Kovan was not fond of special occasions. Even on the cusp of age 13, Vikkin was better suited for the exchanging of pleasantries and careful banter expected at occasions such as this. He found his eyes wandering as he allowed his brother to take care of the majority of the conversation. The wedding was to happen later in the day, and for now the various lords and ladies who had come to celebrate the wedding of the Lord Maximillian Tyrell. Most everyone in the Reach had been invited.
As he looked around the lush gardens filled with people, he caught sight of Lord Kassius. While Kovan had never precisely considered him a friend, Lord Garrothan Tyrell’s third son was one of the nobles his generation he most appreciated. He’d never been the most confident child, and when they were younger, Kovan had found it difficult to speak to him, but as he’d grown more into his skin, that lack of privileged arrogance had become rather charming, in his opinion.
He walked closer to the young lord, who was speaking to someone he couldn’t see until he got a bit closer. When he got close enough to see who Kassius was speaking to, Kovan’s footsteps faltered for a moment. Kassius’ companion was a young woman who appeared a couple years younger than them, right around Vikkin’s age, just beginning to grow into the full-fledged beauty he had no doubt she would possess in the flower of her prime. The olive tones of her skin made even more stark the soft blue of her eyes, around which fell long, chestnut brown locks of hair. She was laughing at something Kassius had said, and the expression rather made him feel like every color in the world was suddenly made more vibrant. Just looking at her was stealing his breath away.
Swallowing the feeling, he moved closer and hailed Kassius, making his presence known, but allowing them to finish their conversation before he got too close.
“Lord Kassius,” he said with a small bow, “may I offer my congratulations on your brother’s upcoming nuptials.”
Kassius smiled at him, “How many times must I tell you to be easy with me and call me Kassius. And thank you, but I’m afraid my brother is the more worthy recipient of your compliments.”
“We have both reached our majority this year, my lord. I can no longer treat you as I did when we were children. At least allow me to be formal in public.”
Kassius laughed, and then stepped aside to introduce his companion, as Kovan had known he would. “Kiyara, allow me to introduce Lord Kovan Vyrwel of Darkdell. Ko- Lord Kovan, this is a good friend of mine, Kiyara Flowers of House Redwyne.” For a moment, Kovan’s eyes widened in surprise. Kassius’ expression was careful, and slightly warning, an unusual thing to see on his face, but Kovan understood it, considering how bastards were treated in the Reach. His tone matched his expression. “She is here at the particular request of my sister Jana, who is quite fond of her.”
Kassius didn’t know it, but he needn’t have been worried. The last thing Kovan wanted was to make her feel uncomfortable. He smiled at her easily, and gave her the same sort of bow he would give a lady of any house. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kiyara.” He managed to stop himself from saying anything about her beauty, so as not to discomfit her, but just barely. Although he wanted to speak to her further, he could not find a proper topic to bring up with her, as he knew little about her yet. So instead, he told them both, “I will leave you to your conversation. I hope to speak to you both again.” And returned to his brother’s side, head full of who he was certain was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen, a beautiful bastard.