“Yes,” Vex nodded in agreement. The edge of Lament got no closer to his skin despite the movement. Tipping his head down towards the Blood Weapon, Vex asked, “Would you like to put that down now?”
“Gods, yes. My arm is starting to grow tired,” Rhalyf confessed.
“Then please, be my guest.”
Knowing that it wouldn’t be seen as an act of aggression, Rhalyf relaxed. Vex wasn’t frightened of Lament. He was clearly thinking of Rhalyf’s own comfort. Which was odd in and of itself. But he’d said something about Finley being right about him. What did that mean? And where was Finley? Yet getting to that conversation seemed impossible at that moment.
At least with a sword at his uncle’s throat.
He found that he could easily withdraw the weapon into himself. It disappeared and the two of them simply stood there awkwardly. The tinkling sound of water falling into fountains filled the sudden silence. The gloriously colored fish swished and flicked beneath the water of the nearest of these. Both of them gazed around at the garden as if they were attending a party where they knew no one and were stuck together because of a faint acquaintance.
“It’s lovely here,” Rhalyf finally said. He was quite good at small talk. Too bad there wasn’t anything to drink. A drink would really help about now. That and some nibbles. He was hungry. When had he eaten? The caramel corn. That was the last food to pass his lips. Maybe the last.
Vex nodded and said agreeably, “It is.”
“Did you, ah, design it?” Rhalyf asked, gesturing to the riot of blooms and statuary that somehow managed to be exciting and restful at the same time.
“I did.”
So Vex had designed the garden–maybe the whole Temple of the Stag–despite the fact that it was as his “sister” had said about him being hunted down or being the hunter. If it was the hunter, that made more sense but knowing Vex it was likely because he found it darkly amusing to imagine himself as the hunted.
“Well… it’s quite nice,” Rhalyf said lamely.
Another nod. More tinkling of fountains. Some of the fish bobbed to the top of the water, looking for something to eat maybe? He didn’t know. How had they survived this long? Had Vex come back here to feed them? No, no, that was nonsense. It had to be some incredible spell that kept everything so fresh and lush. Vex seemed content to stand there in silence forever. At least, he wasn’t attempting to kill Rhalyf. Yet.
“The narcotic flowers are an especially nice touch. Must have been fun to come to services here,” Rhalyf chuckled.
“It was especially fun when we re-enacted the Forever Hunt. Now that was a good time,” Vex said with a flash of a toothy smile that he realized mirrored his own usual one.
Finley would point that out to me. That I smile like he does. A challenge and a seduction and a weapon all in one.
“Did you play the hunter or… the hunted?” Rhalyf lifted an eyebrow.
A broader smile. “I switched off from year to year.”
“Ah, well, variety is the spice of life or so humans say,” Rhalyf nodded sagely.
He wondered who was bold enough to chase Vex. He supposed at the end Vex would only be caught if he wished to be. And that ending wouldn’t be with an arrow in the heart, but likely a romp in this garden. Sex and drugs and adrenaline.
“Did you hear that from Finley?” Vex asked after cocking an eyebrow up at the expression.
“Actually, his little sister, Gemma. Found family, but still they are as close as blood and…” he stopped himself. He was babbling. And really he shouldn’t draw Vex’s attention to Gemma. “Well, she told me it this afternoon… It’s quite evocative.”
Had it just been that afternoon when they’d gone to Hope with Finley and Gemma? When he’d spoken so blithely about what his uncle would or wouldn’t do in any given situation? When life had been good? It felt like a lifetime ago. Oh, to be back there now! But this line of questioning did allow him to ask about Finley.
“You mentioned Finley earlier. You… met him,” Rhalyf said and stared at his uncle carefully. He needed to read whatever he could in his uncle’s expression.
“Yes.”
“Yes?” Rhalyf prompted.
And what did you do to him? And where is he? And why did you mention death earlier?
“You’re wondering what I did with him?” Vex guessed. He was now leaning against the railing and staring out at the flowers, but not seeing them. He was grinning. It was a look of anticipation.
“Yes.”
Now it was his turn with the one word answers. His heart felt like it was held in a vise. Finley loved Vex. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that. His admiration for the Night King had practically poured out of the young man. Had Vex lived up to expectations? In a way, Vex would have by smashing Finley to pieces…
