ARD
Ard shared his brother’s initial reaction of surprise at the mention of magic.
The younger brother’s muscles tensed however perceivable it might appear to the untrained eye, his jaw clenching as sharp teal eyes narrowed. The scrutiny of the rich bay gentleman only increased, but as Rhone’s posture changed and he straightened himself up, very aware of the scrutiny, Ard did not look away. There was nothing imposing about the way that Rhone stood, his expression remaining that open, heart-on-a-sleeve sort of charm. His doleful eyes seemed only to promise that he meant them no harm, along with the words that caused Ard’s pale ears to slip back into the curls of taupe hair.
Magic.
It was a familiar feeling. A familiar desire. He knew that he would never stop missing the feeling of raw, powerful, dangerous energy coursing through his veins, with Ard’s intimate ability of scooping that very energy from his being and cultivating it into something lethal. On a battlefield, they were fatal. Perhaps that was why Vreis had cherished them as his ‘perfect pets’...
Remembering the rebel leader caused him to shudder. That was a life Ard did not miss and not one he was keen on recalling. Maybe later, hidden away in the privacy offered within their room in Terratella. He did miss the feeling of that visceral bond between he and Erd, however. There was something unexplained about it, not that he would really try. Least of all to Rhone. Not that the kindred bay had any knowledge of the fact, nor did Ard think he would ask.
The more that he stood there, assessing and judging, the more that the young warlock began to realize that maybe Rhone was exactly what he claimed to be; an innocent man searching for a place to settle down and spend a few years of peaceful existence before death inevitably came for him. Gradually, the tension within Ard’s frame began to loosen and he let out a long, drawn out breath before nodding gently to the taller man. Very well, then.
Glancing towards Erd, Ard offered a shrug and a slight inclination of the head, knowing that his twin would be able to pick apart the meaning. There was no harm in walking with Rhone back towards Terrastella, even though it would be a hell of a long walk. Ah, well. Why the hell not?
