LOREN
Loren sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ”It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. It doesn’t change the fact that Ronin is not my friend anymore.” And probably wouldn’t ever be the summoner’s friend again. However, the Launceleyn couldn’t blame the king: if Loren had been in Ronin’s shoes, well, the librarian liked to think he’d have been more understanding. However, he also knew that the other man couldn’t afford to be forgiving, not after everything he’d gone through. And that wasn't even getting into the whole blight thing. ”That certainly sounds like much to talk about to me. How’s Aoife handling all of it?” Perhaps bringing the two men’s daughter into this was a low blow, and not particularly well-thought out, but if Remi wouldn’t speak about his own problems, maybe Loren could get the alchemist to talk about his child’s.If the Launceleyn needed to pretend to be weakened for a while, so be it; although he could already feel some energy returning to his limbs, it wouldn’t be hard to fend off the other man’s pounce for a while. ”I am still not recovered fully. And if admitting that I don’t know how to use it will keep you away, I will gladly do so.” At the feigned heartache, Loren just tilted his head. ”If you’re wounded on the inside, well, I can probably heal you, but it would delay our contest even further. So it’s entirely up to you.” The banter felt good, despite the subject matter and innuendo. Loren had forgotten what it was like just to tease back and forth like this.
Remi couldn’t possibly expect Loren just to sit around and wait for the alchemist to show up. Even the librarian wasn’t quite that pathetic. ”You’re right, I’m seeing other people, so I’m far too busy for the likes of you.” Maybe joking about other relationships should’ve been harder, but they had been talking for so long that it didn't even hurt. At the mention of the link to the Ascended, Loren frowned and his brow furrowed. ”Huh. Interesting. It’s just a theory though? And I imagine we can’t test it until LongNight?” Same as their other theories, then, which sucked. Still, at least Wessex was thinking about how to lower the tensions in the Hollowed Grounds.
”I see. And you think that there won’t be food and drinks and games and conversations at the manor? Because I can assure you, we'll have all that. Or you think it will not be rather nice even with all those things?” Despite the alchemist’s best efforts, Loren wasn’t going to let the other man wiggle out of this one. If Remi thought people would be uncomfortable at the manor—a fact that had already been communicated to the summoner by a few other people—then the alchemist was going to have to say that to the librarian’s face.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
