“What? Why?” Shi’chen asked in surprise.
“For learning your secret. You can’t have anyone finding out, right?”
“Are you going to tell anyone?” Shi’chen asked. Damn it all to the gods, he didn’t want to have to hurt the only person who had been kind to him on this ship; plus, if Lai disappeared, everyone was sure to notice his absence.
Lai shook his head slowly. “It’s your secret, not mine, Cha’she.”
“Shi’chen,” the goblin admitted softly. “My real name is Shi’chen.” It felt good to say it out loud.
“Shi’chen,” Lai said thoughtfully, trying the name in his accented voice.
“But you won’t tell anyone?” Shi’chen asked softly, aware that his voice had a pleading to it that made him sound much more desperate than he wanted to.
Lai shook his head. “I won’t tell anyone,” he replied. He gave Shi’chen a small smile and a shrug of his shoulders. “Who would I tell anyway?”
“I’m sure there would be some benefit for you if youdidtell someone,” Shi’chen said carefully, watching Lai’s face in the light from the lanterns nearby.
Lai shook his head again. “I know what it’s like to have a secret you’re trying to hide,” he said, gesturing to his short ears. “I’m not going to tell yours. It’s not my secret to tell.”
Shi’chen held up his right arm, elbow bent, fingers closed into a fist. Lai looked at it in confusion. “This is how goblins make a promise.” Lai extended his right arm in a similar fashion, and Shi’chen touched the inside of his right wrist to the inside of Lai’s, realizing this was only the second time they had actually touched skin-to-skin. Goblins were much more physical than elves, and it had been strange to not touch anyone, other than a few punches, the last few days. Lai’s pale skin was warm against his own.
Lai blinked at their conjoined wrists. “Now what?”
Shi’chen opened his fingers from their fist, and Lai repeated the motion. “This shows the other that they’re not hiding anything or keeping anything back. And then,” he almost didn’t want to break the contact, but he drew his hand back to put his own open palm over his heart. “This seals the promise.”
Lai watched him, then slowly moved his own hand to his chest, smiling softly. “I promise.” He reached his hand up to brush a bit of blond hair off his face. “What happens if I break the promise?”
“I suppose the gods could do something to you,” Shi’chen said with a shrug. “But they probably wouldn’t, so you would just lose my trust. And in this case, probably get me killed.”
Lai placed his hand on his heart again. “I am very… what’s the word…” He frowned, seemingly searching for the word in Hanen-shii. “Trust for my friends?”
“Loyal?” Shi’chen offered, and Lai broke into a brilliant smile.
“Yes. I’m very loyal to my friends.”
Shi’chen blinked at that. “Are we friends?”
“Aren’t we?” Lai asked.
Shi’chen gave him a small smile. “I guess we are. I certainly could use a friend around here.”
“So, youdohave military training,” Lai replied suddenly, his eyes lighting up as he seemed to realize he had been right.
“Ah, uh…” Shi’chen flushed a little. “I’m the Captain of Honor Garrison of the imperial guard.”
“A Captain,” Lai said, followed by an exclamation in a language Shi’chen didn’t know. “So, am I supposed to salute or bow to you?”
“Neither!” Shi’chen said quickly, eyes wide.
Lai laughed. “I’m just teasing you. Relax, Your Majesty.”
“I’m not a majesty,” Shi’chen said, rolling his eyes.
“So, what do they call you?”
“Captain.”
“Is your brother a Captain, too?”
