LOREN
Caught off guard by Abasi’s question, Loren froze for a brief moment. Then he let out a small chuckle. It seemed like a surprisingly intimate question, given that all they'd done was kiss. ”I didn’t think so, for a long time. My parents, my whole extended family, really, didn’t treat their children well, and I had no interest in putting others, let alone my own sons and daughters, through that.” His eyes grew a little sad as he remembered the horrors of his upbringing.Pausing, he gave the other man a considering look. ”But I’ve been taking care of my half-sister and my nephew, and...it’s not so bad.” Whether that meant he wanted children of his own he couldn’t exactly say. But maybe he thought he did, though he couldn’t say when, or how many, or if that was even real, or if he was just feeling slightly happy for once and maybe a little hopeful about what the future might hold. Maybe it was a little bit of everything, all at once: the future, even with the monsters and darkness outside, seemed brighter. Or at least it seemed that there was a future.
Again, people were constantly amazed that the Launceleyn had encountered Frey. Granted, it was kind of amazing, and he was more surprised than any of them. However, he was also deeply uncomfortable discussing the details; he flushed a furious shade of crimson, though he tried to keep the sudden nervousness out of his voice. ”Not exactly. It was more like, ah, the god let me sleep with myself. The second time.” It was nearly impossible to explain. ”The first time, well, uh, they um...jerked me off.” This was probably too much information—especially for someone he’d just kissed, and who Loren was kind of hoping maybe to impress a little—but it was impossible not to feel awkward about all this.
Unfortunately, it was also impossible to explain why Frey had deigned to speak to the summoner. ”I don’t know. I prayed and they just showed up.” Perhaps it was just a morbid curiosity, or maybe there was something in the Launceleyn that even he didn’t know about that had intrigued the god. Regardless, showing up twice had to mean something. He just didn’t know what. Nor was Frey particularly forthcummingcoming about their motivations.
A beggar's book
outworths
a noble's blood
