There was enough concentration required in following the prince’s instructions that Sil had to focus or risk making the wrong step. Which was inadvisable with a blade in his hand and even more so with the crown prince at the other end of it.
Vangelis kept varying the pace and order of his attacks too so that Sil couldn’t stop paying attention and had to think on his feet. It was hard work, hard enough that he was sweating and thinking perhaps rowing was easier by the time that they ceased. He stepped back, surreptitiously circled his` wrist and then stopped when he realised the prince was watching.
He nodded mutely when Vangelis mentioned the bracers, and Sil watched him as he moved over to the water butt, still anxious in the face of his prior slip up. He couldn’t help but poke at it, and for whatever reason, having someone understand that he had been making an effort mattered. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected to get back for his reassurance, but it probably wasn’t what he got. He supposed it was a compliment of sorts?
Eyes fixed upon the Crown Prince, Silanos gave a half-nod. That was good, at least he knew. But the suicidal thing…
‘I'm not interested in whatever seedy mistakes you've made in your past Silanos. You dishonour me now by disregarding your assignment with me and I'll kill you. You hold to it and I'll not judge you by your past actions’
Aah. That provided some clarity, but surprisingly it wasn’t the death threat that Silanos focused on. Instead, he found himself dwelling on the first part of what Vangelis had said, turning it over in his mind because it was such a contrast. His own brother had not been able to offer him such courtesy and yet the man who’d claimed his life could? It made no sense like someone had turned everything on its head.
Why could Vangelis understand what Timaeus could not? It was in no man's power to turn back time, and Sil couldn’t undo what was already done. It somehow hurt more hearing those words because of it. Finding his voice was difficult, not an issue he was used to facing.
“ I won’t” Sil managed after a pause, because the tolerance of the man before him was literally all had in the world, and even if he hated every moment of it, there was nothing else. And even if he’d bitched and whined about the training and the hard work to Nikos and Eleni and Arete in Taengea, Sil couldn’t deny that physically, he felt better. He slept, without dreams for the most part, and even on the quite honestly miserable rations hed been assigned since puking on the King, he was stronger than he’d ever been. He might not have agreed with soldiering but it seemed parts of it agreed with him. And he had nothing else
“Yes, your highness.” was the obvious answer at the instruction sent his way, the younger man giving a slight bow, and then as the prince was walking away Silanos cleared his throat, called his attention back to stumble through words he wouldn’t have imagined himself saying, or more importantly [i[meaning[/i] to the man who’d claimed his servitude instead of his life.
“Thanks...thank you”
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