The Chronicles of Nir

16 | Korkin

Tallon tossed and turned, listening to the house creak in the depths of an otherwise silent night. The longer he remained separated from Ben, the more his heart ached. His headache had grown worse as well, until he'd thrown up in the chamber pot; and yet, somehow, he managed to fall asleep at last.

Disembodied voices whispered in his dreams, taunting him with Ben's predicament, Kayden's doppelgänger, and a promise of home—if he'd just return to Deadwood.

He did not sleep well.

It didn't help, either, that he awoke to Eri sitting cross legged beside him, staring like a damn creep.

"Ah, you are awake," Eri announced, stating the obvious. "I called your name, but could not rouse you. I've learned the hard way not to lean over a man in the throes of fitful dreams, and was about to leave without you. In fact..." He leaned forward and laid a hand on Tallon's brow. "Are you sure you are well? I can handle Korkin on my own, if you prefer to rest."

Tallon batted his hand aside, and sat up with a groan. "I'm fine; just a nightmare. Give me five minutes."

"Of course."

Eri shifted aside so Tallon could get up, but remained where he was as Tallon dressed. Eri himself wore hunting boots with soft soles that made no sound on hard surfaces, dark cotton trousers, and a midnight-blue tunic, belted at the waist. Noting Tallon's gaze, he gestured at his ensemble.

"Try to dress like me, if you can. We will be stylish enough to pass as two gentlemen out for a late night stroll, if we are seen, and have an equally good chance of passing undetected."

"Ah, yes—feel free to wear and tell me how to dress in my own clothes," Tallon said flatly.

He didn't bother with the partition; Eri had no boundaries. Tallon only wished it had been Ben present to admire the view instead.

He selected a warm pair of leggings, miffed that the wood-elf had taken his favorite trousers, and pulled a charcoal tunic over his head. His boots weren't as polished as he preferred, but they were comfortable.

"By the way," Tallon commented, "you might want to invest in a pair of enchanted boots. Mine make no sound." He demonstrated by jumping on the hardwood floors and finishing with a pirouette. "How do you think I hunt so effectively?"

Eri smirked. "They may not make a sound, they do sound expensive. We dispossessed princes and common folk must rely on skill alone, I fear."

Rising, he slipped off the bed and approached the other elf, standing rather close and straightening the collar of Tallon's shirt.

"Now, our first stop is Korkin. I think you are right about him. When I spoke with him the other night, it was clear he's come into some money since my last visit, and he's holding back on me. He's a dwarf, but as cut off from traditional dwarven culture as you are from Esilunia and I from Akarna. He does, however, retain his people's love of gold. My plan is to come at him with a bribe, at first; if that fails, we may take more... direct measures. I will be unarmed. How you gird yourself is up to you."

"With my money, I presume."

Cuffing him lightly on the chin, Eri winked. "You're good for that, at least. So, shall we?" He gestured at the window and bowed slightly. "After you."

Tallon rolled his eyes and turned away to hide his grin. He took his spare purse out of his trunk and passed it to Eri. "Take whatever you need. I'll worry about my finances later. For now, let's find our answers, and Ben." He paused to calm his aching heart and added, "It hurts to be apart."

As he took the purse, Eri's perpetually amused expression softened. A shield dropped, revealing unfathomed depths in his warm, dark gaze.

"I can see the pain his absence inflicts on you, and will do all I can to see you reunited. I have a feeling in my heart..." He bit his lip and shook his head. "All our fates are shifting. I was content to live as a recluse for the rest of my days, until you came along. Now, I think I must follow, and see where the tide carries me."