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sabyien sat beside him and put his arms around him. "Good...I've had a hard day." he look up at Masaya. "Did you know My Father trapped me in a room full of girls?" he pulled back a bit "It was the most awkward, uncomfortable situation I've been in, the girls asking me all sorts of questions and laughing at anything that I've said that was even remotely funny." he huffed. "Sometimes I think that Darren likes to torment me so."

He laughed, feeling relaxed. Sabyien leaned back against the cushions. "The last few days have been crazy.." He said lapsing back into the a more unrefined way of speaking whenever he was around the other man.
""I'd never thought I'd turn out to be some sort of idol."

"But you you where, you seduced me." He couldn't help grinning at this, but his smile faded. "But, seriously, it was my choice to chose. I wanted my General to be someone I could trust to follow my orders. and you've proven yourself to me. "
Sabyien rolled over, cuddling up to him. " Don't let those whispers discourage you, you are doing well."

"If I told them the truth...the council would chose another General without my permission." Sabyien looked at him seriously. "Kalim would be the most popular choice."

Kalim, a man older then Sabyien, those family had been next in line to take over the Lordship of Ashaland before Darren had Brought Sabyien to Ashaland. Was increasingly bitter at being thwarted from the postion he believed was rightfully his.

The Knight was the most vocal and the most most likely to challenge Sabyien's every decision. It was well know that he would do everything in his power to oust the HighLord from his position.

It was only Sabyien's actions in border skirmishes and Darren's wise words that keep him from Convincing the Knight's council to dismiss Sabyien as High Lord.

The position of High Lord was not kept to only one family, it was passed around among the nobles. Like a democracy, the people could vote which family would take up the mantel and the most capable Knight of that Family was named "High Lord".

IF that knight was found incapable of ruleing then the Knight's council had the power to call for a People's Election.

A scandal of having a secret lover had ruined the careers of many Knights. If word was found that the High Lord had a male lover, and that Lover was his newly appointed, inexperienced, General....
Kalim would gladly speak against Sabyien.

"Neither of them" Sabyien responded, kissing him. "They are not my type." he smiles. "Though, the young Lady Ravcost had managed to trick me into promising to take her out on a picnic in the forest...very clever that girl." Sabyien rolled his eyes. "She's got her grandfather's shrewd negotiation skills... I should appoint her my Chief Debater. " He joked.

The role of most noble women where limited. Most where married between the noble families to maintain good relations or sent off to become Priestesses in the Temples to maintain a holy conections to the Gods.
Only the women where allowed to speak directly to the gods,
Most of Ashland's oracles and prophets where women. A Married woman's responsibility was to pray in the homes' chapel make offering on certain days and protect the family home.
Most women had some training with a weapon, mostly as the last line of defense for the temples and family homes. Weapons for women, where mostly staffs . A woman was not allowed to touch a sword or any bladed weapon unless her husband was dead or she was the appointed Knight of her Family.

Sabyien nodded. "Perhaps if I can simply take a momentary interest in the young women...for not long I suppose, just enough to seem that I'm 'looking' for a bride." he looked up at him, feeling Masaya's hand gently brushing the silk robe off his shoulder.
"But will you be ok with that? I would be going on romantic horse rides in the evening, having dinners.....You won't be jealous will you?" He retched up with his free hand undid the tie holding Masaya's robe closed

(( here's no need to))

Sabyien smiled.



The sound of the birds singing before the sun rose woke him, Sabyien gave a soft groan and gently untangled himself from Masaya, who was still sleeping.
Tying his robe closed he gave his lover a shake to wake him before hurrying out the door.

His bare feet padded softly on the carpets as he gently closed the secert door, he was about to get into his unused bed when his bedroom door opened and His father looked into the room.
"Up early Sabyien?"

Sabyien's heart was pounding a mile a minute. He dropped the covers, it was useless to try and cover this up, he thought quickly. "Just a night mare Father, I dremt that All of Ashalands Girls came and laid siege on the palace demanding I marry them."

Darren mouth didn't' so much as twitch into a smile . " I came to check on you earlier, but you weren't in bed.....Where were you?"
"I took a midnight stroll father, this whole business of marriage is.....unsettling."
"Sabyien, It's time that you find a wife.... stop wandering to this lover of yours."
Sabyien looked up at him suprised.
"Yes.." Darren continued "...I am aware that you have a lover, who is it Sabyien? Is it some servant girl? Someone of such low staus that you must keep her a secert?"
"No!" Sabyien protested, his face flushing. "You think that I am stupid enough to tell you?" he glared with defiance. " I know you, you would have them sent away to save your own face."

"Sabyien!"

"Leave me alone!"
Sabyien pushed past him and headed towards the balcony over looking the city. Feeling his chest constrict tightly. He hated this...the sneeking around, the lies, pretending....
Sabyien put a hand to his face and took a few deep breathes, trying to will away the sting of bitter tears behind his eyes.