Interlude

Aldous settles down in the reading room with a bowl of iced cream, humming cheerily to himself. As he’s about to take a bite, he sees Koveras passing in the hall carrying a plate of food.

"Hey half-orc!" Koveras’ fierce frown quickly turns to a somewhat sheepish smile. "We’ve been staying all day in the same house and I’ve barely seen you! Join me for lunch?" Aldous waves his creamy spoon in a teasing gesture. "Who’s going to tell me how bad my eating habits are?"

Koveras shrugs and steps into the reading room, settling into the chair opposite Aldous. "Al, you really can’t have this stuff for every meal. You’re going to get fat, and then what would your girlfriend say?"

"Girlfriend! Oh please, don’t demean Stella. She’s her own woman! Though…" Aldous trails off dreamily.

Koveras’ eyebrows shoot up. "What’s this? Has your relationship… progressed?" When his friend doesn’t answer, the half-orc casually spears a piece of ham with his fork. "You know, she’s probably the first to have ever kissed a redhead with a frogfoot."

Aldous’ face goes as red as his hair. "Oh, and what would you know about kissing, Mr. Tusk-Face? Unless your spar with Aiwe last night… progressed?" He eyes Koveras slyly. "I could tell from your frown this morning that something put you in a good mood today."

Koveras frowns… and then, suddenly self-conscious, forcibly turns his expression more neutral. It looks painful.

"You know she and I are just friends, Aldous. Unlike you and Stella. You know what Aiwe told me? She said you asked her for her blessing to marry Stella." He puts his fork down and locks eyes with Aldous. "And you didn’t even talk to me about it!"

Aldous blushes again. "It… seemed like a good idea at the time! And I’ll have you know that she’s actually given it to me."

His expression turns more serious. "But. It’s not as though I was never going to talk to you about it. Your opinion means a lot to me. For some reason!" He grins at that, then goes back to solemn. "Stella and I are still a long ways off. At the very least, we have to deal with all this Iron Crisis business, and then I’m sure she wants a period of proper courtship. But…"

Aldous glances down the hall, then casually pulls a small box from his pocket. "I need your opinion on this."

He flips the box open, and Koveras’ jaw drops. "It was my mother’s. My parent’s marriage was arranged, you know. They didn’t know each other at all before. But after a year Father had this one crafted specially for her, to show the love he had found for her."

There’s an unreadable expression in Koveras’ eyes. He sighs heavily and smiles. "It’s beautiful, and means so much to you and your family. I’m sure she’ll love it."

After a long moment of quiet admiring the box’s contents, Aldous gently closes the lid. And then carefully slides it across the table to Koveras. "I can’t keep it on me, or risk her finding it. But I also want to know it’s safe from thieves. Will you hold onto it for me, until I need it?"

Koveras stares at the box like it might burn him. "What? Aldous no, just put it in your family vault or something. I could be captured, or killed, or lose it, or-"

Aldous stands up. "You saved my life. You’re my best friend. My brother. If anything happened to you, I’d be far more upset about that than the loss of any piece of jewelry. But no, I trust you to keep it and yourself safe, Koveras. Please?"

Koveras closes his eyes and shakes his head slowly. Then he opens them. "Alright, I’ll do it."

He gently picks up the box in his large hands. "You know what my family life has been like. I don’t have any happy memories associated with it. So know that I’m serious when I say this: I’m happy to be counted as your brother."

Aldous gives the half-orc a heavy pat on the shoulder. "Me too, Koveras. You’re a good man. One might say you’re my best man."

The young noble winks, and then leaves Koveras alone in the reading room.