When the story was finished, Farin had an urge to jump up and shout.
Humanity wasn't like that. They wouldn't cut down those creatures. They wouldn't rob them of their land.
Would they?
They would.
His body, which had jolted up, slowly sank back into the seat. If it wasn't him who had seen Alvarr, if it had been someone else. Eylir would have been kind to them, but he would have let their existence slip in his joy. Cyrille would have used them. That one merchant that came into their city with slaves, he would have tried to take the children away.
It was painful because those were his people. That was how his race was. Not all of them, but more than enough.
"You gave me the key to see how I would react?"
"I gave you the key because I wanted to give you the possibility to find out about this story. I never truly thought that you would try to use them to your advantage. I have seen how you treat the people you love." Farin chewed on his lip, troubled.
"May I ask what you plan on doing now? I-"
Need to give you the key back?
Ives reached out to touch the temple master's arm but pulled it back before he could complete the motion. "Master, you trust Farin enough that you would have let him become the heir, don't you?"
It sounded like a reminder more than a question. Farin looked at the southerner.
"I am not changing the rules. Not for anyone. I am not risking the lives of a whole tribe for one couple." The old master's voice was dark and left no room for discussion. He wasn't being unreasonable, quite on the contrary. The carrier knew that he, himself, was the one who was asking for too much.
But he would lose his mind if he couldn't see Alvarr. He felt that.
"Continue being the carrier, Farin. I will leave you more time to enter the mountain. No one will question it unless I say anything." The temple master's face smoothened, his voice turned softer. He patted Ives' shoulder to calm the young man, who looked quite troubled at the whole situation, finally aware of the entirety of his task. "Your only other option is to leave this world and enter the cave. But if you do, then leave forever. I would order the guards to kill you if you came out again."
Hesitation. Farin's eyes jolted through the room in thought. "What if I asked Alvarr to come out?"
"I won't allow it. I can't let anyone see them, even if no one knows who he is."
The carrier lowered his head unhappily.
Of course, I understand and he's not wrong, but... He didn't want to accept the situation as it was. Ives was the one who tried to smoothen the atmosphere. "In any case, maybe we'll find a better solution if we just look out for it. If there's none, then Farin can still decide to leave for the mountain or not. Until then, he will just continue his task?"
Ives directed his gaze towards Farin, who nodded to show his agreement. No matter what, he wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon. Thankfully, the master was going to allow him some more time even during the sacrifice.
The temple master gave a slow hum. "Very well."
He closed his old eyes, releasing a breath. "It's good that you understand, but Cyrille worries me. If one digs deep enough, then holes can be found in the official story. If he convinces the royal family to send someone over and check the cave on their own, ignoring the risk of offending Gods, then all of it will be destroyed."
Ives chimed in with a more relaxed voice that was closer to his usual, dozing tone. "Cyrille has been behaving a bit weirdly. Farin, do you know anything about it?"
Farin winced, then admitted that it was well possible he was part of the reason. "I believe I have made him aware of the dangers of playing with Gods. On another note, his guard came running up to him before he started acting weird. Cyrille left immediately when he whispered something into his ear."
"You could not hear what he said?" "No, Master, but Cyrille appeared hurried."
With Ives and Farin fixating the old man, he took his turn and shook his head. "Nothing weird happened in the capital. The queen was already feeling better before I left and I saw Cyrille's family shortly. They all appeared alive and well."
"There might be something happening that he wishes to hide. Some kind of plan we aren't aware of?" "I hope not. Anyway, I will keep an eye on him."
The temple master addressed Ives, then Farin. "I would like for you to continue some of the tasks I've given you, even when I'm around. As for you, Farin, please take off the chainmail."
To tell the truth, the carrier was slightly disappointed he hadn't forgotten. With no other choice - and no real problem to do it in front of Ives and the old man - he stood up to lift his shirt over his head. It was always a bit troublesome with his hair, but he pulled it out before he stood in front of them without a top. Ives' gaze wandered over the chainmail, not even stopping at the inconspicuous key.
The blue-haired man unhooked the chainmail on this back. Arms over his shoulders, he reached out for the thin but sturdy clasps until he could slip the metal over his arms.
He put his shirt back on before slowly unhooking the key from the center and handing it to the master, then folding the chainmail and bringing it back to the cabinet he had gotten it from. The temple master repeated a similar process: Loosening his robe, then hooking the key in between the two layers.
As he ordered his clothes again, he gave Farin a look that already told him their discussion was finished. "I hope you will behave according to the regulations."
The young man stood up, giving Ives a soft smile and then directing his gaze back to his master. He bowed, low, and kept the position for a moment. Even when he straightened his back, he kept his head low. "I will, Master."
Hands folded neatly in front of him, gaze to the ground and head lowered. The temple master saw him behave just as he had the day where he was assigned the position of the carrier. That was his promise: He would obey. He would not cause trouble, would not try to lead Alvarr out of the mountain. In return, he hoped that his master would keep his word and search for a way that would allow Farin to see his loved one without leaving his family behind.
The old man sighed and nodded appreciatively, relief on his face. He softly waved his hand. "Now, go. I still need to talk to Ives about his future tasks."
Farin left without another word but with a head full of worries. The implications behind the story were heavy. This wasn't just about him risking his own life with what he was doing. This was risking a whole species.
He walked and walked until he reached his room, where he let himself fall onto his bed with a long exhale.
"Ahh... I just want peace", he whispered to himself. "Cyrille, please don't mess this up for all of us..."
The single, most dangerous variable right now. The noble with high status and great interest in the Gods. Farin shuddered.
"I'm sorry", he mumbled into Alvarr's neck, tilting his head so that he wouldn't hit the God's horns. "It's so troublesome, but we are trying to find a way."
"I will think, too", Alvarr said in a determined voice, trying to be helpful. When Farin hadn't appeared again until the time of the sacrifice, he had waited at the end of the cave path for him. The moment Farin had set down the basket, he had pulled him into a tight hug.
Farin was unwilling to end the warm embrace for just another minute. He turned his head to press his lips against Alvarr's cheek. "Thanks, that would be helpful. Please don't try to come out on your own, though", he warned. "It's dangerous outside." "Dangerous? Then stay here." Alvarr sounded unhappy, squinting towards the path.
"Not dangerous for me, just for you. Don't go out, please, okay?" "...I understand. I will not go without you."
The whining sound that accompanied his voice made his unrest just as obvious as the lowered, twitching ears. Farin reached up to rub them, shamelessly enjoying the feel of the soft fur.
"Don't ever trust humans other than me coming here", he whispered, his voice tinged with worry and frustration. The ear in his fingers twitched strongly.
"Trust?" "Ah... Right. You don't even need that word. It's what you give anyone anyway." Farin tugged Alvarr closer, leaning heavily on him.
"Humans say things that are wrong, knowingly. The act like they feel one way when it's another. They will tell you they are not hostile, but then attack."
"I do not understand."
The utter lack of understanding in Alvarr's voice was almost painful. "Why? What for?" "Oh, Alvarr... We humans are so complicated. Just please, always expect a human to attack you from behind." "You did not. You would not, right?"
The carrier pasted another kiss on Alvarr's lips. "Never. But be careful with anyone else, unless I tell you that they can be trusted." "Hm."
It felt awkward, talking to Alvarr like he had to obey him. I'll teach him as much as I can, in time. So that he can make his own decisions with all the knowledge he needs, Farin promised mutely.
He slowly loosened his embrace and stepped back. The smile he gave the God was slightly sad. "I have to leave now. I'll be coming back tomorrow, okay?"
He reached out to place his hands on Alvarr's cheeks, thumb rubbing over the two discolored scars on his face. With a gentle tug, he pulled the other close enough to press their lips together. He lingered for a second, the tilted his head so that their noses touched. "Until tomorrow."
The reflection of his own self in Alvarr's golden eyes vanished as the thick eyelashes of the God covered it. "Until tomorrow."
Even as Farin stepped away, hurrying out of the cave path before he could buckle under the obsessive desire to drag the God with him, Alvarr stood rooted in place, following the vanishing figure with his eyes.
Farin was almost jogging, breathing heavily by the time he reached the door. The temple master was waiting for him, standing steady in the wind like a tall tree. The carrier lowered his eyes to hide his worry before the old man.
"Let's go", he whispered, walking forward without even looking back.
thanks for the chapters !!
... that hurt, that Alvarr does not understand human nature is tender but painful
Thanks for the chapter
