athelstanthescribe | For Sinric

Athelstan's room is almost pathologically neat, the bed made and everything in its place.

He stands aside to let Sinric in, the bathroom door standing open to reveal the huge sunken bath inside.

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From:

athelstanthescribe

"She left him", he says sadly, "and took their son. It was because of Princess Aslaug and the child she carried... she felt, in the end, she could not live with it and keep her pride. We don't know where they went, or if they still live." But he believes in his heart they do. "That will be a sight to see."

From:

thewidewideworld

"That must be very hard on both of you, if she was more... understanding of you both." He brushes a gentle hand through Athelstan's hair, getting himself together again. "I have no doubt your paths will cross again." Because there should always be hope.

"A Persian trader made me a gift of the most beautiful length of blue silk. The dalmatic the court tailor made it into hugs my chest perfectly and makes my chest look as full as any woman. And river pearls around the hem make it shine." He's very fond of that dress.

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan tips his head into the touch, enjoying the simple comfort of lying together, now the sex is done. He could have gone without it, except it seemed expected, but given what it did for Sinric, he's glad he didn't.

"She's very much missed", he says with a nod, then smiles at the description of the dress. "You must look beautiful in it."

From:

thewidewideworld

"I take it your lord's new lady is not so well loved?" Sinric's glad too, even if it will take time and solitude to fully understand. He distracts himself with questions and playing with Athelstan's hair, twirling it around his fingers into little curls.

"The last time I wore it in the Emperor's presence, the Empress looked like she wanted to scratch my eyes out for it."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"If it wasn't for the child", he says frankly, "he would have sent her packing for Lady Lagertha's sake. But because of the child, he felt an obligation. She is... she tries to be kind, more often than not, but always with an air of knowing her place and mine."

That gets a laugh. "But she could do no such thing? Surely a great lady in her position has no call to be jealous."

From:

thewidewideworld

"But you have him and all the stolen moments you can find. It must be helpful to have a place like this."

"Oh, she could have my head on a pike if she ordered it. She doesn't like the Emperor's little birds but he does so she keeps quiet and seethes."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Very helpful", Athelstan agrees. "We lost it, for four years, but then there were stolen moments and once in a while, we would... go hunting."

He nods. "So she would have to have a good reason to order your head on a pike, or displease her Emperor. Are there many of you little birds?"

From:

thewidewideworld

"So the way here is hard to find? I don't really know how I found it at all." He smiles at the euphemism. "And do you hunt often? Or only as often as you can make time?"

"Only because I'm prettier than her and the Emperor likes my golden hair. He like to watch me dance too." He stretches out on his back, resting his head on Athelstan's shoulder.

"Seven of us he keeps for play and to entertain his guests. There are twelve others picked for their brains rather than their beauty who he has trained for governance and service. Eunuchs are considered trustworthy household staff because we have no family and therefore no ambition to overthrow him."

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan runs his hand through Sinric's hair.

"It can be. It showed itself often, before those four years, but then not at all - it seems that most people don't find it at all, but it finds them. I suppose eunuchs also must be useful to guard his women."

They couldn't get them illicitly pregnant if they wanted to.

From:

thewidewideworld

He does quiet, thinking about that. How often will he be able to find the way? Is it safe to store things here?

He shrugs at that. "Emperor Constantine has very few women. It's not his way." He sighs. "In his own way, he's very loyal to his wives. People speak well of Maria, as kind but childless, she died about when his son by his first marriage was named co-ruler."

"Empress Consort Eudokia," He gives her name a sing-song quality, "she knows her place is as brood mare to secure his dynasty. Unless something happens to Leo, no child of her blood with never see power. A third wife is rare, and for any but the Emperor, against law. And Leo is a jealous boy. Her sons will not live long when he comes to the throne."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Do you think she'd try to arrange for something to happen to Leo?" Athelstan asks quietly.

From:

thewidewideworld

"Oh no, she isn't fool enough for that." Sinric plays with Athelstan's hair, twisting it into careless braids. "And if she tried and failed Leo would not be kind and his father would not be merciful. She has no real power and so seethes at the little injustices she can't change. Like me."

A dark thought crosses his mind. "When Leo comes to power on his own, it would be a bad time to be in the city, let alone the palace. Little birds will need to fly fast."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"And will your cage be open enough to fly?" he asks, worried for him suddenly.

From:

thewidewideworld

He pauses, considering. "I don't know. But I'll have to find a way. The bars are close and the gates locked. The right friends and the right coin, I might be able to buy my way onto a ship, or out with one of the caravans inland. Many of the traders like me but they fear Leo."

From:

athelstanthescribe

"In the chaos of the change", Athelstan says slowly, "one of the traders might be able to get you out undetected. And Leo would have bigger concerns than hunting you down."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Maybe." He goes quiet for a long moment, clearly planning in his head. "The Sino ambassador's son perhaps. Someone he can ill-afford to upset."

From:

athelstanthescribe

He nods. "If the ambassador's son would do that for you, he sounds like a good choice. Or if all else fails, you could come here, though then you could likely never go back."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Hmm, if he's in the palace at the time. Maybe I should plant the seed next time I see him. He really is quite lovely. And I don't think he's ever had a friend in his life."

He shakes his head. "I want to see the world. I want to explore. Even a magic place would become too small for me. Just as my cage is."

From:

athelstanthescribe

Athelstan's hand drops, skating aimless and unpressured patterns on Sinric's skin.

"From here, you could go to any number of worlds. But there's never one quite like your own."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Hmm." He purrs softly and arches into the gentle touch. It feels so good.

"So it is a cross-roads too? Have you been to other worlds?"

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Only one, so far. The man I mentioned as my brother, we only met here. He's from some 200 years later than me, close enough for his home to be very like my own, and I've visited him there."

From:

thewidewideworld

"Are there other worlds you crave to see?" He asks, very interested now

From:

athelstanthescribe

"Oh, there are so many!" His eyes are suddenly alight, talking about this. "Such wonders they have in the future, and some of the worlds are in times of peace."