“What can I get you, young one?”
Laž’ar was greeted by this question, not at all prepared for it. He had expected the tavern to be busy and that any meal he might want wouldn’t be for some time, as they would surely overlook someone as young as him.
Yet…
“Ah, um, this is the first time I’m here.”
The server nodded. “Private room or a table on this floor?”
“I don’t need anything private.”
How else could he talk to strangers?
“Waiting for company?”
“Just me.”
Laž’ar was brought to a table and thought it lucky there was someone not much older than him eating next to it. He sat down on the cushion and the server listed some dishes. He picked a couple and watched the server leave before he scooched a little closer to the next table.
“What is it, little one?”
Laž’ar nearly laughed. How many years older could this person even be? Surely no more than two or three.
“Does elder know this area well?”
The teen paused and only now looked at him.
“I live here.”
“That’s good news. See, I’m—”
“Not interested.”
“—looking for someone. Help a little, can’t you? It’s awkward to ask the uncles.”
“Little boys like you shouldn’t be out on their own.”
Laž’ar almost wanted to respond: and just how old are you then?
But only almost.
He laughed instead and moved closer. “Big brother, help me out, will you? You know the noble families here? What about rich families?”
The young man glared at him, but Laž’ar’s smile only quirked up at the corners, making him look mischievous. Very fitting an expression as he gave up on scooching and simple crawled on all for to the cushion opposite to the young lord.
This earned him a tsk and there was a clatter as the bowl was put on the table.
“How old are you even? If you’re going to move, at least walk.”
“Big brother is so strict. It’s just two steps away, why stand up if I’m going to sit down again?”
“Did no one teach you proper manners?”
“I know manners. I also know how to ignore them.”
The young man nearly slammed the ceramic cup he had only just lifted back onto the table.
“If you know them, behave! What kind of impression do you think you’re giving others?”
“Who are you? My mother?” Laž’ar muttered.
“I am not your mother!”
“Ah, big brother has impressive hearing!” Laž’ar exclaimed while clapping his hands. “Say, does big brother like pretty girls or pretty divines?”
The teen couldn’t keep up with the change of topic. “What? Pretty?”
“Girls or divines? Or pretty boys?” Laž’ar’s eyes slimmed as his smile widened. “If you like me, I’ll do you a favour. How about it, hm?”
“Ignoring manners is fine, but you are truly shameless!”
Laž’ar laughed. “No, no. I’m elegant.”
The longer the teen in front of him stayed silent, the more difficult it was for Laž’ar to stop himself from laughing.
Suddenly the teen slammed the table with his hand.
“I didn’t say that’s your name! Lazh’ek better be your birthname!”
“It’s Laž’ar and who knows? Perhaps it’s given to me by Nükiž.”
“Tsk. Why did you come over here? Shoo, shoo!”
The teen tried to motion for Laž’ar to leave, but he just propped himself against the table, leaning forward as if his interest was asked for, rather than rejected.
“Say, big brother, what family are you from? You don’t look very noble?”
“Neither do you,” the teen scoffed.
Laž’ar laughed. “I’m very noble. Just like to dress humbly. Easier to get around and make trouble. Tell me, big brother, are you son of a merchant?”
“My father is a the governor of Žančur.”
“Ooh. Impressive.”
Laž’ar really was a fortunate one. Could he have found a better person to get what he needed from? Unlikely.
“So you’re…” He thought for a moment, dragging the word as he did. “Atlar Kuazhai?”
“No, I’m the younger.”
“Ahh. So, big brother Retnüir.”
The teen humphed, but Laž’ar got the sense he was happy. Perhaps not that many knew of the younger son of the minister governing over the capital of the south?
This wouldn’t have surprised Laž’ar , as he knew his mother made it a point not to forget any of the children of the minister’s while teaching Laž’ar .
She had never thought he’d truly need to know this particular name, and if she knew why he ended up benefitting from her education, perhaps she would have regretted her choice. But she didn’t know, and Laž’ar couldn’t know this was probably the very opposite of what his mother would have liked him to use his education for.
Laž’ar watched as the teen began eating again. He smiled and wanted to try pushing a little more.
“Big brother—”
“Go back to your seat,” the teen said and looked behind Laž’ar . “Your food is here.”
Laž’ar turned and just like Retnüir said, the server was approaching them. He turned back to the teen in front of him.
“I can’t sit with you, big brother?”
“No.”
Laž’ar looked up at the server, who looked troubled when he saw Laž’ar’s devastated expression. After some hesitation he bent down to place the dishes on Retnüir’s table.
“What are you doing?”
“Young Lord, you should treat your little brother well,” the server said quietly, putting the dishes down and then hurried off.
Retnüir was left speechless, while Laž’ar happily got some of the food from the different dishes he had ordered and placed them in his bowl. He looked up at Retnüir when he noticed the youth hadn’t moved.
“Big brother can take some if he wishes. You’re so nice to let me sit here and eat with you.”
“I didn’t—”
“You’re so kind.”
“You—”
“Very generous.”
“Ca—”
“A wonderful big brother!”
“…”
Laž’ar blinked innocently at Retnüir until the latter cound’t help but sigh.
“Fine. You win. But I don—”
Laž’ar scooped some food from a pot, smiling at Retnüir.
“…You’ll anger me to death and I don’t even know who you are.”
“No need to know, no need to know. To anger someone to death is too great an achievement for me to claim, big brother.”
For a moment the youth trembled before he angrily continued to eat for a while. Laž’ar knew when to stop, so he very goodnaturedly ate in silence, not even glancing at the governor’s son.
“Lazh’ek.”
“It’s Laž’ar . I told you my name’s ‘elegance’, not ‘elegant’.”
“Whether you name’s elegance, grace, nobility or anything the like doesn’t matter, you’re the opposite of all of it either way.”
“Masellazh?” Laž’ar asked in a small voice.
“Tsk. Don’t ask me to call you by a nickname. What do you really want?”
“I asked before,” Laž’ar replied matter-of-factly as he reached for some fish.
Retnüir swatted his hand away. “Little thief, stop eating my food! Does no one ever feed you?!”
Laž’ar felt a little wronged. “I eat well all the time. Mother would never let me starve.”
“So your father would?”
Laž’ar’s hand momentarily stilled, holding his spoonhalfway between his bowl and his mouth, then he continued eating, gaze lowered. “I guess,” he replied after a silence that had been a little too long.
Retnüir didn’t seem to know how to reply for some time then gritted his teeth before he pushed the fish over to Laž’ar . “I got tired of it. It doesn’t taste good. Eat it for me.”
Laž’ar huffed a light laugh. “Big brother really is very kind.”
“Shut up and eat. Tell me what you want instead.”
Laž’ar looked at him increduously.
“What?”
“Do you want me to be quiet or speak? I have many wonderful traits and many great talents, big brother, but I really don’t have the ability to do both.”
“Just eat!”
Laž’ar laughed. “All right. Little Masellazh will do as big brother says.”
“Speak properly. You’re not in your first cycle any more.”
Looking at Retnüir’s frown, Laž’ar laughed again. “I like you, big brother. If I had any brothers, I’d hope I had one like you.”
Retnüir humphed again, while Laž’ar happily continued to eat in silence.