Foreword

This book contains not one, but two sequels to Entertaining Possibilities. In writing EP, I unwittingly asked myself a question, and found I owed myself an answer. Payment materialized as Two of a Kind, then known by its working title Too Late. That story wasn't originally intended for release; I just didn't think it was the kind of story I could leave off with, not after EP. But I felt I had to write the story, so I did, and having done, chucked it at avwolf--as one does. While writing it, I had raised another question, another possibility to entertain, but it wasn't a question I had to answer. I was free and clear, with some new ideas that I could break out at need; perhaps, say, to celebrate the completion of Desire for Orders, or some other suitably worthy occasion.

So of course avwolf, that blessed, damnable genius, had to go and find the exact right thing to say to draw the story out of me. And so, I wrote Full House, completing this tome. Writing it also gave me the opportunity to release Two of a Kind without it needing to stand alone, and here we are.

That is how there came to be not one, but two sequels to Entertaining Possibilities. The stories are complementary alternatives, showing two different branches of canon, though at different times. Don't get distracted by the fact that one is five times longer than the other; different stories are different lengths. I'm presenting them as equal, and will staunchly claim to have no preference myself.

I might not even be lying.

Dedication and copyright

To avwolf; For courage over wisdom.

And to everyone who liked Entertaining Possibilities.

Brace for whiplash.

Copyright © 2016 by amenon (key ID 267C5E47)

The characters are originally from Twokinds (http://2kinds.com), by Thomas J. Fischbach, and were used under the auspices of Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0 US licensing. No endorsement of this work by the licensor is implied.

This work is in turn licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

Two of a Kind

Keith sat on the steps of the porch, looking out at the autumn evening. The sky was perfectly clear, the sun about to set behind the mountains. There was a crisp chill in the air, but he didn't let it bother him. The cold almost felt good to him. Appropriate.

He was out of tears. For now.

The near wards chimed. Someone was coming. He didn't know who. Natani wasn't there to tell him.

Maybe he wasn't completely out of tears.

The tears had run their course again by the time his ears caught the sound of a horse's hoofs. Before long, his eyes found the rider. Coming up where the road had been. Basitin, by the ears, and not in uniform. Clearly not Maddie, either. He watched a while, becoming increasingly certain as the figure drew closer. Of course. And on a white horse, no less. He almost smiled, but resumed his study of the skies, only watching the approach from the corner of his eye. The rider dismounted a ways away, and after a moment the horse started plodding back the way they had come. The rider came the rest of the way on foot, coming to a stop a few feet away.

The figure cleared its throat. "Hello, Keith."

Keith looked, and to his surprise found two healthy eyes looking back. He was older now, yet somehow looked more like the Nick he remembered from his childhood than Master General Alaric had. Keith briefly considered the possibility of it being some obscure relation he'd never heard of... but no. Here, now, it had to be him. Wearing light travelling clothes such as any Eastern basitin might. Unarmed, just a simple satchel hanging at his side, and with no rank insignia. But it had to be him.

Keith's voice was a little rusty. "Hullo, Alaric." He nodded at the spot beside him on the steps. "Have a seat."

Keith half-expected Alaric to brush up against him or to give his foot a nudge, but he maintained a polite distance. Keith took a moment to contemplate Alaric's feet, properly wrapped, next to his dishabille ones. Well. Maybe not how he would have chosen to appear on this occasion, but couldn't exactly stake any great claim to propriety these days. Or most others. And Alaric had certainly always had a unique approach on the subject.

Maybe it would have been his choice, after all.

After seeing that Alaric had settled down, Keith gave him a nod and went back to watching the skies. Alaric sighed. "Seriously? You're not even going to ask?"

Keith shrugged. "I had my suspicions that you were alive." He turned to look at Alaric. "You are alive, right?"

Alaric grinned. "Ah! That's actually an interesting legal question. But," and he reached out to touch Keith on the arm. Solid. Warm. Lingering just a bit longer than propriety would allow. Alaric. "I am flesh and blood and actually sitting here, yes." He reached down to rub at his leg with a wince. "Very flesh and blood. I guess I should be glad you didn't kick me in the shins. Suspicions?"

"Well, for one I never saw the body. And nobody ever owned up to putting that rose on your coffin..."

"Nice touch, don't you think?"

"... and of course, those shipments just kept on coming. I never could track down the source."

"Too much?"

Keith cleared his throat. "Well, there isn't anything left over."

Alaric whistled appreciatively.

Keith was silent for a moment. "But, mostly it's just... you planned for the possibility of losing that fight. You used it. So I thought.... maybe."

It was Alaric's turn to pause a moment. He looked away. "Nothing about that day went as planned. Not the Templar, not the other generals dying, not falling off that damn bridge. But the situation presented... unique... opportunities." He sighed. "I was scrambling for days to stay ahead of matters, improvising for all I was worth. At least the King survived. I would have had to scrap it all to put myself on the throne, otherwise."

Keith's eyebrows shot up at that. True enough, the Master General would have been the natural successor. "No desire to rule?"

Alaric shook his head. "No. And I never..." He looked Keith in the eyes. There was pain there. "Keith, I never want to have power over you again. Not after..."

"Not going to blame the tower?"

"No." Alaric sighed. "And even if I did, the tower is my fault too. It was Alabaster's mistake, but he made it on my watch. And it nearly cost us everything. And... Alabaster may have pushed for your orders, but I'm the one who gave them to you. And I thought I was being so goddamn clever, too. Ordering you to betray your friends." He swallowed. "Ordering you to kill Natani."

Ah. "I guess I should be angry at you for that..." Keith couldn't help but smile a little at Alaric's expression. "Look... I don't want to get into that right now. But if I'm angry at you for anything," and yes, there was a spark of anger there, "it's letting me live with having killed you." Alaric opened his mouth to reply, but Keith forestalled him. "And I don't want to get into that right now, either. Okay?"

Alaric nodded. "... okay."

"Tell me, how was Maddie doing?"

*

That question had implications. "Furious with me. I tried to gauge if she was worried about you, but if she was she hid it well. She's grown so much, it's hard to... it wasn't just about me, was it? Or you?"

Keith shook his head. "She was here at the end. They were close."

"Ah." So she had been crying. Rethink, rethink, rethink. "Well, she was certainly hard at work. Had the entire embassy spinning like a top. Took me half a day just to get to her. I think she was angling to start something with the West embassy. If that's good or bad... I don't know. Sorry."

A flicker of a smile. "More good than bad, as long as she remembers where the lines are. And she will. She went back because she wanted to do something, and I just 'wanted to sit here feeling miserable.'" The smile returned, and deepened as Keith glanced at Alaric's shins. Then disappeared. "She was sure you were dead. I had my suspicions, but... she was sure. It won't be easy to make that right."

Alaric winced again. "She made her opinion known. I thought I wasn't taking much of a risk going to her, but I nearly had to beg just to be put on your mercy. She had a few ideas of what to do to me. Said I only got by on a technicality. What was that about?"

"Oh, I told her years ago that you were to be admitted if you showed up. She thought I was joking. Or crazy."

Keith once again turned to watching the darkening skies. Alaric hesitated, and the silence had time to grow. The warmth of travelling was fading, and he was feeling the chill in the air. He adjusted his cloak tighter around himself and wondered at Keith, apparently fine in his shirtsleeves. This wasn't what he'd been expecting. Anger, gloom, even tears, but Keith just seemed... tired. Muted, apart from the odd flash of grim humor. So was this better, or worse?

How was it that Keith was always at the center of his designs, and yet the piece he could least understand? Well, he was here. Nothing to do but to keep poking at the hornet's nest. He thought back to his encounter with Madelyn Adelaide, and took one of the available openings. "She also had some choice things to say about my showing up now."

Keith glanced at him, and Alaric saw another brief flash of amusement. "I can imagine. I think I understand it, though." Keith looked at him, and Alaric could feel he was being closely scrutinized. "You didn't want to come, did you?"

Could he get away with lying? He thought he didn't need to. "No. Not yet." He let some of his sympathy show, hoping it wouldn't insult. "Never for this."

Keith nodded at him slowly, but the scrutiny continued. "How did you know to come?"

Ah. He'd been worried about this one. Dissemble, dissemble... "I read your--well, Maddie's--weekly reports." Keith's raised eyebrow spoke volumes. "Oh, she isn't spying on you for anyone." He paused to consider. "Not that I know of, anyway. Seems unlikely. But she has certain... habits. The report that brought me here was a masterpiece. I had to read it three times before I realized she made no mention of you whatsoever. That's... only happened once before."

"And when was this report dated?"

Dammit. "The fourth."

Time enough for the report to reach him, or him to get here, but never both. But Keith just nodded again. "You're well-positioned, to be reading my mail."

Alaric shrugged. "I report directly to the King."

A small smile from Keith. "And does the King know that?"

When had he gotten so suspicious? Alaric pulled out his best indignation. "Yes, of course!" This seemed to satisfy Keith, who turned away again. He could have left it there, but couldn't resist the temptation. "I had to tell her eventually."

Keith's reaction made it worth it. Maybe that was how he needed to do this. Fall into his old persona, be who Keith expected him to be. And damn the consequences.

"Keith..." his hesitation caught Keith's interest. "I am happy to see you." And happy that you don't hate me.

Keith gave him a rueful smile. "Me too. I think. It's a little hard to tell these days. Sorry about the reception. I wasn't expecting anyone for a while." He sighed. "But welcome, for what it's worth, to where my home used to be. Let's get you in out of the cold, Post-Master General."

"... Not that it's much warmer inside. I was airing it out for most of the day."

Indeed, Alaric barely felt a change as he closed the door behind him. Keith showed him the house, and he saw that everything was squared away and freshly cleaned. The place barely felt lived in. With a twinge of sadness, he realized that was the point. Maybe it was easier for him to be outside.

One of the rooms was almost cramped with a large desk, but curiously no chairs. It had something of the feel of his old study. Keith seemed to notice his interest. "That's the den." Alaric opened his mouth, but Keith continued, glancing at him. "Never saw much use. Too many puns." He closed his mouth, sheepish, and thought he saw a little smile play on Keith's lips. "We used the sitting room instead."

Indeed, in the sitting room the furniture looked comfortable, the bookshelves enticing, but even here everything was cold and clean. Maybe especially here. Even the fireplace was spotless. Keith started moving on, and Alaric followed. "Maybe a fire...?"

Keith's voice was neutral. "I'm out of firewood."

"Ah." He hesitated for half a heartbeat. "You never did do things by halves."

Keith came to a dead stop, and Alaric almost walked into him.

*

"Did you seriously just..." Keith laughed. Of course he had. He shook his head and turned to face Alaric. Who was all cheerful poker face. Of course. "That was... Zen would have loved that one." Keith grinned. "You two would have gotten along. Natani would have..." his voice faltered. 'Natani would have.' There had been no need for words, those first few days with Maddie. She understood. But now he needed words again, and with words came new ways to hurt. He didn't look away or fight the tears, even as he saw Alaric's face fill with concern. It was something he had promised to himself. "That was the... first time I've spoken those words." He managed to get the words out through his sobs. "I'll be saying them for the rest of my life."

Through his tears, he saw Alaric hesitate--and then reach out to place a hand on his shoulder, giving him a small squeeze. Keith was grateful for the touch, for the impropriety, for the cause of it. He was crying, and Alaric wasn't looking away.

Words. Keith went on, haltingly. "The mornings are the worst. I wake up and... Natani... I'll..." he found it easier to speak about the both of them. Perhaps they were together again. There would at least be something right about that. "They're both gone now. I'll never... never speak to them again. Never see them, or hear their voices. Smell their scents. Feel their touch. Never again. Never."

*

If Keith had more to say, he could no longer form the words. Alaric squeezed his shoulder harder, aching for a way to help. He had nothing. But something had been entrusted to him. "Keith..." his voice sounded rough in his ears. He cleared his throat. It didn't help. "Keith, I have something I'm supposed to give you now." He fished the small package out of his pocket. "Maddie gave this to me. Said I was to give it to you when... anyway, she said to tell you it's from a 'Mr. Wuffypants.'"

Keith's eyes shot wide and the sobs subsided. He wiped the tears from his eyes, then hesitantly reached for the package. Alaric handed it over, withdrawing his other hand from Keith's shoulder. What was this, to have such an effect? He watched as Keith carefully opened the package, not risking any damage to the contents. What emerged was a piece of paper and... it took Alaric a moment to make sense of it, but he realized it was two tufts of fur; each bound at one end, then both bound together. He thought he recognized Natani's color. The other would be Zen, then. Keith looked at the paper and laughed, then brought the tufts to his nose. A look of wonder came over him. "Zen..." his voice was wistful. "When could they have..."

The instructions had been specifically 'When he's crying about them.' "It's from them both?"

Keith handed him the piece of paper. The only text on it said 'We love you', but there was a rather rude drawing in the corner.

Keith laughed again. It was a good sound. "That's Natani's handwriting, but the drawing is definitely Zen. How long ago could they have... the scent is preserved perfectly. But then again, magic." He shook his head. "Nothing is supposed to remain. To have done this..." He looked at Alaric with such an expression of joy it made his heart ache. "Nick, I love them so much."

He'd known, of course, but for the first time he felt like he understood a little what it had really been like. What had been lost. "Keith..." Alaric reached for something that would let Keith see that he understood. He found his vision blurring with tears. "Keith, you'll see them again."

Keith smiled at him. "What's this? Are you the Philosopher General, now?"

Alaric wiped his tears. "You will. If there's any justice, you will."

Keith just looked at him for a long moment, then smiled. There were tears in both their eyes. "Perhaps I will. Thank you, Nick." He let out a long breath. "Now, I think I could do with some exercise. How prepared would you say you feel right now?"

Keith led him to the disused guest room, then decided the light was fading too fast and went to get a lamp. Alaric surveyed the room. All the furniture had been pushed up against the walls, leaving a large open space. There was certainly room enough for a friendly fight, if you left throws out of it. Not the first time it was put to this use, then. Like the rest of the house he'd seen, it was spotless. He removed his cloak, and his more fragile--or volatile--belongings, and made a pile in one corner, then stretched his limbs and tested his freedom of movement. No problems. He rather thought he could use the exercise. It would serve to get his body warm again. As long as it didn't get too warm. He sighed, thinking back to long ago times.

Keith returned with the lamp and went to set it down near Alaric's belongings. Maybe not the best idea. "Oh, I've got rum there."

Keith quirked a smile at him and took the lantern to another corner instead. "Maybe a drink after?"

Rum or no rum, knocking that lamp over would probably still lead to the whole place going up in flames. Something to keep in mind.

Alaric nodded. "I thought you could use one. Though..." he looked at Keith, trying to get a handle on him again. He'd been crying, yes, but... "I don't think that's quite right. But maybe you would like one?"

Another smile. "Sounds like a plan." Keith took his stance, opposite Alaric. "Face and groin off limits?"

Alaric nodded his agreement, and they began. Slowly at first, taking each other's measure. Alaric wasn't in his best martial condition, but he would have still counted himself among the best ten or fifteen on the island, armed or unarmed. He found himself getting pushed harder and harder as they picked up the pace, and wondered if that might have been too naive of him. Keith fought with a style seemingly all his own, though occasionally some flash of basitin orthodoxy could be seen; usually delivered with devastating efficiency. In truth, the fight was friendlier than just the rules would have suggested; the touches were mostly light, advantages attained weren't pushed far, and by unspoken agreement they kept the light fairly positioned. The balance between them shifted multiple times as they adapted to each other. Alaric eventually stopped keeping score and let himself get lost in the exhilaration; it had been a while since he had sparred at this level. He found himself trying out some of Keith's moves, and thought he could glimpse the method in the madness. There were definitely some things here that he could use, especially against someone too set in their ways... he found Keith doing something much the same, his style quickly shifting, almost familiar in one exchange, almost alien in the next. The intensity kept increasing, the exchanges becoming extended, more and more often leading to grappling and even outright wrestling. Alaric didn't think that was his doing, but soon had no time to think at all.

*

Keith heaved himself off Alaric and lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling, gasping for breath. He felt happy. It was... it reminded him of the times they had wrestled together as kids. Until it had started to feel less than innocent. He gave a sigh for his younger self. "Do you remember when--"

"Yes."

Keith smiled to himself. "You didn't listen to the question."

He could hear the grin in Alaric's voice. "Won't change the answer."

That rang true. "Rum?"

"Rum." He could hear Alaric getting up, and soon his friend was standing over him, looking down quizzically. Keith extended his arm with a grin, and Alaric clasped it to pull him up. Neither of them let go quite as quickly as propriety would have dictated.

Keith led the way to the kitchen, holding the lamp. It was truly night now, and while the skies were clear and the moon almost full, its light didn't reach everywhere. He set the lamp on the table and rummaged around for glasses. After a moment of consideration, he also hauled up a large jug of water.

"Have a seat. Do you want anything to eat?"

Alaric set his bottle--Keith saw it was the good stuff, and plenty of it--on the table and sat down on one of the long benches. "I'm good, thanks."

Keith settled down opposite him. Between them were four glasses, a good deal of rum, and enough water to live to tell the tale. "Give me half a glass to start."

Alaric did, and poured himself the same amount. When the bottle was back on the table, Keith took his glass and threw it back in one swallow.

The coughing fit and the tears in his eyes weren't quite as planned. Alaric grinned at him, but followed his lead. He handled it rather better.

Keith got his coughing under control. The stuff kicked like a mule. "Just felt like doing that. Give me a full one next, and I'll be more careful with it."

He looked at Alaric, pouring, and wondered. Couldn't he just put this off for tonight? It could easily go badly, and he was enjoying himself for the first time since... but no. He sighed, and Alaric looked at him curiously.

Keith looked him in the eye. "Okay, I've got a few minutes before that hits me. Now, let me see that necklace of yours."

Alaric covered well, but he could see that he'd startled him. Keith shook his head and gave him a rueful smile. "I've got some experience being poked with the things. Out with it."

Alaric sighed and reached into the neck of his shirt, pulling out the mana necklace. He set it down in the middle of the table. Seven crystals. Fairly high quality, Keith thought, not that he was an expert. All of them charged.

"Huh. I was sure..." he looked at Alaric again. He looked a little wary. "... are these all of your crystals?"

Alaric snorted, then laughed. "Yes. Yes, they are. I started out with seven--" Keith was about to object "--those seven, and I'm planning to go back with those same seven, and with all of them charged. With their original charge. And I'm not planning on using any other form of magic, either. Satisfied?"

Keith considered this for a moment, forcing sobriety, then nodded.

Alaric shook his head. "When did you get so... precise?"

Keith grinned at him. "Hey, you're the one who made me a diplomat."

Alaric smiled back. "I've created a monster. You were never supposed to leave, you know."

Keith's head was beginning to swim a little, but he gathered his focus. "So it's just a precaution?"

Alaric nodded. "Yeah. I have it on pretty good authority that I can handle it, but..." he grimaced. "I don't exactly like to trust it, after my first experiences. So I avoid using it as much as I can. But..."

Keith nodded. "It's too useful to throw away."

He didn't think Alaric still having magic would have explained the eye, anyway. From what he knew, that wasn't something you did for yourself. So for him to not have used any magic, and yet be here in impossible time... Maddie couldn't even have been back in Wreathwood for all that long; not even that leg of the journey added up. He thought back to Alaric's horse, and smiled. Maybe it hadn't been symbolic, after all.

Alaric looked surprised. "So I'm in the clear?"

Keith nodded. "Yeah. Though I'll be checking those before you leave." Alaric rolled his eyes, so he grinned and added "And all of Natani's, too."

"I shall humbly acquiesce to your search."

Keith snorted. "I do get it. There are times I would have risked insanity. But..." he narrowed his eyes at Alaric. "I would have kicked your ass if you'd used that to get to me."

"Kicked my ass? Did you hit your head just now? Was I too rough on you?"

Keith grinned. "I'd say we both kicked some ass."

Alaric returned the grin. When he moved to pick the necklace back up, Keith put a hand on his arm. "Please be as careful as you can be."

Alaric looked at his hand, then at him, then cleared his throat. He put his other hand on top of Keith's. "I will."

Keith held his gaze for a while, then nodded. He gently extracted his hand to raise a toast, and Alaric mirrored the motion. "To kicking some ass!"

**

"I would'a, you know."

"Wha?"

"Used magic. To get here. If 'twas any faster."

"... thanks."

.

.

.

"Still kick your ass, though."

**

Keith looked up at the moon and the stars and pissed away with the wild abandon of a happy drunk. He laughed softly to himself. Not the evening he'd been expecting. Natani, are you laughing at me somewhere? I know Zen has to be. I can practically hear it. He whispered the words. "I miss you so much." Tears in his eyes, again. That final gift... "I love you. So, so much."

Finished, he made his way back inside. The lamp brought some warmth to the kitchen--that, and the booze--but there really was a nip to the air. Winter was right around the corner. They'd been up half the night, talking about the times before everything got complicated, slowly making their way through that bottle. And they still had more than half to go, offering the possibility of more in the future. And, well, Keith might have had a thing or two in the pantry as well. He wondered for the first time how long Alaric was planning to stay. He didn't want to ask. He was here now; let that be that.

Keith took care getting back to his seat--he wasn't that drunk, really, maybe the least he'd been since they started--and poured himself some more water on the way. "I think that's enough for tonight. Right?"

Alaric nodded, and yawned loudly. He'd been matching Keith drink for drink. "Enough for tonight. Now if you'll excuse me... nature calls."

"Just go out a way thataways. Err, you may want to veer to the right."

"Right it is."

Alaric left, and after a moment Keith pulled out the package. He examined it carefully, but no new secrets revealed themselves. Just that piece of paper and... he closed his eyes and raised the charm to his nose. It was as if they were right there. He sighed and opened his eyes. It was wonderful, but... he looked at the lamp flame. It was the right thing to do, but he really didn't want to do it. But what other answer was there? He sighed again. It was another thing he shouldn't do drunk. And if it turned out to be something that he couldn't do sober, well, that was hardly a problem at all.

He had just set the package down again when Alaric reappeared. He was shivering, Keith realized, but got it under control quickly. He leaned close to the warmth of the lamp when he sat back down, though.

Alaric nodded at the package. "Getting to the sentimental part, eh?"

Keith rolled his eyes at him. "Actually, I was thinking about whether to burn it while I still have the courage."

Alaric was clearly shocked. "... do you want to?"

Keith sighed. "No, I don't. But it's the right thing to do. The final goodbye."

*

Alaric looked at him blankly for a moment, then buried his face in his hands. "No, you idiot, it's... Exactly what about this would you call traditional?" He looked at Keith. It wrenched at his heart to say it, but he knew it was the right answer. "You keep it. You keep it on you. And when it's your time... you don't look for a burial spot."

Keith's eyes went wide, and with a sinking feeling Alaric saw he'd got it right. One less reason for Keith to ever return for good.

"Nick, you..." he took Alaric's hand in his own and squeezed it. "Thank you."

Alaric sighed and forced a smile. "I guess that's why they needed someone with half a brain to bring it to you."

Keith gave his hand another squeeze. He appreciated the gesture, as inappropriate as it was. Well, probably because it was as inappropriate as it was. All in all, this had been a much better day than he could have hoped. Even if he should have dressed more heavily.

"Nick?"

"Yeah?"

Keith had a dangerously deadpan look on his face. "Are you still feeling cold?"

Alaric quickly decided that the risk of being sent to get firewood was worth literally every other possibility he could think of. "Yeah."

"That's good, because I really can't be bothered to set up the guest room. Want to share?"

Any thoughts of necessarily sleeping in close quarters disappeared on seeing the master bedroom. The bed could have housed a squad of the empire's finest.

That was in turn forgotten when Keith started stripping.

The thought of looking away for modesty's sake did enter Alaric's mind, but never got very far.

Keith, shirtless now, glanced at him and grinned. "Oh, sorry. Force of habit. I guess I should at least keep my pants on."

Alaric, frozen somewhere between joy and horror, found the ability to raise his hand in protest. "Oh, no, I wouldn't want to impose."

Keith rolled his eyes at him. "How considerate of you. I think the pants stay on."

Alaric gave an exaggerated sigh to hide his real one. Keith looked... best not to think about that right now.

"And you? I wouldn't want to put you out, either."

Well, certainly. Alaric stripped down to his pants, Keith grinning at him all the while.

The grin only widened. "And the wrappings?"

That was a much bigger ask. But... Alaric looked away and started unwrapping his feet.

*

Seeing his discomfort, Keith clambered into bed instead of watching him openly. Had Alaric always been this--he smiled to himself at the idea--prudish? He must've been off his balance. "Turn down the lamp and come on in."

The curtains were drawn against the inevitability of morning, so with the lamp extinguished the room plunged into near darkness. He could feel the shifting of the bed as Alaric got in. Keith had gone a bit past the midpoint, himself, and Alaric seemed to have gotten the right idea, to match him on the other side. Alas, he didn't take the opportunity to stumble into him, but they were close enough to feel each other's warmth.

"It might be a bit cold, but it should warm right up like this." After a moment of silence, he continued. "Alaric?"

The answer was very pointed. "Yes, Keiser?"

He smiled to himself. "... Nick?"

"Keith."

"Thank you for coming."

*

The mornings were the worst, Keith had said. Alaric didn't think the sleeping arrangements really had all that much to do with him, no matter how much he might have wished otherwise. But was there more he could do? Well, the covers were pretty light...

"Keith?"

"Hm?"

Alaric kept his voice neutral. "I'm still a little chilly."

He felt Keith draw closer. "Better?"

"A little."

Keith drew closer still, until Alaric could feel him along his side. "Now?"

To be touched by him was like fire. "That's... better."

Keith settled his head on Alaric's shoulder and placed his hand on his chest, giving the tuft of fur there a little tug. "And now?"

Alaric managed to croak out a "That's good!"

"That's a shame." And Keith snuck one leg over and between his, brushing up against his tail and unwrapped ankles. Keith kept shifting against him, settling into a comfortable position, and Alaric tried not to whimper.

"Sweet dreams, Nick."

***

The morning--or what passed for morning after a certain type of night--found them still much the same way; Keith asleep, and Alaric thinking he must be dreaming. He'd had time to think it through, and there really wasn't anything that could get him to risk waking Keith up, short of a direct attack; and, well, he still had one hand free. That should be enough to deal with most opponents. There was the small matter of his bladder, of course, but he was sure it only felt like it was about to rupture.

Eventually, Keith's breathing changed and Alaric felt him stirring slightly. To his relief he didn't withdraw, just adjusted his position a little. Alaric shifted slightly as well, to get his arm better around Keith.

He realized that Keith was crying. It wasn't the wracking sobs of yesterday; these were quiet tears, but unmistakable in the dampness on his shoulder and the small movements of Keith's body. Afraid he would bolt, Alaric slowly, slowly turned to his side, to bring both of his arms around Keith and pull him to his chest. He didn't say anything. There were no words worth speaking. So he just held on to Keith, stroking his back, while the tears ran their course. It was the best he could do.

Or... maybe not quite. After the tears had finally subsided--and what interval he felt appropriate had passed--Alaric reached down and very, very deliberately gave Keith's ass a squeeze.

Keith burst out laughing, and Alaric grinned into his hair. "Good morning."

Keith pulled back slowly to sit up beside him, and Alaric let him go. Keith wiped his tears and smiled at him. "Good morning. Sleep well?"

Alaric pulled himself up to a seated position, with a groan. Some bruises from yesterday were starting to make themselves felt. He smiled brightly at Keith. "Not a wink."

Keith grinned. "Sorry about that. You can consider it payback for everything you've ever done to me."

Alaric wanted to say, 'Is that all that it was?', but instead he laughed. "Then I'm getting off easy."

Keith looked at him thoughtfully. "Alaric--" he caught himself with a grin before Alaric could correct him. "Nick. When we were kids... I'm sorry I never heard you out."

Alaric shied from the topic. "I was just... I kept pushing, even though I knew you hated it. It isn't something that..."

Keith gave him a faint smile. "That's the thing. I never quite hated it. That's why it scared me so much." He raised a hand to softly touch Alaric on the cheek. "So I am sorry. You deserved better from me." And he leaned in, using his hand to guide Alaric, and gently kissed him on the lips.

"You can blush!" Keith grinned at him. "I never knew that." Before Alaric found himself again, Keith had clambered over him and out of bed. "Come on, I'll make you some breakfast."

**

Alaric sat on the edge of the back porch, basking in the sunlight. There was still a bit of warmth in it, even this late in the year. This side of the building caught the morning--he squinted at the sun--or at least pre-noon light. It opened onto a clearing, with the forest in the near distance. Only two things here drew the eye; a big blackened spot, some distance from the house, and a young sapling, not far from it. Alaric sighed. Keith really wasn't in the habit of making things easy for himself. But that, too, had to be a part of that weird strength of his. He thought back to the Keith he'd last seen, on those few fateful days, and tried to plot the course he must have taken to get here. He failed. But when he thought back farther, to that playful and happy kid he had first come to know and love, the picture started to form. He smiled to himself.

His work had been unnecessary. But unnecessary did not mean useless. Unless he wanted it to.

Keith arrived, bearing the promised coffee. He was still bare-chested, and Alaric saw he had fashioned the wolves' memento into a pendant. He handed one mug to Alaric before sitting down right next to him, almost touching.

Alaric resolved not to look at Keith's feet. "You're warm like that?"

"I've been getting used to the cold." He took a sip of his coffee. "Though, it's actually pretty warm today."

Alaric tried his. It was hot, and wonderful. "This is really good."

Keith grinned at him. "I was taught by the best." He ducked his head to catch the scent of the pendant and closed his eyes, smiling. When he found Alaric looking, he turned the smile on him. "Zen and coffee. It's a thing."

Alaric gestured at the pendant. "Do you mind if I...?"

"Go ahead." Keith moved to unfasten it from his neck, but Alaric had other plans. He leaned in and took hold of the pendant--and Keith's chest tuft, for good measure. Two unfamiliar scents and Keith, making a whole.

He leaned back with a sigh, and looked at Keith with a sad smile. "...I should have come earlier, shouldn't I?"

Keith's expression mirrored his, and he reached out to touch Alaric's cheek. "Yeah."

He almost had, once, years ago. He'd needed to come to the mainland, and there had been an opportunity... he'd balked, just barely. It had seemed like the right thing to do; he'd stuck to his plans.

Right now, he wasn't so sure.

But... he didn't need to decide anything immediately. More information couldn't hurt. "Do you think you'll ever return to the island? To live."

Keith was about to say something, then closed his mouth and took a long time answering. Does he need to think about it, because I'm alive? Was there a possibility? But eventually, Keith shook his head. "No. I don't think so. I don't hate it, but after all that's happened... I don't think it will ever be home again." He smiled. "Plus, I'm actually a pretty decent ambassador. I'd be useless on the island."

He had no idea. But it wasn't time for that, yet. "You could be Arms General, if you wanted." He didn't think it would make any difference, but it was true, so he might as well say it.

Keith raised his eyebrows. "Really? I'm that good?"

"No, but you clearly could be. I could see you challenging in a year or two."

Keith nodded slowly. "Thanks. But I don't want to be Arms General."

Alaric nodded as well. Maybe it would have been a fitting dream for Keith the Exile. But not this one.

"Nick..."

"Hm?"

Keith kissed him on the cheek, then lightly scratched him under the chin. Alaric nearly purred with it.

Keith's smile wasn't quite sad. "Where's the place for this, in our glorious society?"

Alaric sighed. "Abroad. Mostly."

And that might take longer to change than Keith had the patience for, no matter what Alaric did.

Keith tousled Alaric's hair, and he had to admit that abroad was starting to sound pretty good. Mostly.

They finished their coffees in silence.

Keith put his mug down. "Well, that took the last of the firewood in the kitchen. Care to help rebuild the woodpile?"

Alaric stretched. That coffee had really done wonders. Well, that and Keith's little stunts. "Sure thing." He hesitated. "Did you really burn all of it?"

Keith smiled his sad little smile. "There's still some seasoned logs in the woodshed. Should be enough to last until the next bunch dries." He sighed. "It's not like this was unexpected. It's one thing to show devotion, another thing to burn green wood for a season or two. Or condemn guests to cold food."

Alaric looked at the dry-ish landscape. "Or start a forest fire."

Keith shook his head. "It'd been raining. We had to wait for it to stop before building the pyre." He looked up. "Been clear ever since."

Alaric had nothing to say, so he reached out to touch Keith on the arm. To his wonder, the gesture didn't feel awkward anymore. Keith gave him a smile. It wasn't big, but there was more than sadness in it. "Right! How about we make a bit of a competition of it? Let's start with one tree each..."

**

They spent a good chunk of the day felling a few likely trees to rebuild the stores, and splitting the seasoned logs to restock the woodpile, interrupted only by a topically cold lunch. Keith only called it done when they had a pile that Alaric thought had to be enough for months. He was bone weary by the end of it, but doing his hardest not to let it show too clearly. He'd had sleepless nights before, and the exercise had clearly been good for Keith.

In fact, he grinned at Alaric. "I think we could both use a bath after that."

Alaric stifled a yawn. "Agreed. Let me guess; that means more work."

"How do you feel about pumping water?"

And pump he did, while Keith 'got some fires started', in his own words. The bath wasn't small, for a private residence. Thankfully the pump fed right into it, and was easy to work. The water was very, very cold.

When he had it full enough, he wandered off to find Keith. He turned out to be heating water on the kitchen stove.

Alaric smiled. "We're not relying on that, are we?"

Keith grinned back. "No, this is for washing up. There's a fire going under the floor of the bath. Takes a while to warm up, but it'll be good."

Alaric sat down on the bench he'd been sitting on the previous night. "I would have expected this place to be more... magical."

"It used to be, but all the enchantments were gone by the time we got here." Keith sat down next to him. "We didn't really need the conveniences, so we left it as it was." He smiled. "Hours enough in a day, and we all liked doing things for each other, y'know? It's all the everyday stuff..."

Keith's smile wavered and Alaric could see his ears drooping. He put his arm around his friend's shoulders and gave him a little squeeze. "I get it."

Keith just sighed in response. They sat in silence for a while, waiting for the water to boil. Alaric kept his eyes on the kettle.

They mixed hot and cold water in pails until they had something suitable for washing with. The bath was nearing lukewarm.

Keith started stripping again, and this time he didn't stop at topless. Alaric's only concession to propriety was to clear his throat, as one does, and that was mostly in hopes Keith would turn around.

It worked, too.

"Alaric?" Keith sounded amused. "Eyes up."

"Hm?"

"I said, eyes up." He cleared his throat again and looked Keith in the face. He looked amused, too. "It's not anything you haven't seen before, you know."

Alaric grinned. "I was just thinking what a shame it is that I didn't think to bring any granite."

Keith rolled his eyes at him. "No clothes in the bath; house rules. We could go in separately if you want..."

"Oh, I wouldn't even dream of being difficult."

"Well, get naked then. And yes, that goes for your feet too. I'll wash your back if you'll wash mine."

Keith was as shameless about watching as Alaric had been. He found he didn't really mind. House rules were house rules, after all.

The bath was just right by the time they got themselves washed and rinsed. Alaric settled in up to his neck, with a satisfied sigh. It felt... "This is wonderful."

There would have been some room to maneuver, but Keith came in fairly close. And gave his foot a little nudge with his own. It made Alaric shiver.

Keith grinned at him. "Payback."

Alaric smiled back. "I thought you already got even."

"Ah, right. I guess that puts me ahead, then."

Completely on impulse, Alaric put his arms around Keith's neck, and, being careful to see it wasn't unwelcome, returned the kiss from that morning. Gently.

Keith just smiled at him. "I think I'm still ahead."

Alaric sighed. The way Keith made him feel... He returned the nudge with his foot. Keith trembled, and Alaric worried he was going to cry again, but it subsided. Alaric relished the warmth of Keith's body more than the bath, but he let go and stretched his limbs in the warm water, settling to float on his back. His mind was a jumble. Must be the fatigue.

He didn't really believe himself, either.

*

Keith sat in the bath, considering his friend, sorely tempted to tease him in some further way. Some possibilities flashed through his mind, but he settled for just watching for a moment. Pushing him more would border on ingratitude.

Alaric looked wonderful. It wasn't just the eye; as far as Keith could tell, he didn't have a single scar left on his body. And he hadn't been shy about looking. It's not that he would have minded--some of those scars would have been quite nostalgic--but there was something good about seeing him completely hale. He'd make a fine statue.

"How did you ever get into it in the first place? The stone-working?"

"Hm? Oh, it just... happened." Alaric seemed to be gathering his thoughts. "You could say I needed something to do with my hands while I was plotting and scheming."

"Are you still at it?"

"No. It was a bit too conspicuous a hobby to keep." He grinned at the ceiling. "You'll be happy to hear I found a place for that statue, though. One of the inner courtyards."

Keith groaned. "Did you at least give me a fig leaf or something?"

"And ruin the educational value? Never."

Keith considered some of the uses the inner courtyards were put to, and sighed deeply. Ah well. Better to hear about it now than to just walk into it one day...

What was the topic again? Ah. He grinned. "And what do you do with your hands now?"

Silence. Alaric had fallen asleep. Again Keith was tempted to do something to him, and again he resisted. So he really hadn't slept... Keith settled deeper into the bath, careful not to cause a disturbance. It really did feel wonderful.

*

Alaric came to groggily. It took him a moment to realize he was still in the bath. Keith had him by the shoulder. Alaric blinked at him. "Mh?"

"Hey. I may have overdone the fire a bit, but I didn't want to wake you up by dumping cold water on you. Do you still want to soak for a while?"

He felt thoroughly suffused with warmth. He couldn't even tell what temperature the water was. "I... think I should probably just get out. How long was I...?" Falling asleep bathing with Keith? Ridiculous!

"A while. I may have dozed off myself." Keith slowly stood up and stretched his limbs, causing Alaric to feel even warmer. "Come on, let's get you rinsed and dry."

Alaric nearly stumbled getting up. He felt dizzy. Keith took him by the shoulder and led him to a bench. "Sorry, I guess I should have woken you earlier. Just stay there, I'll take care of the rest."

He sat down gratefully. The air was cooler than the water, of course, but Alaric felt like he was heating up the room rather than the other way around. He watched as Keith mixed some more water in the pails, occasionally testing the temperature with his hand. Watched Keith's fully naked form, dripping wet, every step deliberate to avoid slipping on the wet tile... and when Keith caught him looking, he just grinned. If the abashed Keith of his youth had been dangerously cute, this one was devastatingly beautiful.

Keith returned with a large bucket full of water that he presented for Alaric's examination. He tested the temperature; it felt almost cold, but he just nodded. It felt more than almost cold when Keith unceremoniously dumped it over his head, and he shuddered and shook himself. "Invigorating."

He could hear the grin. "You looked like you needed it. Hang on."

Keith produced a towel and began drying his hair for him, and the temperature of the water was suddenly the farthest thought from his mind. When Keith moved to gently rubbing his ears dry, all thought fled.

Keith was already halfway down his back--getting dangerously close to his tail--when he recovered. "Thanks! I can take it from here."

Keith dropped the towel on his head, and Alaric pulled it off before turning around. "Would you like me to... oh." Keith was already drying himself, so Alaric got busy getting the rest of the water out of his own fur instead. Next time.

Keith sounded thoughtful. "I think I'm going to do some laundry. I can clean yours as well."

"Oh, thanks." Wait. "Err..."

"Hm?"

"... could you at least give me my foot wrappings?"

Keith grinned. "Hang on." He retrieved some from an adjacent room. "You can borrow these, they're mine."

"Thanks." He wrapped his feet, and it was weird how much more he felt himself. Though the thought of them being Keith's was a little distracting...

"Could you check on the fireplace for me? It might be down to embers by now."

"Sure."

"You can just relax there for a while. I shouldn't be long."

It was only when he was out in the corridor, buck naked save for his feet, that he realized Keith could just as well have given him some spare clothing.

Ah well, the cool air felt welcome.

He saw to the fire--not quite down to embers, but getting there--then carefully closed the fireguard back up. Arson wasn't called for.

With nothing to do, he got a better look at the sitting room. Furniture to seat seven; a couch, a love-seat, and two comfortable-looking chairs. From the den, perhaps? All were well-worn with use, and with scuff marks on the floor to show they'd often been moved around. A small table, likewise pulled this way and that, doubtless to where it was needed at the time. Cupboards and cabinets and such, but he didn't go rummaging around. Curiously, there was a banjo hung on a set of pegs. He wondered who had played it last.

Bookshelves lined one wall, filled with a great quantity of books of all shapes, sizes, and colors. History, politics, the famous works of all the different races collected, peppered with ones he'd never even heard of. One corner of interest held banned books of basitin origin--Western and Eastern, both. Some of them he hadn't even read!

And there was magic. Treatises on the arcane, some of which he recognized by name. He kept returning there, even reached out to pull one, before finally stepping away.

He wasn't here for himself.

Alaric wandered back to the fireplace. There, on top of the mantelpiece, was the only object in the whole house that looked askew. A small metal plaque of some sort, placed seemingly haphazardly. On it, something like a sigil had been engraved. It didn't seem magical... a maker's mark, perhaps? He'd decided not to touch it.

'Relax there', Keith had said, but the idea of sitting around naked felt... weird. Besides, the warmth of the fire was starting to feel welcome again.

There was the rug...

He laid down by the fire, feeling a little silly. It was quite comfortable, really. He listened for signs of Keith, but only heard the crackling of the fire.

**

Alaric woke up again, this time to the tantalizing smell of food. Again, it took him a moment to figure out where he was.

"Hold still for a bit longer."

Keith was seated on the couch, not far off. He was naked too. He was... "... you're drawing me."

"I assure you, it's quite tasteful."

"... of course it is." Alaric laughed quietly and settled back down.

"That's good."

"What about the food?"

"It'll still be a while."

"Laundry?"

"Probably not dry yet. Are you cold?"

"No, I'm fine."

"Okay. I can get you something if you want. And... I think I'm done."

Alaric stretched before getting up.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to hold that pose?"

He sprang to his feet. The couch was covered in papers. He could see that they were other sketches, and not of him. Keith gathered them up and placed the lot on the table, then patted at the couch beside him.

Well, if Keith didn't mind sitting around naked, neither would he. As best he could. He settled down, and Keith presented him with his sketch. It was... he was lying on his side, slightly curled up, with one hand under his head. The angle was from nearer his feet than straight from the side. It was, of course, anatomically correct. At least his feet were covered... He appeared to be sleeping peacefully.

It was a good likeness, and yet...

"I was thinking of hanging it up at the embassy."

Alaric choked.

"Just kidding. Probably."

"Please be." He gestured at the other drawings. "Do you mind if I...?"

Keith handed him a part of the stack, and he leafed through them carefully. They were mostly of Natani--usually looking amused or dignified--or Zen--making faces, sleeping, or both--and again there was that feeling... he'd seen Natani, of course, and more recently likenesses of both wolves from sources that he knew to be trustworthy, at least as far as artistic ability was concerned. They were definitely the same subjects. And yet...

There were a few with Maddie as well; some of her alone, striking this or that dramatic pose; one with her and Natani, the basitin sleeping against the wolf's shoulder, apparently drooling; another of her sitting triumphantly on top of Zen, who was lying down in a pose of abject defeat. He looked at his own picture again, then compared it to the ones with Maddie, then the ones with Zen or Natani.

But how could that possibly be the answer?

He looked at Keith. "Keith... I don't know what to do with you."

A smile. "Oh? I'd say you're doing pretty well. Though you've been behaving more than I'd have expected. Or... do you have someone? I just assumed..."

Alaric shook his head. "No. No one else. But you do."

"I do. But those two... they'd be happy that you're here." He laughed softly. "You know, they actually tried to see if there could be something between me and Maddie, at one point. She still hasn't stopped laughing about that." His smile faded. "Well, she hadn't, anyway." He shook his head. "No, Natani probably would have locked us in a room by now, left us to sort ourselves out."

Alaric didn't know what to say. "And Zen?"

Keith grinned. "Yelling suggestions through the door."

But how? Because of the lifespan difference, he realized. Maybe, just maybe, because of what he meant to Keith. It was...

It was what he would have done.

"They love me better than I deserve. Though," Keith smiled sadly, "I suppose I'm not allowed to say that anymore, since they're not here to correct me." He stuck his tongue out at Alaric. An odd gesture. "But no, you don't need to hold back on their account." He smiled a small smile. "Possibly the opposite."

Alaric reached out to touch Keith, to... his heart constricted in his chest. "... you'd cry, wouldn't you."

*

Depends on how good you are. But no, this was no time to be flippant. Keith nodded. "Probably."

"... would it help?"

Keith couldn't help it; he teared up. He really was far luckier than he had any right to be. He'd been thinking about what it had been like, after Zen had passed, and he and Natani... but looking at Alaric's stricken expression, he found it in himself to lie.

This was no time to be selfish, either.

"No." He pulled Alaric into an awkward seated hug. "There isn't anything more I'd ask from you."

Alaric hugged him back, tenderly. So tenderly. "Just... let me know if there is."

"Thanks. I will."

They broke the hug, and Alaric looked again at the drawings of the wolves. Keith liked his expression, liked it even better when he spoke, hesitantly. "Keith... would you tell me about them?"

He teared up again. "I will. I'll tell you all about them." He wiped his tears with a smile. "But first, time for dinner."

"... and maybe some clothes?"

Keith smiled, and tousled his hair. "Sure."

They dressed, and they ate, and they retired back to the fire armed with coffee and rum. Keith regaled Alaric with tales of Natani and Zen; not their exploits--of who had they been to the world--but rather, who they had been to him. What home had been. He didn't hold back the tears, but neither did he hold back the laughter, until the two were nearly one and the same. Alaric did not speak much, but when he did, Keith listened. The evening wore on, and the rum lower, until finally Alaric's tiredness caught up to him again. Keith watched his old friend nodding off, his heart filling with a love and tenderness that had only something to do with the alcohol.

He reached out to lightly stroke one of Alaric's ears. Soft and supple. Alaric stirred, smiling fuzzily at Keith. It was a good look.

"Come on, let's get you to bed."

"Your bed?"

Keith laughed. "Thaaaat's my Nick."

"... I am, aren't I?"

"That's up to you."

"... it is, isn't it?"

Keith gave him a little tweak on the ear. "Yup. And so's if you want to share the bed."

*

It really wasn't much of a question. Neither of them was. Nick sighed. "Yes."

Keith smiled in response, and Nick would have followed him anywhere. 'To bed' was just a bonus. They made their way to the bedroom, with only a little stumbling, and stripped, with even less ceremony. Again the pants stayed on. It felt a little silly, after the earlier, but it also felt like it meant something. The wrappings still went, but Nick was less bothered by the loss this time. Though, they were Keith's... but what were Keith's wrappings, when he had Keith himself, waiting for him in bed, with his arms wide open? Nick extinguished the lamp and stumbled into Keith's embrace.

Keith pulled him to his chest.

Ah.

Nick let Keith hold him close, for both their sakes. After a while, Keith relaxed his hold a little--only to bring one hand up to his ears. It felt... incredible. Better than he'd ever dreamt. Nick pressed his face into Keith's chest, and he understood, really understood, what Keith had meant. That the wolves had been his home.

A home that had been lost.

"Keith?"

"Yeah?"

"... wake me up in the morning, okay?"

"... I will."

**

He did.

**

As they made their way to the back porch, with their coffee mugs in hand, Alaric realized that this was something of a morning routine. His eyes went to the sapling in the yard, and he wondered about the specifics. Would there be two trees, next year? Would there eventually be a third? It didn't seem to fit that one should be so much younger.

Hopefully.

But then, maybe the heights would work out.

Who would see to it? He realized he would do it, if it came down to it, and fervently hoped that it wouldn't.

But... it was exactly what Keith had had to do.

More than once.

He cleared his throat. "Keith, if you need..."

Keith gave him a tweak on the ear. The unexpectedness made him yelp, and almost spill his coffee.

"Let's not."

Alaric saw a strange vulnerability in Keith's expression. Almost to his surprise, he found himself leaning in to kiss him. Somehow, it felt like the most natural thing in the world. He took his time with it, and was rewarded with a small smile.

They sat down on the edge of the porch, shoulder to shoulder, knee to knee, foot to foot, and sipped their coffees in silence. After a while, it occurred to Alaric to seek out Keith's tail with his own. The gesture seemed well-received, and there was a certain potential there... but eventually he just tucked his tail around Keith. Keith reciprocated, and Alaric sighed happily at the easy intimacy of it.

He still hadn't quite reached a decision. "What will you do now?"

"I take it you don't mean with this?" Keith fiddled with the tip of Alaric's tail. It sent a shiver up his spine.

"Yeah." He grinned. "But, by all means..."

Keith rolled his eyes at him, but continued toying with his tail for a while as he spoke. "I'm not going to come out of my semi-retirement immediately. There are some things I'll need to take care of, but..." His eyes wandered to the notable features of the yard. "I figure I'll mostly stay here at least until the spring. I want to make my peace with this place."

Alaric had suspected that last part--so what would entice him to leave? "Those 'things' wouldn't have anything to do with your little side-projects with the wolves, would they?"

Keith gave him a sidelong glance that said exactly 'So you know about that, do you.' Alaric raised his free hand in response. "I don't disagree with any of it. Neither does the King. Unofficially."

Keith nodded. "No, the wolves can take care of themselves. I have some other ideas. Who knows, maybe I'll give Maddie her first gray hairs yet."

Alaric thought about his meeting with Madelyn Adelaide and smiled. "She'll just pass them on."

Keith grinned. "That's what I'm counting on."

"And after spring?"

"I don't know yet." He gave Alaric another sidelong glance, but this one said something else entirely. "I wonder if I'll be having company?"

Alaric had been thinking of little else. He could just walk away from it all. Be with Keith. The King knew his appointed successor; had specifically reminded Alaric of that fact when he'd left on this little jaunt. He could just walk away, and nobody would ever find out about his little project to give people gray hairs. But... it was still the right thing to do. There was no getting around that. When had he grown a conscience? He looked at Keith, and sighed. Probably when I met him. He spent a quiet moment saying goodbye--for now--to possibilities he'd hardly even dreamt of two days ago. He would find a way to circle back to here.

To Keith, wherever he was.

"Alaric?"

He finished his coffee. "Well, you have me for a few weeks. And I expect we'll be seeing some of each other after." He set down his cup. "There's something I've been working towards for a long time now. Eventually I'll need your help, but there are other parts that would go faster if I could make use of your office."

Keith raised his eyebrows. "What, can't forge my signature?"

Alaric grinned. "Would you care for a demonstration? No, the tricky part is explaining how it got on papers that have never been within a thousand miles of you."

Keith looked genuinely curious. "What could you be up to that you need the ambassador for? I somehow doubt you have less authority than me back on the island."

Nothing for it. "I want to end the war."

"What? The war's been over for--"

"The war."

Keith's eyes shot wide. He carefully, deliberately, put his mug down, then turned fully to Alaric. "What did you have in mind?"