Rafael the Duke

Rafael had been born the oldest of four sons, their births so close to each other that when they stood in a room they looked identical. They were, identical with the same tall broad shouldered bodies and the pale glass green eyes. He was the oldest though, and while the youngest always had also had that same haughty arrogance, it was only Rafael who managed to look so dispassionate about being so passionate.

“Your Grace.” Rafael nodded back in question to whoever had called him, that, already used to the title that was truly not his. His father was still alive, but he was thirty three years old, and everyone could already sense that there was no doubt as to who would rule next in the peerage system.

“Baron Korr.” He replied. The Baron flushed with pleasure that a high ranking man such as the Duke himself had remembered his name, but truly it was not unusual. Rafael had studied up every single man and woman who actually existed in this court, and knew them like his own brother.

It was a disadvantage because it was so hard to remember all of them, but it proved it’s worth at times like this, when he knew that this man would now back him up against the King himself.

Barons’ were like that. They were very… sensitive. Rather like puppies.

As a child, Rafael had never been secured this place. He had just been lucky to be born first, and so had been given a head start in living. In the Panther clan it was not age or gender that determined your rank, but your worthiness. Some people saw it as romantic, as fair.

But really? It was just plain hard work.

As a child Rafael could only remember working. Working to get all the political moves correct, of learning all the etiquette styles when all the other panthers were busy playing or chasing women. All of his cousins, even his female ones made fun of him as a child, saying that they were only in their teens, they had plenty of time to learn. The grown ups had watched him with amusement, except for his father, who had always been proud of his first born.

His father had never been quite the panther, you see.

The other children had noticed their mistake, they had noticed the wisdom of Rafael when he was twenty three and the Patriarch of the clan had called him that name.

“Where is Rafael?” he had called out with annoyance, and someone had murmured.

“He’s probably studying as to how best to woo a lady.” There had been muffled laughter at the words, but the pale green eyes of the Patriarch had pierced through the crowds to silence it.

When Rafael had finally entered, late because he had actually been busy with one of the smaller Princesses the Patriarch had barked out.

“Duke! Where have you been?”

It was not his answer, that he had been escorting the Princess back to her room that had caused the slight gaze of surprise, but the fact that the Patriarch had called him such an obvious name. His brothers had sulked, for a while—they were still optimistic that they would somehow manage to inherit some title-  but his father had been proud.

It turned out hard work helped after all.

After that day, all the young generation of panthers had tried to work, to catch up. But Rafael had a head start of almost a decade, and no one could quite reach his skill in knowing the subtleties of the court. He did not need to act, either. There was something about him, some quiet, angry sensuality that could attract people the way moths were attracted to a flame.

Everyone had seen his potential to be something great.

Especially the Patriarch.

“Duke!” his raspy voice barked at the end of the meeting. “Stay behind.”

“Yes Patriarch.” He had answered immediately, standing up to escort his mother out of the room, as was proper and returned with a slight frown on his face. “Have I done something wrong?”

The patriarch had laughed, as if it was some great joke. “Have you ever done anything wrong?” he had commented almost bitterly, and Rafael had been unsure how to answer. Everyone, taking up their Patriarch’s example called him the Duke now, and Rafael was comfortable with it.

“Then Patriarch…” he began, only to be stopped by the shuddering cough.

“I’m going to die soon.”

Well. His Patriarch had never been one to mince words.

“I want you to take over when I’m gone.”

Definatly. Rafael should have taught the Patriarch some manners.

“Me?” he said carefully. “Patriarch, I know your grandson, Jared has been…”

The Patriarch snorted. “Jared’s more interested in chasing skirts than setting himself up, the way you have. Besides, from someone who has studied for a long time, you know that the Patriarch position is not inherited.”

Rafael nodded. He had known this, very well. How could he not? This had once been his plan but… “Patriarch.” He said slowly. “If I take the position, it might cause conflict and…”

But it hadn’t worked out.

It was still a secret between them… but who knew for how long?

The reason that Rafael had been hesitant about taking the position was not because he loved his cousin, Jared. It was because of something else. He knew, the way everyone knew that a Patriarch’s duty was to breed and to produce heirs.

The last time Rafael had checked, you could not do that with another man.

That was the thing, you see.

Rafael was interested in someone else.

Rafael had always acknowledged the fact that he could always still marry a woman. After all, almost all marriages made on the Golden Court were due to political ties, rather than anything else and once he became Patriarch, it was not as if he had to settle for an ugly girl either –even now, as the heir Duke he did not need to settle for an ugly girl- but that was not the point. Not really. The point was that for the first time in his life he wanted to live it the way others did.

Like it really was a life.

“Your grace.” The voice was so dancing and so light that when his eyes seemed to cut across the crowds he did not know how to react. Except he was always wearing that mask, that one of indifference and so he was safe.
That mask had saved his political life time and time again, and it was natural to him.

“Silk, my Courtier.” He purred, and watched as the other man faltered. He was going with them on this visit to the other worlds, and while he was rather happy about it… well, he had not explained to the Patriarch yet that he may not return in a while.

Give it a couple of years.

“We are due to arrive at the planet, soon. Do you have everything you need?”

Unfortunatly for Rafael, while he had been planning to take advantage of Silk on the journey over he had found it quite impossible because such a large group had turned out for this journey. It irritated Rafael—how was he supposed to get his way with his little courtier, when the courtier’s own sister kept barging into the rooms?

But he was a patient man.

He could wait.

“Most of my things.” His words were so ordinary, but it was as if he was saying something else, something more private from the way Silk’s eyes seem to take a glassy tone. Rafael smiled in near satisfaction at this, knowing things would work out for the better.

“Well, everyone. We’re here.”

Rafael turned at the voice and looked out as the doors opened.

He stepped out.

Rafael pounced on the steps like some great panther and he smiled as one of the women approached him. For a moment he turned his head, tilting so that the light seemed to bounce off his eyes like some glass pieces and turned to look ay someone else. It was a quick, almost natural slide of the gaze that no one else would have noticed. No one else, except for the one who felt the heat of his gaze against the back of his neck, and the curve of his spine. Before Silk could turn around though, because Rafael knew these things he was already staring back at the woman in question.

“What’s your name?” she asked this with a frankness he did not expect from women, or at least one he was not used to. He was about to answer, to tell her what he had been called over the past when something stopped him.

“Duke.” He said curtly, and she arched a brow in question at his rider cold tone.

“Duke?” she was no stranger to these terms, she knew enough that it should have been a title but she accepted it. Maybe he was one of them crazy people. ‘Are you sure?’ she asked her bonded, and the gryphon bristled at the insult. ‘Never mind.’ She added hastily, before the gryphon could get into a tirade about it all.

“Yes.” He said, as if it was a question and he watched her. She was a pretty thing, really and he felt old- because he was older than everyone else in this group. Watching the others, but more rather, watching one of the others he suppressed a slight yawn. “Are we going to stand here forever?”

‘I don’t like him.’ The rider added to her bonded, but smiled anyways. “No.”

There was silence, and finally Duke raised his eyes. “Where are we going, then?” he asked, and the woman smirked.

“Sparen Forest.” He did not recognize the name—how could he but he knew that was not where Silk was headed. He was almost disappointed, except… he smiled. Maybe something else would work out.

As Duke was about to follow the woman off on the back of that beautiful creature, he turned for a moment. “Where are you going?”

When Silk answered, he realized it was really a different place.

‘Don’t worry, if you want to see him that much I can take you to visit him.’ The voice, intruding in his mind was amused, and Rafael did not mind as much.

“Sparen Forest.” He answered the courtier, and smiled. “Good luck.”

He did not know exactly what he was wishing this young man good luck with, but he said it anyways and he watched the courtier smile, flourishing one of those outlandish bows.

“I wish you luck, Duke.” He said right back at him, the light returning to his eyes and Rafael couldn’t help but smirk.

Yes, he did care for this one.

Wasn’t it obvious?

‘For my eggs?’ the gryphon asked, and Rafael for a moment was too scared to enter the room.

“Yes.” Yes, he said to himself again, gazing around the room with a hungry fashion.

‘He looks like a predator.’ One remarked to her rider, and the rider smirked.

‘He is. But he’ll keep your babies safe. I promise.’

The gryphon nodded, almost placid at these words and the Duke just continued to stare. He was here now, and he could almost feel the pulse of the moment in his veins. This was what he had been training for. Except all his training had turned out to be rather…useless.

No matter. He was smart.

He could start from the beginning, if he had to.