had spent behind the piano with Arlon by his side.. but he does not want to mention that. No matter how many times he has already thought of it. Ah. And he is doing it again, even now. Elai has to shake his head violently to get the image of Arlon out of his head. The way his fingers would slid over the tiles, or the way his eyes would look at the blonde locks of Elai. Stop it!
The garden was the last time Elai had the privilege of seeing the young man. He had his silver crown pressed into his hair, and his eyes once again settled on the blonde. Elai felt his heart skip a beat when he got near, but Arlon did not seem to be in the mood he was in behind the piano. He seemed nervous, or bothered by something. Elai can only wonder if it was the reason for the king’s absence the next three days that passed; he did not see him.
Not until now.
Arlon comes walking into the main hall with a sneaky look on his face. He has his hands pressed against his back, as if he’s hiding something.
“Like it?” Arlon raises his eyebrows as he stands next to Elai. The younger boy does not bother bowing down for someone that isn’t truly his king, even though he should. The feelings he has towards Arlon are quite complicated. He thought he could hate him with ease, considering he’s his enemy and has been an enemy for thousands of years. But he seems nicer than how his mothers were portrayed in the books, and Elai wonders if hate is even a thing he can feel towards this man. He feels.. real.
“It is quite a nice throne.”
Arlon smiles a little, eyes still looking at the thing he spends so many hours sitting on. “It is until your ass gets sore and you wish you could go outside and watch the skies cry.” Arlon is probably right, but Elai can’t agree. He has never experienced it, nor has he ever even tried sitting on his father’s throne. He does not know what it is like.
“Is this the first throne you see?”
“Oh- yeah.” He almost made a misstep. He almost said no.
“I have never been anywhere.” Elai continues, a soft sigh leaving his mouth as he takes one step closer to the throne.
“Only stepped on a boat once, to go fishing.” Elai has never been on a boat, but it is good to make up some history about himself, to keep a low profile. Not being able to tell anything about him will only make him seem more suspicious, and Arlon has already shown his distrust. “I get quite seasick when I get on a ship. I don’t have sea legs.. you know, the ones pirates have.” Pirates. Elai has read quite a few things about the independent individuals. He does not know how many exist, but he sure knows he does not want to cross them. The books made them sound quite.. dangerous.
“Isn’t it a king’s thing to travel around the world to make alliances?” Elai grins up at Arlon.
He grins back. “I just get them to come here.”
Elai nods. He knows Arlon doesn’t have any alliances. His army has stood alone for quite a few long years already. The Alveric army had stepped away from the alliance when they lost faith in Turi. Too many men were lost and too little people wanted to help. Now it’s just Turi. It is something they have in common with Lyle; Elai’s kingdom does not have any alliances either. Elai understand why; who would want to fight in a never ending war?
“The other rulers must really like you, then.” Elai takes another step closer to the throne, fingers now brushing past the purple veins. Arlon allows him. He does not mind.
“I have not been in contact with any of them. I do not need them.” Arlon sounds sure of himself. In this he is wrong. Alliances could easily break a war. One day, no more men will be able to fight for him anymore. But Elai is not one to talk about war, especially not with a king.
The prince steps back and puts his hand on Arlon’s shoulder. His body’s heat reaches for Elai’s hand immediately; it puts a small smile on the blonde’s face. “Of course. Turi is proud of you.” Elai feels the need to walk away. He knows Chay will come to drink in the evening; he has got a whole day to spend, and he’d much rather sleep through it than try to get anything done.
“Wait.” Arlon grabs a hold of Elai’s arm and stops him from taking another step. A soft sigh leaves Elai’s mouth, eyes looking up at the king once again.
“Let us begin your training today.”
Elai did not expect those words. He thought Arlon would want to rest; there has got to be a reason he decided not to go into battle today.
“Really?” Excitement roams in Elai’s tone.
Arlon smiles.
“Really.”
The two share a moment of silence. It is odd, like the night behind the piano. They look at each other without a word being said. It stays that way, even when they start walking towards where the training arena is located. Arlon’s pace is fast and kingly; Elai has a hard time keeping up with the taller man. He feels his heart beating out of his chest and his mind running wild. He knows what he can do with his ability, and he does not want to be too stubborn this time. He just wonders if he will be able to listen to Arlon without getting annoyed by his attitude, or by the way he explains things. What if it doesn’t work? Will it look suspicious? Will it make him look like an idiot?
Does Arlon think he’s an idiot?
Elai lets out a soft chuckle, which Arlon luckily doesn’t respond to. ‘Of course he thinks you’re an idiot, Elai. He doesn’t even trust you.’ He thinks. Those words do not seem to help the further they walk down the stairs.
“It is right at the end of this hall. Don’t mind the cells.”
The layout seems similar to the one in Lyle. the arena back home is also connected to the dungeons, but they are much less sinister than they are here. The cells are quiet and guarded by many. Elai wonders what type of crimes the people have committed, and what Arlon plans on doing with them. His father used to kill people for the littlest reasons, and sometimes even because of boredom. He has heard a lot, and has seen more than he wishes. Staying in his room was often the best option for Elai; maybe then he would not have seen many innocent, pale faces awaiting their deaths.
“Have you trained someone before?”
Elai asks a question that is only answered by a soft huff. He does not know what to do with it; it does not say what he wanted to hear. It would’ve been a relief if he had done it before, and he’s desperate to ask again. He decides not to, though. He does not want to argue. Not now that he’s going to be able to use his ability again. Not now that his days might become a little better. Maybe he will eventually even be able to join the war. On his father’s side.. after killing the warlord. Or.. no. Elai wishes he could slap himself in the face. ‘You are no traitor, Elai. no matter how deep your hatred for your father grows.’ But fighting for him doesn’t seem right, either.