Date: Mon, 25 Oct 1999 06:00:36 EDT
From: Will961@aol.com
Subject: Romance Out of Time and Place--Part 9

   Blaine rushed out of the ballroom, glad that he had seen Avonna and
Kesalynn to their carriage as he and Avonna had finished dancing.  He had
felt a stirring and a swift brush of directed power that was abruptly cut off
and had run to the source.  He looked around anxiously and saw Davin stumble
slightly as he stood up.  His brown hair was mussed, his shirt was
grass-stained and a wild look was in his eyes as he slowly and steadily made
his way to him.
   "Davin--are you well?"
   "Where did he go?" Davin demanded.  "I have to find him," he added in a
softer tone as he cast his eyes about the garden before he took off to the
stables.  Blaine yelled after him and caught up with him as he stopped at the
stable's entrance.
   "He's gone," Davin croaked, his voice hoarse as he fell back wearily
against the door frame.
   "Davin, what happened?"
   "I. . .Michael. . .we had a fight," he said with his head lowered.
   "Davin--what happened?"  Blaine stressed, wanting to know how this had so
suddenly come about.
   "I. . .he's. . .I can't," Davin said as he just shook his head and looked
at the gateway helplessly before saddling his own horse.
   "Davin. . ."
   "Blaine, I need to find him," he whispered as he turned haunted eyes to
his friend.
   "Davin, he might not want to be found at this time," Blaine said calmly
and slowly, knowing that Michael must have been enraged to loose control of
his magic momentarily.  "Give him time for his temper to reign in and he'll
come back shortly," he added, trying to make the lie sound true, wishing that
Davin would talk to him.  Michael would cool down--eventually, but that may
take longer than a few hours.
   "Blaine. . .forget it," muttered wearily as he rode out of the gates and
proceeded to look for Michael, checking every one of their favorite spots
before he started using his brain.  Michael would be someplace he wouldn't
consider looking, but he also didn't know many people--or like them enough to
seek refuge--except for Blaine, but he was here, and. . ."Avonna," he stated,
finishing his thought out loud as he turned his horse around and rode south.

*****
   Michael dismounted in front of Blaine's school and saw the young man he
had seen before walking out to him and did not miss the pause as the man saw
that the rider was Michael.
   "Hello--is aught well?  Has Master Blaine. . ."  Ander stammered lightly,
wishing that he hadn't come outside.
   "Yes, fine--no, Blaine. . .wishes me to. . .study," Michael said, sticking
as close to the truth as he could.
   "Is he arriving soon?"  Ander asked hopefully, thinking Blaine could act
as a buffer so he'd not have to deal with this man.
   "No--Blaine has much to do to get things ready for Council Master
Braxton," Michael stated evenly.  "The same room I had before will do fine,"
he added, making his way up the steps and asking the man to stable Rossa.  He
knew he couldn't stay here for any great length of time, but he needed a
place to plan out where he was going next and he may as well have Blaine's
library to occupy himself.
   Michael walked through halls and up stairs until he reached his old room,
slowly looking around.  "Back to the scene of the crime," he voiced as he
fell into the cot and closed his eyes.  His mind kept replaying the fight and
seeing Davin knocked back and gasping on the ground.  It was pure, blind luck
that he had landed in a grassy square--Michael didn't want to think about
what would have happened had Davin landed against a stone bench or the
marbled fountain.
'He would have died--and it would have been my fault,' he thought as he saw
the fountain run red with blood in his mind's eye.  He turned on the cot and
tried to clear his mind.  'Missed being what Davin accused by a very slim
margin.  I can see the formal writ now, probably also have horse-thief added
to it.'  He tossed and turned for what seemed to himself hours, and cursed as
he got up and stalked out of the room and walked to Blaine's library.  He lit
a candle from the fireplace and sat at a long table with a book on spellings.
 Blaine had told him that if his control was strong enough, he could use the
power he gathered to cast spells and had started to teach him some defensive
spellings.  "Well, I know I can cast a Walling at least," he said
sarcastically and read the book, having to reread certain parts when his eyes
grew tired, but he carried on for he didn't want to face his own
thoughts--and his actions.
   He awoke with a start as a woman had entered the library and closed the
heavy door.  Michael saw daylight now streaming through the paned windows.
He stretched and winced as his neck and back spasmed discomfort.  The woman
walked over and picked up the book Michael had been reading and laid it on
the table.
   "That is not a book for a new student," Joryn said as she looked over the
young man's fine clothes and frowned-students didn't have such clothes, even
when they first arrived here and Lords would never send any child here.  "You
don't fit in here," she said, only half-aware that she spoke out loud.
   Michael laughed hollowly and rose, "You don't know the half of it."
   "I am Master Joryn, Head Archivist," she introduced herself as the man
turned.
   "Michael," was all that he offered.
   "Well, Michael, what are you doing here?"
   "Blaine sent me to study here for a few days."
   "He did?"  'Odd--he usually likes to train students personally,' she
thought.
   "Yes, things have gotten hectic there," he said with a twisted grimace.
'Quite an understatement--war-zone might be a truer fact.'
   "Yes, I can imagine--what with Council Master Braxton's visit to arrange
for and the Joining."
   "Yes," he said, eyes and voice hollow.
   "Michael. . .you were the young man brought in last quad. . .just before
the Great Council. . .just before Davin found his Heartsworn," she breathed,
making the connection.
   "Joryn--Master Joryn--please, I. . .I just need some time to myself and
had nowhere else to go," he whispered in defeat.
   Joryn was silent for a moment, studying the young man--he had an air of
weariness and wariness in his manner and his eyes looked empty.  "I have been
trusted with all the secrets that are in this library, I think I can keep
track of one more," she added lightly.
   "Thank you, Joryn."
   "The nooning meal is hours away yet, but I could arrange for a tray to be
sent to you," Joryn said as she collected books she needed for her classes.
   "No, thank you--I think I'll return to my room and get a proper rest," he
said as he bowed slightly and moved out of the library.   '. . .before I
leave.  Damn!  Hoped to stay a day or two, but don't dare to do so now--can't
chance having Joryn sending off a message to Blaine.  Where the hell can I
go?' Michael thought to himself as he entered his room, took off his boots,
vest and shirt before laying down.  'Blaine is with Davin. . .Davin,' the
thought of him called up the memory of those blue eyes, strong arms and quick
smile.  "Davin. . .I'm sorry," he whispered as tears fell and kept coming.
He cried himself to sleep, missing the arms that used to hold him.

*****
   Avonna walked into the sitting room with its windows opening onto the
gardens and heard the insects and smelled the rich floral smells, but her
eyes were drawn to Davin--pacing impatiently and looking worried.
   "Davin?"  She queried, tying the robe and pulling back her unbound hair as
she stepped up to him.
   "Vonna, where is he?  I need to talk to him," he said, his pacing stopped
as he turned to her.  "Please?"
   "Davin--what are you talking about?  Where is who? Why are you here?"
   Davin took in her words and her puzzled expression and just sank into a
settee, defeated.  "Then. . .he isn't here?"  Weary eyes looked up at her.
He had ridden about for hours before deciding that the only place left was
Avonna's, but if he wasn't here, then. . .Davin shook off that thought and
closed his eyes.
   "Davin," she said as she moved over to the settee and sat beside him and
placed her arm about his shoulders, "there is no one here but Kesa and
myself.  You thought Michael was here--why?"  Davin shuddered at Michael's
name and started crying.  Avonna drew him to her and comforted him until he
stopped crying and brushed his hair back from his eyes.  "Tell me about it,"
she said barely above a whisper and listened intently as Davin told her what
had happened after Michael and he had danced and how he had reasoned that
Michael would come here.  Avonna cursed silently as the story played
out--men.  "You are so much beyond an idiot that I don't know where to
begin--wait, yes I do," she stated as she whacked Davin along the side of his
head.
   Davin yelped indignantly and pulled back, "Hey--what in the hells was that
for?"
   "That was for striking him."
   "But, he admitted to being an assassin and having. . ."
   "Did he?  Davin think back on his words--his exact words," she added as
she placed a finger over his lips, half-open in a wordless protest.  Davin
leaned back and thought over his words and groaned as he slowly came to
realize that Michael had only admitted to being trained by an assassin--a
word that had first come out of his own mouth.
   "But if he didn't. . .why did he. . ."
   "Attack you verbally?  You accused him of being an indiscriminate
killer--you got off easy.  If anyone had accused me so I would have damaged
him in his Royals before doing so.  He's as much an assassin as I am a
Master."
   "I am an idiot threefold."
   "Only three?"
   "Okay--a dozen."
   "Davin--I knew about the dagger, found it much like you did--we talked.
He loves you so--he'd likely destroy himself protecting you rather than lose
you."
   "If he loves me so why did he leave?"
   "Put yourself in his place--the one person he loves more than anything
thinks he is a murderer and lashes out at him.  He feels hurt, betrayed,
angry and even though he still loves this fool, he strikes out with his most
powerful weapon--magic. . .you might have died.  If he could almost kill a
loved one, what may he do to an enemy?"
   "Vonna, I have to find him--it wasn't his fault," he exclaimed as he
half-rose before being pulled back by Avonna's hand.
   "Davin, you are practically dead on your feet--you need rest.  And if
Michael isn't here, he soon will be," she added, glad to see that got his
attention and he agreed to use her guest room.

*****
   Michael rose wearily from the bed--he had gotten only a few hours rest
before he started tossing and turning.  He dressed slowly and left the room,
running into Ander.
   "Michael, the nooning meal will be in a while--are you well?" Ander asked,
taking in the mussed hair, dark rings under the eyes and there was something
else in the eyes. . .something lost.
   "I am well--just a headache is all.  I'll go riding and clear my head
some.  Thank you for your hospitality," Michael added and walked away, mind
racing on where to go.  Could he go to the Great Council and demand exile?
No, he couldn't for they would want to know why and he couldn't just say 'oh,
just almost killed my love and am afraid of turning into an Alea--she's my
mother by the way.'  They'd kill him and he really didn't want his detachment
from Davin to be so. . .permanent.  No--he had to go to Avonna--his only hope
was that Davin had already been there and had gone back home.  He saddled
Rossa, led her out of the stable and soon was riding off to Avonna's holding.
 "She did say anytime," he muttered, wishing equally that Davin would and
wouldn't be there.

*****
   Davin woke to find that Avonna had set out a shirt for him and he put it
on as he thought about what to do--how long would it be before Michael
arrived?  What would he say to him--could anything make up for what he had
imagined?  He finished tying the laces on the cream shirt with gold-colored
banding and walked downstairs to find Avonna.  He saw her sitting on a bench
in the circular garden and walked forward and kissed her cheek.
   "Well, you look somewhat better, although you didn't rest for long.  Your
shirt is being cleaned."
   "Thank you," Davin said as he sat beside her.  "I should return--Blaine
doesn't know where I am."
   "I can have someone take a message to him if you wish so that you will not
miss him, or is that your plan?"
   "I'm not sure I can face him, Vonna."
   "Because of what you said or what he did?"
   "I don't know--maybe a little of both."
   "Davin, do you love him?"
   "Yes, verily."
   "Does he love you?"
   "Yes, I believe so," Davin said softly.
   "Well, then you two need to talk.  Love doesn't come--nor fade--so
easily," she said as she rose and turned to him.  "Want to go riding?"
   "So we can trap Michael in if he arrives while we are out or herd him in
here if he's on his way?"
   "Recalcitrant he may be, but he is by no means a dumb beast to be
herded--guided, yes.  You two have that in common."
   "Avonna!"  Davin stood up, the grin on his face taking some of the sting
out of his voice.
   Avonna laughed as she led Davin to the stable and her groomsman saddled
Davin's war-charger and a mount for Avonna.  Davin mounted after seeing
Avonna on her horse and together they rode from the inner bailey--which was
shaped like an 'L'--to the front gate.  As they came around the corner,
Avonna stopped and stared at the gate.  Davin moved alongside her and looked
to see what drew her eyes.
   "Michael," he breathed as he saw him almost mechanically guide the horse
past the gate.  'If only he'd get a bit further past the gate,' Davin thought
silently as his horse whinnied to Michael's horse, Rossa.
   Michael came to himself and his head lifted at the sound of another horse
to see Avonna and Davin at the far end of the bailey.  The fog of sleepiness
cleared from his mind as he cursed and rounded his horse and headed back to
the road.  Davin laid heaps of curses upon his horse as he kicked it hard
into a gallop and sped off after Michael.  Avonna dropped down from her horse
and sighed before moving back to the stables--three was a crowd in this case
and she had no wish to place herself between two frustrated, angry and highly
volatile lovers.  If she had a death wish, she'd chose anything else but
that.
   Davin pressed his horse on, eyes only on Michael and was able to overtake
him as he reached out and grabbed Rossa's reigns and pulled back.  Michael
glared at him icily before swiftly moving from the saddle to the ground.
   "You want the horse--take it, one less charge to face anyway," he threw
back to Davin as he started walking away.
   Davin just looked at him walking away before he hissed an oath and
dismounted, ran up to Michael and grabbed his arm.  "It's about you--not the
blighted horse!"
   "Of course--the horse can't very well throw a dagger!"
   "A dagger, no--a shoe or a rider, yes."
   "Why don't you get on your horse and give a demonstration of the latter,"
Michael advised with a twisted smile.
   "No, thank you--I've already landed on my backside most deservedly," Davin
said as he turned to face Michael.  "Michael, I am sorry beyond words that I
thought what I did about you--it was a shock, but one I'll gladly accept if
it helps to keep you alive.  I want you with me.  Please, forgive me," he
said as he looked into his eyes.
   "Davin. . ." Michael broke off as he looked up into his blue eyes.
"Davin, it's not only about what you thought--I. . .I used my magic to strike
out at you.  I. . .you could have been. . ." he drew off, closing his eyes as
he felt Davin draw him close and hold him.
   "But you did not and I wasn't," he soothed, lightly stroking his hair.
"We both transgressed, so let's just say we are even and move on."
   "I really don't deserve you--I'm sorry."
   "I know--now shall we go to see Avonna before she sends her entire
garrison upon us?"
   Michael laughed shakily and they moved off, arms about one another, Davin
holding both reigns in a hand.  "I'd rather face an entire garrison than a
cross Avonna."
   "I think you'd hold you own," Davin smirked lightly as they walked into
the bailey and towards the sitting room.
   " I don't think that I'd like to put that to the test," Michael answered
as he walked through the doorway and saw Avonna rise.
   "Michael--what a pleasant surprise, welcome," she said as she hugged him
lightly.  "You must be tired from your ride--Davin will show you to the guest
room where you both can rest till eve feast.
   "Thank you, Avonna," Michael said dryly, not sure if he were being
punished--although they had forgiven each other, there were things that had
to be talked over.  He knew that Davin loved him and he felt the same for
him, but the oppressing weight of co-ruling was heavy on his shoulders now
and would only get heavier once he was Consort--if he lived that long.  The
Great Council would act, it was only a matter of time.  They both would be
most vulnerable at the Joining--Braen agreed that then would be the most
likely attack.  If they got close, he had his training and if they attacked
from afar, he had his magic.  His thoughts were broken by Avonna's wide grin
and bright eyes--yes, he was being punished, most assuredly.  "She's a
crafty, underhanded, snide, Marquis de Sade,' he thought as he followed Davin
to the room and wearily fell on the bed and was asleep by the time Davin laid
beside him and wrapped his arm around his chest.
   He awoke hours later as a light knock invaded his senses and saw a servant
enter with a tray and set it down before bowing and leaving.  Michael felt
Davin beside him and turned, looking on his face--the long, brown hair was
cast over one eye and his shirt lacings were open.  He lightly pushed back
the hair then ran his hand along his cheek, down his throat then he laid his
palm above Davin's heart and sighed.  "I don't know what I'd do without you,
my love, but how am I to keep you--keep us--together?"
   "Simple--we fight and win," Davin answered as he opened his eyes and
placed a hand over Michael's.
   "I thought you were asleep," Michael muttered as he looked down.  "aren't
you afraid?" Michael added as he looked back up at him, his voice heavy with
undertones.
   "Of. . .?" Davin asked, sensing more than fear of the Great Council.
   "Of everything--the Great Council, my weapons training, my magic, ruling,
losing everything I never knew that I was missing before, losing you, you're
not being happy with me.  I'm being pulled in so many directions that I just
don't seem to recognize myself these days," he said as he turned away from
Davin and closed his eyes.  He felt the bed shift and then felt Davin's arms
wrap around him and was pulled back against him.
   "I won't ever lose you--not even to yourself," Davin said as he kissed the
top of his head.  "I'm Prince and Protector--people have to do as I command,"
he said softly, trying to lighten his love's fears.
  "Oh, do they?"  Michael asked in a sultry voice as he felt his lover's
hands moving over his shoulders.
   "Yes, and my first command is for you to. . . " Davin said before the rest
was stopped by a deep and passionate kiss.  "You do not fight fairly," he
accused with a small grin.
   "Thank you," Michael answered as they both fell back onto the bed.

*****
   "Well the day, young Michael," Avonna greeted as he seated himself at the
table in the dinning hall.
   "And to you, Avonna--where's Davin?"
   "He woke early and went back home--he'll be back, he just wanted to talk
to Blaine personally," Avonna explained as she handed him a plate of fruit
and bread.  He ate some of the food to quell his hunger before speaking.
  "So, it's business as usual," he said in an even tone.  'Didn't he know
that we need some time--just a day--away from all of that?'
   "No, it's not business as usual--he is ordering Blaine to act as Regent
for a few days," Avonna stated.
   "He is?"
   "Yes, and you both are ordered by me to stay here and rest," her voice
took on an 'or else' tone that was mirrored in her eyes.
   "I submit, okay," Michael assured as he raised his palms up , "and promise
to play nice."
   Avonna laughed, "The day you play nice is the day that the ground swallows
up the Great Council."
   "Nice thought--couldn't arrange that, could you?"
   "Sorry, not a workable plan."
   "Speaking of arranging things, where is Kesalynn?"
   "She is visiting Lord Calton--an old friend of mine."
   "And he has a young son, does he not?"
   "Yes, a commander in Davin's troops--oddly he is on leave at this time,"
she added, her face blank and unrevealing.
   "Oddly enough--remind me never to play poker with you."
   "Poker?"
   "A card game, it's where you--nevermind, I'll explain it another time," he
added, seeing the frown of incomprehension on her face.
   "So you like gaming--do you know how to play Royals and Armsmen?"  At his
blank look, she rose and took his hand, heaped some more food onto his plate
for the both of them and led him into the sitting room before a round table
whose top was carved into several squares, eight by eight and he saw her pull
out a drawer and place carved figures opposite the two outer rows--the first
row had equally carved figures named 'armsmen' and the second row had three
sets of pieces--castles, generals and Masters--and two separate pieces, one
the Royal and the other the Heartsworn.  As Avonna explained it, he realized
that it was much the same as chess except for a few rules.  Avonna started
the play and Michael got so drawn into the game that he didn't even notice
when Davin walked in.  He had lost a few pieces during the first couple of
moves, but quickly picked up the game and Avonna lost some of her carvings
before leading out with one of her Masters.  Michael barely countered in time
with a castle and a general before he combined the carvings of Royal and
Heartsworn, which interlocked to form a new piece.  'Wish it could be that
easy,' he grinned ruefully as he advanced his single Master.
   Davin leaned against the wall and watched his love and the woman who was
like a mother to him match wits.  He almost laughed out loud as he would hear
exasperated sighs from one, then the other after a series of movements.
Avonna and Michael pitched curses under their breaths as both realized that
they were on equal footing and neither could win, but Davin saw the mirth and
the measured respect in both of their eyes.
   "You'd better leave something of him left, Vonna, or else you'll have me
to deal with," Davin joked as he walked forward and kissed Michael, resting a
hand on his shoulder.  As Michael saw Avonna's smirk and rapt interest, he
blushed.
   "I do believe that the medical books will have to be rewritten--a
'virginal blush' on someone non-virginal," she smiled wickedly as she looked
at Davin.  "How far down does that go anyway?" Avonna added and laughter
filled her eyes as she saw Davin blush deeper than Michael--it lightened her
heart to see Davin so happy, for the last two years he had been so. .
.detached and nothing had grabbed his interest or sparked in his eyes.  She'd
do anything she could for 'her' boys to protect them, but what could she do
when the Great Council made her list of contacts seem meager and less than
nothing?