sauces Tauran couldn’t hope to ever pronounce. A waiter refilled Tauran’s glass with a generous helping of aged goldwine, and Roric ordered a second bottle already before they’d emptied the first. Emilian parted his lips as if to protest, but kept silent.
“You know,” Tauran said, mouth full of the most tender silverhorn steak he had ever eaten. He wished he could keep eating, but he had grown full half a plate ago. “If you two need some rest, we won’t mind if you leave early.”
Catria smiled over the edge of her glass. “Oh, I know. You two have never had any trouble tearing up the town alone.”
“Actually,” Roric said. He was on his fourth glass of goldwine and growing a little louder. “We’re all here to unwind and have fun. Why don’t we grab the fourth bottle to go, and head out? We can walk back. Stop to watch the harvest light show on the way. Then we’ll all be happy.” He leaned sideways and patted Emilian’s shoulder. “Please, brother. Try to enjoy yourself. You work so hard!”
Emilian gave Roric a small smile and nodded.
“I’m game,” Tauran said, finishing his last grilled potato and emptying his glass. He felt pleasantly warm and afloat. The wine completely masked the pain in his leg, and it was easy to imagine there was nothing wrong with it at all.
“Sure, that sounds nice,” Catria said.
“Fantastic!” Roric stood and waved a hand in the air. “Waiter!” When the waiter approached, Roric fished a whole wad of cash from his chest pocket.
“Can I grab an additional bottle to go?” Tauran asked, remembering his previous idea to treat Kalai to a private dinner.
“Surely,” the waiter said.
Tauran reached for his wallet, but Roric’s hand around his wrist stopped him.
“I told you I’m paying,” Roric said, and counted out the money for the extra bottle.
“Roric—”
“Won’t hear it!” Roric wrapped an arm around Tauran’s shoulders. “You’re my best friend. Let me treat you.”
They left the restaurant with two extra bottles of goldwine, Tauran’s bottle safely stored away in a linen bag supplied by the waiter. Like he’d hoped, the good food and wine had loosened Catria up some, and he felt especially satisfied when she giggled at one of his ridiculous made-up jokes. Even Emilian’s smile grew at the sound of her laughter.
A crowd had already gathered in the twilight of the park to watch the harvest light show. They found a nice spot at the top of a hill and settled on the grass. Moments later, the sky lit up with colorful explosions, making the crowd cheer in wonder.
Tauran glanced at Emilian. He wasn’t looking at the sky. His gaze was distant again, like his mind was elsewhere.
Tauran shifted closer to Catria. “Is he all right?” he asked, angling his thumb in Emilian’s direction. “He hasn’t said a word all night.”
Catria glanced at Emilian, and Tauran thought he saw a sadness in her eyes before she smiled. “Yeah. He’s just—”
“Tired, yeah,” Tauran finished. “I heard you.”
“How’s Kalai?” she asked.
Tauran blinked, confused for a moment at the shift in topic. “He’s fine.”
“Has he tried the tea I suggested?”
“Uh... I don’t know.” Loud bangs and explosions of color drowned out the last of Tauran’s words.
They both turned their attention back to the light show. It ended in bright, golden bursts of light raining down over the trees, the crowd cheering and applauding.
They parted ways at the end of Lilypetal Street. It was late, and although Kalai was most definitely asleep by now, Tauran couldn’t resist the urge to see him. He wasn’t drunk, but felt pleasantly buzzed. He didn’t limp as he headed for the archive, and it felt amazing. It was for that reason he rarely drank to excess, worried he’d get addicted to the taste of life before his fall. But he’d allow himself the pleasure tonight.
He rapped on the door of the archive in a playful rhythm. It took a while for Kalai to open, telling Tauran he had definitely been in bed. When Kalai opened the door, he looked confused and wary, but when their eyes met, Kalai’s face lit up in a smile. And... skies. Kalai was dressed in Tauran’s shirt, the one he’d given him the night Kalai had come to his apartment soaked to the bone. It hung on his smaller frame, exposing the gorgeous, elegant lines of his collarbones, and suddenly, Tauran wanted him so desperately.
“Everything okay?”
“I wanted to see you.” Tauran stepped inside, bent, grabbed Kalai by the waist, and picked him