Swordcrossed

by Freya Marske

A spark of mischief, a desire to push further, let him walk right up to Jay with his shirt still bundled in his hands. He watched to see if Jay’s eyes dropped again to his chest. They did.

“Well, there’s no need to worry,” Luca said. “I’ll stand beside you at your wedding, Mattinesh Jay. And I’ll win.”

No matter how tight money is, there’s always enough for Maya to have her morning pot. Mama calls it the murder-prevention tax.”

“Jay. Your family makes wool?” “Sheep make wool,”

burnt-orange

hook ‘em

Maya’s eyes flashed with glee and they were off again.

imma guess they are gonna be gay for each other and the solution will be a nice lesbian uniting marriage

Oh, Huna’s eyes, Matti thought suddenly. Did I honestly just make a wedding decision based on Luca Piere’s hair?

“I don’t hate my brother so much that I’d wish someone unpleasant on him”

uh huh

Weddings of matched gender had been legal across Thesper for almost thirty years.

okay perfect

Matti’s parents had encouraged him to ask questions from the time he understood language.

this is so concerted cultivation!!!

How long had it been since someone had touched him with real purpose? An empty eternity, sang Matti’s body. His breath felt very loud.

My mother doesn’t believe in gods, but she does believe in ceremonies. She says that shared behaviour is power, and that even though most of the rituals are weak versions of older, stronger things, as long as they still hold society knitted together, they should be followed.”

“What are you doing in my life, Luca Piere?”

“Complicating and overwhelming,” said Luca. “I love it. I shall adopt it as my motto. I will have it embroidered on my—”

“I was … distracted.” Matti’s gaze dropped clear as windows to Luca’s mouth.

“Do you have friends, Luca Piere, or only marks?”

Gods, if only this was as simple as swords.

Matti’s betrothed is a beautiful, clever woman, and he talks about her like he’s glad the teacher assigned him a deskmate who isn’t going to maliciously drip ink on his worksheets.”

“Because when he talks about you, he looks like he’s found a luckstone on the street, and he doesn’t know whether to keep it in his pocket or have it set in a ring.”

“I will,” Luca said, and he’d never told a truth that felt so much like lying.

“It’s a sword,” Luca said kindly. “I can see why you might not be familiar with it.

Terrifyingly, Luca was still talking.

“Cee keeps saying that Cooper House had no choice but to become very rich indeed, because neither of us were ever going to be married on the strength of our dancing.”

Sofia whirled unevenly past them with her hands in Maya’s.

yup yup

“What,” said Luca, wide-eyed, “you don’t think I can control it?”

The thick bedcover had been pulled back and folded into an impeccably neat pile, a fact that struck Luca as both promising and painfully sweet.

He would concentrate for hours on Luca’s mouth, if given the option.

So you could have a life so fucking boring and narrow that you had to pay someone to be your friend.”

:(

“But who builds the bridge?” he said. “And on whose backs is it built?”

“You can’t build on the backs of the voiceless forever,” he said. “And I wouldn’t want to be part of a state that does.”

One of those sun-bright smiles broke out on Maya’s face under Sofia’s teasing gaze. “I suppose that’s true.”

“Why haven’t you offered? I’m assuming it’s because you think she’s had enough people’s feelings imposed on her without her consent, but I’m keen to hear if it’s something else.”

YESSSSS

“Come on, Mayanesh,” said Luca. “How long have you been in love with your brother’s betrothed?”

fucking knew ittt

“Lucastian Harte,” said Matti. “I gave you a scarf made of your own fucking silk.” “I worked very hard not to laugh,” Luca assured him.

“But you,” Matti breathed. “You are the most exquisite thing in this city, and I want you, and I’m going to have you.”

“Yes,” said Luca, stupidly, to the ceiling. Matti’s room was painted an unexceptionable pale cream. “That’s me. So patient. We all know how patient I am.”

“Expensive, though, that’s new.”

“Dress nice. I chose my wedding colours for you, you know.” “Huna’s arse you did.” “I did!” “I was a con artist you barely knew!” “I know. I was horrified at myself. I told you,” said Matti, steady. “Halfway across the world.”

“Sofia.” Adrean was white-faced, his voice a throb. “I never thought you were cruel.” “I’m not,” said Sofia. “Cruel is when you decide that what someone wants doesn’t matter, just because you want them and you think that means you’re owed something.”

“The question? Oh. Does anyone wish to challenge against the marriage?” There was a whisper of silk on wood as Maya stepped forward, and as her skirts settled around her. “Yes,” said Matti’s sister. “I do.”

“People will talk about this forever,” said Luca, echoing Matti’s thoughts. He sounded pleased at the prospect. “Every other wedding they attend will seem dull in comparison. Epic poems will be written about it.”

“I’m buying you this time. You’re mine, Mattinesh Jay.”

The flood of aroused pink in Luca’s cheeks had been well worth the ten minutes Luca spent complaining about it afterwards.

Luca ignored it and pushed up to a kneeling position. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do for you while I’m down here? For a bronze, perhaps?” Neat and deadly: “Sir.”

“You did it, Matti. You saved our House. Now go and enjoy your life for a while.” “Excuse me,” said Luca. “Who saved your House?” “Oh, I quite forgot.” Maya looked at him. “Sofia and I deserve some of the credit. Thank you for reminding me.”

“I thought I’d start with the world,” Luca said, “and then see how you felt after that.”