Chapter 228 - 226: One-One.

Chapter 228: Chapter 226: One-One.

Thankfully Loac decides to hang back in the kitchens to finish his food.

It had been hard enough watching him enjoy the fruits of his labour from across the bench; it would’ve been salt in the wound to have to endure it the entire walk back to the room as well.

Although if he got the jump on him he probably could’ve taken some for himself.

​He shakes away the thought.

They had a deal, and he’s pretty sure knocking Loac out over some bread wouldn’t fly with the king.

He’ll just have to get him back next time.

​Next time, huh ?

​He wonders if Loac will accept the same wager tomorrow. As many times as it takes for him to win.

​Khobi sighs, staring over at his usual pile of blankets in the corner.

It looks particularly pitiful tonight, and while he’s still feeling warm from the heat of the kitchens he knows it’ll pass.

The stone has a way of sucking the life right out of him.

​He yawns.

​It’s going to be a long winter, if this keeps up.

​" –I was wondering when you’d be back,"

Binny’s voice remarks from the bathroom as the bedroom door swings shut behind Khobi, "Bath’s all ready for you."

He sticks his head out the door and makes a face, "Good thing too. You look terrible."

​"Nice to see you, too," Khobi deadpans, already stripping out of his clothes and peeling back sweaty layer after sweaty layer.

The condition of his outerwear isn’t too bad, given the beatings he’s given and taken today, but there are a couple that are sticky with dried sweat and blood.

He grimaces as he deposits them in a heap and Binny mirrors his expression.

​The water is piping hot and he sighs in relief as he sinks down into the tub.

He wonders if Binny has been waiting here the whole time, or if the secret network of whispers the servants seem to operate on had sent him on ahead.

His relaxation is short lived though because a moment later Binny takes some soap to his hair with vigour and starts scrubbing.

​Khobi used to complain bitterly about it but he knows by now that resistance is futile.

If he struggles he just winds up getting soap in his eyes, and he hates when that happens, so he just sits back in a sulk and lets Binny get to work.

​He’s clean and drying off when Loac arrives back; the smells of the kitchens and fresh bread still lingering on him.

And by the time Loac’s done with his own bath –emerging in fresh clothes and drying his hair on a towel –Khobi’s already tucked up in his blankets trying to make himself comfortable, basking in the residual heat from the bath as long as he possibly can.

Binny’s snuck him another extra blanket and while Khobi appreciates the gesture, it’s still useless.

​Heading towards his bed, Loac glances down at him from under the towel, and snorts.

​Khobi obstinately rolls to face the wall, ignoring him.

​"...So glad to see you two are getting along," Binny comments dryly, as he departs for the night, laden under yet another heavy pile of ruined clothes.

He extinguishes the last of the candles as he goes, tower of clothing teetering precariously.

The light of the last candle withers as he lets the door swing shut behind him and they’re immediately swallowed up by the night.

Outside, the wind howls, and the temperature starts to plummet.

A tiny sliver of moonlight trickles in through a gap in the shutter and Khobi lies there with his eyes closed, trying to will himself to sleep while he’s warm.

If he can’t, then he probably won’t. If the cold gets him shivering then there’s no way he’ll ever be able to drift off.

It sucks. He’s exhausted. He’s not sure how many more nights like this he can take. The easy summer nights and the forgiving autumn ones have made him soft.

​It feels like hours pass.

​Although, with the moments ticking by so slowly, it could’ve been minutes.

​Then out of the darkness –

​"...Oi, Khobi."

​It’s Loac’s voice, soft and low. Softer than Khobi’s ever heard it, in fact. It usually has a bite to it, or a heavy drawl that sets his hackles high. Not this time though, which is odd.

​Khobi sighs.

​I guess I’m not sleeping tonight, either .

​" What ?" he grumbles, eyes opening to stare up at the ceiling.

He knows this patch of roof quite well by now.

​"...You awake?"

​What a dumb question. Khobi’s almost perpetually irritated by this guy, and at this time of night even more so.

​"What do you think?"

​I just answered you, didn’t I? Idiot.

​The silence resumes. For long enough that Khobi wonders if Loac’s just fallen back asleep.

If he’s even been asleep at all, that is. He’s not, after all.

​"...Can I ask you a question?" comes the response from the darkness. It feels like a bad idea to say yes.

​"... Sure ," Khobi says anyway; apprehensive but mildly curious.

They’ve been sharing a space like this for weeks now, and neither have ever struck up a conversation like this during the day. Let alone at this time of night.

​"...Yesterday at the training grounds," Loac starts, tone oddly vacant, "...Why’d you save me?"

​Khobi frowns, scratching at his temple as he tries to recall doing such a thing. What’s he talking about?

​"You could’ve got yourself shot."

​Oh. That .

​Why indeed.

He hadn’t really thought about it. Not at the time, and not since.

​Huh .

​It sounds like he’s asking for real, too.

​"...Anyone else would’ve done the same," Khobi states, matter-of-fact. Because it’s just that simple.

You don’t let people die right in front of you like that.

You don’t even risk it.

Not in a peaceful place. Not when they don’t have to, and definitely not when you can stop it.

"I don’t wanna see anyone else dead," he shrugs, not entirely sure why he adds that, "...Even you. And besides...you saved me too." His teeth start chattering and he pulls the blankets around him a little tighter. It’s too late though, the cold is starting to win.

"So we’re square."