Moth and the Gloaming Lance by Dorian Christo

Author:Dorian Christo
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Medieval Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, LGBTQA+, LGBTQ, Queer Fantasy, Queer
Publisher: Dorian Christo
Published: 2024-05-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

The walls were covered, top to bottom with tapestries and banners. Reds and golds and purples, in solid streaks and brilliant patterns, guarded by an ever present crest: two bears on their hind legs, with an owl overhead, holding a dagger in its curving talons. In the great hall was a healthy smattering of ornate, dark-wood furnishings, littered with candles, scrolls and even books, as well as countless other items of interest; chests of many sizes and shapes, scales, bundled goods, furs... and of course, tables and people. More people than Moth had expected. Some carrying trays, some carrying reed mats away and out of the room, some straightening a large portrait of the king.

“You must excuse my brother.” Tharros said, bending down to speak too close to Moth’s ear. The knight shied away, but turned his head, eyeing the prince before looking back to a stack of green books on a nearby table. “I think he’s set his sights on the bard girl, but ah, well. Those sights never really stick.”

Moth glanced again to Tharros with a half-lidded look, as if that sentiment were supposed to be any part comforting.

“If my brother were a dog, I’d put him out with the rest.”

He expected the prince to finally turn on him in anger or refute, but instead, the royal put a gloved hand to his mouth, brows furrowing, and he sighed. Moth regarded him cautiously.

“Coarse though you are, I can’t deny my concerns. One day he’ll fall into some trouble too deep to climb out of, I’m afraid... ah! That’s a worry for another day.” Tharros batted the air, and took Moth’s arm, pulling him towards a decorated set of doors between two red banners. “Truly a thing to behold, how much you’ve changed, and yet how much about you seems just the way it always was. I knew it was you from an instant, really, I just knew.”

Moth pulled his arm away. “I think everything about me has changed.”

Tharros regarded him thoughtfully. “You’ve always been a little brooding. Like some clever people tend to be.” The way he seemed so free with his words gave Moth new understanding of how Shy must feel, and he made a silent vow to choose his own more carefully, if he could manage it. He stopped walking when they arrived at some steps, that disappeared around a wall as they curled upwards.

“I’m going back.” He blurted, eyes on his boots.

“What?” Said Tharros, blinking and then shaking his head with a light laugh. “Don’t be silly, my parents excitedly await you!”

“I don’t want to see your parents. I don’t want to be here, in this ridiculous place, outfitted with all your royal comforts. Saints’ forbid you spend a single night without fifty servants to slobber at your feet.”

“Slobber—Moth, wait!” Tharros caught his arm and pulled him back, his hand sliding around Moth’s waist to pull him in further. “I wanted to...let me at least say...”

Moth watched in shock as the prince held him like a damsel in a painting, and then closed the distance between them.

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