Basren's words were more encouraging than he expected they would be. How Sovele might see that this was a good thing, he wasn't sure. Not unless he was finally ready to let Basren go to maintain a more proper.. fatherly role. Somehow he doubted that, but maybe Anis had enough of her husband sleeping with his adopted son. It was one thing for the King to spread his seed for reasons of procreation. Another for him to be bedding Basren right beneath her nose simply because he could.<br/><br/>Alaras didn't go frigid when Basren touched him, and at first he thought it'd been a mistake until he slid his hand beneath his fingers to give his hand a squeeze. He'd been getting more accustomed to touching, and being touched, Basren in particular. Aside from knowing that Basren was Maes' son, there was no reason to think that they wouldn't have suited one another. He couldn't even stay hung up on their difference of age, because he'd been close to Basren's age when he'd been tailing Maes, he realized.<br/><br/>“It would be my pleasure,” Alaras told him in regards to taking tea with him in the garden. That seemed a much easier place to navigate than the gala they were attending. There would be eyes, he was sure, but significantly less, and at least Alaras was home working with soil and plants.<br/><br/>“Oh, of course,” Alaras told him in response to him wearing a ring of his. He'd brought something along to give Basren; a pretty piece of jewelry that was held in his pocket but after thinking more about it, it didn't seem right. Basren was asking for something of his own, and what he'd brought if the night went well seemed too impersonal. “I have something.”<br/><br/>When it came the appropriate time to exchange favors, Alaras removed a simple<a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fimg1.etsystatic.com%2F013%2F1%2F7664025%2Fil_340x270.435311689_6yp3.jpg&amp;hash=9dfd617edfdec5396d15269b9a24f767" href="https://img1.etsystatic.com/013/1/7664025/il_340x270.435311689_6yp3.jpg" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">silver chain</a>from his neck that held a charm with a stamped out leaf printed on it. It was nicked and tarnished, obviously something well worn.<br/><br/>“If it's not too simple,” he told him as he offered the small trinket over. Alaras accepted the ring graciously, and he found he was relieved when it was all coming to an end. He'd survived all of it, somehow, though he still was troubled by thoughts of Sovele. He was able to gather nothing from his demeanor after their dance, though he and Basren had been allowed to sit with one another, so that had to mean something.<br/><br/>–<br/><br/>Anis had been pleased with Basren, and she offered her assistance in whatever way the young man might need it to hold Alaras' favor. She tried not to gloat in front of her husband, and she even took care when she broached the subject.<br/><br/>“If Alarastian was a little more notable, I might even consider him for one of my own,” she told Sovele, taking her customary once a fortnight meal with her husband. The night where if she had the energy, she might point out his obligations to her in the bedroom. This night, she didn't, more interested in other matters than trying to squeeze another child out of her husband.<br/><br/>“I'll tell you just as I told him; I've not decided,” Sovele growled.<br/><br/>“And why?” she demanded, looking her husband in the face and daring him to tell her it was because he preferred to fuck his brother's child over her.<br/><br/>Sovele said nothing, ignoring her and eating in silence. If not for her, he would have called Basren to him. He would, in the coming days, if Basren didn't come to him first. He'd hand picked attendants to look in on Alaras and Basren's interactions together, but so far they were planning carefully. He knew they planned on meeting in the gardens, and he wouldn't call on Basren himself until after. If Basren waited that long, his temper would be left to simmer.