Of Kings and Pawns

Chapter 17 - A Night Under the Stars

The cool night air of Varislow brushed against Albert’s skin as he quietly opened his window, the familiar creak of the old wood barely audible in the stillness of the evening. He pulled himself up with the practiced ease of someone who had done this countless times before, climbing through the narrow gap and onto the roof.

Varislow slept beneath him, its streets bathed in moonlight, but Albert moved with the grace of a cat, his steps soft, deliberate, knowing every rooftop, every ledge, and every gap he needed to cross to reach his destination. It was a path well-worn in his heart, a secret trail leading him to the only place where he could truly be himself.

Finally, he reached the familiar rooftop, the one where the world felt distant and the stars seemed a little closer. He laid down, the tiles warm against his back as he stared up at the sky, the constellations flickering like a thousand distant flames. Here, he wasn’t the bastard son of Lord Varsaw, the hidden Elvish boy with a dangerous secret. Here, he was just Albert, and soon, he would be more.

He smiled as he heard the familiar voice call out softly from the shadows, "You always beat me here."

Albert turned his head, his heart fluttering as Arman stepped into the moonlight, carrying a small basket. He walked toward him with the same quiet confidence that made Albert’s heart race, every step of his soft and deliberate. Arman’s smile was the kind of smile that made the world melt away, even when war loomed at the edges of their lives.

"I brought crisp bread," Arman said, sitting down next to Albert and offering him the basket.

Albert grinned and took a piece, breaking it in half before handing it back to Arman. "You always know what I need."

The two boys lay side by side on the roof, the cool night air wrapping around them as they shared the bread in silence for a few moments. Their hands, as always, found each other, fingers intertwining in a simple, wordless connection that spoke louder than anything they could say. The world below them, the world of war, of politics, of hatred, seemed a million miles away.

Arman glanced over, his voice soft as he asked, "How was your day?"

Albert sighed, looking up at the stars again. "It was... complicated. My father... I mean... Lord Varsaw... he’s been restless. The war feels like it’s coming closer every day, and I’m scared."

Arman turned onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow as he studied Albert’s face. "There won’t be a war," he said with quiet confidence. "Eigermann will lose the votes. He has no real support."

Albert frowned, uncertainty clouding his thoughts. "I don’t know, Arman. People keep saying that Brighton and Frank will protect us, but I’m not sure. They make promises, but I can’t shake the feeling that it’s all just talk."

Arman took Albert’s hand again, squeezing it gently. "Maybe. Maybe not. But right now, I don’t want to think about war. Let’s talk about us. Let’s talk about something better."

Albert smiled at the words, letting the tension in his shoulders ease a little. "You’re right. I don’t want to think about war either." He paused, then glanced at Arman, his voice wistful. "Sometimes, I think about running away. Somewhere far from here. Just the two of us, in a quiet cottage, away from all of this... hate."

Arman’s smile softened. "I like the sound of that."

Albert’s voice grew quieter, more pained. "It’s hard, being who I am. People in Varislow hate the Elvish. They always have, even if they don’t say it outright. But it’s worse being... being this." He looked down at their hands, his heart heavy. "I’ve got a double bounty on my head. For being like this... and for being Elvish."

Arman leaned closer, his voice filled with a quiet strength. "Then let’s leave it all behind one day. Find that cottage, away from judgment, away from the hate. Just us."

Albert looked at Arman, his heart swelling with a mixture of love and longing. The idea felt like a dream—one that he wanted desperately to believe in, even if it felt impossibly far away. But for now, in this moment, it was real enough.

He leaned in, pressing his lips softly to Arman’s. The kiss was gentle, but full of everything Albert couldn’t put into words... the fear, the hope, the love that had always been there, tucked away in the quiet corners of their secret world. As they kissed, the stars above seemed to shine a little brighter, casting a soft glow over the two boys lying on the roof, far from the rest of the world.

When they pulled away, Albert rested his head on Arman’s shoulder, his heart full. "Maybe one day," he whispered. "Maybe we’ll find that place, somewhere far from here."

Arman smiled softly, his hand resting gently on Albert’s back. "We will," he said, his voice filled with certainty. "And until then, we’ll have nights like this. Just you and me, under the stars."

Albert closed his eyes, savoring the moment. For now, it was enough. Even with the world closing in around them, even with the looming war and the hate that never seemed to stop, here, with Arman by his side, he had peace.

And for a little while longer, that was all he needed.