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Drew sighed and cracked his knuckles as Hector led him up the stairs towards the Wolf Council's room. He had been there a thousand times already, but Hector still stuck in front of him like a guiding light. Only this light was guiding him to a room full of boring adults. His feet dragged behind him, that was definitely one of the reasons Hector was able to stay ahead. Drew's head hung low, he inspected the carpet at his feet, a berry blue with silver embroidery accenting its border. The thread twisted and danced to create complex moon patterns. The new carpet was a result of this being one the few buildings they were able to renovate slightly since the capturing of the lion. There was still much work to be done, the lion's defeat still fresh. But things were starting to look up for Highcliff. Unfortunately, in order for things to stay improving, that meant Drew had to go to all these stupid meetings. Being raised a farmer's son certainly held Drew back in terms of being kingly. He was raised to be a man of action by his late mother and father, Mack and Tilly Ferran. He didn't really "do" meetings. However, he had a new responsibility, the people of High lift demanded his attention, and Drew would never let anyone's plea for help go unanswered. So, here he was, counting cracks in the tiles while walking through the halls with Hector only a couple steps in front of him.
Hector, on the other hand, was eager to get to the council room, a burning resolve in his dark eyes. Today was the day, finally, Drew would be early for a council meeting. Hector had only known Drew a few short months, but he quickly grew to be a close friend to the young boar. Drew was special, anyone could see that. He was the last remaining child of Wergar, the great wolf of Westland. He was destined to be a king, to sit on a throne and rule with a fist as impressive as his father's. But that wasn't what made him special, not to Hector at least. What made Drew special was his kindness, his energy. Hector didn't think he would ever see anyone of noble blood brimming with such gentleness. It seeped out from the core of his being. You could see it in the way he smiled, cracked lips spreading over a wide, crooked toothed grin. You could hear it in the way he spoke, like honey spilled from his tongue with every word. His laugh shook Hector's chest. Loud barks that snuck their way into his mind every single night. You could feel it when he touched you, callouses littered his palms, earned through grueling farm work and sword fighting. Drew's rough hands often found a way to hold Hector a little closer than necessary. The boy was so very special, so when he had asked Hector to be his teacher on the Maelstrom all those moons ago, the young boarlord was more than happy to accept. Alas, Hector did not foresee that Drew would continuously be late nearly every single Council meeting. Honestly, he wouldn't mind so much if Drew was the one that got in trouble for it. Don't get him wrong, Hector knew that Drew was still new to this life. It was a role that was thrust upon him out of the blue! And of course he got in some trouble, a slap on the wrist, a stern talking to by the Queen or by Bergan, but Hector was still responsible for him. Which meant that he got the brunt of the attack. He's had enough, Hector finally decided, Drew wouldn't be late for a meeting ever again.
Hector stopped abruptly outside the Wolf Council's doors, causing Drew to bump into him. The boar grabbed the handle and swing the great doors open, and what he found inside was possibly the greatest thing he would ever see. The room sat empty, the table completely clear. They were the first two to show up. Hector could cry. Bergan would never criticize him again. Drew glanced at Hector, a chuckle escaping his lips as he looked at the elated expression on his friend's face. "I don't think you even looked this happy when it was announced that Leopold was defeated," Drew said slyly, a smile clear on his lips. "Of course I did! This is the face a save for the rarest, most exciting occasions," Hector retorted. "how does it feel to be early?" Hector had fully turned to face Drew now, the young prince's breath hitched slightly as the boar's gaze fell on him. "I'll admit, it does feel nice to not have Bergan glaring at me." Hector grabbed hold of Drew's wrist, leading him to the table. "Come on, let's take our seats."
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Drew glanced at the large clock tower outside, 10:00 in the morning. His head cocked quizzically to the side, "Hey Hector?"
"Yes?"
"Doesn't the meeting start at 10:30?"
Hector blinked. He looked from the clock, then to Drew, then to the clock once more. "ah," he began, "If I'm being honest, I thought it would take a lot longer to get here. Thought it would take you more convincing than it actually did." Drew groaned and brought his head down to rest on the table. "What's up with you today?" Hector inquired, arching an eyebrow and nudging his friend's arm with his elbow. Drew turned his head, still resting flat on the table, to look at Hector. He looked at his nose, then at the mole above his right eyebrow, then his lips, until he sighed and finally met Hector's gaze. "I just," Drew sat up, slouching in his chair, "I wish there was more that I could do." He stared forlornly at the long table, fists clenching tighter in his lap. Hector gave him a sympathetic look. He put a hand on Drew's shoulder and inched closer. "You're doing everything you can. I know it doesn't seem like much, but I promise, being here in this room, that is what is helping the people right now. Sending letters and offers of alliances, that is helping. Finding new ways to rebuild, that is helping." Drew glanced at Hector through his bangs, his grey eyes locking with Hector's pure black. "You're doing great, we just need to be patient." The wolf smiled at the comforting words and Hector returned it. The silence that fell over them was nice, familiar. It was like the silence they felt in the halls of Redmire that week they shared together. It's funny to look back on now, they thought it would be the last time they saw each other. They spent nearly every waking hour of everyday in each other's company, but when the time came for them to say what was meant to be their last goodbyes, it still hadn’t felt like long enough. Now, there they sat, and they knew they would never say goodbye to each other ever again. Drew spent this silence doing what he usually does, looking at Hector.
He wasn't much for studying, but when it came to Hector, Drew could picture him better than he could picture himself. Hector was short and stout. His usual black clothes adorned him, a long black shirt, the neck reached his chin, toggles made of small bones closed it around his throat. The sleeves of his undershirt came to an apex at the rings on his middle fingers. Drew inspected his hands. His finger nails were bitten down to as short as they could possibly be. While Hector's left palm currently faced inward, away from Drew's eyesight, he thought about the small burn Hector had earned in the centre of his palm. The time the two had faced in the Wyrmwoods was brief, but it was significant. While looking for their missing friend Gretchen, Hector had raised a dead Wylderman to get information on her whereabouts.
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"It's called 'communing.' In the old times, it's how magisters were able to speak with the dead." Hector finished pouring the rest of the foul smelling powder into the circle. "It's forbidden now." He added sheepishly. "What's the yellow stuff?" Drew bent down reaching out a hand. "Brimstone. It's a powerful chemical. Magnifies the intensity of the spell." Hector glanced over, "Don't touch it!" He hissed. Drew jerked his hand back, "The circle must be unbroken. It protects the castor from...what's to come." Hector stood at the head of the circle. "Break the circle, and we're in trouble."
"Right. What happened to 'let's tread carefully'?"
"We're perfectly safe if you do as I say." Hector knelt on the ground while Drew crouched next to him. He turned up to face Drew, a smile growing on his lips, "Do you think you can do that?" Drew could feel Hector's hot breath on his cheek, a stark contrast to the chill of the Wyrmwood around them. "Mm-hmm," is all he could manage to say.
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"What are you thinking about?"
Drew snaps out of his daze, Hector was still beside him, his cheek leaned on his right hand. "What?" Drew asks, still not fully there. Hector laughs at him "You look like you were day dreaming."
"No, just remembering something."
"What?" Hector leaned in now, his curiosity piqued. Drew took a brief moment to look at his face once again. Slightly parted soft lips, showing white teeth underneath. Hector's chubby cheeks had a layer of rosiness to them, a beautiful blend with his tan skin. Drew counted his moles. One above the corner of Hector's left eyebrow, another exactly mirroring it over his right one. His right cheek had a lone one, on his left cheek sat two that looked like snake bites, Drew had never seen anything like them. One, two, three, four, five, the same amount since the last time he checked. Like always, he found himself wondering if Hector had anymore spread across his skin. "Do you remember that shaman in the Wyrmwoods?" Drew finally broke the silence. Hector leaned back in his chair, "How could I forget."
"You were so brave."
Hector jumped at this. In his opinion, he was the farthest thing from brave you could get. "Foolish" was a better word to use. Because of his unearned confidence, he not only had trouble controlling the spell, but he broke the very circle that was placed there by him to keep himself safe. If drew hadn't been there to kill the shaman all over again, Hector would have been strangled and eaten in those very woods. "I don't really see what I did as something 'brave'," he admitted. Drew ran his fingers through his hair. It had grown out since he chopped it all off to get the mats out. Hector hadn't seen his friend's attempted haircut when it was fresh, but he saw the aftermath of what a maid was able to salvage from it. It was messy and wild and it fit him so well. Hector of course just did the same thing with his hair. He grew it out to the point where it would reach a little ways past the base of his neck, then he would toss it in a bun and be done with it. It had been years since he cut it and it was getting longer, Drew's was doing the same. His once short bangs now fell dangerously close to his eyes, threatening to blind him if they got any longer. Whitley and Gretchen have been begging drew to get a haircut soon. Whitley said it interfered with his fighting, Gretchen said he looked too scruffy. Hector thought it was endearing, he thought it fit Drew perfectly. He would imagine lifting Drew's bangs up, and bringing his lips to his forehead. Giving just a small peck and nothing more. Oh how Hector so desperately wished he could do that. "I disagree," Hector's train of thought was cut off by Drew's response. "What you did was noble, you did it to save Gretchen. Even though you were scared, you still pulled through." Drew was beaming at Hector, sincerity clear in his voice. Hector blushed, "You would have done the same if you knew how." Drew reached over and grabbed his hand, "Doesn't make what you did any less impressive."
They stayed like that for a second, two, before Hector let out a huff and leaned back in his chair. "And just moments ago, you were the one that was underestimating yourself," Drew smiled at this. "Maybe," he said leaning back to match Hector's posture, "WE need to stop underestimating ourselves." They made eye contact, grey eyes like the swelling seas meeting black eyes like a starless night sky. They smiled, quickly dissolving into giggles. They sat there, eyes locked, knowing that if one were to doubt themself, the other would always be by their side to correct them.
The moment was interrupted when Duke Manfred and Queen Amilie walked through the door. "You boys are here early," Manfred stated. "Look," Hector perked up, "Drew's finally here before the meeting is meant to start!" The Queen looked between the two boys and smiled, "Thank you Hector, bringing my son here could not have been an easy task." The Duke laughs at this and they both take their respective seats at the table.
fifteen minutes. That was all the boys had together before other early arrivers showed up. And while it doesn't seem like a lot of time, they both think about the words said, the lingering touches, and the stolen glances from both sides. fifteen minutes alone, thirty minutes early. From now on, Drew decided that he would have to make an effort to be more punctual.