Soren's nerves built up as they got closer to the palace, although he would never have been able to explain exactly why. He liked women well enough, and Rayni was certainly very pretty. Tanden would like her—he liked everybody. The answer became a little clearer when they reached the gate, and the two miserable guards, bundled up against the cold, eyed them before letting them through. They didn't seem to care in the slightest, probably recognizing Rayni for who she was. But somehow that bothered Soren, and his feelings shifted slightly as he made sense of them. It wasn't Tanden who made him nervous, or Rayni, but other people. Other people knowing what was happening even when they very likely didn't care.

Caught up in his head, Soren didn't pay any attention as they finally stepped out of the cold and into the palace's front hall. It was still a busy place, even late at night. But then someone pushed off of the wall near the door and stepped closer to them.

"The guards told me you went out with our ranger." Tanden sounded confused more than annoyed, but it was close. "I excused myself from dinner early and arranged to have some brought to you, since you weren't feeling well enough to join me."

Soren's gaze flickered to Jale. Tanden hadn't given her a second glance, and she might as well have not been there. She shrugged, took Rayni's hand, and led her away.

Tanden glanced over his shoulder, catching the women just before they disappeared around a corner. "And who is that?"

"Jale's friend," Soren lied, without puzzling through why.

"Friend?"

"Friend," Soren repeated, and decided to move on and get to the important part. "Captain, you're upset that I lied about not feeling well. It was an excuse to not go to dinner, aye, but you don't need me there. I can't understand anything anyone is saying and I get bored. And I don't belong at fancy meals, anyway, not like you do."

"I'm bored, too." Tanden crossed his arms. "This is exactly why I didn't become an ambassador. At least when you're there I'm not alone."

"You might as well be. You don't talk to me."

Tanden's face fell a little. "Well, no. But not because I don't want to."

"I know." Soren ran a hand over his face. "I know. We're both bored, and I've been trying to help you with that. Come on." He put his hand over Tanden's, and smiled when Tanden uncrossed his arms to take it. "Let's go to our room. You can ask someone to prepare a bath for us."

Tanden let himself be led down the hall. "I suppose I could do that. You do look like you're in need of some warming up. That said, was going out into the snow to find Jale's friend really worth lying to me?"

"Don't get hung up on that."

"Too late, mate."

And there it was, said with an ease Jale couldn't quite imitate. A very common word turned into a term of endearment. Soren gave his hand a squeeze.

They didn't say anything else as they walked up to their room, hands clasped together. In their room, a covered plate was sitting on the table, with two glass chalices and a bottle of irdka. Soren's stomach grumbled, the hike through the city had really built up his appetite, and another pang of guilt hit him. Almost just as quickly, he had an idea. He gave Tanden a nudge towards the couch. "Sit down."

Tanden did, with an exaggerated sigh. "So you're not feeling unwell?"

"I'm fine." Soren poured the irdka, and paused to look under the plate's cover. He popped a piece of flat bread into his mouth before carrying the two chalices over to the couch. "You're wearing too many clothes."

Tanden's eyes flickered up. "What?"

"You heard me."

"I heard you. But you're dressed like you're ready to travel back to Till this instant. If anyone here is wearing too many clothes it's you."

"Hmm. Fair enough. Hold these." Soren passed over the irdka. He undid his outdoor cloak quickly and tossed it over the nearest armchair, along with his scarf and hat. He shook off his boots without unlacing them. Then, slowly, moved his fingers over the lacing on his tunic.

Tanden cocked an eyebrow. "Do you expect me to stop you? No, carry on, mate."

Soren chuckled. "I thought you might like to do it yourself."

Tanden's eyes widened, but for a moment he tried to play it off as nothing and sipped at one of the chalices. "I don't know, mate, maybe I want a show."

"Aye? And who d'you think you're foolin', then, Cap'n?"

Tanden froze, the chalice still lifted to his lips. "Did you do that on purpose?"

Of course he had. "Do what?"

"You're lying again."

"D'you reckon?"

"Fuck," Tanden grumbled, as he put aside the chalices and got to his feet. He caught one of Soren's hands to tug him closer, then dropped his hands to Soren's waist to grab the hem of his tunic. "I like that. Keep doing it." He pulled Soren's tunic up and Soren raised his arms to help Tanden remove it. The tunic was quickly added to the pile of Soren's outdoor clothing.

Soren stopped Tanden from undoing his belt. "You'll want to slow down a bit, Cap'n. Come here—" He gently turned them both around, sat on the couch, and tugged Tanden onto his lap.

"So first you lie to me, then you think you're allowed to push me around?" Tanden asked, but he got comfortable straddling Soren's legs, and leaned down to give him a kiss. "And yes, I'm going to be hung up on that until you tell me why."

Soren assumed Jale was going to send Rayni to their room. He just had to stall Tanden for long enough. "You're assumin' you're in charge, then?"

"I always assume that."

Tanden was wearing his fancy scarf, so Soren pushed it over his head. In doing so he accidently pulled out Tanden's hair tie, and his hair fell loosely around his shoulders. Soren tossed aside the scarf and ran both of his hands through Tanden's hair. He still wasn't used to seeing it loose. "Are you going to braid it again?" he asked, dropping the accent without really noticing.

Tanden shrugged. "Probably. For now it's fine like this. Don't you think? I might redo it when we're back on the Wayfare— Soren."

Soren had let go of his hair to undo the buttons on Tanden's tunic. As he undid each one, he leaned forward to kiss the newly exposed skin. Tanden dropped his hands to Soren's shoulders. "Soren, mate—"

With the buttons all undone, Soren had just pushed the sides of the tunic away and continued to kiss Tanden's chest. He wasn't planning on stopping anytime soon, but then there was a knock on the door. "You should answer it," Soren said, releasing his hold.

"Or I could ignore it." Tanden slid his hands closer to loop gently around Soren's neck. "Keep doing that."

"Answer the door."

With a sigh, Tanden climbed off his lap. Soren reached for his chalice of irdka as he watched Tanden walk over to the door and pull it open. The door blocked Soren's view, but he could hear the confusion in Tanden's voice even without understanding his words.

Then Tanden stepped back, to look around the heavy wooden door at Soren. "Why is Jale's friend here?"

"Probably because I paid her to be," Soren replied. He waited, and watched understanding dawn across Tanden's face.

"Like Ara?" Tanden asked.

"Aye."

Tanden grinned. "A woman?"

"Are you going to invite her in, or not?"

"You're getting better at surprising me, mate."

"Aye. I know. Invite her in."

Tanden turned back to the girl. "I've been told to invite you in."

"Do you always do what you're told?" she asked.

"Very rarely." Tanden moved aside so she could step past him. He watched her, and she unabashedly trailed her eyes over his body, lingering over his open tunic and bare chest. There was something exciting about a woman who wasn't afraid to stare. Then she had walked past, and without hesitation, she went to the couch and sat beside Soren. With a smile, she plucked the irdka from his fingers and sipped it.

Tanden let the door swing closed. "Already smitten, mate?"

"Her name is Rayni," Soren said, which seemed very much like he was avoiding the question. "Jale said she thinks two foreign men are better than one."

"A sentiment I wholeheartedly agree with." Tanden strolled over to the couch, picking up his own chalice on the way. Then he mentally switched to Tallenese, even though he was simply saying her name. "Rayni?"

She nodded and raised the chalice to her lips again. "I was told you could speak Tallenese. But I didn't really believe it."

"I know my accent leaves much to be desired," Tanden said.

She shrugged. "It isn't so bad. You're the eetorikey, then?"

"Usually." At that confusion flickered across her face, but Tanden wasn't quite sure how to explain. "I need to talk to him for a moment. Enjoy the irdka."

"I will." She took another sip. "And I'll enjoy the view, as well." Her gaze landed on Soren's chest, and Tanden couldn't exactly blame her.

"How are we doing this?" he asked in Teltish. Soren looked comfortable enough, but Tanden could see through the act. This was new for both of them, but above all else Tanden wanted to make sure Soren was at ease. Ara had been easier, because Tanden had planned everything out. But Rayni was Soren's surprise. Soren's plan.

Soren gave him a crooked smile. "However you want."

It was the answer Tanden wanted, but not the one he had expected. "However?"

"Don't make me regret the open-ended answer, Captain. She's for you, and if you have to spend the rest of the night speaking Tallenese, that's fine. I've gotten good at reading your body."

Tanden chuckled. "Oh, you have," he agreed. He looked at Rayni, and she seemed happy, drinking Soren's irdka, her eyes tracing the swirls of his tattoo. So he chose to ignore her a little longer, and climbed back onto Soren's lap.

Soren looped his arms around Tanden's waist. "What are you doing?"

"Whatever I want," Tanden said. He lightly cupped Soren's cheeks with his hands and leaned down for a long kiss. When they broke apart, Tanden slid one hand around to tangle in Soren's hair. "Put on your accent."

Soren laughed. "Really got to you, aye?"

"Aye." Tanden gave him another kiss. "I love you."

"Aye, reckon you do." Soren tightened his arms, drawing Tanden a little closer so he could kiss Tanden's chest. "Now," he murmured between kisses, "are we puttin' on a show for Rayni, then?"

"No, I suppose I should invite her to join us." Tanden still had a hand in Soren's hair, and since Soren's mouth was busy, Tanden planted a kiss on the top of his head. Then he tried to switch to Tallenese, but faltered before he could even say one word. Soren's kissing made it hard to concentrate. So instead of speaking he gestured to her with his other hand.

She put the now empty chalice aside, eyed the pair, and then got up. She walked around behind the couch, until she was standing right in front of Tanden. She had to reach over Soren to drape her arms around Tanden's shoulders, but he didn't seem to notice.

"It looks like you boys are having fun."

Hearing her speak in Tallenese helped Tanden focus on the language. "We always do."

"Good. I like to have fun." She drew Tanden into a kiss. Then she dropped a hand to dance her fingers across Soren's shoulders. "What are these marks?"

"Tattoos." He couldn't think of a word in Tallenese, so used the Teltish one. "They represent waves on the ocean. They're beautiful."

Rayni nodded, her fingers still tracing along some of the swirls. "They're different, but I like them. Do you have them too?"

"Mine's different."

"Oh." She treated him with a smile, and nodded towards the bed. "Maybe you should show me." She walked a few steps backwards, unraveling her scarf as she neared the bed.

Tanden watched her, as she slowly shed all of her clothes and draped herself across the bed elegantly. She watched him, one eyebrow raised, like she was curious about what his next move would be.

"Soren—" Tanden tugged on his hair gently so he would look up. "We need to go to bed, mate. We can't leave her alone. That would be very impolite and we're gentlemen, right?"

Soren smirked. "Right."

"Good." Tanden got off Soren's lap, pulling Soren along with him. Soren let him lead him over to the bed. Rayni continued to watch them silently, as Tanden shrugged off his tunic and undid his pants, while gesturing for Soren to do the same.

When Tanden finally climbed into bed and got comfortable, Rayni quickly sat up to lean over him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her snugly against himself, as she gave him a long kiss. He very quickly lost track of time. After what felt like a few minutes, but could have just as easily been seconds, Rayni trailed kisses down his neck, and across his chest, to his hips, before finally nestling herself between his legs.

And almost before he realized what she was doing, Soren had drawn him into another kiss, and Tanden had his arms wrapped around Soren's shoulders, and his fingers tangled in Soren's hair.

And for someone who was usually good at being in charge, even during sex, Tanden lost control.