“Hm…”, Marius said after Cornelius finished with his report of the incident at Solaria.

“’Hm?’ That is your response?”, Cornelius complained.

“Well no, just…”

“Just what? I told you all the details, can’t you still not see that the king of Solaria is after my life?”

“I didn’t say that. It’s just a bit…weird.” Weird? No. Stupid more like it. Cursed be Elsurion’s stupid hot head! But that was typically him. Rushing decisions when he’s angry. That was acceptable for a child, but not for a king for Solaria’s sake! Mentally, Marius banged his head against the table. On the outset, however, he went on pretending to analyse the incident.

“So, the ehm…what was it? Water crates? Barrels?”

“Who cares?”

“Yes. They could have fallen by accident. And the purse that was snatched away…”

“It was my purse!“, Cornelius complained.

“Yes, yes, ‘your’ purse…sounds just like your run of the mill stray children.”

“You still think I’m crazy!”

“No, I just doubt the coherence you see in the things that happened.”

“I don’t…”

“Cornelius, Cornelius, calm down. I listened to you. And I understand that you’re in shock. But in all seriousness, you exaggerate. Return to your king and report. You still have the signed cancellation, do you?”

“I do.”

“See, spend a good night’s rest and be on your way tomorrow.”

Cornelius didn’t respond.

“I could travel with you if that’d set your mind at ease.”

The messenger raised an eyebrow sceptically: “Why would you do that? You barely know me.”

Marius let a few seconds pass before he responded: “Fine. You got me. My offer is not completely selfless”, he grunted. “I enjoy your company.”

This was no lie. Cornelius appealed to him. His frightened, unsure eyes reminded him of a young prince whose heart was unapproachable for Marius for many reasons. It would ensure Cornelius’ complete trust for sure, and, Marius hated to admit it, but; he longed for companionship. And at the palace, this was difficult. So: Two birds with one stone in Marius’ books.

“Are you serious?”, Cornelius asked.

Marius looked deeply into his eyes and nodded.

“It’s not like you have the coin for all the beer you drank, do you?”

“No.”

“So, you don’t have the coin to take a room here either, do you?”

Silence.

“I’ll share my room with you if you want.”

The messenger’s eyes darted from left to right. “I’m not sure if I understand you right, Marius…”

Marius put his hand on the messenger’s. Cornelius looked at the Marius, then at their hands, resting on the table. He seemed weirded out, yet, he didn’t pull his hand away.

Marius, sounding a bit impatient, asked: “What? Am I not your type?”

The messenger blushed. “No, that’s not it. I just don’t know if…”

Marius pulled his hand back and looked down on the table. “It is hard to find ‘such’ companionship in our society. I haven’t had that kind in…”, Marius hesitated, “far too long.”

Marius rose his head and faced Cornelius once more. “What about you?”

Cornelius avoided Marius’ eyes. “I had someone. The war gave him to me, but it also took him away again. It’s been a very long time.”

“I’m sorry. You want to ta…”

Cornelius’ gaze cut his sentence off.

“I just wanted the companionship. I intended not to reopen old wounds”; Marius tried to pick back up.

“I was very young then. It’s fine.”

Marius felt honest sympathy towards Cornelius as of now.

With an alien self-confidence in his voice, the messenger said: “Offer still standing?”

“Yeah. For whatever it’s worth.”

“Let’s head upstairs then”, Cornelius exhaled sharply. “For whatever it’s worth.”

Marius paid for their beverages, the horseboxes and the room they would spend the night in, and they proceeded upstairs.

“It’s dark in here”, Cornelius complained.

“I know”, Marius commented with a low voice.

“That the moment I’m going to feel a knife in my stomach?”

“You still on about that?”

The messenger did not reply. Marius’ hands searched for Cornelius’ face in the pitch blackness. Having found it, his fingers stroked over his roommate’s cheek. Endless seconds passed between Marius’ face approaching and feeling Cornelius’ warm breath on his face. Their lips met, and they shared a passionate kiss.

“You really mean this, do you?”, Cornelius asked, trying to catch his breath.

Marius pulled the messenger towards himself and kissed him again. It was at this moment, when Cornelius, at last, gave in. Marius could tell that. What Marius could not tell, however, was, if the messenger really started to trust him, or if he stopped caring at this point. Marius ignored the impending doom of Sarenya’s blades, hungry for the life of the man he’d spent the night with. He would have to stall her. Marius needed the messenger alive. But right now, he allowed himself to enjoy the moment. Feeling the muscles of another man in his embrace, the willing lips, the tender touch, only his for this one night.