To say that they left their companions in an awkward situation would have been an understatement, but neither Mel’arnach nor Snadhya’rune cared much for that. They barely bothered to say goodbye before rushing off to spend as much of their stolen few cycles together as possible.
Leaving Waes’soloth and Kel’noz standing at a hidden stairwell to the fortress above from where the Sharen had joined her lover.
Watching them leave, neither said anything for a while.
“You can come up for tea, if you wish.” Surprisingly, it was the Beldrobbaen that spoke up first, looking briefly at the Sarghress.
“I’d be honoured, but...” A customary answer, given for the sake of not offending.
“I daresay this will not be the only time those two abandon us like this.” Waes’soloth turned to the entrance of the slender tower. “We might as well acquaint ourselves with each other.”
He followed her hesitantly, making sure to stay a few steps behind the Ill’haress as she led him through what appeared to be servant-corridors.
Arriving in her quarters - would he ever even have been allowed inside here if this had not happened!? – she seemed to glide over to several armchairs around a low table. They were covered in fine leather, the Beldrobbaen-emblem embossed on the high backs. Two cups of tea were on the ebony table, still steaming hot and untouched.
Sitting down on a chair opposite of her, he covertly looked around. “I did not know you liked to read.” A faint hint of surprise was in his voice when he noticed that one wall was completely covered in books and tomes.
“I need to do something in my spare time.” The Ill’haress coolly answered, following his line of sight.
“May I?” The scholar in him itched to take a closer look at mass of paper. She probably had a fortune just stashed against her wall. Then again, she had had centuries to collect it...
Taking a sip of her tea, she nodded lightly. Watching him, she noted his reverent touch upon the leather covers as his eyes trailed over some of the titles.
“I thought that some of these could only be found in the library of Orthorbbae.” He softly stated after a short silence.
“You would be surprised at the contents of the Beldrobbaen-libraries, Sarghress.” She countered, one eyebrow rising when he carefully pulled a book from the shelf it was on. “I see that you are indeed more scholar than warrior.”
“Apologies.” He put the book back, having started to read it while standing there.
“You can borrow it if you wish.” The black-haired female hesitantly offered. “I have read all of these already.”
Blinking, he took the book again, carefully carrying it over to his seat. “What was the most recent one?” He asked in an obvious attempt to start something of a conversation between them.
Was that her mouth-corner twitching almost upward there? “A new story that was quite obviously propaganda for males.”
“That Vel’cahal-knock-off where Vel’cahal is male?” Kel’noz countered, taking the frail cup on the table in front of him.
She nodded once. “The writing-style was horrible, propaganda aside.”
“Now that I can agree with.” Kel’noz rolled his eyes. “And yet, quite some males are running around with it.”
“I am not surprised.” Waes’soloth set down her cup lightly. “I mean... Sharess slept with ‘him’. I daresay that is every male’s fantasy.”
“For some males perhaps, certainly not all though.” The Sarghress was pleasantly surprised at the taste of the tea. “But I am more interested in how Diva’ratrika would react to the statement that she is afraid of wolves.”
“Of course you’d notice that.” A faint hint of emotion came into her voice, amusement briefly making itself known before the female regained control of her demeanour. “It is merely proof that time and time again modern things get carried over.”
He nodded, putting down his cup again. The conversation kept passing through at least half of a substantial bookshelf until a slave came to inform Waes'soloth that Snadhya'rune had returned.