Hey, everyone. So if it's not obvious yet, I had a great deal of fun with this story by making it like a Victorian romance novel, except it has supernatural element that haven't shown up yet and I don't skip the juicy bits. It has many of the same tropes, and, following that, the tone is, overall, romantic. That is definitely the style, so you have some warning, lol. -Harp
Start at chapter 1 if you want to know what's going on.
All characters depicted are over the age of 18.
This fantasy story has themes of non-consent.
The Clans of Luteri: Alveria
Chapter Two
Kane rose from the tall grass, watching the Corsaire woman run, noting what direction she took. He followed, making no effort to catch up with her. He stopped when he saw the mansion, similar to Jaime's.
There was a stable, servants moving around. That was where the Corsaire lived.
He wanted to know who else lived there, what she was doing in Alveria, where her Corsaire kin were. Where were her protectors? He couldn't believe her relatives had let a Tavishi get that close to her.
Unless she was alone here. But that was impossible.
Making his way back to Jamie's estate, Kane walked quickly. He had decided to take a stroll at dawn, as he often did. It was the first sunny day in too long. Winter here was not exactly cold, as if even the weather in Alveria feared to be rude. It was not ice but mud, not snow but endless rain, dim and lifeless, the trees bare. He'd never seen so many shades of colorlessness.
It was prettier now, sunlight and the smell of spring coming and buds on the branches, the little songbirds that lived here, round and fat and fast, colors under their wings flashing yellow and red when they fluttered. It wasn't the stark, dramatic beauty of the mountains of Luteri, his home, but gentle, little brooks chattering and soft meadows. Wandering, he must have slipped into a neighbor's land without knowing.
Kane reached his friend's estate. He opened and walked into the front door, ignoring a startled servant. Luteri had cooks and stable hands, housekeepers and weavers, blacksmiths and healers. In Luteri, everyone did their part, no difference in their status. Kane was the son of the Tavishi high lord and he was kept busy by his role as a protector for his clan. Everybody did the jobs that were needed.
But Kane definitely didn't need people to open doors for him, he'd been doing that most of his life.
"Kane!" Jamie called a greeting from the sitting room.
Yes, this was the sitting room, and over there was the drawing room, and the parlor, and more rooms where the primary activity seemed to be, from what Kane could tell, idleness. And, sure enough, lingering in a housecoat, a delicate pot of tea with delicate cups and delicate saucers and some kind of cookies and sweet cakes in front of him, Jamie idled.
Kane went to one of the many couches—so one could be comfortable while idling—and dropped into it, draping his form over it, since there was the space to do so. Alverians perched on their fat, plush, upholstered furniture like nervous grouse. One expected an egg left behind when they rose.
Jamie burst out laughing.
"You look like a lion in a house cat's dwelling," he said. "It's not Luteri, I know, Kane. Did you enjoy your walk? Up at dawn as usual, I imagine."
Kane made a vague gesture with his hand.
"Always. The countryside was pretty today, house cat," he conceded, smirking. "House cats are the little animals that hiss? The small predators?"
"Yes," Jamie responded, still smiling. "They hiss at you, definitely, I've never seen them dislike someone so much. They are effective for killing mice and rats."
Kane's eyes flashed with interest. Mice were sometimes a problem in Luteri, ruining food stores. The vermin carried diseases. Maybe he would acquire ten or fifteen little house cats when he left and train them, although he really didn't like the little beasts. He could always kill them if they didn't perform the task.
"Who is your neighbor to the southeast?" Kane asked.
"Southeast?"
Kane sighed and pointed.
"That way."
"Ah! Well, I like to pretend he's not there, actually. That would be the estate of Lord Montrose."
"He's not a friend?"
"Most definitely he is not. He is entirely disreputable."
"Not an enemy, though," Kane said.
"No. We are neutral, as you would call it. We avoid each other."
"Do you know if a woman lives there?" Kane demanded. "Dark hair, dark eyes?"
Jamie's face looked strained.
"It's possible that more than one woman lives there, if the rumors are true," he said. Then his tone becoming teasing, as if he wanted to change the subject. "Why, did you see a dark-haired woman on your walk? Were you taken with her? Malvalia will be displeased."
Kane shot him a look.
"I've made no oath to Malvalia," he dismissed.
Malvalia was in Tavishi Hold. They shared pleasure, nothing more. Kane had given his oath once when he was young, only nineteen. But Jaime didn't know that.
"What is wrong with this Montrose man's reputation?" Kane asked. "What has he done that is so bad?"
Jamie looked uncomfortable again. Kane eyed him. It wasn't like Jamie to be so evasive. It must be about sex. Jaime was always uncomfortable when their conversation turned to sex.
"I really couldn't say, Kane. It's all rumor and conjecture. You know I don't trade in that."
"I am hardly going to gossip about him here, Jamie," Kane said. "There is nobody who would listen. Tell me."
Jaime's eyes searched for servants. He was always doing this. Jaime had the strangest relationship with these people. He'd known many of them for years. They lived together. They saw each other every day.
Jaime's had explained they weren't family so he didn't feel that way about them. Kane still found it so strange, because sometimes it seemed like they feared Jaime, and sometimes it seemed like Jaime feared them.
Jaime's voice was lower when he spoke.
