Emry

Solis closed the door to his room and leaned against it. He set about untying and removing his boots, placing them gently next to the door. His trident followed, as did his other weapons and accompanying sheaths. The former was leaned against the wall while the latter was dumped on the trunk at the foot of the bed. He frowned at the new damage to his doublet and shirt as he removed the garments. He’d have to take some time to mend them tomorrow. Or maybe bring them to a tailor in town since he actually had money now.
 
He moved to the small wash basin in the room. Washing his face before turning his attention to his shoulder and cleaning the dried blood from the, now magically healed, arrow wound. After being here a few days it was becoming clear to him that the small basin wasn’t going to cut it in the long run. It worked for now, but a journey out of town along the river was in order. Or maybe Saltmarsh had a bathouse. Sol paused to consider that option. On one hand it would be a nice change of pace and would certainly be safer than going for a dip in the river, but on the other it meant sharing a bath with other people and the slew of questions that might entail. His tail twitched a few times in irritation.
 
Brave whatever creatures lived in the river? Or subject himself to the stares of overly interested humans?
Suddenly the small wash basin didn’t seem so bad.
 
Solis continued getting ready for bed, stripping off the rest of his clothes and climbing into bed. Letting out an annoyed grumbling sound as he remembered that he’d meant to buy himself a nightshirt. Well, hopefully his pride would be spared and he’d actually sleep through the night without disturbing the others.
 
And thankfully, for the first time in days, that was the case.
 
-----
 
Sol was moving. Twisting. Spinning. Dancing. A decorative thing. A performance for the masters. His lithe, unscarred, body adorned in violet cloth and golden jewelry. It draped around him and was so light that every step, every movement, had the fabric lifting and fluttering. Accentuating each flick of the wrist or twist of the hips. The music was high in tempo and full of strings and drum beats.
He wasn’t alone in this dance. Beside him, and equally adorned, was a tall genasi boy. His deep teal skin broken up by luminescent stripes. Dark turquoise hair suspended in the air as if he were perpetually under water. Emry was his name, Sol’s subconscious recalled. Like Sol, he was owned by the masters. Unlike Sol, he was a performer. He oozed confidence and charisma with every breath.
 
The two hardly touched as they danced. Instead acting as two sides of a performance. Occasionally they met in the middle, brushed past each other, or exchanged touches of the arm or hand. All part of the act of course. Emry had run this routine countless times, but this was new to Solis. And the eyes of the masters and their guests felt needles boring into the young tiefling’s skin. He was used to only accompanying his Lord as an attendant and companion. Yes he’d expressed his interest when asked if he would like to learn to dance with Emry. The genasi always looked so lovely, and it did look like fun. But this was not what he expected.
 
Eventually the music stopped, the dance ended. Sol and Emry bowed low then sashayed from the room and through a door, which closed behind them.
 
The breath So let out then was long and shaky, his body starting to shake from the nerves he’d been trying to ignore. He felt Emry put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
 
“Ey you did well little brother,” the older boy said with a wide, sharp-toothed, grin. His piercing yellow eyes glinting with pride. “Those garish nobles would’ve eaten from our hands like starved dogs, if we were allowed closer!” he said, laughter on the edge of his voice.
 
Sol reddened, “D-don’t say things like that,” he said softly, looking around, “If they hear you we-”
 
“Calm brother! They do not care. And even if they did, they’re too busy looking to listen, hah!” Emry looped one of his arms in Sol’s and led the shorter boy down the hall. “Now come! We have done our part of the show tonight, let us eat and rest! I’m sure it won’t be long until you’re little charge comes and takes your from me again. So let’s enjoy the time we have now ey?”