Rory hadn't known until someone he was friendly with had decided to come out to his farmstead that evening to.. well, Rory didn't know what he had wanted to do. Gossip? Complain? It didn't matter. He didn't get much further than 'your boyfriend is now King' before Rory went into shock and shut the door in his face.
This was not according to plan.
This was not according to anything, and for some time, Rory alternated between sitting on the floor and staring at nothing, and listlessly walking about the house, touching things with his fingertips.
Then he'd waited long enough. He tacked up Esaia, because Gods knew that mare could tell when he was in a mood, and she was more than happy to indulge him. The ground disappeared in a flash beneath them, sweat lathering her sides, her breath hard and harsh and her ears pricked forward as she careened towards the Settlement. She was the storm, she was lightning, she was his heartbeat.
Rory was usually very polite when in the Settlement, especially when on horseback.
Not today.
He shamelessly let Esaia nudge people out of the way, his eyes dark, his face closed off as he rode her up to the Notice Board, staring at Edrei's note declaring Jigano King.
He just sat there for a while, the gray horse breathing heavily, pulling at blades of grass sticking out between the paving stones and along the wall.
In Rory's chest, his heart beat dark and furious, a black and cold flame.
Slowly he nudged Esaia towards the bakery, letting her walk along the winding ways and narrow alleys, hitching her outside and taking off her tack. If he foundAmalia he'd ask her if he could turn Esaia out in the garden, but regardless of where she was, he made sure she had a bucket of water.
Then he went into the basement.
And there was Jigano.
He didn't look at who else was there, merely stepped off the stairs and stood by the wall, arms crossed over his chest and his eyes blazing. "So this is where you hide," he finally said, his voice like ice.
This was not according to plan.
This was not according to anything, and for some time, Rory alternated between sitting on the floor and staring at nothing, and listlessly walking about the house, touching things with his fingertips.
Then he'd waited long enough. He tacked up Esaia, because Gods knew that mare could tell when he was in a mood, and she was more than happy to indulge him. The ground disappeared in a flash beneath them, sweat lathering her sides, her breath hard and harsh and her ears pricked forward as she careened towards the Settlement. She was the storm, she was lightning, she was his heartbeat.
Rory was usually very polite when in the Settlement, especially when on horseback.
Not today.
He shamelessly let Esaia nudge people out of the way, his eyes dark, his face closed off as he rode her up to the Notice Board, staring at Edrei's note declaring Jigano King.
He just sat there for a while, the gray horse breathing heavily, pulling at blades of grass sticking out between the paving stones and along the wall.
In Rory's chest, his heart beat dark and furious, a black and cold flame.
Slowly he nudged Esaia towards the bakery, letting her walk along the winding ways and narrow alleys, hitching her outside and taking off her tack. If he found
Then he went into the basement.
And there was Jigano.
He didn't look at who else was there, merely stepped off the stairs and stood by the wall, arms crossed over his chest and his eyes blazing. "So this is where you hide," he finally said, his voice like ice.
