V. Runes
The inside of the caravan looked bigger than it appeared on the outside and Vahn quickly deduced Space Magic was at work. Then he wondered who cast it, especially given how complex Space Magic was. It wasn’t something people down here often cast. Wild Magic had been woven into the spell, however, so perhaps the caster hadn’t known the full scope of what they’d done. Or, rather more likely, they did and kept it a delightful secret.
Such feats in the Floating World were of course possible, and that it’d been done wasn’t what delighted Vahn most of all. Space Magic always left a lingering cold behind. The inside of the caravan had none of that. It was warm and inviting. Vahn vastly preferred it. Maybe he could learn how it was done so he could apply it to his bag.
The colors inside the caravan were as bright as the paint on the outside. All warm hues with gold and black accents. The windows were painted in colorful hues and let moonlight shine in as colorful shimmers. Beautiful, all things considered.
A black iron stove acting as a hearth sat just inside on one side of the kitchenette. Vahn recognized the enchantment coiling around the metal; it’d never catch anything around it on fire. Built around both sides of the stove was an immaculate black and gold set of cupboards with nooks and crannies aplenty to hide a variety of items. Someone had hung magic lights across the cupboards, but they were dim enough to not bother anyone in the nighttime, but definitely bright enough if one went rummaging for a midnight snack.
On the other side of the hearth, taking up the space was a cozy nook with furniture squeezed in beside one another and each one was draped in blankets and pillows. Perfect spot for morning tea. A bookcase was built around the nook and had been filled with all sorts of tome. Some of magical variety, others of history and maps, and even more of fictional stories anyone could enjoy.
A ladder near the nook led into the loft above, but Jake paid it no mind and continued through the length of the caravan toward the other end covered by a curtain. He pulled it to one side, revealing another sheer curtain, but beyond that was a bed set horizontally against the wall. The bed looked comfortable enough with plenty of quilts and pillows atop it. Certainly smelled like Jake once the curtains were pulled aside. Something akin to cardamom and wood.
A flame lit against Jake’s finger and he pressed it to the small incense on the windowsill above the bed. Lavender joined the cardamom and wood and Vahn let himself breathe it in deep. Jake waved the flame off his finger and fell into the bed with a plop. Vahn was silent, expecting to be told something, but when Jake remained silent, Vahn figured he could start.
It’s quaint, he said.
“Yeah, that’s a word for it.” Jake gathered the pillows into two piles and pushed them to either end of the bed before he rolled over and took one side, leaving the other untouched.
“You can have that side,” Jake said as he kicked off his shoes. “I’d offer you the loft, but Mel and Mar might murder me if they find out.”
Vahn chuckled and considered his side of the bed as he gently left his boots beside Jake’s. An odd offering in light of everything else. Jake had given him plenty of pillows and probably most of the quilts too.
You said you wanted to talk? Vahn asked and Jake shrugged his shoulders. Maybe he’d changed his mind. If not, I could sleep outside with the others. I don’t want you to be all crammed up there.
Jake’s smile quirked to one side of his mouth mischievously. He stared up at the ceiling and Vahn peered as well. It sloped downwards on both ends, but had been painted a glittering black as though to resemble stardust.
“Part of me wanted to see your friend squirm a bit.”
Vahn lifted an eyebrow. Why would this make him squirm?
The question stopped Jake and he shot Vahn a look. “You serious?” He laughed when Vahn nodded. “You know what… never mind that.” He inclined his head toward a small door Vahn had overlooked before. It was slim and Vahn could hardly picture Jake squeezing his shoulders inside easily unless he turned.
“Water closet’s in there if you wanted to get cleaned up.” Jake slotted his hands behind his head and stretched out his legs. “It gets magicked away—dunno how but that’s how the builder said it worked and I ain’t complaining. And the bed’s also clean before you say anything.” Not that Vahn was going to, but he gave it an appraising eye anyway. “Solar Magic it every few days. So, go get cleaned up. Sleep. Whatever.”
Vahn watched Jake for a moment. The man had closed his eyes, likely intending to sleep as he was despite being halfway off the bed with his legs dangling. Peculiar. Vahn settled his bag against the bed and sat beside Jake. It made Jake jolt and eye Vahn warily.
I’d like to talk, Vahn said.
“Well, you got my attention.”
Please do not rob that High Magician.
“You won,” Jake stressed, sitting himself up. “So you’re not even helping me. Don’t worry about what I do tomorrow, got it?”
You will die, Vahn continued, undeterred. I know the High Magician here. Irius will kill not just you, but Mel and Mar as well. His mastery of Space and Illusion Magic excels far beyond what you can comprehend. Vahn’s throat struggled to keep up with the onslaught of words and the silencing spell itched. His breathing had turned quick to match how his heart raced thinking of Irius again. Please, Jake. Listen to me.
At some point, Jake had sat up properly beside Vahn, and was now touching his hand. “Why do you care so much?”
Irius raised me until I enrolled into university, Vahn admitted softly. And he was ruthless then. I know what he’ll do to you and he won’t stop like he’d stop with me. I just… He took away his hand and stood. I simply thought a warning was in order.
Admitting it all aloud—or just to Jake, Vahn supposed—made Vahn feel out of his skin. He never talked about Irius to anyone for a reason. Years away from the man hadn’t helped in the slightest. An awful feeling roiled in Vahn’s stomach, making his entire body shake. Vahn breathed out again, compartmentalizing how he felt, and glanced back at Jake. All he’d done was return to laying against his pillows, hands behind his head. A lazy, smug smile graced his lips and Vahn disliked how despite everything, he found it endearing. A carefree attitude about the whole thing that Vahn wished he had.
“You thought a warning was in order,” Jake repeated and Vahn nodded eagerly. “Even after I kidnapped you?”
Vahn frowned. It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to see anyone hurt. Even you wouldn’t deserve it.
Jake tilted his head. “And what do I deserve, do you think?”
As Hawke liked to point out many times when they talked to other travelers on the road, that question sounded like bait. Vahn didn’t reply beyond a shrug of his shoulders. Jake chuckled in response and settled his hands across his chest.
“Go to sleep, little magician,” he said. “Thinking too hard this late is bad news.”
No promises, but Vahn had said his piece. Gave the man all the warning he could fashion into words and that was that. What Jake decided now was his decision. As for Vahn, he had to bury the memories almost dredged back up as best he could as he went to wash up.
Vahn disliked how his hands trembled beneath the spigot in the water closet. The enclosed space made his heart too loud in his ears. He breathed in and out like his peers had him do whenever they heard Irius was coming to visit the Floating University.
In. The High Magician wasn’t here. Out. He’d never be.
When Vahn had control back, or at least could pretend he did, he slipped his wand out and pushed a little magic into it. The least he could do was let Hawke know he was safe and that Jake hadn’t done anything unscrupulous.
The puff of magic unfurled into the air and that was that. It wasn’t much longer after that did Vahn hear the distinct plucks of Hawke’s lute. Maybe the girls had gotten him to play a song. It’d be good to focus on. It’d remind Vahn how far away he was from the Floating World and Irius.
Sleep would help the most. The bed was comfy and Vahn curled up on the opposite end from Jake. Odd sleeping arrangements, but Jake was already asleep (albeit awkwardly, with one leg tucked underneath him and the other hanging off the side to give Vahn more room), so he must have been used to sleeping in just about any position.
Vahn certainly tried to as well, but his thoughts wouldn’t turn off. Not from the memories dredging themselves upwards and once he had them buried again, his thoughts would change trajectory and he’d see Luven’s blasted head again. After a few tries, Vahn stopped trying and took his notebook from his bag.
In school, when he couldn’t sleep and also couldn’t find anyone to burn off his anxious energy with, he’d draw magic glyphs until he dozed off. Glyphs were something taught early on to learn a little bit about the magic they represented. By the final year in school, students could practically do them in their sleep. Each school of magic had their own sort of rules for their glyphs, but it was up to the spellcaster to make one for themselves that called upon the tenants of the particular magic. If done correctly, the magic would react in some way, showcasing a caster’s understanding.
Solar and Lunar were easy. Everyone picked them up regardless which they were aspected to. Lunar had its moon and waves and Solar had its sun with its rays reminding Vahn of heat from a fire. Arcane was about as easy for Vahn; it was a burst of enlightenment from a four-sided star. The patterns flowed from his hand to the page and he felt the magic within them. Not a spell, but an understanding. He was well into finishing the Arcane glyph when Hawke’s song had faded, leaving only the soft rustle of the night to listen to.
Vahn only wished Hawke had kept singing until he was through with the Rune glyph. It was being troublesome tonight. Nothing felt right as he sketched its nuances. Every attempt ended with him erasing the page with his wand to try again, but soon the notebook began resisting the spell. Vestiges of the failed glyphs imbedded into the paper, like it was taunting him with the failure. Irritation kept him drawing. Kept him going through blank pages until he had no idea how long he’d been at it.
By the time his eyes were aching and he was about to give up, Jake was rousing on the other side of the bed. With a grunt, he shielded his eyes from the light spell. Vahn let it dim a little, giving it less magic.
“You seriously still awake over there?” Jake asked.
Can’t sleep. Vahn rested his head against the wall, ignoring the latest failed Rune glyph.
Jake hummed in understanding, tired, mumbled something, and hauled himself off the bed to disappear into the water closet. No sound came out with the door closed and Vahn was relieved to know his earlier panic probably hadn’t been heard by anyone.
Well. He huffed. Of course it hadn’t been; he was silenced. Probably silenced his panicked breathing too.
Jake came back before long, a little more awake, and sat back on the bed. He gave Vahn a hopeful smile. “Would cuddling help?”
Vahn shrugged. Not in this case.
“Oh?” Jake slid close enough their shoulders brushed against each other. “But in any other case?” He said it in such a suave voice, Vahn couldn’t help it when his lips shifted into an amused smile. Jake laughed. “You know, most people I bring in here like this eventually find me charming enough, they say yes.”
I’m sure those are people you didn’t have kidnapped by two angry girls.
Jake’s smile turned sheepish. “You’re not wrong,” he said slowly.
Although you do have a certain amount of charm, yes, Vahn admitted, mindlessly doodling the runes he knew across the glyph he hated. Your face is pleasing to look at and so is the rest of you. Jake laughed suddenly before he tried smothering the sound. Maybe in another time, I would have said yes. But to be honest, I like being vocal and that’s not possible right now.
Another choked laugh. Jake recovered soon enough. “Oh, so if you had your voice, I probably would have been able to weasel you out of your clothes?”
Though Vahn had been insinuating just the very same—maybe it would help him sleep—hearing it aloud just so made his cheeks warm. He gave Jake a hopeful look. The only way to find out, I guess, is to give me my voice back now.
It sounded like it could have been a lie, but Vahn hoped Jake understood he was being genuine. If they’d met under any other circumstance and Vahn somehow found his way into this caravan still, he would have happily agreed to a romp. Jake was intriguing enough on his own. Except Vahn hated missing his own voice.
Jake was thoughtful, glancing Vahn up and down like he truly considered it, but clunked his head against the wall behind them in the end.
“Guess I miss my chance,” he said and Vahn frowned. “No, no. Don’t start pouting at me. You have a lot of magic and as a result, that spell needed a lot of me. I literally can’t remove it until morning.”
Solar Aspected then. Rune Magic notwithstanding, Jake hadn’t done any casting throughout the night. The fire earlier was a paltry spell which likely hadn’t required any internal magic. And Rune Magic’s power was held inside the runes; the caster only needed to know them intimately to use the magic therein.
“Maybe if I still had my sigil, it would have given me enough oomph, but I am sorry.” Jake genuinely sounded it, at least.
They sat quietly together and Vahn turned his attention back to his glyph. His wayward light had regained its lost light and illuminated the page. Vahn grimaced. Still not a good glyph, even in proper lighting. Jake glanced over and draped himself over Vahn’s shoulders to get a better look.
“What’cha drawing anyway?” He rested his chin against Vahn’s shoulder and tilted his head. “Oh. Is…” He snickered. “Is that supposed to be a Rune glyph? The design’s all wrong.”
Vahn bristled and covered the page. Hey! This—
“Shapes are too round.” Jake shooed Vahn’s hands off the page and drew his finger along the ink. “Runes have edges. You’re drawing it like an Arcane Mage. Gimme your pen.” He reached for it, and though Vahn thought to keep it away to tease the man, Jake had it too quickly for the game.
Beside Vahn’s admittedly very round Rune glyph, Jake drew his own. Corners, squares, lines—everything harsh and with purpose. Not at all like Vahn’s soft edges that belied something fuzzy that could be interpreted. Jake finished quickly with none of Vahn’s hesitation. It certainly felt more like Rune Magic than Vahn’s attempts and he sighed as Jake presented it.
“Aw, you’re cute when you pout, but come on.” Jake nudged Vahn with his elbow.
I always have trouble with runes. Vahn took the notebook back and attempted to mimic Jake’s glyph to get a feel for it. Their futures are so rigid. I like Arcane’s fuzziness.
Jake watched Vahn work diligently and, a few times, guided Vahn’s hand to harden his lines. “Yes, sure rigid, but it’s more than that. Shouldn’t they have taught you that up there?”
Vahn shrugged. I suppose I didn’t take the lessons to heart.
Another quiet moment went by as Jake thought, his brows making a line across his forehead. “Think of it like this… it’s not the rigid future you focus on, but more how you react to what you see. There’s a reason healers rely on runes.” He peeked at Vahn, as though to make sure he was listening. “The runes tell you exactly how your patient is going to die. In one way yes, it’s incredibly rigid. They will die. But a practiced hand can see the reason behind the coming death and see a future hidden behind the rigidity. So, by knowing their patient will die of poison, the healer can then go on to deduce the poison from the seen symptoms and administer the correct antidote.”
Vahn tilted his head, trying to think back to his classes on Rune magic. All it brought to mind was the professor. He’d been younger and incredibly handsome. Vahn hadn’t quite listened to the lessons as intently as he should have. Rather, he’d watched the man at work. And then whenever he’d visited his professor in his office to talk Rune Magic… well, Vahn was once more distracted.
Still, Vahn hadn’t heard the magic quite laid out like Jake’s scenarios in any of his books.
Lessons always focused on the absoluteness, he admitted.
“Yes, because that’s what’s easiest to see if you aren’t a practitioner.”
When put like that, the magic made more sense. Why Jake saw Hawke cheating and winning, but let the scenario play out to see if he could find a hidden outcome.
Why dice, though?
Jake chuckled and leaned back, stretching out his legs. “I just like dice. Most practitioners I’ve met have more stones they engrave themselves.” He peered over at the notebook and Vahn looked at it as well. He’d let his hands mindlessly doodle as they spoke and out came a not so bad looking Rune glyph. “Ah, look at that. Already much better.”
Perhaps you should be a teacher.
“I hate teaching,” Jake said. “Unless it’s fire. Way more well-versed in it.” His eyes lit up just mentioning fire and Vahn smiled at him. “You should see the shows me and the girls put on. The crowd’s always wowed.”
The energy the three of them working together sounded like quite the sight. Vahn wished he could have seen it. He let himself slide down so he laid beside Jake and rested his notebook beside him.
Were runes how you decided to find a mage? Vahn asked.
“Girls are growing up and I wanted to make sure that if I suddenly wasn’t around, they’d have money to do whatever they wanted to do without having to rob it for themselves,” Jake whispered distantly. Maybe it had been a future he’d seen. Vahn wanted to ask about it, get more information, but Jake was already shaking his head.
“Runes said I’d come into possession of a mage.” He pulled his dice from inside his shirt and gazed at them. They were made from a black glittering stone Vahn didn’t know the name of and the runes themselves had been engraved along the many sides, each symbol a brilliant gold like fire. They shimmered beneath the light above Vahn’s head, but all the magic was dormant now. “Mel and Mar got creative with the how, but it worked out. I am in possession of a mage.” He chuckled and let Vahn handle one of the die.
As soon as it dropped into his palm, Vahn felt the magic’s weight. It was impressive as it ghosted across his fingers. Each side had its own burst of power, most of it waiting for the right roll to happen. The runes were nonsense to Vahn, but they must have meant something to Jake for him to have used them. Though Vahn was tempted to roll the die, see what it wanted to tell him, he refrained and gently handed it back.
“Ah, don’t fancy seeing your future?”
Not particularly.
“Afraid it’ll tell you you’ll end up in a handsome stranger’s bed?”
Vahn chuckled and Jake slipped the dice back into his shirt. I believe I’m already living that future, so it would do me no good to see it now, would it?
“Then are you afraid it’ll show you something else?” Jake was watching him, the hazel in his eye practically twinkling with the dim light.
Like what? Vahn could play coy all night if he wanted to and relished in the way Jake tried to maneuver past it. The obvious was, of course, seeing a future sleeping with Jake. Not a bad future, by any means if Vahn was being honest. The temptation was certainly there regardless if he had his voice or not. It would probably help him sleep.
Jake eased in a soft breath. “You sure your voice can’t be just for me tonight?” His words were a soft murmur. He turned over, pressing himself against Vahn’s side. When Vahn didn’t move to avoid the touch, Jake quickly grew bolder and tugged gently at Vahn’s sleeve.
The sleeve dipped low, revealing Vahn’s shoulder, and he made no effort to cover it again. Jake pressed his lips against Vahn’s skin, soft and delicate, with butterfly kisses. It didn’t end there and Vahn’s breathing hitched as Jake’s kisses continued across his collarbone. Jake’s hands were as busy as his mouth; one was undoing the clasp on Vahn’s shirt while the other one had dropped to Vahn’s hip. The kisses trailed lower than Vahn’s collarbone, becoming heavier, and Vahn’s pulse quickened. Especially as Jake positioned himself so his leg was between Vahn’s.
He considered it. One of his hands had already worked its way into Jake’s hair, gripping it softly, and he could very easily guide Jake lower. Maybe put his other hand to work somewhere on Jake’s person. Given Jake’s physique and the way his kisses made Vahn’s body react, Vahn knew he’d enjoy himself. He already was. The heat the kisses left. The way Jake’s teeth pressed delightfully into his skin. The way his skin was warm against Vahn, letting him live outside his head for a moment or two.
But his thoughts were too stubborn and loud, distracting him from all the touches, and the whole experience would be ruined on that alone. Vahn pressed a hand to Jake’s, the one that had slid itself into Vahn’s shirt, and stopped it from teasing anything sensitive. He drew it away and the motion was enough to make Jake pull his head up. He understood without Vahn having to say anything. He gave Vahn a defeated smile, moving away, and Vahn kissed his knuckles.
Perhaps the next we meet, Vahn said.
Jake didn’t promise like Vahn had hoped. A promise would have meant Jake wouldn’t try to rob Irius. Leaving the potential still there. But maybe Jake would still take Vahn’s words to heart. He certainly hoped so. He’d like to see Jake again.
Jake kissed Vahn’s fingers in return and without a word, he curled back up on his pillows on the other side of the bed. The absence of him was depressing on its own. Cold where once was too warm to handle. Except it was Vahn’s decision.
He readjusted his shirt and resisted curling up with Jake. Not after that rejection.
Good night, Vahn said softly instead and settled into his pillows. His light winked out, leaving them in the dark.
“Sleep well, my little magician,” Jake whispered.
Morning came bright and loud through the windows, casting colors across the walls. With the sun came a comforting warmth Vahn awoke to. Jake was still out, relaxed with a gentle smile on his face against his pillows. Vahn thought to stay underneath the blanket that had found its way across him sometime in the night, but then he smelled breakfast cooking outside. His stomach gave a sad rumble, reminding Vahn of his lack of food last night, and he acquiesced to it and got up.
Magic still tickled across his throat and he smoothed his hand over it as he considered waking Jake. Sunlight was draped over him like a blanket, making him positively handsome, and Vahn left him be. Perhaps when the man awoke on his own, Vahn would finally have his voice back.
He washed up and changed, finding the dark circles under his eyes a little less in the mirror this morning. Maybe he’d had actually slept. He certainly didn’t recall any lingering nightmare this time, at least. He spelled his cardigan out of his bag and drew it across his shoulders before he headed out to see what was for breakfast.
Hawke was awake, a happy veneer hiding the desperate card player from yesterday as he squabbled with Mel and Mar about what to put into the eggs sizzling over the fire. He deftly kept them away, one arm this way, another arm that way, and though the girls were insistent, he was smiling, like he enjoyed teasing them.
Links of sausage rolled in the pan beside the eggs and were seasoned the same. Some delectable smell Vahn didn’t care what it was, as long as he got to eat it. The girls had a bundle of spices in their arms, attempting to add it to breakfast, but Hawke thwarted their attempts each time.
As Vahn approached, Hawke peered up and smiled at him.
“Hey!” he said. “Breakfast?”
I’d love some! Vahn’s excitement immediately faded, his voice silent, and he felt his throat to indicate why to Hawke. It made Hawke frown, but Vahn tried to wave off his concern. Soon, Jake would be awake and Vahn would get it back. He settled beside Hawke, smiling to show him it was fine.
Hawke tried to match it, but there was tiredness behind it. He loaded Vahn up with a generous helping and even got a plate for himself before he waved his arm over the pan. “There, have at it you two, yeesh. They’ve been buzzing around me like bees all morning.”
Hornets, Vahn said helpfully, chuckling to himself. No one noticed because Mar bodily pushed Hawke out of the way and settled her spices in front of her.
“Finally!” she said and Hawke squeezed to get out of Mel’s way before she shoved him too. “You people in these parts like the blandest shit. Mel! Add your stuff, stat!”
Mel took the spices and dumped them onto the eggs and sausage while Mar deftly folded it in. Vahn sniffed the air, trying to figure out what exactly they were adding, and Mar caught the motion. She snatched his plate, ignoring a garbled “hey!” from Hawke’s full mouth, and threw a new spoonful over top.
“Hold on, my eggs are fine!” Hawke was immediately hushed as Mar flapped a hand at him. “You haven’t even tried them!”
“You hush, bland man. I know you didn’t nearly put enough good stuff in here.”
Hawke grumbled, shoving a sausage in his mouth to chew on. The girls remained triumphant, quickly doling out portions for themselves. Vahn liked theirs and Hawke’s softer taste and he smiled hopefully at Hawke.
“Well?” Hawke asked, some of the grump easing off his expression. “Asshole gonna give you your voice back or do we gotta turn him upside down and shake it outta him?”
Soon, Vahn said, raising his voice and hoped it roused Jake. I hope, he quickly added. Hawke looked mollified—not as worried, at least—and Mel and Mar were snickering, likely at the prospect of anyone turning Jake upside down.
As they ate, Vahn gazed out toward the road. Few travelers and merchant carts ambled by. No one lingered and those that tried quickly moved on as soon as three glares from the girls and Hawke met them. Made the morning quiet.
“Oh!” Hawke’s voice interrupted it and Vahn watched him dig into his jacket. In all his pockets and hiding places. Before it got too comical, he found what he searched for and held it out to Vahn. “Think you dropped this.”
One of Vahn’s crescent and teardrop crystal earrings. Vahn checked both ears and yep, one was missing. He smiled gently and slid it back into its home. Silly things given to him from a friend when the Floating University announced he would be a Wayfarer Mage. Nothing magical about them, but they looked pretty.
Thank you, Vahn whispered and Hawke smiled proudly at him.
Mel and Mar were exchanging looks as Vahn returned to his food, but if they intended to say something, they didn’t have the chance. The caravan door opened with purpose and everyone looked up. Jake was coming down, washed and redressed in something travel worthy. Bolder colors befitting the showman he must have been. He was idly fidgeting with his dice and smiled at their huddle around breakfast.
“Hey, heard you’re antsy for your voice back.” Jake winked and Vahn replied with a roll of his eyes. “Girls, pack up your stuff. Secure it all. We’re gonna be making tracks as soon as I get these two sorted.”
In seconds, the girls had plated what was left, had all the cooking supplies cleaned, and packed everything outside back into the caravan storage. They were soon inside the caravan itself, making a racket on their own, and magic began to flit across the exterior. It sung on the wind, not unlike Hawke’s voice, but it was something much softer and malleable.
Vahn was distracted from tracing its intricacies as Jake came up to them. Hawke stood first, squaring his shoulders to stand face-to-face with the man, and Vahn came up behind him. Jake shooed Hawke out of the way without so much as a glance. His eyes were still fixated on his dice.
“Yes, yes, big tough man,” he quipped and Hawke’s mouth set in a hard line. “I’m giving his voice back, I promise.”
Jake stopped rolling his dice and smiled. A bit of magic solidified around them, but it was too quick for Vahn to read. Jake’s gaze settled on him and he tucked the dice away. Gently, Jake touched Vahn’s neck, thumb lingering on the collarbone he’d left kisses on last night. The magic inside Vahn’s neck hummed in response and Vahn waited.
Then Jake bent down and kissed him.
Despite last night’s intimacy, shock kept Vahn still. There, the touches had been private. Here it felt like something else. A show. Especially when Hawke made a strangled noise beside them. Vahn might have too, his mouth was certainly open with a gasp stolen from his lips, but as he tasted Jake—completely and thoroughly; the man was adoringly relentless—there was magic. It uncoiled from Vahn’s throat and was pulled free by Jake’s mouth. It was gone quicker than Vahn thought it would be, but Jake kept him there a moment longer and Vahn took that selfish moment to drink in the kiss.
By the time they parted, all the magic was tucked neatly away. Jake had a self-satisfied smirk on his lips and Vahn felt his throat.
“Oh,” Vahn said and delighted in the way his voice sounded against his fingertips. A little breathless, but audible. Hawke breathed out beside him. “There we go.” He smiled teasingly at Jake. “Although, I’m not sure if the tongue was truly warranted.”
Jake snickered and Vahn caught Hawke pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. “It made it more fun, didn’t it?” He turned a knowing smile on Hawke, but by then Hawke had already turned away to gather his things. Jake lowered his voice and bowed toward Vahn. “You get it yet?”
Vahn raised his eyebrows. “Get what?”
It was Jake’s turn to look exasperated, but he covered it with a laugh. He straightened his back and walked over to Hawke. The heavy pat on the back nearly threw Hawke forward, but he caught himself and pushed Jake off. “Hawke, my friend, you have a hard task. I do not envy you one bit.”
Hawke glared at Jake, but before Vahn could parse the meaning of the remark, Jake had come back and was digging around in his traveling coat. Mel and Mar were calling for Jake to hurry up and all the magic around the caravan wheels had solidified into a force waiting to propel the whole thing forward.
“Where are you three headed?” Vahn asked.
Jake’s jaw tensed. “Told you not to worry.” He pulled a set of dice free from one of the many pockets inside and held one up to the morning sun. “I’m thinking perhaps I was told to find a mage to convince me otherwise.” He kissed the dice and tossed them at Vahn. “Have these. Not ones I’ve used often. They remind me of you.”
Soft corners, fuzzy runes which sparked beneath Vahn’s touch, and had colors that oscillated between a red and blue stone. Like him indeed. Vahn smiled, holding them close, and breathed out some of his worries. Perhaps he would see Jake again under better circumstances.
“Stay safe,” Vahn said.
“Yeah, yeah.” Jake nodded at Hawke. “Nice singing, by the way. I’m sure that’s all my girls are going to talk about for a whole month.”
Hawke finally smiled at him, some of the tension in his shoulders easing. “Yeah, well, they’re nice when they act their age.” He flinched as Jake thrust out a hand and quickly covered it with a laugh as he took it.
“Nice meeting you both.” Jake shook Hawke’s hand and did the same with Vahn’s. His touch lingered for a moment longer before he stepped back. “May fortune guide us together again.”
It sounded like a prayer and Vahn wanted to know more about the future he’d been attempting to safeguard attempt, just so he could be sure to be there to help, but by the time Vahn thought to ask, Jake was already back at the caravan.
As soon as he’d pulled himself into the driver’s seat jutting out the front where the horses would have been if it had been any other caravan, the magic released. A blend of air and Wild Magic thrust the whole thing forward and the wheels turned all on their own. Pulled forward with what felt like the breeze, the caravan trundled along the road in seconds. No one gave Vahn nor Hawke a second glance as they left.
Vahn tucked the dice into his shirt beside his wand. There was a twinkle of magic as they touched, but Vahn could study that later. He picked up his bag and secured it over his shoulder. “They weren’t so bad,” he said and had to hide his laugh as Hawke whipped around to give him an exasperated look.
“Seriously?”
“Well, he’s a nice kisser.”
Hawke grumbled, shaking his head, and Vahn giggled. “Are you jealous?” he asked teasingly. “Would you like one too?”
Hawke’s face turned the shade of red it always did whenever Vahn said anything remotely salacious. It didn’t reach his ears this time, but Vahn was starting to enjoy the reaction. It was endearing. Hawke scrubbed his hand down his face in an attempt to hide it.
“You want a sleazy runic bandit, have at it,” Hawke said and Vahn scoffed. “Goddess, do you know how worried I was when you were missing?”
Vahn paused. “Really?” He gently touched Hawke’s shoulder. “Well, I’m incredibly relieved you came to find me. Not everyone I’ve met down here would have.”
That got a smile out of Hawke, a genuine one filled with warmth. He didn’t reply though—maybe he was too flustered to—and instead focused on fixing his lute to his back. In seconds, he was ready for traveling. So was Vahn.
They stood on the road together and gazed forward. The caravan was already off in the horizon, bright and glittering in the morning.
“Well?” Vahn asked and leaned into Hawke. “Where to now?”
Hawke thought for longer than Vahn figured he would, his jaw working on an answer. The way he had his head tilted, it was clear he was listening to something, and Vahn wished he could hear the world like Hawke did. What did the winds whisper to him and why? A question he’d one day find an answer to, Vahn was sure.
“We’ll walk a bit,” Hawke said. “Got ditched, after all.” He nudged Vahn’s shoulder. “And after the night you gave him? What an asshole.”
Vahn’s entire body warmed. “I did not give him a night!”
“You sure? You kept looking at him like you did!”
Vahn shoved Hawke’s shoulder, prompting him to laugh, and Vahn had to hide his face. Maybe he should have just given in to Jake’s charms, just so the embarrassment was warranted.
“W-Well, so what if I did?” Vahn would not have believed the lie and Hawke surely didn’t either, not with the way he cackled as he headed forward.
“I’m kidding,” Hawke said. “Come on. I think there’s this riverside village before Westin. We’ll roll up there and see if we can find somewhere to go from there, hm?” He turned back, smiling so endearingly at Vahn.
And Vahn had to meet it. “Maybe you could sing some more.”
The smile widened. “Maybe I could.”
Vahn walked happily instep with Hawke as they began the trek forward. “You know, I never did get that bath you promised me.”
Hawke snickered. “I’m sure there’s a stream you could dip into on the way.”
Magic could heat the water and Vahn gave it some thought. Maybe he could even practice Solar Magic and Wild Magic together… It wasn’t long before the train of thought made his lips part into mischievous grin and he peered up at Hawke.
“Would you take a dip with me, then?”
The look on Hawke’s face was one Vahn wanted to memorize. Something between scandalized and delighted that Vahn had asked at all. Vahn nudged him, but when Hawke wouldn’t look at him straight, Vahn hurried in front to catch his gaze.
“Aw, come on,” he said. “Don’t tell me you of all people haven’t gone for a dip in a river.”
“I’m surprised you have!”
Vahn smiled and tugged on Hawke’s arm. “I haven’t! This will be a new experience! You must show me how it’s done!”
Hawke finally looked at him, barely able to bite back the laughter trickling out of his voice. “Well,” he said and cleared his throat as though this was a serious conversation to be taken very seriously. “First, you’ll have to take off all your clothes.”
“Oh, very astute,” Vahn teased. “So long as you take yours off with me for comradery.”
And once more, Hawke couldn’t look at Vahn. Laughter rolled out of his lips, magic chasing after it, and Vahn was glad to hear it. Maybe this was what Jake wanted Vahn to notice. The ways in which Hawke’s eyes lit up when they teased each other back and forth and how much Hawke clearly enjoyed it each time.
Vahn couldn’t lie; he did enjoy this part of the journey and hoped it never ended.
🙡🙢
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