Page 63 of Potions & Pints
Tan saw so much in that smile — so many emotions that Vir, too, must have been keeping hidden for so long and he was suddenly touched to realize they were as nervous as each other.
“Well,” he answered slowly, still trying to carry on the conversation despite feeling as if his heart might explode at any moment. “Most places on Illyria would send me to prison unfortunately. Even Sunfall.”
“Then I guess it’s the water elves for now?” Vir asked, and Tan suddenly felt the orc’s warm hand slide over his in the sand.
He realized suddenly that this was what he’d wanted to do since the moment he met Vir, even if he hadn’t been brave enough to admit it at the time, even if it had been hidden under layers and layers of shame and self-doubt and fear. All he’d wanted was to love and be loved. It felt almost obvious now that he was admitting it to himself, but he’d had to go through a lot to let himself feel it.
He was just grateful Vir had been patient enough to stick around while Tan figured out how to let his walls down.
“Whatever you want. We can stay with the water elves for now,” Tan replied, smiling widely. “As long as we’re together.”
Finally saying those words broke something open in him and as he gazed into Vir’s eyes and Vir gazed back, he knew he could be happy like this. Actually happy. It wasn’t something he ever thought he’d have.
Vir smiled and suddenly they were leaning into each other, their lips meeting for the first time of what Tan hoped would be many.
29
The music penetrated Tan’s consciousness, becoming part of his dream. He swam effortlessly, occasionally leaping out of the water. Leap, splash, leap, splash…
Tan opened his eyes. In the corner Vir plucked at his new instrument. Tan loved how Vir looked when he was concentrating on his music. Tan put his arm behind his head and watched Vir. Eventually Vir looked over.
“I woke you up,” Vir said.
“It’s beautiful,” Tan said.
Vir wasn’t capable of blushing, but Tan could easily tell when Vir was embarrassed.
“I love this,” Vir said, indicating the lyre, to change the subject.
The lyre had been a gift from the people of Gamlin Ait. When they’d first approached, Tan had been wary, but they’d enjoyed Vir’s attempts to play the water harp on land, and — somehow — had found a lyre to replace the one they’d likely stolen.
“It’s a new song I wrote for today,” Vir said. “My way of saying thank you.’
They got ready and left the castle. They had been able to swim easily all the way there for some time now. Once the sleeping sickness outbreak had ended the people in town were happy to have visitors.
“I have to say,” Vir said, as they got close. “I really don’t understand why you were so down on the place.”
As far as Tan knew, Vir had never learned the real origin of most of the skulls in the sea wall. The people of Gamlin Ait had a long and sordid history of cannibalism. Tan didn’t really see any reason to clue Vir in on that now.
As they neared the shore, they waved to several water elves who were swimming back to the castle. Once, after one of Vir and Tan’s many trips to the town, one of the water elves at the castle had shyly asked if he might be able to accompany them sometime.
Of course, Tan had said yes. That had led to more requests and now the elves and the humans were interacting pretty much daily. The humans were happy to have the extra company. As isolated as Gamlim Ait was, they figured they might as well be good friends with their nearest neighbors.
When they neared the shore Tan and Vir stood up and walked out of the water.
“I don’t want to lead with the new song,” Vir said. “I thought I’d start with…”
He sang a few bars.
“I remember that one,” Tan said. “You sang it on the ship. I thought…”
“What?”
“I thought it was about you.”
“No,” Vir said, laughing. “I didn’t love anyone then. But ‘Romin’ rhymed so I went with it.”
Tan found himself a spot on the beach. Some of the black market workers were already waiting, including a large number of children. Vir had promised them a new song and whenever Vir promised that, people showed up.
