Kiran

“You are merchants?’
‘We are.’
‘What name?’ said the officer.
‘Charls,’ said Damen, who was the only merchant he knew.
‘You are Charls the renowned Veretian cloth merchant?’ said the officer sceptically, as if this was a name well known to him.
‘No,’ said Laurent, as if this was the most foolish thing in the world. ‘I am Charls the renowned Veretian cloth merchant. This is my assistant. Lamen.’
In the silence, the officer tracked his gaze over Laurent, then over Damen. (...)
‘Well, Charls,’ he said, eventually. ‘It looks like you’ve got a broken axel.’
‘I don’t suppose your men could aid us in our repairs?’ said Laurent.
Damen stared at him. They were encircled by fifty mounted Akielon soldiers. Jokaste was inside that wagon.
The officer said, ‘We’re patrolling for Damianos of Akielos.’
‘Who’s Damianos of Akielos?’ said Laurent.
His face was utterly open, his blue eyes unblinking, upturned to the officer on his horse.
‘He’s the King’s son,’ Damen heard himself saying, ‘Kastor’s brother.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Lamen. Prince Damianos is dead,’ said Laurent. ‘He is hardly the man to whom this officer is referring.’ Then, to the officer: ‘I apologise for my assistant. He doesn’t keep up with Akielon affairs.”
― C.S. Pacat, Kings Rising

“Coiled and personal, Laurent's gift was a Veretian whip, made of gold.
Damen recognized it.
[...]
His gaze flung to Laurent. He knew he had flushed, he could feel the heat in his own cheeks. In front of the gathered generals, he couldn't say, What have you done?”
― C.S. Pacat, Kings Rising

“Now, Laurent was beside him. Aloof, untouchable Laurent was beside him, kneeling on the wet marble hundreds of miles from home, with nothing in his eyes but Damen.”
― C.S. Pacat, Kings Rising

“How can you trust me, after what your own brother did to you?"
"Because he was false", said Damen, "and you are true. I have never known a truer man.”
― C.S. Pacat, Kings Rising