[Fic] [Round 18] A Game of Words, G
Author: Reki
Title: A Game of Words
Characters: Gwendal, Yozak
Word Count: 275
Rating: G
Any Warnings: nope
Prompt being used: Backstory
Timeline: after Conrad leaves for Earth
Gwendal returned from the Great One’s temple leading his brother’s horse.
When he reached the stable he dismissed the groom who hurried over to take Conrad’s horse, preferring to care for the animal himself. After both horses were cleaned and fed Gwendal lingered with Conrad’s horse, asking him the questions he’d been unable to ask his brother about the things he’d seen in the war. He rested his forehead against the horse’s neck, “Conrad will come back, I promise.” Gwendal pulled his greatcoat back on and turned to leave the stables.
“Your Excellency should be more careful about where he has serious conversations with animals who can’t talk.” Gwendal glared at the young woman who emerged from a stall near where he stood. “Never know who might be listening or what rumors they might spread,” she smiled at him, but it was bitter and left her blue eyes cold and challenging. She tucked an errant lock of flame-red hair back under her riding scarf, “You’d have been better off asking me.”
Gwendal stepped closer to the woman, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “Had I asked you, would your answer have been true, Yozak, or would I be wasting my time on more of the same drivel that was in the officers’ reports?”
Yozak stepped back to meet Gwendal’s gaze. “For you? The truth, because you’re willing to act on it.”
Gwendal nodded. “Then come to my office when you’ve changed.”
Yozak smirked, “Don’t want people gettin’ the wrong idea, eh?”
The corner of Gwendal’s mouth twitched, “Precisely. Though I may have a practical use for your other talents in the future.”
Title: A Game of Words
Characters: Gwendal, Yozak
Word Count: 275
Rating: G
Any Warnings: nope
Prompt being used: Backstory
Timeline: after Conrad leaves for Earth
Gwendal returned from the Great One’s temple leading his brother’s horse.
When he reached the stable he dismissed the groom who hurried over to take Conrad’s horse, preferring to care for the animal himself. After both horses were cleaned and fed Gwendal lingered with Conrad’s horse, asking him the questions he’d been unable to ask his brother about the things he’d seen in the war. He rested his forehead against the horse’s neck, “Conrad will come back, I promise.” Gwendal pulled his greatcoat back on and turned to leave the stables.
“Your Excellency should be more careful about where he has serious conversations with animals who can’t talk.” Gwendal glared at the young woman who emerged from a stall near where he stood. “Never know who might be listening or what rumors they might spread,” she smiled at him, but it was bitter and left her blue eyes cold and challenging. She tucked an errant lock of flame-red hair back under her riding scarf, “You’d have been better off asking me.”
Gwendal stepped closer to the woman, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “Had I asked you, would your answer have been true, Yozak, or would I be wasting my time on more of the same drivel that was in the officers’ reports?”
Yozak stepped back to meet Gwendal’s gaze. “For you? The truth, because you’re willing to act on it.”
Gwendal nodded. “Then come to my office when you’ve changed.”
Yozak smirked, “Don’t want people gettin’ the wrong idea, eh?”
The corner of Gwendal’s mouth twitched, “Precisely. Though I may have a practical use for your other talents in the future.”