Page 110 of The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong

“Water needs to be heated for the bath, but we’ve got the tub up, and you’ve only to let us know when you’d like to use it,” she assured them. “There’s a water closet for your other needs.”

“I’m sure it’s perfect,” Perian agreed.

“Can I get you anything else?” the innkeeper inquired. “Shall I have dinner set out in the parlor?”

Brannal nodded. “In half an hour, please.”

She bowed again. “Certainly. Just let me know if you require anything at all.”

“Thank you,” Brannal said.

“Enjoy your stay.”

And then she was gone, the door closing quietly behindher.

“Would you like to freshen up before dinner?” Brannal asked.

But there was that gleam in his eyes.

“Are you categorically opposed to the smell of horse?” Perian asked, slinking closer to him.

Brannal was smiling outright now. “Why, do you think there’s something more interesting we can do in the half hour before dinner?”

“Oh, I think we can come up withsomething,” Perian suggested.

They didn’t even make it to the bedroom, but they were definitely both more relaxed by the time they headed down to the private parlor, where exactly as promised, dinner had been laid out for them. (They might have been a couple of minutes late, but who was counting?)

The food was plentiful and delicious, and Perian was just so excited that they werehere.

“No one’s ever taken me on a trip like this before. It means a lot. Thank you.”

Brannal smiled back at him, eyes bright, expression soft. “I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. I know at the castle I have to be Summus perhaps more often than you would prefer. But I want you to know that I’m trying to be just Brannal as well. I want to spend time with you and make this work, Perian.”

Perian sucked in a breath, swallowed, and smiled wide. “I want that too. So much. And I do understand about the importance of your duty, I promise.”

There was a tap on the door, and no one entered until Brannal called for them to do so. It was dessert and tea. There was an absolutely gorgeous fresh-out-of-the-oven mixed berry pie with a crumble topping.

Perian shoved it into his mouth so fast, Brannal watching with amusement.

“It’s so good,” Perian groaned. “Do you think we can steal the cook and install them at the castle?”

Brannal laughed outright. “I’m pretty sure the cook is the innkeeper’s partner, so probably not without breaking up a marriage?”

Perian pouted, and this just made Brannal laugh more.

“We can eat a lot of it while we’re here, and we’ll just have to come back if you like it that much,” he suggested.

This made Perian’s mock pout dissolve.

“Out of curiosity,” he said as he eyed the last bit of pie that was in the dish. “Did you have to promise your first-born children to Cormal? I’m not saying it’s not worth it, but just wondering.”

Brannal laughed again. “Nothing so dramatic as that. He rolled his eyes a lot, but he doesn’t really mind when I leave him in charge.”

Perian eyed the other man, because he could actually see how that would be the case, but was that agoodthing?

Brannal’s expression was contemplative. “I know you don’t get on, and he lets his temper get the better of him sometimes. Perhaps he would like to be Summus if he could. But heisSecundus, and he’s always supported me. It’s important he be able to take charge in my stead. Something like this, a short stay, where he can feel like he’s doing me a favor and I can get a break with you? I don’t see where there’s any losing side.”

Well, when he put it that way, it didn’t seem like such a bad thing.

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