Working for Lavender (6/6)
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Heather
Date Posted: 13th March 2021
Series: Lavender Run
Characters: Brennault, Zavek
Description: Zavek and Brennault have to part ways... for now.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 8, day 28 of Turn 10
"You have experience riding?" Zavek asked Brennault as he saddled a runnerbeast for him. After three days of torrential rain and another day of Threadfall, Brennault was finally departing. The problem was that the roads typically traversed by wagons and runners were filled with deep, shoe-sucking mud. To help, Zavek had agreed to escort Brennault a certain way until the road was better.
"I've ridden a'dragonback more than I have runnerback," Brennault admitted. "But I have ridden more times than none." He offered a sheepish smile. "I hope this one is milder than the one you've been trying to break in."
"She's a sweetheart." Zavek rubbed the sturdy mare's neck affectionately before cinching the belly strap into place. "There you go. All you have to do is get in the saddle and hang on. She'll follow me."
The beastcrafter moved and mounted his personal runner, Moonshade, a handsome black and white paint gelding. "At least today's nice for a ride," he said, tilting his hat at a jaunty angle to shade his eyes.
"And the view is nice, too," said Brennault as he stepped up into the stirrup and threw his other leg over to climb into the saddle. He leaned down and patted the mare's neck, too. From what he remembered, there would be a lot more leg and abdominal muscle work than merely hanging on if he did not want his innards to be jostled loose.
"Why don't runners use runnerbeasts?" Zavek asked as he clicked his tongue and set their mounts into motion. His solid body moving fluidly and with ease, in sync with the runner's movements.
"They're not as easy to stable," said Brennault as he let the mare do the steering. "Runner stations grew into taverns during the Interval, and they could accommodate runnerbeasts."
"But really, during the Pass, we have to be able to shelter from Thread at every waystation – even the tiniest ones along the road. Some of them are really barely bigger than a slab-roofed box with bunks and a water tank when you get out far enough where the settlements are further apart."
"I slept in more than a few like that when I did my big cross-country run. And ate a lot of dried fish. There wouldn't have been any place for me to leave a runnerbeast."
"Makes sense," Zavek said as they rode, his wrists crossed and propped on the horn of his saddle. Moonshade knew this path well. "Doesn't it get lonely though? On the road by yourself?"
"Sometimes," said Brennault. "But I run along with other runners sometimes, too. There's usually at least one other at the more frequented waystations overnight or on a Threadfall day. And I end up in a lot of places and get to meet people who make for wonderful company. Like you. So it's all worth it."
"Met many like me, have you?" Zavek asked slyly, peering out from under the brim of his hat at Brennault.
"Zavek," said Brennault, "_you_ are one of a kind. There's not much I wouldn't do to have the chance to see you again." He grinned. Skies, Zavek made that hat look amazing.
"Likewise." Was all he said, mouth tipping into a grin.
Zavek and Moonshade led Brennault and his gentle mare to the edge of Zavek's land. The road out at this stretch was much firmer and dried by the brilliant sunshine.
"Well, this is it," Zavek said, guiding them under the sheltering branches of a large tree so that the runners could have a rest in the shade before he returned them to the stable. "You should be able to traverse the terrain on foot from here." He swung down from his saddle as he spoke, the gleaming leather creaking slightly beneath his weight.
"There's not a lot of folks who make me wish I could stay for a little while," said Brennault once he had – a little bit clumsily – dismounted and thanked the sweethearted mare for the ride.
"But if I had the time, and the world let it be..." Brennault let it hang there. They had _talked_ about him coming back. But Brennault had _talked_ with Holder boys before who had let their fear get the better of them when it came down to it.
But Zavek was not a Holder boy. He was a Holder man. Brennault had only known him for a few days. But there was a spark between them he could not deny. He suspected this was the spark his mother felt that brought her to stay with his father for long enough to have a baby.
Well. Not that Brennault wanted to make it weird.
"When should I come back? To take your lavender oil to where it's going?" he asked.
"I'll have some ready in a fortnight, but there's no rush if you can't make it before then. Or...," he removed his hat and held it in his hands, leaving his dark hair slightly mussed. "If you become available and make it back before then, that's fine too."
"That's fine, too," Brennault agreed. He smiled up at Zavek. "Then. I'll be back the very first chance I get. Thank you. So much for your... hospitality. And everything else. So. This is... until next time."
"Until next time." Zavek looked down into Brennault's eyes for a long moment and then he turned and swung back up into the saddle. The mare Brennault had ridden followed obediently behind Moonshade.
Brennault's shoulders sagged. He was not sure, really, what he expected. What he thought he had the right to expect. The hope to expect. But he could not deny hated to see Zavek leave.
Well. He did enjoy watching him go.
Suddenly Zavek pulled up hard on the reins, causing Moonshade to toss his head against the bit.
Jumping down from the gelding, Zavek turned back and began striding through the tall grass toward Brennault, his blue eyes blazing.
When he neared Brennault, Zavek removed his hat, tossed it aside, grabbed his face, and kissed him hungrily, the way he had been dreaming about for the last sevenday.
Brennault's heart leaped. _This_ was exactly what he hoped.
He snaked his arms around Zavek's waist and pulled himself close, letting himself vanish into Zavek's kiss.
The electricity between them as their lips met was everything that Zavek had anticipated and more. Out here, so far from anyone, the privacy allowed him to think and act freely. Before he realized it, he had Brennault pressed against the tree, his hands moving down to stroke and explore the runner's powerfully muscled thighs.
Brennault groaned, his own hands exploring up the back of Zavek's shirt. Everything about this was exhilarating – the payoff at the end of long days of building tension, the smell of Zavek, runnerbeast and all, the feeling of the tree against his back, being outside...
Brennault would let this go wherever Zavek wanted to take it, but he would let Zavek stay in control. The last thing he wanted was to push too far, too fast and lose this forever.
After a moment, Zavek gentled the kiss, his hands stroking more lightly over Brennault's body until he pulled back and looked down at Brennault, whose lips were swollen from his kisses. If possible, that turned Zavek on even more, but he did not want the first time he made love to the other man to be against the tree.... Maybe other times, but not the first.
"That's a proper goodbye, I think," he said, grinning a little as he stooped and picked up his hat.
Brennault smiled and let out a breathless laugh.
"I sure as the sun hope that was more of a proper 'until I see you again'," he said. As amazing as that moment was, he did not want to leave it all there for good.
Bringing up one work-calloused hand, Zavek cupped Brennault's face affectionately before he bent and pressed a kiss to the younger man's cheek. His lips hovered near the runner's ear as he murmured, "That's a 'see you later' and a 'I promise to help wash the front the next time you come by'."
Brennault shivered at the feel of Zavek's breath on his skin, and his goosebumps returned at the promise.
"It's going to be hard to wait," he said as he leaned into Zavek's hand, pressing his own against the back of it.
"I'll be looking for you on each horizon," said Zavek huskily.
Brennault's eyes sparkled. That was probably the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to him.
"Then I'll be looking for you at the end of the road."
Last updated on the July 21st 2021
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