Given how he looked right now, Kraghtol wasn’t even convinced of that himself.
“I see. So, that’s who you really are — green skin, I suppose, a monster to most eyes. And you took a potion to turn you into one of us, just any ordinary human, because that’s better than standing out like this.”
Valir was not looking directly at Kraghtol. Instead, he seemed to focus on something many kilometers behind him.
“Did it work?”
That was not the question Kraghtol had expected. But then again, he really didn’t know what to expect. The whole situation was surreal. Of all the people he had expected to confide in, Valir was near the bottom of the list.
“Well, yes. Until now. But now the potion is failing, and I don’t know how to get more. I guess having to fight these attackers brought back my Orcish traits quicker.”
‘And that probably saved both our asses,’ he added silently.
Valir was still deep in thought.
“Is Krasen your real name?”
Kraghtol sighed. No reason to keep up that part of the lie now, right?
“No. My real name is Kraghtol Wulfspar. And I’m not from Caemdir, but from Mistpine. Happy?”
Valir didn’tlookparticularly happy.
“I’m Valir el Greylune. Son of Duke Selanthor el Greylune. Third in line of succession to become duke myself. People all over Wardenreach recognize my family crest. I’ve never been anyone else but that.”
Kraghtol wasn’t quite sure where he was going with that, so he just nodded slowly. The pain in his shoulder was still throbbing, and it was getting hard to think.
“In a way, we’re not so different. Only you had the brief opportunity to escape being yourself.”
“I don’t… understand. Why would you want to be someone else? I mean, you’re insanely rich and …”
Valir laughed dryly.
“Yes, but no one has ever asked me if that’s who I wanted to be. In the bathhouse, you told me that being an alchemist was your dream. Was that a lie, too?”
Kraghtol shook his head so violently the aching intensified.
“No! That was the truth. Pretty much everything I told you there was, including my father being a healer!”
“See, and that’s why I envy you. Like I told you at the solstice celebration.”
So, he did remember what he had said!
“I still don’t understand.”
Valir sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“Nobody asked me if I wanted to be an alchemist. But it’s a prestigious position for a third-born. Graduate from the school with the highest honors, if needed supported by a generous donation, and then buy yourself into a high rank within the guild. It’s what people expect of me. It’s what my father expects of me. And I’m Valir el Greylune, son of Duke Selanthor el Greylune.Of course, I’m doing what is expected of me.”
Slowly, it dawned on Kraghtol.
“But you don’t really want to.”
The noble just nodded.
“What do you want, then?”
Now, he looked Kraghtol right in the eye, and the thin smile was one of true amusement.
