Chapter 365: Fair Enough.

Chapter 365: Chapter 365: Fair Enough.

Despite all of that it’s good to see Rogard again.

It hasn’t even been that long but it feels like it’s been ages, and it’s good to see that he’s doing well.

He’s looking decidedly less glamourous than he might usually, and had lamented loudly upon being called out on it that he wishes he’d thought to take more with him when he’d left his father.

He hasn’t been back, and hasn’t taken Binny up on his offer to sneak back in and steal some of his stuff for him, and has instead had to rely, as Khobi has, on the generosity of others.

​Khobi recognises the ill-fitting shirt he’s wearing as one of Gandy’s old ones.

​...

​" Oh, I almost forgot," Rogard announces as he waits for Mural, or whoever has traded places with Mural to finish unlocking the door. "I’ve got something for you."

​"You shouldn’t have," Khobi remarks dryly, as Rogard starts rifling through his pockets and eventually presents him with a little jar. "I didn’t get you anything."

​"You’ll thank me later," Rogard sniffs, plonking it down on the table beside him. It’s even got a ribbon tied around it.

"It..." He coughs somewhat uncomfortably as Khobi cracks open the lid with trepidation. Despite Rogard’s expression it looks inoffensive; some kind of salve, by the looks of things. "... Helps ."

​" Helps ," Khobi echos blankly. Rogard clears his throat again and gives him a meaningful look.

​"...If you get... sore ," he emphasises, and Khobi abruptly snaps the lid closed.

​Oh .

​" Right ," he says. It comes out slightly strangled, so he swallows and tries again.

"Right. Thanks...I guess."

​"You don’t need to use much," he adds, and because that’s about all the embarrassment Khobi can stomach today, he hefts up the nearest pillow and biffs it at him.

Rogard cackles as it sails harmlessly into the door frame and flashes him a cheeky wink, "...From what I’ve heard, it sounds like you’re gonna need it~"

​They both know he missed on purpose.

​"Later, Rogard."

​(And Rogard was right.)

​(It does help.)

...

Montrel sighs.

​"...That’s the fourth sigh this cup of tea," Xena remarks conversationally, setting her teacup down in front of her and folding her hands in her laps.

Montrel immediately feels a little guilty; he hadn’t realised he’d been so obviously distracted. "Is it really that bad?"

​"Oh, uh, it’s... fine ," Montrel remarks with a small shrug. It’s not even a lie; while he’d never been much of a tea drinker, he’s been drinking a lot of the stuff since he’s been keeping company with the princess and the blend that the servants have served them today really isn’t all that bad.

It’s not his favourite , so far, but it’s not bad .

"It’s not the tea," he hurriedly assures her, and scalds his tongue when he takes a big gulp in an attempt to reassure her.

​"...Is there something on your mind?" she inquires, and while he’s about to tell her that it’s nothing, the words die on his lips when she reaches across the table and lays a hand over his; expression earnest.

"You can tell me if there’s something troubling you, you know?"

​(Her hands are really soft.)

​"It’s...it’s nothing really ," Montrel admits gruffly, distractedly carding his thumb against the palm of her hand. But then after a moment he sighs –for the fifth time this cup of tea, apparently –and changes his answer, "It’s just...Khobi, I guess."

​" Ah ," she murmurs in understanding. Obviously she’s heard about what happened, and about the judgement her father had handed down to him.

For all Montrel’s been telling Khobi about his time spent with the princess, he’s been keeping her abreast of how much gold he’s started to owe him, too, "How is he doing?"

​That’s the thing.

​Compared to the last time he was locked up, Khobi honestly seems like he’s doing pretty well, but it’s still early days with no end date in sight, so Montrel can only wonder for how long.

​"He seems...fine for now? Or...as fine as he can be, I suppose?" he admits, resting his elbow on the table as he reaches for another one of the sweet treats stacked up on the fancy cake stand sitting between them, "It can’t be fun being locked up again.

He really hated that last time."

​"I remember," Xena replies with a small smile, and Montrel’s glad to see that she helps herself to another honeycake.

She used to only have one or two because it wasn’t ladylike to be greedy, but in Montrel’s opinion it’s a shame to not be allowed to eat your favourite food.

"...He made things quite difficult for you for a time, didn’t he?"

​Well if that isn’t the understatement of the century .

​"Ain’t that the truth?" Montrel chuckles warmly, and decides to finish his mouthful before continuing since the vein in Vogrid’s forehead looks fit to bursting.

"Between you and me, it’s weird, but I almost miss getting punched by him," he admits wryly, "...Lookin’ back it kinda reminds me of how I used to have to chase down Loac when he was a kid.

Y’know, before he got big enough to bust my nose."

​For some reason that makes Xena’s smile widen right up into her eyes.

​"They...do seem to have a bit more in common than I first thought," she remarks, and it doesn’t sound at all like a bad thing. In fact, she sounds a little relieved.

"I’m glad they’re finally getting along, at least."

​Getting along . Montrel’s pretty sure he manages to keep his expression even.

That’s certainly one way of putting it.

​"...And is it true that Loac didn’t want a new room?" she presses, brow creasing in confusion, and Montrel bobs his head in affirmative. "...And he’s fine being locked in with Khobi?"

​Another nod.

​" Really ?"

Montrel couldn’t possibly imagine why.)

​"Hmm, father must be up to something. As usual ," Xena sighs, stirring a lump of sugar into her tea, "Otherwise why wouldn’t he just find Khobi a new room?"

​(That’s a really good point, and one that the soldiers have puzzled over at length. Not that any of them are complaining ; none of them had wanted to see Khobi tossed somewhere dark and dirty, and when they’re guarding him they get snacks and comfy chairs.

But orders were orders, and the king was the king, so who were they to question it?)

​"Loac...doesn’t seem to mind," he assures her. In fact, he –and every other guard who’s had to take their turn standing guard through the night –has gotten the distinct impression that Khobi doesn’t mind that part so much, either.

He doesn’t tell her that, though. Neither Khobi nor Loac have specifically said that the goings-on of their bedroom are a secret , but for someone who has never been particularly shy about parading his sex life about the castle, Loac’s been surprisingly coy about his most recent...conquest, as it were.

So by unspoken agreement, the guards have followed his lead and kept their mouths shut about it.

​"And he leaves during the day," Montrel continues casually, "...Actually, he’s been pretty good about showing up to training these days. You’ve seen how he is."

Really good, even. He can honestly say that he’s never seen his fellow soldiers work so hard. Or fight so well, for that matter.

For all his faults and kind of shitty personality, when it comes to swordsmanship Loac Trent is second to none, and Drogger seems to think that that’s exactly the sort of talent that his men could stand to learn a thing or two from.

​And as he often is, Drogger’s right.

​It hurts like a bitch , but they sure as fuck learn something.

​"He always looks so happy these days," Xena says fondly, "...Especially when he’s fighting Khobi."

​"Yeah, Khobi’s his favourite," Montrel replies easily. Everyone knows that. It’s been the worst-kept secret of the training grounds for a while now.

Or maybe the second-worst kept secret.

​The worst-kept secret is that it’s mutual .

​Montrel groans as a thought suddenly occurs to him.

The last time Khobi hadn’t been around to bear the brunt of Loac’s energy, the soldiers had paid dearly for it with their bodies and their souls.

Hopefully wearing him out in a different kind of way will save them.

​"Sorry," he says weakly, when Xena gives him a strange look for hanging his head, "It’s just that when Khobi got his ass injured and wasn’t allowed to fight Loac was a..." He takes a moment to find the right words, "... Total nightmare ."