ย ย ย ย ย it would be a lie to say that he is well-adjusted to his new life in the night court so soon after his arrival.ย it is, after all, a far cry from his once-home, now lost to him.ย it is in ruins, he reminds himself, the spring court.ย still, he cannotโย andย would neverโย deny how kindย its people have been to himโฆย and to so many others, he notes.ย the war continues to give them not shortage of refugees.
ย ย ย ย ย he is intentional in his work, has purposely remained busyย using his well-honed skills as aย trained medic.ย yet even so, there remains a nagging feeling, a shadowย lurking at the corners of his vision and the edges of his mind.ย it is new, frightening perhapsโฆย and so, he chooses to ignoreย it.
ย ย ย ย ย and then, suddenly, he canโt.ย it is not their first meeting, far from it, in fact.ย however, this is the first time they have spoken, properly at least.ย his usefulness has brought him to the forefront of the night courtโs battles rather quickly, despite his origins.ย and so, it is unsurprising that he has come into contact with the high lordโs finest, his closest friends.
ย ย ย ย ย this one, thoughโฆย is different.ย he can smell it somehow, feelย it.ย more than once, he has found himself glancing about a crowded room to see if anyone else notices.ย and now, he is confronted with it, that strangeness.ย and despite the lack of personal space, there is reliefย to be found in that approach, a discovery that is stranger still.
ย ย ย ย ย if his allegiance is to be put to question, he will not stand for it.ย no.ย heโs doing all he can.ย but if he has to do so, fine;ย ย heโll proveย it.ย that is not what the so-called shadowsingerย wants, howeverโฆย he feels it, too, it seems.ย and braskaโs eyes go wide with a horrible sort of surprise as it dawns on him, that realization.ย uncomfortably, he silently shifts.
ย ย ย ย ย he tries to find his footing, then, to denyย it.ย but of course, they bothย know that would be a lie.ย he canโt.ย and he is, quite honestly, far too selfishย to feign disinterest when he so desperately wants answers.ย and this man might have some;ย he can see it in his eyes.ย no, he wonโt deny it.
ย ย ย ย ย ย โ youโre serious? โย he asks, the question quiet, unsure.ย of course, he is, braska knows.ย his reputation proceeds him;ย the high lordโs spymaster does not have time to wasteย on something trivial.ย ย โ howโฆย did you know? โ
ย ย ย ย ย itโs a simple question, he hopes.ย a part of him, though, already knows the answer.ย and without thinking about it, he looks to find his own shadowย reaching forward, out.ย his mouth drops.ย ย โ iโฆย i mean no disrespect, but iโm a healer.ย iโm no soldierโฆย iโm not a warriorย like you.ย โย what could i possibly do with this?ย he doesnโt know, but heโs going to find out.ย he has to knowโ
