My Sirona

Update on the player...

2011-06-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

So it's been a year since My Sirona ended and no I haven't gone on to play anything else. I am working on a project that is a horse of a completely different color though.

I am taking all my old poetry and giving it a home.

It can be found at http://nightmareswaltz.blogspot.com if any of you are still out there you should come have a look.

Something New!

2010-07-11T22:09:00.000-07:00

So you've read te life of an Elysian Cleric, now for something new...

Head over to http://loreoflyrinia.blogspot.com/ to read a new story, the Lore of Lyrinia follows the tale of an Asmodian cleric, who unlike Sirona who desperately clung to her past, will do anything and just about everything to forget hers.

... and you guys thought I would stop writing ... lol shame on you.

Fifty Two - The Final Chapter

2010-05-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

          It was dark, and it was cold and I hugged my knees to my chest and waited for something to happen. I don’t know how long I was in the cell before he came. The jailers slid open a small hatch to look in on me at standing eye height. The red of his eyes and glimmer of torchlight from the hall behind him was dazzling bright after so much solid darkness.

          “You are ready to speak what we want to hear yes?” he asked. I slumped back into my corner.

          “No. May I please have some food, or water?” I asked. He made a disgruntled noised and clapped the small portal closed. I rested my head on my knees and tried to forget my hunger and thirst. It would not kill me. The immortal don’t die from things like that.

          Time dragged on, I think it was every week or so that they came always with the same question, always with the same denial on my part and always with the same result… Left to rot in the dark, alone, exhausted and growing weaker by the hour, by the day, by the week, by the month? I thought of Elethor and I prayed and eventually I grew to accept what I must do to continue to keep him, and the ones I loved in Elysea safe. I closed my eyes, or at least I think I did, the blackness being the same both ways and I tried to sleep.

          “Wake up child.”

          I opened my eyes and this time was greeted by a diffuse glow around the cowl of a stranger…

          “Father?” I asked weakly.

          “No, no… but he sent me.” The kind voice was soothing and almost musical in quality and his hand was soft where it held mine.

          “Who are you?” I inquired.

          “I am His Avatar child, I am Aion given physical form for however long He requires it. You may call me Tamat.” He took my hands and lifted me to my feet and I stood, suddenly not tired, not thirsty and more so not cold or hurting.

           “Thank you.” I breathed, and he nodded his head smiling. “Why have you come?” I asked.

          “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, and I shook my head. “I’ve come to take you home.” I worried my lip between my teeth and considered him.

           “To Elysea?” I asked, and my heart began to sink when his expression, what I could see of it grew solemn.

           “No child, not to Elysea.”

           “To my Elethor then?” I was strangely calm when the being shook his head once more. I tipped my head back and back and relaxed my shoulders, the tears slipping free.

             “Is He angry with me?” I asked.

             “No, no child, not angry He could never be angry with you. He placed too much on your shoulders He sees that now. He forgives you for being unable to do what it was He asked. If anything He is disappointed in Himself for what has transpired.”

          “Will Elethor be all right?” I asked the first subtle sob shaking my shoulders.

            “He will not, for a while… but time heals all wounds and I am sure he will love again.”

          I looked down at my body, so dirty and rail thin crouched in the corner. Eyes glazed and staring at nothing, growing cloudy all ready and I hugged myself. Tamat put his arms around me and murmured, into my hair.

           “It is time to go child. He wishes to see you. Please do not fret, your time to hurt is at an end and I promise you some day you will see your man again. Though it will be long for him it will be but a blink of the eye for you. Come now; let us leave this place behind.”

          “Can I see him one last time?” I asked and Tamat simply shook his head. I sobbed and leaned heavily against Tamat and felt plate armor beneath his simple homespun robe and cowl. I could see now, the filthy stone walls covered with damp and ichor and I looked back at my body once more.

           “I am ready,” I said finally. “Tamat, take me home.”

Jailor’s log – 06-03-110

The Elyos female captured at Asteria has expired, proving their inferiority and frailty compared to the greater Asmodian people. She gave us nothing. Her Asmodian lover claimed her body and shed no tears, burning her in a pauper’s pyre started with his own magic outside the city walls. He has remained mute since the time of her death – weak fool. I have finished my report on the matter and sent it to the Shadow Court for review. This matter is at a close.

Fifty One

2010-05-13T00:18:00.000-07:00

I tipped my face up into the sunlight and listened to the distant shouts of the incoming supply lines and the nearer clash of training weapons. At the time I hadn’t known that it would be the last time I would feel the warmth and light on my skin… The camp that had sprung up on the Asteria plains was a comfortable one, and with the day of a spring like quality it was hard not to relax and enjoy it even if it was a siege. I let my attention drift over the tops of the tents neatly nestled together in their perfectly regimented rows to the looming structure that was Asteria fortress and the Asmodian garrison that patrolled the ramparts. I had seen the legion crests of their forces flying high above the gray stone walls and easily spotted the one our intel had described as Daemon Proxy’s. Elethor was in there I could feel it deeply, and the tug on my soul that was bound to him had confirmed his nearness; it had eased my worry marginally.

The sun was setting and soon the mess tents would fill and after that, the firesides. We had held them at our mercy for a while now… cutting off their supplies and knocking on their gates. Finally there were whispers through the camp that a representative would be sent out and demands would be exchanged, so we waited. I found Ailsie by the fire well within view of the great fortress and we sat together as some of the more talented daeva’s set down their arms and took up their instruments. The sun dipped low behind the rocky crag that served as Asteria’s backdrop and darkness descended as the first mournful call of the violin went up into the air. We listened and some danced and the entertainment went on for a bit when a stir moved through the crowd as Andrei and several of his most trusted Centurions moved through the crowd to the edge of the camp where the Asteria Plains met with the sheer cliff surrounding the fortress.

           I saw the shadows descend from the air, I saw the gleam of red, diminished by distance and the firelight and as Andrei and our men approached my heart seized in my chest when I saw it was him and two others from his Legion that walked with my Brigade General. I rose as did several others at their approach and the music stilled. Elethor’s expression gave nothing away as his gaze slid over me and I gripped Ailsie’s wrist tightly in an effort to keep myself carefully schooled away.

           “Don’t stop on our account!” Andrei said as they strode passed and my gaze locked briefly with my beloveds. His eyes, still faintly glowing raked me over from head to foot and a muscle in his jaw twitched with barely perceived relief when he saw I was whole. I fought to keep my expression neutral and inclined my head and looked away but Ailsie… Ailsie had seen it.

           “That’s him isn’t it?” she asked me… and I let her wrist go. My attention on his retreating back as the crowds closed behind him and they made their way to the central command tent towards the Elyos guard tower established at Asteria some time ago.

           “Yes,” I murmured for my friend’s ear alone… “Yes that’s Elethor.” What is he doing here!? My agonized mind screamed… but it was a mystery that I would have to live with for the time being as the music started up again and I sat back down, resolutely fending off an inquiry to dance.

           The night wore on and my distraction grew as I spent the entirety of my time forcing myself to remain still and not seek out the command tent to listen or to find how things fared. Eventually, when the time permitted I left the fireside and found my tent and the cot within. Out here on the siege field I slept uncomfortably in my boots, greaves and hauberk with my mace and shield close at hand. It was how Ailsie found me in the middle of the night, the camp quiet and still. I woke with her hand over my mouth, her lips hissing me to silence beside my ear.

          “They have him Sirona, I never thought I would see the day the Elyos would betray a peace talk but they’ve done it and if you want to save him you have to go now.” She muttered in a rush. I took up my shield and mace and stood, shaking in the dark but not with cold. Dread uncoiled in the pit of my stomach and I slipped down the lines of canvas behind the lithe shadow my friend cast as she led me to the Guard Tower.

           Ailsie went ahead of me and spoke to the guards stationed outside; drawing them away from the door and turning them round just enough for me to use the techniques Toxemia had taught me to slip passed them. I went in, and followed the winding stair down, down, down to the cell block beneath where I heard them, several men… and the beating of my Elethor.

          “Stop!” I barked at them, Andrei turned his arms crossed and an ugly look upon his face, Leogetz looked up from the prone figure of my beloved on the stone floor and drew back as if to kick him again. I spoke a word of command and unleashed the prayer and watched as it knocked Leo clear of him. There were more of my people than there was of me and I knew it to be a lost cause from the beginning but I resigned my fate, even as Xanathar advanced on me bringing his great sword to bear I brought up my shield and took a defensive stance, moving myself to stand above my beloved even as I heard Leo exclaim,

          “You traitor bitch!”

          “Me a traitor!? What is it you do here?” I demanded parrying a blow with my mace trying to guard myself and Elethor at the same moment. “You break treaty and for what!? One less crow on the battlefield when the time comes?” I miscalculated and took a severe stroke to the ribs, collapsing to my knees.

          “Send her back to her bind point; we’ll deal with her later.” Andrei’s voice was colder than an Asmodian winter as Leo brought down the point of his blade, through my back and I let go… flowing through the aether to the bind point closest to me… to Elethor who lay in the open cell door way struggling to breathe.

          I gathered to myself and spoke a prayer of healing feeling my reserves fill, using their shock to my advantage to better my stance for the next onslaught. Their eyes wide with shock I told them in a dramatic whisper,

          “I will not leave him.” They came at me again, and again I fell only to bring myself up at his side once more. A third time I fell, and a fourth but I would not bend I would not sway and I would not leave his side… finally Andrei bellowed,

          “Enough! She wants to side with the crows so badly then let her, lock them both in.” he left then, storming up the stairs and I admit no little satisfaction at his discomfiture. I had been unarmed and stood in the cell, breathless but with no little fight left in me as they caged us. When they were gone I fell to my knees and lifted Elethor’s prone figure into my arms.

           “You should not…” he coughed blood and made a sound of pain deep in his chest before squeezing out the rest. “You should not have done that.”

          “Shhhh, be still my love. I will get us out, I will get you back to your people I’m just not sure how just yet.”

          He clung to me, head in my lap as he fought to stay conscious, Aion knows how long they had him before Ailsie had come to fetch me… I prayed and prayed and finally my prayers were answered as the cell door unlocked and Tox seemed to appear from the aether it’s self.

          “This is got to be the dumbest thing I have ever helped you do.” He said finally, helping me to help Elethor to his feet. My beloved swayed between us and my fear grew.

          “I need to get him back to his people.” I said as we made for the stairs, Ailsie joined us outside.

          “Move quietly.” She said, “Sleeping storm only lasts so long and only on so many people, it took better hold on those all ready asleep.” We rushed to the edge of the chasm around Asteria Fortress, Tox and Ailsie remaining at the tent line, I shouted when we were close enough and signaled the Asmodian guard, who came down to help me. I went up and into the fort following my love as they tended him, Dark coming to keep them off of me until I could see this through. I waited in the hall with the big Gladiator and when he was well enough, was allowed to see my Elethor one last time…

            He sat in a sturdy chair, his ribs bandaged carefully from armpit to hip. I straddled his lap carefully and lowered myself to sit on the arms of the chair. I kissed him carefully as his hands rode on my hips gently. I rested my forehead against his and sniffed, the tears slipping free and gliding down my cheeks.

           “I’m so sorry.” I said finally. “I had no idea what they were…” I sobbed and jumped slightly at a crash down the hall, the sound of plate and chain rattling.

          “Shhhh no no no. This isn’t your fault.” He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me gently as he said it.

          “They’re coming for me now.” I said, “I need you to let me go. I need you to heal and be safe.” He shook his head violently at my words and I stilled him taking the decorative combs from my hair and pressing them into his hands, I wanted him to have something of me and it was all I had to give. “I love you.” I said withdrawing from him.

          “Sirona no!” he tried to get up and collapsed back weakly into his chair.

          “It’s okay. I promise its okay. I love you Elethor, always you, forever you and only you.” He slammed his fist into the wooden arm and for the first and only time I saw my lover cry, crystalline tears slipping down the dusky blue of his cheek from his crystalline eyes.

          “I love you Sirona, always you, forever you and only you…” I straightened and slipped out of the chamber into the hall passed Dark and Dracia. I looked at the Glad and Assassin, both gripping their weapons ready to fight and shook my head, stepping passed them into the hall and towards the advancing guards.

          I called out to Dark, “Tell them I won’t resist, I’m coming willingly.” And he did for me, the guards slowing… “Dark, take care of Elethor, promise me you both will take care of him.”

          He swore to me and the assassin followed suit and I stepped forward wrists together arms held before me so the guards could bind me, which they did swiftly and mercilessly, throwing a black hood over my face and hustling me violently forward.

          We took no less than three teleports, and finally I felt we were marching through a city… Eventually we went into a building and down, so far down and I could hear the rattle of chains and the clang of cell doors and it was so very dark. I remained calm, burning the image of my beloveds face into my thoughts even as I felt him so dim and far away from me. Eventually the hood was ripped from my face and I was left blinking into torch light.

          “You understand me yes?” the jailer asked. I nodded carefully. “You will tell us everything we ask yes?” he asked and I shook my head no. He slammed his ledger onto a table and I was dragged to a cell with no window and no bars. I was thrown in and the heavy iron door was closed behind me. All the rest was total darkness. I found myself a corner and slouched against the wall, working at the bindings on my wrists with my teeth…

Fifty

2010-05-09T23:33:00.000-07:00

          The blue sand and stone was warm beneath my bare feet, the dress Elethor had given me so long ago fluttered around my calves as the hot winds of the abyss scoured the battlefield surrounding one of the Siel Fortresses. Feathers ruffled in the strong breeze, black and white alike, broken armor and weapons studded the ground and there were so many daeva’s locked in death… final death… true death, their eyes staring sightless and frightened into the aether, their mouths locked into eternal screams. I put my hands over my mouth and doubled over, the tears streaming down my cheeks. Aion laid His hand upon my back, the barest hint of His mouth set in a grim line beneath His cowl.

           “Walk with me child that you may better understand what it is I have asked of you.” He murmured. I straightened and walked beside Him and listened as He spoke. “I have asked you to love them both and you have admirably, but I believe you have misunderstood exactly what it is I have asked of you and so I must show you. I am very sorry it has come to this my child but I need you to look into your heart and see… really see what it is I have asked of you.”

          I looked down into the many faces of the Fallen, Elyos and Asmodian alike and felt a horror that chilled me to my very core. It was a cold that would not be fixed by sitting fireside or by wrapping me in a blanket and as I walked beside Aion I grew numb from my crown to my toes.

           “Father,” I asked. “Why do you show me this?”

            “Because you need to see my child, I need you to understand and words will simply not express…”

             He raised His arm and swept it outwards to engulf the entire grisly scene, where nothing stirred and all was still despite the wind… A small movement caught my eye and I watched as a ball, no a sphere of some kind rolled towards me, bouncing and jumping across the stone and dirt a lovely pale green and somehow familiar to me... My eyes widened and I followed its trail back to where it had come from, the scream climbing in my throat and sticking there as I forced it down with denial. I ran forward and dropped to my knees.

           He lay so still and so silent, dark wings broken and spread beneath him, the front of his robes stained dark and wet with blood, his crystalline eyes staring empty and lost and as I brought him into my lap the scream spilled along with my tears and the sound of my anguish rent the air. My Elethor, my love was so still in his final death in my arms and I screamed and I cried and I looked at my Father and I demanded of him…

             “Why!? Why? Why? Why?!! I have done everything you have asked of me! Why Father why!?” I bent double over my lover’s body and pulled as much of him to me as I could, his skin as waxy and cold beneath my palms, his lips so still beneath my lips as I kissed him. I pressed my forehead to his and wept while my Father, my Aion stood by passively and watched.

          “I ask you to look at those around your lover and think child! Think! Look with more than just your eyes! LOOK!” and His last command cracked the air with thunder and I did as He bade me and I wished I hadn’t. The faces around my dead love were people I knew too, Toxemia, Ailsie, their white wings stained crimson and over there was Dark, his beloved Dracia pinned to his chest, through her back by a great sword… fallen after her beloved, killed while she wept over his still form as I wept over my Elethor now. I looked up at my Father so imposing now than He had ever been before and though my grief was a crippling thing I thought furiously on what it was all supposed to mean and when I felt the dawning cross my face the awful scene began to fade, Elethor in my arms began to fade and I screamed long and mournful and tried to gather him to me and I continued to scream as I woke in my tent so very far away from the grisly scene in Theobomos I woke screaming loud and long and clear the camp coming to life around me.

           “Sirona!?” I heard a man shout. “Sirona! It’s Sirona! What’s wrong!?”

          My tent unsealed its self and Jexius shouldered his way in first followed closely by Leogetz, his twin blades drawn. I waved them off tiredly, and pushed myself up on my cot.

           “A dream,” I told them. “It was just a dream.” I swallowed hard as Leo sheathed his blades and Jex dropped his shoulders tipping his head all the way back and sighing loudly.

          “You all right?” Leo asked, brows furrowed. I nodded, and put my feet solidly on the ground sitting on the edge of my cot gulping air furiously into my lungs, my hands shaking furiously I gripped the cot’s edge to hide it.

            “I’m fine now, just a dream, a very bad dream.” I told them and heard from outside the tent Chiiro say…

            “Did she just say she had a bad dream? Is that what all of this is about?” there were noises of assent and discontent being made all around.

             “I’m sorry.” I bowed my head. “They don’t happen often; I thought I was over them…” I remembered the nightmares I had after returning from my torture, they had faded and I was hoping that this would be an accepted answer and that I would not have to explain myself further.

            Jexius looked at my feet and Leogetz followed his gaze. I let them look for a moment and tucked them back out of sight beneath the cot, pursing my lips and trying to appear suddenly self conscious of the scars. I was self conscious, of course… but not over the scars. Leogetz backed out of the tent and Jexius followed, grumbling loud enough for the rest of the party to hear…

             “I don’t know how I feel going into this mission with a half cracked Cleric at my back supposed t’ be healin’ me.” I closed my eyes and swallowed hard; Chiiro had moved into the tent and looked down on me, literally and almost figuratively. In a loud clear voice she stated,

           “No one here questions Sirona’s healing abilities, and if they do they need to take it up the chain of command not with muttered comments. Now all of you, go back to sleep we have only a few more hour until we move out.” She considered my appraisingly for a moment or two more… the sandstorm had ended and it was silent except for the grumbling men and women outside and the snap of canvas as tent flaps closed.

            “You are all right yes?” she asked me.

             “Yes. I’m fine; I’m not sure what… Maybe I should forgo rations late at night before lights out.” I said feebly. She smiled sharply at me and left my tent. I lay back down and contemplated what I had been shown and prayed that it was just a dream and not indeed a vision.

           Love them both.

          I had loved both men… but now I understood. How short sighted I have been. I thought to myself… I closed my eyes and tried to sleep and prayed that Elethor was safe.

          Love them both.

          Not both men.

          Love them both…

            I closed my eyes and let the tension ease from my shoulders and wondered, how was I supposed to love not only the man but the race that had become an enemy to my people almost as much as the Balaur had?

            Love them both.

            I thought about Elethor, and Dark, and Dracia and the others of his people I had seen and met in his Legion’s house… and they all were indeed just people.

            Love them both.

         I thought about Aalairius, Toxemia and Ailsie and the people outside this very tent and thought to myself… What if the roles were reversed, would they be so very different? I sighed and rolled my shoulders.

         Love them both.

           I closed my eyes and tried to go back to sleep and I realized that for better or worse, I could, would and did love them. We were all Atreian’s after all. Weren’t we?

           Oh Aion, I hope that I can do what you wish of me…

Forty Nine

2010-05-08T11:47:00.000-07:00

          The campfire flickered and popped and several of my new Legion’s men laughed uproariously at some joke or another. The night was clear in Theobomos, and I leaned against the bones of some once great sea creature and looked up and up and up at the flickering lights I knew was Asmodae so far above us. It had been over two months since I had parted ways with Elethor… I had gone to our cavern on the fifth day of the month after our separation to find Dark shoving a letter beneath the designated rock. My heart had leapt in fear but the large Gladiator had calmed them by telling me Elethor was okay and that the plot against the Asmodian people had been thwarted flawlessly, the letter he bore had put my unease to rest further…

My Keairrah,

As you have no doubt noticed I was unable to meet with you, things have gotten complicated. Shortly after our goodbye I was summoned by the Shadow Judges, they are less than pleased. We knew that something like this would happen, that attack on me was proof enough, but I never imagined this.
My legion is gone. I was dragged into the Shadow Court and questioned about us, about everything. I denied nothing; a man should not have to hide his love, not ever. I was imprisoned and then questioned more. They wanted names, places, anything they could use against you. I gave them nothing, they would have tortured me were it not for my status and the mental training I had received.

As a result of my "treason" I was stripped of rank and title, my legion was disbanded, and my home taken from me. But I am not without friends; Dark has given me refuge in an old residence of his. Dark, such a friend I am blessed to have. It is he who has delivered this message to you, as my actions are being closely watched.

On a lighter note I have been accepted into a new legion, Daemon Proxy is my home for now. They are nice but wary of me, news is spreading of my actions and for the moment I must watch my back. I do not think that my life is in danger, but there are those who are zealous and would relish the chance to curry favor with the Shadow Court.

I will try and see you at the next set date, for now be careful and remember that I love you. Keep a cautious eye to the shadows as well; they have many spies at their disposal.

With all my love,

Elethor

          Dark had waited patiently for me to pen a missive in reply, the one I had written prior discarded in the bottom of my cube. I had given it to him along with my love to take to Elethor before taking wing back to Teminon.

Dear Elethor,

It saddens me that I cannot see you, I have good news after a fashion though... I have been accepted into the rank of Legionary with Ascendance one of Elysea's top legions. I will be leaving next month for some missions against the Lepharist revolutionaries in a part of my world known as Theobomos. It is a part of our world as yet untouched by the rifts between our lands so I believe it to be safe from problems from Asmodae. This also means I may miss our rendezvous again but I promise you there will be another letter if it is so.

To my point of now, I need to know you are safe my love, did they do you any harm? I am so very sorry to hear of your Legion, who has betrayed you? I have so many questions and Dark will not answer, I believe he is doing what he can to preserve my sanity though I admit I am terrified for you. Please tell me you are all right. I cannot bear this separation any longer and so I pray for the strength to endure, someday I hope we can end this rift between our worlds and come to a peaceable solution. Someday I pray that I can be with you and that we would not have to hurt anymore... I think of you every waking moment, I cannot help it. This news has distressed me so I hardly know what to write.

I don't want to keep Dark waiting, it is dangerous for him, so I leave you with this: I love you, please, please, please be safe...

Forever in my thoughts and dreams,
Sirona

           A month later I returned, a day ago now, quickly to leave a letter of my own detailing my new position in a new legion and to tell Elethor I was leaving on a mission later that day. I was saddened to find, not my beloved but another letter beneath our rock. I hadn’t had the chance to read it until now…
It was penned in Olde Daevic and so I had no fear of my legion mates being able to read it, as compared to me I knew them all to be relatively young, having ascended after The Fall, and the oldest among them only five hundred years or so ago. Well after the language had begun its change into what it is now.

My Sirona,

It gives me a measure of peace to know that you are out of harm's way. Were you to be in any land reachable by rifts, or in the Abyss the danger to you would be great. The Shadow Court's minions are merciless and relentless. As for myself I am unharmed, they had been debating using truth serums and mind probing at my "trial" however enough spoke on my behalf that it was decided…

*Snatch!*

          “What ‘cha reading girly girl?” a Gladiator from my Legion asked, grabbing the page from my fingers… He furrowed his brow at Elethor’s elegant script holding the parchment just out of my grasp as I desperately tried to grab it back.

           “Jexius! It’s personal… give it back!” I shouted.

           “What’s this happy Brax shit?” he asked when he realized he couldn’t read it. I got to my feet and grabbed the paper out of his hand and shoved it into my hauberk messily.

           “None of your Aion damned business. That’s what!” I snapped.

           “Whoa! No need to get all bitchy about it. Damn girl you need to…”

            “Jexius, leave Sirona alone.” Chiiro didn’t even look up from her spell book as she said it, but her voice held strength and command. “Besides, everyone knows you can’t read.” She added snidely. I sat back down.

            “You can’t read it either.” I said quietly and she looked at me and held out her hand. I pulled out the letter and handed it to her.

            “What is this? Some kind of code or cipher?” she asked.

             “No, it’s just old.” I took the letter back from her and smoothed it over my knee.

             “Old?” our Templar for this mission asked.

             “Before the tower fell it’s the language we all read, wrote and spoke.” I told him. All eyes were suddenly fixed on me.

             “Sirona,” Leogetz the assassin said my name and when I looked at him he asked the question burning in all their eyes. “How old are you?” For a daeva it was a very personal question. None of us liked to admit our age, because to say it out loud usually brought in rush all those long years, with lovers, wives and husbands… with children, lost to the ravages of time. I had never had any children of my own. I could not bear to watch them grow old and die… I chewed my lower lip and contemplated a moment before answering.

             “I was a new daeva, and in my twenties when the tower fell.” I answered finally. Back then there was an academy for new daeva’s to learn their powers and things were much more organized. I was in my final year of the academy and a good portion of the friends I had there didn’t make it through the collapse.”
Finally Jexius began to laugh, full throated and deep.

             “Brax shit. You aren’t over a thousand years old!” He paused for a long breath and as all of our Legion mates sat in silence he finally asked, “Are you?”

               I got up and dusted myself off. Chiiro had warned that her magic had foreseen a sandstorm coming and it was almost time by her reckoning for us to seal ourselves in our tents.

             “I’m that old and then some Jex.” And with that I went to my tent, lighting the lantern that hung from the ridgepole. I took off my boots and sat on my cot. When the time came Chiiro would come around from tent to tent and seal each with a spell making the canvas seamless so that the sand wouldn’t come in during the night.

              Leo called after me, “Who do you know that is that old too Sirona? That you can write to or that writes to you in that old language?” their curiosity was insatiable tonight. I called back more tersely than I had meant it to be…

              “None of your business! Goodnight.”

             Finally when their quiet conversation resumed I took out the letter, reading by the dim lantern light.

My Sirona,

It gives me a measure of peace to know that you are out of harm's way. Were you to be in any land reachable by rifts, or in the Abyss the danger to you would be great. The Shadow Court's minions are merciless and relentless. As for myself I am unharmed, they had been debating using truth serums and mind probing at my "trial" however enough spoke on my behalf that it was decided not to subject me to them.

I too, long for the day when we can be together without fearing for the other's safety. It saddens me to think that so many would have such hatred for the love we share. I hope to see you again soon and hold you close. Be careful, keairrah and know that I miss you dearly. I love you.

Forever yours,

Elethor

             “Hey Sirona,” I heard from outside my tent, the flap peeling back.

            “What is it Jex?” I asked.

             “Sorry if, well… yeah just sorry.” I nodded at him and he let the canvas go, Chiiro peeled it back and looked in at me.

             “You ready?” she asked, and I nodded, she let go the fabric and uttered simple words of command and I was sealed in, the tent a seamless triangle of safety, the rasping scale of the sand against its protective shell already beginning. Before long the wind would howl and the scouring of the sand would be deafening but for now I could try to sleep. I blew out the lantern and peeled out of mu hauberk and greaves. I lay down beneath my regulation issue fess blanket in my breeches and shirt and closed my eyes the sound of the sand against my tent a regular drone and soon I was asleep…

Approaching part 50... and now...

2010-04-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Coming soon...

A new beginning, but it might not be what you think.

Forty Eight

2010-04-19T16:46:00.000-07:00

          “What is going on?” I demanded to know from Dark, when his expression went from mean and angry to grim and resigned. He threw my repaired chain at me and said,

          “Put it on, we have to get you out of here.”

          I did what I was told and scrambled into the chain chest piece, cinching down straps and securing buckles, tightening down the rest of my armor while Elethor stood ready with my shield and mace, my cube in his hand. He looked so very tired and sad in that moment but whatever was coming was bad, something to be very afraid of and as I strapped my cube to my belt Dracia started uttering a long line of what could only be curses, screaming at Billy who only grew more visibly upset. He shouted back at her and she crossed her arms over her chest, the leather of her sword rig creaking menacingly. Dark yelled at them both while I settled my shield on my back and took my mace in hand.

          Elethor threw open the window and shoved me towards it. Voice low and urgent he said, “Glide keairrah, I’ll be right behind you. The Shadow Judges wait for no one.” I wrinkled my brow in confusion and did as I was bade, leaping from the window my wings stretching free once I was clear, and I spiraled cleanly and gracefully to the ground, Elethor landing beside me, and Billy beside him. I looked back up to his lofty window and watched Dark close it, drawing the heavy velvet curtains behind him.

          Elethor took my arm and steered me into the woods, his pace quick and his eyes sharp, Billy watching our backs. We wended through snow, knee deep in places and finally came out on top of a hill overlooking a low, low valley. Elethor kissed me fiercely and shoved me towards the edge, I opened my wings and spiraled carefully to the ground as I knew he intended landing softly and with as little sound as possible. He landed beside me and Billy not long after that and turning I could see we were at the mouth of a cave, which we quickly retreated back into. Once well back from the mouth Billy began speaking low and urgently to Elethor as if to try and convince him of something, but all Elethor would do was nod in an agitated manner, holding up his hand to stop the man’s speaking and pull me close.

          “She called the Shadow Court down upon us, my love. It is time for you to go.” He said, with no little sorrow to his tone. I kissed him, lingering and sweet and wrapped my arms around him, laying my head on his chest.

          “What will you do?” I asked, not unafraid. I didn’t know what this Shadow Court was that he spoke of, or why they should be so feared but it was obvious whatever they were… it was bad and that he was in no little danger. Because of me, I thought.

          “I will be fine, I will see you again, and if not there will be a letter for you as promised, exactly where we discussed.” He tipped my face up to look at him and smoothed his thumb along my cheek. “Go now, Sirona. I will see you again, and when I do my heart will be well.”

          “I love you.” I said, the tears starting to threaten.

          “… and I love you,” he said, his clear crystal eyes burning brighter than usual with trapped moisture of their own.

          I stepped back from him and said the spell of returning, that would take me back to the obelisk my soul was bound to, still feeling the slight tug in his direction. I closed my eyes and let my body flow into the aether and collect back on the other side. It was warm and bright in Elysea, and I was grateful. It made the tears staining my face dry faster as I made my way toward Ailsie’s.

Forty Seven

2010-04-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

          Click… chink! “Damnit!” was what woke me; I drew in a deep breath and pushed myself up halfway before realizing Elethor was not beside me. I had been lying on my stomach and now I grabbed the sheet before twisting, my eyes trying to focus in the diffuse half-light that was Asmodae’s morning sun streaming through the windows. Elethor stood behind his desk flipping through a ledger, poised now mid-motion with his attention on me. It was Dark that had woken me. He sat in the chair before the now cold hearth, my chain hauberk over one of his large knees pliers fitting awkwardly in his large clawed hands as he tried to manipulate fresh links together and repair the damage done to it.

           I held the blankets and sheets to my chest and preserved my modesty the best I could but the large man was focused on the armor in his lap and not on me. Something for which, I was ever grateful. Elethor rounded his desk and came toward me, gliding across the many rugs with a boneless liquid grace that I remembered and had always envied. It made me smile and when I smiled it made him smile, his eyes crinkling at the corners and in that moment, to me he was beautiful.

            He climbed up onto the bed beside me and kissed me gently which did make Dark look up and say with a wicked grin, “Hey none of that now… Let me at least get Dracia in here,” which he promptly repeated in Asmodian for Elethor as my face burned red. Dark laughed a deep rich sound that filled the room even as the door opened and Dracia edged in with a full tray in her hands. She looked at Dark confused and said something, he replied and she looked over at us raising an eyebrow. She kicked the door closed and set the tray on the table near the windows.

            “Elethor…” I said face burning with shame at my exposed state.

            “Oh! Right… I’m sorry.” He kissed my temple and got up speaking to the other couple in the room. They both looked at him surprised and astonished, Dracia commented and Dark set his work aside getting up. He took her by the elbow and steered her out into the hall way, giving me a wink as he closed the door behind them. I didn’t think it was possible to turn any deeper of crimson, but that wink proved I could. Elethor smiled at me and brought me my freshly laundered and mended breeches and shirt. I scrambled out of bed and dressed quickly while he spoke.

             “I’m sorry, I didn’t think. We of Asmodae aren’t as modest as the Elysian’s apparently. Forgive me?” I may have thought he was sincere but he could not keep the grin from teasing at the corners of his mouth. I frowned, and in a mock-stern voice told him,

            “With that devilish grin of yours I wish I could be inclined to believe you but no… I don’t forgive you; you will have to ask Aion to do the forgiving.” I stuck my tongue out at him as he laughed at me and pulled on my greaves and boots. Eyeing my hauberk which was still somewhat in pieces by the chair Dark had occupied the same chair that had engulfed me the night previous but now seemed so diminutive after seeing his massive frame in it. Elethor went to the door and let them in when I was presentable, standing at his scrying mirror with a brush and my combs, setting my hair into place.

           “I liked you better before.” Dark said with clear disappointment followed by a sharp “Ow!” uttered simultaneously with a meaty smack. I turned to see him ducked to the side, Dracia with her arm out stretched, and scowling at him. “She doesn’t even know what I said!” he complained “What is she smacking me for!?” I raised an eyebrow at him and inclined my head as gracefully as I could towards her.

            “She’s a woman,” I said with a shrug, “and apparently she knows you well.” He laughed at me and she made to smack him again but this time he caught her arm mid swing and pulled her to him, crushing his mouth over hers in an almost brutal and demanding kiss. I looked to Elethor and as I looked back to them she was almost melting into his embrace and I couldn’t help but smile.

              “Are they always like this?” I asked my beloved as he poured me a glass of a rich dark juice from the pewter pitcher on the tray. He handed it to me as he said,

              “Nearly always, amazing isn’t it?” I hid my grin with the tankard and took a swallow. The clear love and devotion these two displayed was just that… amazing.

            The four of us breakfasted at the small table, and I could not help myself but to stare for almost the entire meal out the bank of windows, that had until now always been covered by thick, black velveteen drapes. The landscape outside looked crisp and cold but was absolutely breathtaking in its beauty.

           Elethor must have said my name, more than once because I startled when he laid his hand on my arm, waking from my own thoughts as if from a dream.

          “Sirona are you all right?” he asked me eyes gentle and worried. I smiled at him and laid my hand over his.

           “I’m fine, it’s just so beautiful here,” I commented, my eyes straying back to the serene snow capped mountains. “I just wish it were warmer.” I said with a mock shiver. He laughed and we returned to our meal.

           “I’ll have that armor fixed just inside the hour, in fact,” Dark said heaving himself to his feet, “I’ll finish it up now. Damned links are so small; I’m used to plate not this flimsy chain crap.” He sat down and started working with my Hauberk again and this time I went over to inspect his work. I knelt on the floor beside him and examined the links he had replaces, very impressed.

          “This is really good.” I said blinking up at him. He grinned in appreciation and Dracia made a comment, he replied and the room was quiet again… He worked on my chain, and Dracia sharpened her swords and I set about cleaning up from our meal while Elethor checked his figures in his ledger one last time. It was almost an idyllic morning for us all when the door to the chamber burst inward, opening wide to smack against the wall. Dark was just setting the last link in my chain and looked up with the meanest expression I had ever seen on a man while Dracia leapt from her seat, fading into seemingly nothing. Elethor’s jewel spun fiercely between his outstretched hands and I simply stood there, calmly my prayers fluttering against the roof of my mouth begging to be spoken aloud.

          Billy stood in the doorway disheveled a stricken look upon his face and called out to Elethor, everyone relaxed imperceptibly as the words began to pour from his mouth… I didn’t know what was happening, but I knew in the deepest recess of my heart that whatever it was, it was not going to be good.

Some new changes, some small changes...

2010-04-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

... and a little hint of news.

So I am sure anyone that hasn't noticed will by the time you're finished reading this that a small change has been made to the face of the My Sirona blogsite. If you look to the right, you will see a selection of YouTube videos. These videos are called machinima and were done by my good friend Dracia (Assassin - Lvl 50 - Ariel server.)

Stay tuned both in the Aion official forums and here for something very special that Dracia is hard at work on featuring the My Sirona cast of characters and Aion sub-universe. I promise, it will be worth it.

Until then, fly high Daevas!

~Sirona

Forty Six

2010-04-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

           I listened to the storm outside Elethor’s window in the otherwise quiet dark of his chambers. A fire burned within the hearth and made the occasional pop or crack as the wood gave way to the flames. The sound the rain made as it lashed against the windowpane and cascaded down the drain pipes and gutters was almost soothing and echoed against the stone walls. I lay nude beneath the blankets and sheets, my head on his shoulder, the fingers of my left hand curling idly in the hair behind his ear and the rest of my arm lay draped across his chest. He caressed my body beneath the sheets with a gentle clawed hand his other resting where my ribs curved inward, just above my hip. I had slung one of my legs over his, and we lay there in his bed just wanting to be as close to each other as we possibly could. Neither of us spoke, there was no need at this moment in time.

           I had cried and cried against his chest, and he had let me, murmuring softly into my hair that he loved me and to let it out, not once asking me to stop. Finally his patience, when it came to our situation, ran out and he roughly grabbed my chin forcing my eyes to meet his as he vowed to me,

           “I do not care if I have to move heaven or earth or do battle with Aion himself I promise you one day this pain will be a thing of the past and that we will be together. I love you Sirona, and if this is the last night I am to have you in my arms for some time, I am going to make it memorable for the both of us.”

           He had crushed his mouth over mine then and I had relented, melting into his embrace and allowing him to whatever he wished. Now we lay comfortably, the sounds of the storm and the warmth of the fire comforting us, even if the thoughts that kept us awake were anything but. He looked down at me, the sharp movement of his chin catching the vision at the corner of my eye causing me to look up quickly in return. He smiled at me and kissed my forehead gently.

          “I don’t want to leave.” I said, memorizing the every curve and line of his handsome face.

          “I do not want you to go.” He held me tighter for a moment before relaxing his hold on me back to a gentling thing. I laid my head back down on his chest, my neck beginning to ache from the extreme angle and stared over our legs toward the fire watching the golden light dance over the shadowy furniture in the chamber.

           “The fifth day of every month?” I asked, needing assurance that we’d at least see one another or maintain contact in some way.

          “If I am not there, or you are not, I promise you there will be a letter beneath the rock I showed you, I promise you. I may be losing you again keairrah, but I will not lose you like I did before, never again, I swear it.” I held to him a little tighter than before and made a promise to him.

          “You won’t lose me Elethor, I promise. I also promise that if I cannot make it, there will be a letter for you, just as you showed me. I don’t like that we must live like this…” my voice broke, the tears cracking it in two and welling hot and immediate in my eyes. He smoothed his hand down my arm that crossed his chest, his other hand making soothing circles against my back and we fell silent, listening to the storm and the fire.

          “I would live like this forever if it was required, but I tell you now without you I don’t really live at all, just when you are here.” He kissed the top of my head and murmured a gentle sleep spell, I knew the cant and intonation of the words, hearing them before and knowing what they meant, but never before had I heard anything uttered with such loving care. It was slow acting, and as I drifted off the sound of the rain in the drainpipe and the crackling cheer of the fire was almost as calming as his touch. I was safe…

Forty Five

2010-04-14T03:01:00.000-07:00

          I tried to wrench out of the hold on me but to no avail, the persons fingers digging into my upper arms like adamantium bands. I turned my tearstained face to see the woman Elethor had introduced as Dracia had a firm grip on me and she was shaking her head solemn. I turned back to Elethor who stood in the center of the room, and the circle his Legion had made. The woman I now could clearly see was a Chanter had squared off his opposite, staff out in a combat ready stance. I blinked bewildered as I had seen her before, her face twisted with fury and deep hatred; she was the woman from the road… Her white hair crackled with power and floated out from her head and the curve of her horns like spider silk. I looked back to my beloved; his eyes aglow, a deep bloody red and he spoke just passed me to Dracia and Dark both, though I could not understand. I looked back to Dark who had the grace to explain briefly.

          “He’s asked us to keep you out of harm’s way while he… deals with the situation.”

          I felt my eyes widen as I turned back to Elethor in time for the woman to raise her voice loud and clear, a shockwave emanating from her staff, flying towards Elethor at an incredible rate. I screamed and struggled in the restraining hold Dracia had on me, lurching forward in her grasp. She wouldn’t let go and so I fought against her. She grumbled something through gritted teeth and a metal clad arm crossed my chest and pulled me away locking me solidly back against Dark’s plate chest, my feet kicking feebly above the stone floor.

           The spell she had used clashed against Elethor’s mage shields, the sound reverberating through the hall and setting my teeth on edge. His rich voice called out clearly words only understood by his fellow sorcerers versed in the arcane and the woman’s body twisted and transformed, her body stretching and lengthening, skin smoothing then roughening into the bark of a tree. I continued to struggle as he stalked around the tree, his voice low and dangerous yet still loud and clear to all of those gathered in the hall, though I knew not what he said.

          He spoke to all assembled there, looking at each face as he stalked around the woman in tree form, his voice angry and his expression sharp and I held still, hoping that the big Gladiator would relax his grip, but also very aware he was too smart for that. Elethor continued to address his people for what seemed like forever, turning back to the tree when it started to shift, plying a sleep spell to the woman as she changed back to normal. She stood there comatose as he finished speaking and he waited for her to wake up. I shouted for him not to let her, but he had some sort of point to prove because when she did she came awake hissing and spitting, swinging her staff in an arch that would surely strike him. I dare not close my eyes but at any moment I expected to hear the crunch of bone as her staff met his body, but it never happened.

          Elethor blinked out of existence, one moment there then just gone, vanished and the next he was several meters away, behind where he just stood. It was an awesome display of power and stilled me in my renewed struggle against Dark to break free and go to his aide. The Elethor I remembered from all those many years ago had been shy about his displays of power… well maybe shy isn’t the correct word, controlled would be more accurate. Zenton had always been the quick one to display his prowess. I blinked as the chanter stumbled, her staff swinging through air where my Elethor had once stood, her entire body twisting with the blow to a degree it looked painful and I felt sick, knowing what kind of damage it should have done had he still been in the direct path of her rage.

          He began to cast a complex spell, his voice sharp and every syllable of the language of the arcane dripping with concentration. The Chanter swung her staff again, but before the words finished leaving her lips the most terrifying and awful thing happened. The shadows of the room began to draw together, slipping along the floor and gathering beneath Elethor’s boots, before twisting and rising up behind his back. The inky blackness continued to rise and twist on itself, writhing into the most awful creature I had ever seen, looming high behind him arching forward and I was so very afraid, not for the woman, but for Elethor… The creature of shadow arched forward and for a mere second it seemed as if it were about to devour him whole, I screamed and bucked against the orichalcum clad arm that bound me as the creature arched higher behind Elethor before twisting and curving in on its self to smash down into the woman he fought, driving her up off her feet and into the stone floor.

          She lay there prone, unconscious, for now and Elethor spun, holding his arms wide and shouted to the assembled people of his legion before turning to me, his face schooled into a grim mask of stone, only the barest flinching around his eyes telling me what his display of power had cost him. He let his arms drop to his side, and looked passed me to Dark speaking a few solemn words to his friend. He held his arms out to me as the Gladiator let me go… I sobbed as my feet touched the floor and I ran to him, locking my arms around his shoulders, squeezing him tightly to my chest as the tears leaked down my face. His arms found their way around my waist and he hugged me, hands smoothing up my back even as he whispered soothingly in my ear. We did not dally, even before he could draw away from me enough to move he was steering us for the door, his people parting as he moved us passed them, Dark and Dracia falling in behind us, guarding our backs.

          “Aion’s light, what was that Elethor? What did you call? I was so afraid for you, what did you do?” I asked as he ushered us quickly through the halls of his legion’s house to his quarters. We reached his door within moments, his mouth set in a grim line as he moved us purposefully into his chambers, refusing to answer the myriad of questions I threw at him. He turned to his friends who remained in the hall and a short exchange commenced between them. Dark nodded, Dracia echoing the movement with a graceful inclination of her chin. Elethor shut the door, the last I saw of the two was Dracia slipping into her surroundings like a well worn cloak, turning invisible and seemingly taking up post outside the door while her beloved Dark strode down the hall, the long reach of his legs devouring in long strides the distance between us and his intended destination.

          The door shut and Elethor latched it, locking us inside before leaning forward heavily against the thick wood for a moment. I stood still and waited for a fraction of a moment to pass when he turned, strode to me and took me by the arms, his crystal eyes intense with worry as he looked me over, his voice strained with barely suppressed panic.

          “Are you hurt?” he asked me, “Are you injured in any way?” he ran his hands up and down my arms and across my shoulders, checking my collarbones for breaks before smoothing his hands down my ribs and hips. So intent was he with finding injury or imperfection with my body he missed the bewildered look on my face, he was about to run his hands lower, checking my legs when I stopped him with my own hands gently on either side of his face, making him look at me. I couldn’t help it, my face twisted with tears I couldn’t stop as I looked at the scorch marks and tears in his robes over his chest and shoulder where he had taken the strike intended for me… and where I could not heal him. His flesh was whole beneath the gape in the material, his skin smooth and perfect where it had been charred and bleeding before and I knew in that moment, that I could not stay here any longer than I all ready had. That it was too dangerous for him and that my being here would get him hurt or worse… that it would cause me to lose him forever.

           I crumbled then, collapsing into one of the wingback chairs before his fireplace, wrapping my arms around myself and I let myself give in to the helpless anguish I felt, allowing it to issue forth in a bitter heartbroken wail, the shards of which tumbled from me with my uncontrollable sobbing. He knelt by me and gathered me into his arms, resting my head on his chest and rocked me with a grim certainty as he made soothing noises into my hair, he did not ask me what was wrong, because he knew as well as I what it was that tortured me now, he knew it as well as I did… and I think he felt it too.

Forty Four

2010-04-09T22:36:00.000-07:00

          “Hey you two, storm is supposed to blow in tonight, you might want to pack it in and come inside for now.” I blinked up at Elethor and turned to see Dark striding across the practice courts a lithe woman in leather gliding silently beside him. Her skin was a dusky amethyst and her outfit showed a lot of it, her hair was long and straight and was back from her face, leaving her horns to curve wicked and severe to frame a lovely, no gorgeous face. Her legs were long and kept stride with the large Gladiator easily. It was plain to see, even from this distance she was both limber and lethal, the two swords crossed at her back marking her out as an assassin if anyone looking at her was too thick to realize it by the way she moved.

          She stalked forward with liquid grace and circled me and Elethor, the look in her eyes decidedly unfriendly. She spoke in Asmodian to both Dark and Elethor and they answered her questions both of them a little stiff and uncertain, Elethor’s arms resting lightly about me ready for anything it seemed. She reached out with her clawed fingers at me and I remained steady she touched my hair of all things and the touch was light, she smoothed her claws through it and finally retreated to Dark’s side, leaning into him as she spoke. Both men looked surprised at her actions and as Dark’s large arms encircled the woman drawing her back against his chest Elethor made the introductions.

         “This is Dracia,” he said motioning to the woman in Dark’s arms. He then spoke to her and motioned towards me. She gave Elethor a dirty look and made a retort. Dark tightened his arms around her and bowed low over her, laying a kiss against the side of her neck, speaking low and insistent, with his lips hidden by the fall of her hair. She watched me as he spoke, her expression hard and angry but something he said changed her expression. It softened somehow and she looked passed me at Elethor and when she looked back at me she pursed her lips and inclined her head once.

          “What just happened?” I asked my lover. He turned me in his embrace to look at him and his eyes held a gentle pain that made my heart wrench in my chest with the desire to smooth that look away. In a flicker the look disappeared and was safely hidden behind the aristocratic mask he had always worn in the time before the cataclysm. Such a familiar look on his new face that the sudden ache in my chest eased and I went up on the tips of my toes to kiss him softly, a quick, almost chaste touch of lips. He smiled as I let myself down and steered me toward the indoors as the first distant peal of thunder rumbled through the atmosphere and the faintest warning of a breeze picked up.

          We walked down a long hallway, Dark and Dracia just ahead of us and descended a flight of stairs. As we reached the bottom was when I first heard it. It was the beautiful mournful melody that only a violin could make and it echoed through the stone hallway crashing softly into my wine-soaked senses and carrying me away on a gentle sea of memory…

           “Dance with me Sirona.” I looked up at Zenton from my seated position and smiled softly. He never asked for anything our proud friend, he always demanded and my night had not gone well and wasn’t about to get better and it was time for me to make a stand.

          “No thank you Zenton.” I said softly, my own brows beginning to knit together as his expression began to cloud over. I was not in the mood to deal with his arrogance. I rubbed gently at the wine stain in the skirt of my dress with a napkin and wished whole heartedly that I had never come to the annual academy ball. Claire and Evensong had both gone off with fine young gentleman and I had been content to sit alone and watch the dancers swirl around the floor. I was awkward and I knew it and so I never danced at these things. I was used to simple dances at festivals with other hard working farm folk. Not to the elegant and poised angelic frippery that paraded passed me here.

           Zenton tried again to get me up to dance with him and I snapped at him. His expression went dark as pitch and he stalked off and as my eyes followed his back through the crowd I began to turn red because here came Elethor, perfectly pressed and polished in his fine black suit. I bowed my head and continued scrubbing at the wine spot in the skirt of my dress my frustration blossoming in the form of tears in my eyes. I didn’t know how to dance like them, I didn’t speak like them, all cultured and well educated and I wasn’t bold like Claire who didn’t care what anyone thought. My self-machinations were interrupted with a gentle finger under my chin as Elethor tipped my face up so he could see me. He sighed and knelt before me pulling a handkerchief from his breast pocket and wiping gently at my eyes.

           “Zenton do this?” he asked gently. I shook my head and sniffed. “Then what’s wrong?” he asked.

            “I don’t know why I became a Daeva Elethor. I’m not like any of you, I’m not rich or smart or graceful.” He stopped me with a finger to my lips.

            “Who dumped wine in your lap?” he asked, and I told him. He snorted. “That jackass,” he muttered. “I’ll deal with him later. Did he say why?” he asked then and I nodded.

          “I stepped on him.” I whispered. “I embarrassed him, but he dragged me out on the dance floor and I tried to tell him I didn’t know how to dance but he wasn’t going to take no for an answer and then I was out there and I…” he planted his palm across my mouth to shut me up, his blue eyes sparkling with barely suppressed laughter.

          “You don’t know how to dance?” he asked. I felt the blush creep up my face, the heat spreading up my neck and across my cheeks all the way up to my hairline and I nodded, humiliated. He straightened and stood, hauling me to my feet. “Then it is time to teach you.”

            I tried to protest but wished ardently not to make a scene as he towed me through the tables and chairs to the sweeping expanse of dance floor as the violin began its mournful song. I swallowed my heartbeat back in my chest and stood stiffly as he drew me close, placing his lips beside my ear to murmur to me,

           “Relax, good… close your eyes and move with me, good now follow my lead, just like mace practice.”

            I closed my eyes and as he stepped back I stepped forward until naturally we just flowed with the rest of the dancers around us, as a raindrop merged with a sea, allowing the current to take us…

           When I opened my eyes again the Elethor of now held me close, his eyes gently searching my face as he half smiled and half worried. It was so silent you could hear if a mouse was present and I stepped back a little to look around us. We were in a meeting hall, all of the tables and benches pushed off to the walls, the podium at the back of the stage where several daeva stood with their instruments. Elethor’s Legion circled us, those that had been dancing had stopped to stare and I felt suddenly and acutely exposed… What had I done?

          Dark spoke loud and clear, diverting the attention of Elethor’s legion who wore a mix of expressions ranging from curiosity, to shock and some even further down the line with an open seething hatred. Elethor put his lips against my ear and spoke low and fast, translating what Dark was saying.

          “I believe Dark is correct, he is telling them that you have obviously had too much wine and when we reached the bottom of the stair and you heard the music you were simply entranced…” nervous laughter twittered through the gathering in the room, “he said that Elysian music must be awful and if your reaction is anything to go by perhaps we should play our songs at the next fortress siege if we wish to succeed.” I bowed my head and bit my lip, my chest tightening with fear as the silence thickened and cooled.

            I was just about to let out the breath I’d been holding, grateful that it was okay when the calm shattered as someone’s rage boiled over. It started with a deafening crack as the butt of a staff connected with the stone floor; a woman’s voice rang out clear and strong in a single word of power unknown to me. Elethor’s arms opened, releasing me and he shoved me behind him turning and taking the blow intended for me square in the chest. I was knocked to the floor with him, his legion all stepping back towards the walls, creating a ring around us. Elethor lay stunned; the wind knocked out of him, the woman responsible for the blow standing over us screaming, eyes blazing with fury. I crawled toward Elethor, panic rising in my throat, tears borne of fear slipping from my lashes I started my prayer hands glowing and covered the painful wound in his upper shoulder and chest with light and released the healing energy into his body…

            It did nothing. I sobbed panic rising in my chest and tried again reciting the prayer perfectly and released the healing light into his body but again nothing happened. Strong hands gripped my upper arms and tried to pull me back but I shouted and tried yet again to heal the injury… to no avail. Finally the hands gripped down with no argument and pulled me backwards I struggled against their grip to get back to his side even as one of his legion’s clerics approached and did what I could not. Elethor sat up the look on his face bitter and angry, his eyes aglow with the fierce light of his power and he rounded on the woman, her staff out and ready to do battle…

Forty Three

2010-04-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

          I raised my hands out of the heated pool and cupped his face between them, leaning in for a kiss that was the barest whisper of a touch of my lips to his. His hands stayed on my back below the water line and gently kneaded the tight muscles in my lower back. I traced his lower lip with damp fingertips and for a moment could hardly believe this was real. He made a wry twist of his lips and murmured,

          “It is still so new isn’t it?”

          I nodded gently and bowed my forehead to his, closed my eyes and just relaxed listening to the gentle lap and fall of water around us and the soft murmur of conversation from the other pool. I was so still for so long I became slightly entranced, allowing my mind to let go, and slip into a light meditative state. Elethor was simply content to hold me and enjoy the moment as much as I but finally in a gentle, almost wistful tone he said,

          “Head back, keairrah,” his hands splayed low on my back and hips to allow me to arch back into the water with some grace. I bent backwards and dipped my hair in the pool as he had instructed, managing to get it all without fully submerging sitting up again, the tendrils of hair sticking to my neck and tickling my shoulders longer now that it was straight and wet. He smiled and held out a hand and with a flick of his wrist the bottle he wished left the neatly stacked platter at the pools edge and levitated to him. I quirked an eyebrow at the display of power which he had never been apt to perform before the cataclysm that I could remember. He smiled rakishly at me.

          “I would not let you go for a trifle such as this, not now and not ever.” I smoothed my hands up his shoulders where they rested, touched by his words and allowed them to come up the sides of his neck before burying them in the hair at the back of his neck, where his mane began and crushed my lips over his in a demanding kiss. He returned the kiss patiently drawing away slightly then a bit more insistently. He pulled one of my hands away from the side of his neck and laid a gentle plant of lips against the skin of the inside of my wrist where my pulse fluttered.

          I closed my eyes and let myself go in that small feeling for a moment when the smell of moon flowers brought me back to the water and the man and what it was exactly we were supposed to be doing there. Elethor poured a small amount of the liquid from the vial into the palm of his opposite hand and pressed the crystal into my free one. I capped it for him and held the bottle careful not to drop it. He rubbed the soap between his hands and reached out to work it into my hair, his hands returning to my back to support me so I could bend back once again to rinse the strands clean. I returned to a vertical position a little dizzy from the awkward position I had held. His lips curved appreciatively as his crystalline eyes roamed over me and I smiled back. He took the bottle of expensive soap from my hands and waved it back to its place on the platter. We rested in each other’s embrace for several moments when a woman cleared her throat behind me. I jumped and Elethor’s arms tightened around me reassuringly.

          She asked him something and I molded myself to him, hiding my front against his modestly, laying my head on his shoulder as he stroked my back both in and out of the water reassuringly. He answered the woman and I could hear the note of relief in his tone, the timbre of his voice controlled and as soothing as his hand on my back as he made his lengthy reply. I heard the soft click of her claws on the stone as she retreated and realized after several moments that they had all gone, and we were alone in the chambers with simply the sound of tinkling water against stone.

          “She will bring you something to wear and we will get out,” He mouthed against my ear, voice low and soothing yet still intense. “…though if I had it my way, I would take you again here and now.” I shivered in his embrace though not with cold and he laughed. He cradled me in his arms until she returned, another short and pleasant exchange between the two and she was gone again and he helped me out of the pool, wrapping me in a thick absorbent bath sheet, taking another for himself. The woman had brought a dress; the match to the white one Elethor had given me the last time I was here, though that one remained back in Elysea.

          I slipped into it and turned around. Elethor nodded appreciatively, and finished buckling the clasp at his throat on his tunic. He held out his hand to me and I took it, and he pressed my combs into my palm, I fixed my hair the way I liked it and we left the bath chamber together, my arm linked with his, hand lightly resting upon his wrist. He covered my hand with his and we moved up the hall, I shivered and this time it was with the chill that pervaded the air and he stopped in his tracks, unfastening his cloak and clasping it around my shoulders. He murmured slightly and tapped the edge of the material three times and I was warmer, just like that.

         I wrapped my arms around his and we continued on, though I did not know where it was he led us. It was soon apparent when we stepped into a wide open practice room for the martial arts where it was we were going, the room was open to the elements and a wide veranda for flight training beyond, and set with fine china and silver cutlery was a small table for two, lit beautifully with candles and waiting for us were two glasses of a rich ruby hued wine. I stopped and stared for a moment at the scene so perfectly set and turned bewildered eyes upon Elethor, who smiled gently at me. He leaned down so carefully and kissed me then, and with that kiss he told me so much more than he ever could with words that he loved me.

         He drew back and pulled out one of the chairs for me, I wrapped myself in his cloak and took the proffered seat as he tucked it beneath me, edging me close to the table. He sat opposite me and we were quiet for several moments, he spoke first.

          “What I would not give for you to stay with me.” He sipped at his wine and I cast my eyes at the pristine white table cloth.

          “I wish more than anything that I could.” I said in answer.

          “This frustrates me to no end.” He said with such vehemence. I looked at him sharply, and studied his face, his forehead marred by the deep lines of a frightening scowl.

         “I am going to have to go back.” I said softly, and with no little heartbreak.

          “Must you?” he asked “Could you not just stay here with me?” his voice faltered and I did not mock him, instead I took a breath and spoke the painful truth.

          “…and what my love? Remain hidden? Wait until the adaptations took hold of me, always watching, always fearing your Shadow Judges appearance? Always wondering as you leave for this battle or that battle if it will be the last and that you would never return to me?” I bowed my head and my lip trembled betraying the strong emotion I felt. “I could not bear it; I would go mad with the need to do something.” He came round the table and knelt before me and took my hands in his, letting them rest in my lap.

          “It’s a foolish notion, I know, but what would you have me do? I cannot bear this distance, not knowing if you are safe, or if you hurt and knowing I am powerless to save you the pain.” He kissed my fingers; head bowed his face hidden from me.

          “Keep faith. It is all I would have you do. Aion has a plan for us, I know not what he wills but we must keep our faith and know that some day we will be together.” He looked at me sharply searching my eyes and what he saw must have been enough, because he rose with a last gentle squeeze of my fingers and retook his seat.

          A little shugo appeared and our conversation halted for the time being as he set out a meal for us from a small silver cart he had brought with him. It looked like a lovely and flavorful pasta that steamed gently in the crisp outdoor air, and when the Shugo had gone and it was just me and my beloved again I realized I was famished. We ate and drank our wine and spoke softly of memories that spanned so far back in time they were vaguely hazy for the both of us, we laughed and at some points fell silent in tribute to the friends we had lost and I failed to notice when the twilight of the Asmodian day faded into deepest night with only the dwindling candles on the table left to push back the dark. Elethor watched me by the light of the flickering candles as we fell into a comfortable silence.

He rose and came to me, holding out a hand and as I placed my hand in it and rose to my feet he led me to the railing to look out over the grounds of his holding. It was amazing, the lights that emanated from the flora and fauna were bright and surreal and so amazingly beautiful in hues of deep blue, purple and pink. I stared; stunned by the twinkling lights of the tiny sparkle bugs wafting lazily from plant to plant. I looked at Elethor who only had eyes for me, and the question… is it always like this? died on my lips before I could speak it. He leaned down so carefully and kissed me and my heart seized in my chest and I swallowed hard and kissed him back and in that moment it too everything in me not to say. Yes, I will stay with you.

Forty Two

2010-03-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

          When I woke I found myself curled on my side, Elethor warm at my back his arms wrapped tight around me. It was a good way to wake up and even better when he brushed his lips against the back of my bare shoulder and murmured against my skin.

           “Good morning keairrah, how did you sleep?”

          It was hard to concentrate to form a coherent reply when he was trailing kisses like liquid fire across my skin, and so I did not try. I turned in his embrace and pressed my lips to his and relished the feel of his arms tightening around me, locking against my back and crushing me to him. My body came alive under his touch and my breath escaped me in a startled gasp as he lifted me bodily and laid me on my back so reverently, his hips matching mine and his hands finding my wrists. His grip was firm but not tight or frightening as he stared me in the eyes and raised my arms above my head, pinning them to the mattress. I was not afraid and it showed in my eyes, this must have reassured him because he kept me at his mercy and bent slowly and gently as if waiting for me to stop him, but I didn’t and he continued his descent to lay a kiss over the beating pulse in my neck. He trailed kisses down the line of my collar bone and continued even further down my body, his hands sliding softly down my arms when he could no longer reach to hold my wrists.

          I left my hands above my head my eyes closing as I relished the feel of him moving his lips across my breasts and along my ribs, trailing down my stomach until finally with a final press of lips on the jut of my hip bone the feel of him stopped. I opened my eyes and let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding, finding he had retreated to kneel on the mattress beside me. His hands rested on the tops of his thighs and an odd little smile graced his lips. I tipped my head to the side and let the query into my expression and his smile grew wider.

            “I’ve longed for this moment before the tower fell, and I have longed secretly for it ever since… I wish to never forget this. A moment to drink you in, allow me that?”

          I nodded, slowly and remained as I lay relaxing and did the same, watching him watching me and I felt the mirror to his smile on my own lips, until with a joyous laugh he leaned forward as I did, his arms circling high on my middle as my own went about his well muscled shoulders and we held each other and laughed for no other reason than we were happy until the laughter dissolved into kissing and the kissing grew heated, our hands lightly caressing one another until neither could stand it any longer and we made love, slowly savoring one another for as long as we could.

          We finished and I lay breathing heavily, Elethor’s ear pressed above my heart his eyes closed in pure bliss as he listened to its frantic beating as it fluttered in my chest. I combed gentle fingers through his hair allowing them to trail down the mane at the back of his neck before trailing them across his shoulder only to repeat the motion over again. His back rose and fell above me as he caught his own breath and I smiled so contentedly and tried very hard not to think about my return to Elysea.

            After long moments he rested his chin on my chest between my breasts, gazing up my body into my eyes. I smiled at him and quirked an eyebrow.

          “I do believe we need a bath.” He said finally and I laughed loud and clear and full throated and he smiled broader and raised himself off me, for which I was heartily sorry for. He pulled on a pair of soft worn in cloth breeches and I stood up. He gathered the top sheet from the bed and wrapped me in it, laughing as I spun in an obedient circle to twist myself into the cloth, tucking the end in close beneath my arm so I was sheathed in it from armpit to floor. He drew me close, his hands light on my hips as he bent to kiss me and I kissed him back reverently.

           I let out a whoop and laughed again as without warning he stooped, placed an arm beneath my knees and the other at my back and lifted me easily spinning me in a full circle. I wrapped my arms about his shoulder and kissed him, drawing back one hand cupping the side of his face, and smoothed my thumb along the strong line of his jaw.

           “I can walk now my love.” I whispered, leaning my forehead against his, closing my eyes and absorbing the feel of him so near to me.

          “Yes, but perhaps I feel the need to carry you.” He said. “Besides, the sheet is too long, you may trip.” He murmured. I drew back so that he may see where he was going.

           “We wouldn’t want that.” I said with a mock severity to my tone, letting him have his way.

           “Indeed we would not.” He smiled and strode for the door stooping a bit so I may open the latch. We followed the same route we had taken so many months ago only this time we did encounter people in the halls and with varied and mixed reactions. At first it was the Shugos of the Legion House, retained to care for the building. Some bustled from room to room changing linens much like at an inn, others filled the oil lamps at head height to keep them burning through the never ending dark of Asmodae. Some stopped and stared a tail or an ear twitching in curiosity, some went about their business as if nothing were amiss. Some whispered as we passed, but most remained silent.

          The Legionaries of Pantheon we encountered were very few though I stiffened in Elethor’s arms at their appearance. Two of his men stopped cold in their conversation in one hall and put their backs to the wall, both struck dumb at the appearance of their Brigade general carrying an Elyos woman down their hall. Another carrying a stack of books and scrolls tripped over his own feet, the papers and tomes crashing to the wood floor. The man knelt dumbfounded and tried to gather them though his eyes remained locked to Elethor’s back as we passed by. I looked into my beloved’s face as he continued on his path, so unconcerned and I let myself worry for the both of us. After we passed yet a third set of his legionaries a man and a woman who both jumped back in surprise the woman exclaiming something in the Asmodian tongue I raised my concerns.

           “Elethor, should we be doing this?” I asked, the worry tingeing my voice.

          “These are my people, I trust them and they trust me to lead them. We have nothing to fear this time. When you were injured so badly before, I feared I may lose you forever and so I secreted you away until I could get you the help that you desperately needed.” He bowed his head and continued on. “I’ll not lie to them again.” He finally said, bending to allow me to open the catch on the door to the subterranean bathing chambers. Laughter filtered up from below, the laughter of comrades at arms after a hard victorious fight. The sound was familiar no matter what the language spoken between the spates of laughing was.

          Elethor descended the stairs and the laughter died. I held tightly to him as he traversed the room to a smaller pool that steamed gently in the low lantern light. The pool where the laughter had come from held six individuals, two women and four men. All with either astonished or stricken faces. One of the men gathered his wits and spoke sharply, the sentence he spoke ending in a very clear question. Elethor, his back to them stiffened with me in his arms. His expression clouded over and became very dark, his voice low and threatening he made his reply. The man who had spoken to him blinked and his shoulders dropped. Elethor set me on my feet and smiled at me though it was tight around the edges and I could see he was being very controlled in his actions.

He untucked the corner of the sheet where it was secured at the top and unwound it from my body, enough to hold it out and use the sheet to block the view of the others behind us, preserving my modesty so that I may slip into the dark pool, unseen. When I was chest deep in the water, and hidden by the rock edge of the pool its self Elethor slipped out of his pants and into the water. Modesty did not seem to be a high priority among the Asmodians; though I was ever grateful he preserved mine.

Slowly a low conversation among his legionaries picked up again, though I could tell they watched us curiously and with no small amount of hostility. The place between my shoulders positively itched with how their eyes burned a hole through me. Elethor took a seat on the bench set below the waterline, his back to the wall where he could see the rest of the room and keep watch. He trusted his people, yet he was still not without caution. He held out a hand to me and I took it, gliding through the water noiselessly to him. He had me sit in his lap, straddling his waist so that I could look only at him and it helped ease my nervousness.

“No harm will come to you under my roof keairrah, I promise you.” he said, and I believed him.

Forty One

2010-03-24T01:16:00.000-07:00

          I was cold, and shivered lightly which is what woke me. I could feel the thick comforters and furs that I lay beneath trying their best to reflect my body’s heat back onto me but it just wasn’t enough. The bed was soft and comfortable and I opened my eyes sitting up swiftly. Elethor had to know, they had to be warned. As my eyes focused I was startled to see I was indeed in my beloved’s chambers as I had been before but I was also frightened to see he was not there. Instead the Gladiator from my arrival stood beside the bed and I shrieked and tried my best to back away from him dragging the sheet with me to cover me. He advanced a step, hands out and I shouted at him, backing myself off the other side of the bed and landing on the floor in a tangle of sheets and blankets. The door to the chamber burst open and Elethor stepped in, setting a tray on a side table and came round the bed to kneel beside me, pulling me into his arms.

          “It’s all right keairrah, I’m here. Shhh, Dark is a friend, he won’t hurt you.” He tucked my head beneath his chin and cradled me against his chest sitting on the floor with me. I closed my eyes and listened to his heart and relaxed into his gentle embrace as he rocked me. He looked at the big Gladiator and said something to him in Asmodian. The big man crossed his arms over his chest and nodded, turning his back on us. Elethor picked me up and settled me back into the soft mattress and returned my dignity to me by tucking me in. Curling up beside me on top of the covers and holding me to him. He said something again and the Gladiator, Dark, turned and seemed much more relaxed now that I was calm. A short exchange between him and Elethor and he brought the tray to the bedside table handing my lover a steaming bowl of soup.

          “Sorry,” he said as he turned a spoon over to Elethor. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Ele asked me to watch you sleep while he went down to get you something to eat. We didn’t expect you to wake up with him gone.” I stared eyes wide with shock.

          “You speak Elysean.” I said and could not hide my surprise. “How did you…?” Elethor smiled at us both and held a spoon full of soup up which I ate obediently, suddenly ravenous. It was salty and tasted so good, the golden broth and fine noodles soothing the small pieces of fowl cooked to perfection.

          The gladiator sat carefully on the edge of the bed by my feet. He was so tall, and his shoulders broad beneath the black lacquered breastplate. His skin was so pale and reminded me of fine bone china, framed in long black hair a full two shades darker than his armor. A black mark of some kind surrounded his left eye and I was startled to see it matched the one my lover bore over his. The black ink stood out from his skin in an amazing and startling contrast, over all making the man frightening and bold in his appearance.

          “Spent some time in your sun-drenched lands.” He said. “I learned a few things of the language while I was there.” He smiled but it was not a happy one, in fact it was very bitter and made him look harsh and unforgiving. I swallowed another bite of soup and smiled at Elethor. I was grateful for his help, I doubted I could hold the bowl and spoon steady my hands trembled so badly, blood loss was a tricky thing, and besides that I had all ready been graceless and an embarrassment to myself enough. I needed to be heard and they needed as much time as they could so without further pleasantries I told them why I was there, patiently telling them twice, once in Elysian for Dark and again in Olde Daevic for Elethor.

          I looked at my beloved as I finished and said “… I do not wish to be a traitor to my people, but this isn’t a military movement. This is murder they are planning and they must be stopped. Not only for the souls they wish to destroy but also for their own.” Elethor handed the bowl of nearly finished soup back to Dark and drew me to him wrapping me in his arms and though I wished not to I cried. I hated that I bore them horrible news, I hated even more that my people were capable of such ruthless behavior. This was to be expected from the Balaur, not from the Daeva sworn to protect the humans of Atreia, whether it was sundered in two or not.

         The three of us sat quietly for a moment absorbed in our own thoughts and the gravity of the situation. Finally Dark rose to his feet and collected his great sword where it leaned against the wall. Elethor gently moved me, slipping out from beneath me where he had been cradling me against his chest and made to get up. Dark asked him a question and Elethor stilled mid motion finally nodding a slight smile gracing his lips and settled back beside me.

          “I’m off to spread the word and make the preparations for their coming. You two have been apart enough and this is something I can do without him.” He jutted his chin at Elethor and his jaw tightened. “Enjoy each other; time spent with the one you love isn’t to be taken for granted.” And he sounded like he knew. He slipped through the door and shut it firmly but noiselessly behind him and I thought it was odd that a man of his size could be so graceful in his movements. I laid my head against Elethor’s shoulder and closed my eyes.

          “What did he say to you?” he asked, and I told him. He kissed my forehead and tucked the blankets around me more firmly holding me against his chest with such a docile strength and I admit it, I melted into the embrace and wished I could stay like this forever.

          “You have to stop coming to me like this keairrah, I cannot bear seeing you broken and bleeding.” He tipped my chin to look me in the eyes and I saw such pain in his own that my heart seized in my chest for a moment. I kissed him softly then, a light and chaste brush of lips that made me close my eyes so that I may enjoy the feeling all the more. He deepened the kiss slowly, and languorously taking his time with it and I let him, allowing us the illusion that I would not have to go soon that we had all the time we could ever want with each other.

          “How did you come to me?” he finally mused. I cuddled close to him shivering lightly with the cold of the room and relished in the heat he put off. He was so warm to the touch, almost feverish had he been human or Elysian but I suspected that a rise in body temperature was yet another adaptation to the Asmodian environ.

          “I think I am soul bound to you.” I said finally. “I could feel my bind so far away in Sanctum, and when it was up, I could feel my kisk but as I lay there dying I felt something closer than Elysea and I took a chance and followed that thread of my soul and I found you.”

          His look became thoughtful and he rocked me gently as he considered the implications. Finally he bent and kissed me softly once more before speaking. “You must promise me Sirona, that if this is true to use it to your advantage should one of our lands finally fall to the other. If Asmodae is victorious I need you by my side so that I may protect you, if it falls, then I would see your face one last time before your people end me.” I wanted to protest the last, but he put a finger to my lips and closed his eyes to hide the pain that such a thought would bring him and in a tone that bordered on pleading said “Please keairrah, please promise me.”

          I did the only thing I could I looked my lover in the eyes and said “I promise you Elethor. My lips to Aion’s ear I swear to you, I will do as you ask.” He nodded and kissed my forehead and I tucked my ear to his chest and listened to his heart and basked in his warmth and affection. I felt safe, and loved and so calm with him and it was like nothing I had ever felt before.

          “What is that word you keep calling me?” I asked to keep myself from falling asleep again.

         Elethor chuckled, “Keairrah?” he asked me, and I nodded against his chest. “It is an Asmodian term of endearment. It means ‘little dark one’, do you not like it?” he asked.

          “I love that you have a name for me.” I said. “Keairrah," I said, tasting the word. "it’s pretty.” I tried valiantly to stay awake but I could feel sleep sucking at the edges of my consciousness.

          “Sleep my keairrah,” he said as if he’d read my mind, “I promise to stay right here. I won’t go anywhere.” He wrapped me more securely in his arms and made sure the blankets and furs were close and snug and settled back into the pillows himself, arranging me so that I lay comfortably on his shoulder and chest. I lay my free arm that wasn’t trapped between us across his hips and hugged closer to him and though I’d like to say I listened to his breathing, and enjoyed the feel of him near me, I can remember no more than that last movement because I was fast asleep.

Forty

2010-03-20T20:45:00.000-07:00

         I fought furiously to express that I meant no harm, that I was not there for nefarious purposes but the assassin would not relent. I fought only to defend myself countering his blades with the shaft of my mace blocking what I could with my shield but it was a losing battle. I downed mana serum and potions and healed myself at every chance but I could feel my reserves of the mystical energy waning and I knew that I would not be able to keep myself up forever, that it was only a matter of time. I cried out and screamed over and again my purpose for being there in every language I could think of, but I knew that it fell on deaf ears and that I was not understood.

           I was growing weak; I could feel the life draining out of me as my wounds bled profusely. Billy was doing everything he could to hold the woman back; she spit and howled furiously at him as she tried to lend the assassin aide. I struggled to stem the flow of blood with my shield hand and my prayers but it was too much. I slipped to the ground my legs caving from beneath me and stared into the sky too weak to look elsewhere. Billy hit the dirt, suddenly on his knees beside me and tried to lift my head off the cold hard ground. He screamed at the woman but all she did was cross her arms and look away. I coughed and felt the hot splash of my own blood coat my cheek. My lungs barely worked and would not continue to for much longer. I gripped the front of Billy’s robes and choked…

          “Elethor.” In the Asmodian pronunciation and Billy nodded.

         “Elethor,” he said and then spoke in broken Elysean, “Go, go Elethor before.” He smoothed the hair from my eyes and nodded emphatically, encouraging but I did not know what he meant.

         “They’re coming. You have to warn your people.” I closed my eyes and struggled to hold on to life and felt for my kisk, but it was gone… and the tears welled. I was so close to accomplishing my goal I had to be sure they had to be warned I felt desperately for my kisk and found something else, a bind nearer than Elysea. I mean I could feel the thread of my soul bound so far away in Sanctum but I also felt a second thread, one that was bound much closer, though in a direction opposite where I had come from, where my kisk should have been. The woman began shouting at Billy again but he waved her off and I tried one last time to make him understand, pulling the thick bloodstained envelopes from inside my armor and thrusting them at Billy.

          “Take these to Elethor, you have to. He has to be warned.” Billy crushed the papers in his hand around mine and nodded excitedly.

         “Yes! Elethor. You go, before. Close eyes go Elethor, before.” I sobbed; I didn’t know what he meant. I prayed and struggled to live to make him understand but my body was quickly denying me. I shook violently and could not draw air and though I fought I could feel my body giving way, returning to the flow of aether and I felt calm and I was ready to let go and I closed my eyes and thought of my beloved Elethor and faded, I took the chance and followed that piece of my soul, not to Sanctum where I had bound but the closer one, though I knew not where I would end up.

          I collected to myself again and collapsed to my hands and knees on thick carpet. My mace dropped from nerveless fingers and my shield clattered against the wood of some great desk. My body was whole, as if I had resurrected at a kisk and I felt no soul sickness but I was so very weak. I struggled to my feet with the last vestiges of strength that remained in me my head swimming from the recent blood loss. I saw the great Asmodian male, at least I thought he was a he, so broad of shoulder, arms massive though I could not see his face, obscured as it was by his helm but his two handed sword I did see and it was rising and very ready to cleave me in two. My eyes widened and I put up my hands in a futile defense when the clear, familiar commanding voice rang out and the gladiator stopped. I turned but everything seemed so slow and when I saw him I collapsed to my knees again, my heart and mind flooded with relief as Elethor rounded his desk and reached for me, his arms caught me up and I sank gratefully into them as he lowered me carefully to the floor.

Elethor… I had made it, somehow and in some way I had made it. Oh thank you Aion. Thank you Father. His expression was fierce and worried as he began pulling apart buckles and straps to find where the congealing blood coating my armor emanated from. I felt my wounds were sealed and I was whole again and I tried to speak but my voice and mind failed me as the world flashed with gray and white streamers that fell from my vision obscuring everything. I tried valiantly to hold on, to not pass out or faint and to deliver my warning but it wasn’t happening. The best I could manage was to interlace the fingers of my right hand with his hand nearest it and give a faint squeeze that I hoped would reassure him. It was all I could do, all I had left in me before the world blurred and became too hazy to bear and I closed my eyes and fell away into the merciful dark confines of unconsciousness.

Thirty Nine

2010-03-19T19:10:00.000-07:00

          I forced myself to remain calm and went back to the square every day for three days to listen to the young Daeva named Anschau. I needed as much information about his insidious plan before I tried anything, and I was dismayed to hear he was smart, planning his attack during the dark of the moon in Asmodae, a mere week before mine and Elethor’s next rendezvous in our secret cavern. More and more Daeva were amassing in the square each day to listen to the scout, and I was shocked at how many of them agreed with him, at how many of them thirsted for the blood of our lost brethren and I was afraid.

            I took what kinah I had to the brokerage and spent it on supplies for the journey I knew I had to make. I bought mana and healing potions and serums and stocked my cube well; I also bought five kisk stones, the most expensive of my purchases by far. I made certain to bind myself to Sanctum’s great obelisk carefully, should my kisks be destroyed and should I have to try again, and then I went back to Ailsie’s. I thrust warm underclothing into my cube and strapped on my armor carefully securing my mace to my belt and shield to my back and tucking my staff away beneath them. Ailse watched me from the doorway.

             “You aren’t going with those fools in the square are you?” she demanded. I smiled at her.

             “I may be half cracked mind wise but you have to give me more credit than that.” I said. She made an ugly frown and glared at me.

             “Make sure your warning is heard. I don’t condone murder either. Those pluma brains go too far and it baffles me that the Empyrean Lords are blind to their machinations.” She looked severely dismayed and I felt for her. Ailsie had always put her faith in our system, the fact that the Empyrean Lords turned a blind eye to an atrocity, a genocide in progress in our own capital city, out in the open like this had us frightened almost as much as anything else.

              Military tactics in the Abyss and even on Asmodian soil was one thing but raiding for the sake of wanton blood spill was another. I snapped the top of my cube closed and went to hang it on my belt when Ailsie stopped me with a wave of her hand.

              “Take these, I suspect you’ll need them.” She said and handed me a fat sheaf of scrolls. I began to read one and stopped, hugging her.

              “I suspect you are right.” I tucked the running scrolls away and made for the door.

          “I hope you know what you are doing Sirona, I don’t like what they are doing… but I don’t like what you are doing either. If it is so easy to tell them about something like this, one might think you give other secrets away.” I stopped cold and turned to her.

           “Do you really think I am a traitor to my people?” I asked her, suddenly chilled and feeling hollow.

           “No. I don’t think you would tell them anything else other than about this, still it is a short step from this to our methods in the abyss...” she chewed her lip thoughtfully and really looked at me before finally having the grace to say “Don’t get caught, be careful. I don’t think the rest of Elysea would see it the way I do you are my friend and no traitor. Now go find tall dark and Asmodian and save as many as you can.” She thrust her chin at the door and I slipped out and rushed for the teleporter to Heiron. I worried to myself that Ailsie may tell that it was me that had sent out the alarm to the Asmodian people, but she was my friend and I had faith in her that she would not.

           I had no idea where the rift would be, nor where it would dump me out on the other side but I had to find it, I just had to and so I searched. I unfolded the crude map I had drawn from memory after studying the maps of known rift locations at the Library of the Sages and blessed my lessons in the cloister on memory. Priests were always schooled carefully in memory for prayers, chants and hymns. Most of us were fortunate enough to benefit from these lessons a near perfect recall of anything we saw written or drawn.

            I prayed as I hiked through the jungle to the first rift location, that I would not only find it up but that I would be able to use it and cursed when I reached where it should be and found nothing. I checked the sky and satisfied that there was indeed a rift somewhere in the area pressed on, and luck would be with me. I found one. I sent a silent thank you to Aion and brought my shield off my back, settling it on my arm. I gripped my mace in the opposite hand and braced myself for the cold that lay on the other side as well as the unknown and stepped through.

             Traveling by rift was nothing like traveling by a sorcerer’s gate. With a gate it was a slight moment of disorientation, a lurch if you will and then the world steadied and evened out. With a rift, it was entirely different. A primal bone grinding experience that left many a solid Daeva bent double on the other side retching. Some trips through were worse than others and as I felt my body pulled through the aether at an incredible rate I knew this was not going to be a good ride.

             I was pitched violently out the other side of the rift, into the snow and landed hard on my knees. My fingers pinched between the handle of my mace and the ground painfully as I emptied the contents of my stomach into the snow. I retched helplessly for agonizing minutes knowing that at any moment an enterprising Daeva protecting Asmodian soil could come along and send me back to my bind point. Luck or Aion or both was with me as no such thing happened. I scrambled to my feet as quickly as I could and searched for cover, planting my kisk as near as I could tell out of sight and reciting the chant to bind that thread of my soul to it. My teeth chattered and my fingers tingled painfully with the icy cold and I worried about hypothermia for a fraction of a moment before I set out.

          I had no notion of how I would find him, or even if I would get my warning through in time but I patted my ribs where the thick envelopes lay under my armor the same message repeated in each, and each bearing his name in the rough Asmodian language on the outside. It had cost me dearly to have the Shugo write them, even more than it had cost me to find the little scholar versed in both Elysean and Asmodian in the first place. Miriamonyerk had done well for me in that regard, though I had felt terribly guilty that she would take no coin for the information that led me to the Shugo that could put me in contact with the scholar for the exorbitant fee.

             My plan was rough and imperfect but it was all I had. I would search the snowfields of Beluslan for any sign of my lover’s legion crest and I would engage the Asmodians I saw wearing that crest, not in combat but in conversation to the best of my ability. I would try to give them one of the envelopes before they sent me back to my bind point or Elysea and I would do this until I had none of the fifty or so envelopes left. I stayed off the roads but close enough to watch them for any occupants and frustratingly saw no one in the desolate landscape. I kept going, ranging out farther and farther from my kisk listening for footfall or breath, the rustle of cloth or the rub of leather. I fell into the training that Toxemia had given me, moving as quietly as I could stepping the ways he had shown me to lessen the chiming of my chain, when finally I heard it – a laugh. Sharp and clear and oh so familiar, though I could not remember for the life of me where I had heard it before. So much for memory lessons eh?

             I crept to the edge of the brush and peeked out at the road and sent a silent prayer of thanks to Aion for his mercy and the shine of good fortune he had placed upon me because the Asmodian man that walked along the road I knew though the female at his side I did not. I slipped out one of the envelopes and stood up so they could see me, hands out and away from my body and kept my weapons sheathed and at bay. The woman leapt back and brought out her staff and shouted at the man who took a defensive staff, the glow of magic coalescing between his hands even as his water spirit made to attack. Recognition flashed across his face and he barked at his pet, an order which I could only guess was to stand down for he and it relaxed. The woman, however, did not. Though lovely to look at, with log white hair and gracefully curving horns over a delicate face, she spat something rough and harsh into the frosty air and Billy the spirit master and friend to my lover turned calmly to her and made for an explanation.

             It was then that everything devolved into blood and pain. I had not seen or heard the assassin, in fact I had no clue at all he was there until his daggers tore into my side, the pain was sharp, searing and immediate and for a moment all I could do was scream before my wits collected and the prayers began to fall from my lips in a bid to heal myself. Billy was yelling the woman was yelling and the assassin pressed on, determined to end me, I healed myself and begged for him to stop all the while thrusting the letter at Billy finally he took it and I brought out my shield and tried my hardest to fend off my assailant’s blades, though by now I did not know if it would be enough…

Thirty Eight

2010-03-19T00:24:00.000-07:00

       Sin considered me for long unhappy moments, her gaze steady and unsettling, but I remained firm in my position. I held very still in my seat, refusing to fidget, despite an extreme desire to do so when finally she spoke, causing me to jump slightly. I cursed myself silently.

       “We’re sorry to see you go, but if it is really what you want or what you think would be best given the circumstances then I can hardly say no.” she was saying. I inclined my head carefully to hide the tears that welled in my eyes.

       “I’ve done enough damage to him, he needs something steady and I would not take his Legion away from him in addition to what I all ready have. So yes, it is my wish to leave Destiny, I will find something else Sin I just don’t want to hurt him anymore.” The tears won out and slipped free and Sin’s shoulders sank.

       “Sirona, I don’t know what happened with you two. Neither one of you are talking, but Elysea needs a Cleric of your ability out there so I am granting your discharge from Destiny but I urge you to find a Legion that can put you to use.” She signed the papers I brought before her and handed them to me with a murmured “For Elysea, and good luck to you.”

       I took my papers and fled the Legion office for Ailsie’s home; my head lowered thinking furiously on the last few days. Ailsie had taken me in with no further word on the subject, showing me to her guest room and closing the door softly on my sobs. The next morning I sat at her dining table as she set breakfast before me and stared in dejected silence at the glossy wood of her table. She had retreated to a knock on her door and escorted Toxemia into the room silently where she took a seat across from me and he took the one beside me.

       “Oh hi.” He said and bumped his shoulder against mine. I looked at him and the tears started immediately, hot and shameful on my skin.

         “How is he?” I asked.

        “Sleeping it off I suppose, he got pretty drunk, found me at the tavern last night in a rage talking some nonsense about you… well yeah.” He tipped my face into the light from the galley window and inspected the deep purple bruise and cut where Aalairius had struck me. “You should heal that.” He said.

        “You’re not angry?” I asked.

        “I didn't say that. In fact I'm not gonna lie, I’m pretty pissed. You hurt my friend, a lot… and that isn’t cool.” He sighed as I bowed my head and the sobs started again. Ailsie set down her glass and gave him a harsh look.

       “If you’re going to come in here just to give her…” she started but Tox cut her off.

        “Silence woman! I’m not done.” He tugged on his jerkin and turned back to me. “As I was saying, you hurt my friend and I’m not cool with that, but you’re my friend too and it’s pretty obvious he hurt you too… so yeah, I don’t know what to think or do or whatever.”

       I wiped at my eyes with a handkerchief and sighed before saying “Just promise me you’ll take care of him.” Toxemia hugged me in an awkward sideways motion and shook his head his eyes far away in thought.

       “I’ll try, but honestly who is gonna take care of you?” he searched my face and I smiled weakly at him.

       “I’ll take care of me somehow.” I said and he nodded.

       “Then for fucks sakes heal your face.” He said with mock sternness and I laughed a little and shook my head.

       “I deserved it. It’ll heal on its own.” I had told him, and that had been the end of the discussion on that. Now, several days later the bruise was fading to that garish yellow green sickly color that all healing bruises have and I was walking, shoulders hunched and stiff back to Ailsie’s, newly Legion less and feeling sorry for myself. I was comfortable again, in my chain and the metal links chimed softly with my movements, a reassuring sound. I would take some odd jobs and do the simple task here and there for a while, I had decided. It would give me time to supplement my kinah and with any luck an opportunity would present its self. As I neared Elyos Square I noticed it was becoming harder to get through and my reverie snapped and I was thrust back out of my thoughts and into the thickening crowd around me…

       What the bloody blue blazes… I thought to myself, and then I saw what the gathering humans and Daeva were watching. It was a young Daeva on an over turned crate. He stood tall, a bow on his back and his hair sweeping into his eyes, that blazed with such intensity and as I neared I could hear what it was he was shouting. He was angry, and said he was the leader of the Legion, Seven Stars over Sanctum. He was very charismatic and beguiling and mostly went on about the evil lurking above or some such. At first I thought he meant the Abyss but as I stopped to listen I realized he spoke of Asmodae. His deep blue eyes blazed with a fierce hatred and anger and I soon realized his cries were a rallying call to arms, but not to battle… He spoke of a place in Asmodae where the Legion houses were, and how through untold hardships and trials his scouting had unearthed the habits of these Legions, when they slept, when they ate…

       More and more Daeva’s gathered in the square and my chest filled with a cold dread as I heard their shouts of agreement. He intended to lead them in an assault against these houses, but not in a militaristic fashion… he intended to do murder. To slip in stealthy with as many as could be found, to ‘wipe out the creatures’ in the surrounding villages… he not only intended to end Daeva’s he intended to kill the humans of Asmodae, the very humans Aion created us to protect…

      I had to warn them.

Thirty Seven

2010-03-18T13:35:00.000-07:00

          Elethor kissed my forehead lightly as I lay in his arms, relishing the feel of his fingers lazily trailing up and down my spine. My eyes were closed and his heartbeat echoed in my ear louder somehow with my lack of sight. I loved it, I loved this moment and most importantly I loved him. We lay nestled in each other’s arms among our discarded clothing, still and silent a slight breeze from the abyss playing along our skin. He broke the silence first…

          “Do you want to talk about him?” he asked, and I knew only one man that he could or would speak of at a time like this.

          “He is a good man.” I said simply then after a pause went on to say, “He was there, when I woke in the infirmary with a shattered memory. He was patient and kind and took me for who I was and I grew to love him after a time. He took care of me.” Elethor held me tighter and tipped my chin with gentle fingers so that I would look at him.

          “Do not think me upset with you Sirona, I could never be that. I understand, you thought me dead, you mourned and you grieved and you moved on…” I stopped him cold, my fingers against his lips.

          “No. Never that, I never moved on Elethor, I tried but I couldn’t.” And I told him what Fenin had told me. He held me tighter than even before and kissed me deeply when I was through, before settling me against his shoulder in silence again. When he spoke, his voice trembled with emotion which he had never been good at expressing aloud, even a thousand years ago.

          “I never took a lover; I couldn’t do that to anyone, knowing that even if I made love to them it would always be you I would be seeing, wanting… needing.” He cuddled me closer and we lay still for a long time.

          “I am not looking forward to telling him… but I will, before anything else goes further.” I held to him for long moments when the flutter of feather and the light tread of landing reached us. We stiffened, his arms locking me to his body his hands gone icy against my back as he called upon his magic. I could not see pressed against his chest as I was but I let out a breath I hadn’t known I was holding when he relaxed and his hands grew warm against my skin once more. I turned cautiously to see his friend Billy at the entrance to the cavern. He cast his eyes to the floor and quickly turned away to allow us the illusion of privacy. Elethor reluctantly let me go and we dressed.

         Most of the buttons to my blouse were missing and so I made do by overlapping the front as tight as I could and tucking the ends into the waistband of my skirt. I tried very hard not to be sad, knowing that our time was short and all ready to an end with one another, and it was as if Elethor read my mind, gathering me to his chest and holding me gently speaking softly into my ear for his words were meant only for me.

          “The fifth day of every month at the dark of Elysea my keairrah, I will be waiting for you. If my duty calls me away you will find a letter beneath the boulder to your right. I will look for word from you if you are not able to come.” He kissed my temple then and took a step back, sorrow and regret etched into the lines of his face.

          “Elethor!” I stopped him before he could take wing. He looked at me standing forlorn with my staff and waited expectantly. “I love you.” I said and put all the feeling I could behind the words. He smiled and nodded at Billy, who looked decidedly distressed and they both took wing, disappearing into the Abyss.

          I stood in the cavern and prayed for a long time, for strength and for guidance but it seemed Aion was not listening today for I felt neither as I took wing myself and wheeled toward Roah. I flew carefully, and Aion’s grace was with me after all for I encountered no one. I touched down lightly and arms crossed over the ruin of my blouse took a teleport to Teminon, then to Verteron then to Sanctum where I moved swiftly through the night darkened streets toward home.

           I slipped through the front door to our dwelling and shut it quietly and firmly behind me, resting my forehead against the satiny Ulmus wood for a bit. The creaking of one of our galley chairs caused me to turn to face the darkened room and Aalairius who now leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, large hands clasped together as he considered me with his light gray eyes, brow furrowed.

           “Where were you this time Sirona?” he asked taking in my disheveled appearance. “The truth this time, no lies.” He added.

            “The abyss,” I said with my lips tingling with dread.

            “Who is he?” he asked standing in one fluid motion, eyes narrowing as they shrewdly ticked down the front of my torn blouse, stopping at each missing button. I closed my eyes and felt my heart sink, and I told him the truth, all of it.

             “His name is Elethor, or rather Elethor is alive, and not lost in the Cataclysm as I first thought…” I went on to tell him everything, how it had been Elethor that had saved me from my captors, and cared for me and how he had made certain I was returned to Elysea. I spoke swiftly and kept my eyes closed out of cowardice, afraid to see his face, of what he would think of me… when I opened them he stood so close, bare inches from my front a look of pure incendiary rage veiling his features. I swallowed hard, and for the very first time ever I feared Aalairius, the man who had cared for me for the last two years, who had held me gently when I cried, and kissed me gently when I smiled and made love to me so softly the times in between. It should not have surprised me what he did then, though I admit that it did.

             His hand was a blur as it swung up and out. I tasted copper as the back of it connected with my jaw, the entirety of my face going numb from hairline to chin with the shock of the blow. It was so sudden and so fierce it knocked me to the floor, the tears welling in my eyes and spilling crystalline down my face before my mind caught up to the pain. I looked up at him from my prone position on the floor but he would not look at me, his voice when it came was low and angry and reminded me of the distant sound of thunder of an impending storm.

             “Get out. Get your things, and leave my house and never come back, I don’t have room for a whore under my roof. You have an hour, you had better be gone before I return or I will end you.” He looked at me then and the anger that shone from his face terrified me. “Do you understand me?” he asked “I will end you.” And with that final threat he yanked open the door and stepped through, slamming it behind him. I hugged my knees to my chest and let out a choking scream of a sob and wept my bitter angst onto my skirted knees.

              I had deserved every bit of what he said, every bit. When I had managed control of myself again, shoving all the hurt and tears away in a box that I locked and shoved to the core of my being where it remained barely contained, I rose numbly, and coldly began shoving my things away in my cube and a spare trunk. I took my armor, my weapons, and my clothes and a bag of kinah I had managed to save, and when I looked back at the home I had shared with Aalairius, the man I had loved, the man that I still loved I felt empty.

             I hauled the trunk before me and left, marching purposefully through the late night streets, worrying my swollen lower lip between my teeth as I moved deeper into the city. I had no place to go, but one… and I prayed to Aion that his light be merciful and that I be taken in. I reached my destination as the tears began to flow again and took a deep breath and knocked. The door to Ailsie’s home opened, a rectangle of golden firelight spilling out into the street illuminating me. She looked startled for a moment and then her shoulders sank and I burst into sobs. She reached out and hugged me and spoke her peace.

            “Oh Sirona… Aion told you to love them both, but he never said they had to love you back did he?”

             I cried into my friend’s shoulder my trunk forgotten at my feet and cursed myself. I loved them both, so much, so very much… but I had been so short sighted and taken their love in return for granted… Ailsie was right, neither of them had to love me back and though Elethor did, he was a world away from me and now, I doubted Aalairius ever could or would love me back again. In that moment I wished ardently that he had seen fit to end me, in fact I wished it very much.

            I prayed then. Aion save me from myself...

Thirty Six

2010-03-02T20:12:00.000-08:00

          I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was always pleasantly warm and a touch humid near Asteria. I had found the cave with no trouble, skirting along the edge of the chasm around the fortress carefully, sticking to shadow where I could lessen the glare of light against my white wings so they could not give me away. I had met with no opposition, seen no shine of red eyes nor had I felt the shadow of dark ebon wing. I had flown the length of the cave and landed lightly at its other side where it opened into the abyss. I stood there, leaning my staff against a nearby rock within reach and felt vulnerable without my chain. I had dressed lightly in a red skirt and blouse. Sin had made it clear to me should I be seen in armor or with mace and shield anywhere outside Sanctums’ practice grounds my suspension would be a permanent one. I could not risk it, and so I wore only cloth and had flown carefully and set myself up for evasive maneuvers should they be necessary.

          I waited nervously, pacing gently watching the cave both where it deepened behind me where I had come in and where it opened out over the vast nothingness. The globe of fire that was a part of the Abyss and that gave Elysea its golden light gave me no indication of the time of day here, though I knew that sunset must be close in the land far below me. My chest felt tight and I wanted to gasp for breath my anxiety was so high but I forced myself to breathe slow, deep and even.

           The snap of feather and the flutter of cloth caused me to whirl and face the ledge; I caught a swirl of black wing and blue cloth and the fierce red glow of combat ready eyes as the thud and scrape of clawed feet caused me to start and he stood there, warm and alive and so very real it near broke my heart that we stood in proximity to one another once again. Elethor’s wings disappeared in a swirl of aether and he strode toward me eyes glowing fiercely his voice a rough growl as he said,

          “What are you doing here!? You should not have come!” but I was not afraid as he swept me into his arms and I wrapped my legs around his hips and he crushed his mouth over mine. He strode deeper back into the cave his momentum from his landing carrying us back until finally I was fetched up against the cavern wall. My head snapped back and our kiss was broken and I saw stars as my skull connected with the rough brown stone, but I didn’t have time to think, not with him so close, clawed hands on my ass holding me to him, braced between his solid body and the hard stone. I tightened my legs around him and wrapped my arms around his shoulders; my head was swimming, white starbursts still going off in my vision. His voice came to me, muffled as his lips played along my neck and collarbone. I shuddered in his embrace and tried to make sense of what he said to me. Finally he drew back, the red gone from his eyes, their color back to the beautiful crystal I loved so much and he asked me again…

          “Do you want this Sirona?” I pressed my lips to his and drew back to look him in the eyes and answered from my heart.

          “Yes. I want this Elethor; I want you more than anything.” He shook and bowed his head and said to me.

           “I cannot promise to be gentle.” I didn’t care and I held to him tighter and told him…

           “Then don’t be.” … and it was enough for him. He set me down, buttons from my blouse flying as he parted the material to kiss down my neck and across my breasts. I worked the buttons and clasps on the front of his tunic while he was occupied, dizzy with desire pushing the cloth back off his shoulders and down his arms, he let me and all too soon the silk fluttered and settled to lay forgotten on the cavern floor. He turned me then, fetching me against the wall once more, pinning me from behind with his body so tender with an edge of violence that left my pulse pounding in excitement. One of his hands he buried in the back of my hair stroking my neck the other working the clasp at my skirt, all the while so careful and mindful of his claws near my skin.

            He stopped his breath hot and lovely against the skin of my shoulder and he just held me there against the stone for several long moments. His lips rested against where the curve of my neck met the curve of my shoulder, playing lightly against the hollow there. My skirt slipped over my hips and down my legs to puddle on the cavern floor beside his tunic and we were still like that just wrapped in one another for a heartbeat. He spun me again and took both my wrists in one hand, claws gently prickling my wrists as he raised them above my head and pinned them against the rock wall his other hand working his belt loose before tearing the silk of my panties with a wet angry sound. He let go of my wrists and I wrapped my arms around his shoulders again as he lifted my hips and pinned me between himself and the wall again. My legs naturally wrapped around him and cradled him to me and we stared each other in the eye and he went very, very still.

           “Tell me again that you want this.” His voice was low and velvet to my ear and I could hear the restraint in it as he trembled, still quite the gentleman even after a thousand years of wanting.

           “I want you.” I said against his lips, my breath warm against my own mouth as I kissed him, flicking my tongue against his lower lip, my body strung tight with need wanting him to kiss me back. He groaned deep in his chest and crushed his mouth over mine once more tongue slipping passed my teeth to conquer my mouth completely and with a rounded movement of his hips he took me, fiercely gentle thrusting inside me… and the tears of joy leaked from the corners of my eyes and I held to him so tightly and we made love for the first and quite possibly the last time.

            He was rough but at the same time oh so careful not to hurt me. His movements deliberate and controlled, despite how he trembled to keep himself in check. He alternately held me helpless, wrists pinned against the wall in one hand while the other roamed freely across my body, and other times he let me touch him while his hands remained locked to my hips, thumbs caressing over my hip bones. He never gave up kissing me, his mouth trailing fire across my jaw, down my neck across my collarbone… My skin was awash in a tingling euphoria that was simply his effect on me, I could feel him trembling as his hold on me began to weaken through the sheer exertion it took to support us both despite the stone at my back. He withdrew from me and let me down, drawing me against his body as soon as my feet touched the ground.

              “Elethor…” I began but he cut me off.

              “No, no. I have not waited a thousand years to be sated so quickly. I am going to take my time with you keairrah.” He began to kneel with me in his arms and I sank to the ground with him, he laid me back carefully on a makeshift bed of our discarded clothes kissing me so softly. I buried my hands in the mane at the back of his neck as he cradled me close and moved me in a better position to take me and began his careful ministrations all over again. He stroked the side of my face and stared me in the eyes his other hand cradling my thigh as he pressed himself against me. He kissed me deeply as he sheathed himself in my body stroking himself so carefully over that place inside me, my body filling with pleasure as if it were water being poured into a cup. My breath came louder and in uneven gasps and I twined around Elethor’s body as if to pull myself through him with the need to be so close.

             He remained so careful with me, yet still with that edge of desperation that bordered on sheer roughness. He brought me several times, yet would not allow himself the same, always stopping or slowing to bring himself back from the brink, denying himself that final bit of release as long as he could until he could deny himself no longer and with a wrenching cry he drew me tightly to his chest and held me with such a crushing force that I never wanted him to let me go. He held me against him, for long moments after while I rested on his chest and listened to his heartbeat steady and slow. Our breathing slowed and evened as well, and the sweat dewing our skins began to cool and evaporate.

           I looked up at him and he kissed me softly and I kissed him back and finally he said what I had longed to hear for a thousand years…

            “I love you, Sirona… my keairrah. I love you.”

Thirty Five

2010-02-27T17:18:00.000-08:00

           Ailsie slipped her circlet off her head and set it on the low table in her sitting room. I did the same with the combs in my hair and took another sip of my wine. We sat on the floor between her sofa and table and drank our wine and talked. I had just finished telling her of Elethor in great detail and we were in a bit of a comfortable silence when it dawned on me to ask her,

           “You said you had news for me, what was it?” She sipped her wine and hastily set her glass down and took my hands smiling in her excitement.

         “Well, my old Legion is through, too many have transferred to other Legions or are carrying out the will of the Seraphim Lords on secret assignment. So, I transferred to Destiny!” I lit up; my heart lighter than it had been in days and squealed my delight wrapping my friend’s thin shoulders in a deep hug. We talked excitedly late into the night until finally succumbing to the wine and the exhaustion from my emotional turmoil I begged sleep. Ailsie, ever the good hostess, allowed me the use of her guest room and as I lay down I swear my eyes closed and I was fast asleep before my head touched the pillow. Of course, I dreamed…

            The crickets chirped and the Sparkles fluttered near a lake I had no name for. The waters were still and though they did not look deep, they were rich and dark in hue and reflected perfectly the things that glowed, it was balmy the weather crisp and on the cool side but not cold. It was so beautiful, my eyes had never seen anything like it… the closest my recollection could bring was the great tree at Arbolu’s Haven but this was not a place that I was familiar with at all. It was so foreign to me, so alien but all at once familiar. It felt like home deep in my soul and I just couldn’t understand how this was possible. The mists of the lake swirled and coalesced on the surface spinning and slowly rising into a pillar that took on a familiar hooded shape. I rested my hands on the railing of the dock and watched Aion step lightly along the water’s surface, ripples spreading slowly and lazily out from His light tread as He approached me.

          “Father.” I smiled warmly and knelt reaching my hands out. He took them and though I could not see below his cowl I knew he smiled at me too.

           “Sirona, my child. Walk with me, I would speak with you.” I rose to my feet and stepped lightly off the dock hand and hand with my Father and the water felt as solid beneath my feet as earth. I watched fascinated as a fish swam beneath me and startled a little as Aion chuckled his amusement.

           “What is it you would ask of me Father?” I watched the water beneath our feet as we circled the great tree at the center of the lake and waited quietly for Aion to answer.

          “Can a Father not simply dote on his daughter?” he asked teasingly. I stopped and studied the darkness that hid Him from me.

          “Yes, but you are very busy and a Father to us all. Forgive me my insolence but I do not suspect that you make social calls to every one of your children, and I do not see how I would be any kind of exception to that.” He patted my hand where it rested on his arm and we continued walking.

           “You are correct my daughter, but you sell yourself short… you are special.” I looked at Him rather flatly and he chuckled and got to the meat of the matter. “You love them both as I have instructed you to, though you are not happy. I fear that there will be more pain before your happiness can be complete. The fifth day of the month is but a few short days away, and though your people do not control Asteria, I want you to go to him, and wait in the cave as he instructed you.” I nodded then.

           “Is that all Father?” I asked him.

           “I want you to be true to yourself and both your men daughter, follow your heart. It will guide you true, listen to it and follow it. That is what I ask of you now and that is what I have always asked of any of my children. Now off you go. It’s time to wake up.”

           I opened my eyes to light streaming through the lace curtains in an unfamiliar room. My head ached and I said a little prayer to stop the pounding. I sat up and remembered I was in Ailsie’s guest bedroom. Aalairius would be home tomorrow, and the day after we would see… but the day after that I had somewhere I would need to be. I felt as if there was so much I needed to do and so little time I had to do it in but that wasn’t right, there really wasn’t a lot that needed doing. I got up and dressed and went into Ailsie’s galley and began to cook. If anything the simple task allowed me to clear my head and ruminate on what Aion had said to me in my dream.

          “…though your people do not control Asteria, I want you to go to him, and wait in the cave as he instructed you.”

           I took a deep breath and let it out slowly… I would see him again. Far sooner than I had expected, at least that is what I hoped Aion had meant by sending me into enemy territory despite Elethor’s insistence I wait.

          I cooked a lovely breakfast for me and my friend and waited for the smells to entice her from her bed, which it did. We talked and ate and set a date to go shopping with one another that afternoon and I left her to her work for the day whatever it may be and returned to Miriamonyerk’s bath house for the chain she had promised to have mended by this morning…

         The day was promising to be an agonizingly slow one…

Thirty Four

2010-02-25T01:23:00.000-08:00

“I don’t know about this Sirona, are you sure?” I sipped the Ervio wine in my glass and tipped my head to the side considering my friend. I trusted Ailsie and two bites into our meal I had told her everything about my capture, torture and rescue. The truth all of it, I had finished with most of the contents of Elethor’s letter, leaving out the choice bits about where to meet him, saying only that he wished to see me once more.

           “Ailsie, I love Aalairius, truly I do, but I have to be honest with myself, though I forgot him for a time, I never stopped loving Elethor, and he never stopped loving me… Aion told me to love them both and I do, I’m just not sure how it all goes together.” I waffled my hands back and forth in the air, suddenly at a loss on how to explain it. She searched my face and her shoulders sagged. She leaned back in her seat and continued to look at me her dark eyes showing how she mulled the entire situation over; finally she cut another bite of her food and chewed thoughtfully. I did the same.

          “How do you get yourself into these situations Sirona?” she finally asked the skepticism clear in her voice and manner. I took another sip of wine and savored it slowly thinking about it.

            “When I love, I love completely. Aion said to me, ‘There is much love in your heart despite your pain, Sirona I am telling you now to love them both. For both will need you for what lies ahead.’ I don’t know what he meant by the last Ailsie, to be honest it scares me a little but I do love them both, Aalairius for the life he has given me despite knowing nothing about me…” she interrupted me.

          “Hey now, that’s not your fault, you didn’t know anything about you except your name going in, and what you do know and what you’ve learned over the last couple of years you’ve shared with him right?”

           I nodded slowly saying, “He knows about Elethor, to a certain extent. That he was my friend before the Cataclysm, he even knows I’ve seen Evensong out there, but he doesn’t know about my time in Asmodae or that it was Elethor that put me back into his arms.” I took a swallow of my wine, a little larger than I had intended and set my glass down on the heavy wooden table. I looked anywhere but at my friend, my unease with myself probably very clear to her. She sighed and continued eating, thoughtfully. I had lost my appetite.

           I felt scrutinized and uncomfortable but when I looked back up at my friend her eyes were downcast on her meal as she cut another bite. I frowned and asked her,

            “Ailsie do you feel that?” And she looked at me with a bright smile that I knew to be false and said in a low voice.

             “That you are being watched?” Of course I do. He’s at the bar, eleven o’clock. I cut another bite of my own food and chewed and smiled back at her, before glancing toward the bar and there he was, unabashedly staring. He was lovely and somehow familiar but I could not place from where. His hair was long and the brilliant color of flame, but his eyes were hidden beneath dark glasses. He stood against the bar in a dark suit that he both looked at home in as well as out of place at the same time. I quickly averted my gaze before he could catch me looking and continued picking at my meal.

          “Do you know him?” Ailsie asked.

          “I want to say yes, I mean he’s familiar to me like I have seen him before but… no I don’t think I know him.” I finished my wine and pulled the napkin from my lap and flopped it onto my plate to hide the mostly uneaten remnants of my meal.

           “Excuse you!” Ailsie snapped as the stranger we’d commented on pulled up a chair close to me, turned it about and straddled it hugging the back nonchalantly peering closely at me, examining me and thrusting me well outside my comfort zone. I leaned away from him but now that he was closer he looked so much more familiar like I should know him… and I was almost certain I did know him, but for the life of me I just couldn’t remember.

           “Do you know me?” he asked and his voice was a light tenor that was low in volume and near brought tears to my eyes to hear.

            “I know you sir, but I don’t know you. I’m sorry…” and then he took off his glasses and looked at me with soft green eyes and I remembered. The restaurant slipped away, melting beneath the wash of memory that put me back into a time that was years ago, but still far more recent than the Cataclysm that took Elethor from me.

          I remembered this man, the feel of his skin beneath my palms as I laughingly pushed him back after a lingering kiss. The crisp cold of the waterfall falling around us… I covered my face with my palms and shook my head. Hands gently gripped my wrists and pulled them away and the stranger smiled a little sadly at me. I blushed a deep crimson, feeling the flush creep from my neck to the roots of my hair.

            “I see you remember something then.” He said with a genuine smile. “My name is Fenin, does that help?” He asked, and I remembered a little more, he was so much faster than me on foot and noiseless in the wood as we tracked the scout through the Tursin grounds… he pulled the string back on his bow…

             “Sirona what’s the matter? What are you doing to her!?” Ailsie demanded flame swirling at her finger tips.

             “Nothing Ailsie, he’s not doing anything I’m remembering things, flashing back is all… he’s jogged my memory.” I closed my eyes tight as the images swirled up, painting the inside of my eyelids in vivid color, the inside of a tent during the deepest part of what passed for night in Elysea, an exceptional kiss and wandering hands. I put my hand on his chest and pushed him back in the here and now and forced it all down trying to ground myself.

            “We were lovers.” I choked out.

             “Before your… accident, yes.” He said quietly.

            “It wasn’t an accident.” I said. “They told me I’d been tortured, badly and for a long time. That I’d lost my memory as a way of my mind to protect its self from the awfulness of what was done.” I looked at him sharply. “If we were lovers, before… why didn’t you come to see me in the infirmary?” I asked. “I never remember seeing you there and I remember everything since I woke up.” He smiled and moved a lock of my hair behind my ear.

            “I did, but you were asleep. The healers told me it was a bad idea and that I should let you go, let you heal. That if it were meant to be, you’d find me, but I knew you never would.” His smile broadened. “I am very happy to see you here Sirona, to see that you’ve recovered, even if not all your memory has returned.”

            I swallowed hard. This was so much and so strange all at once. “Why did you know I never would?” He bowed his head a little sadly.

            “I’ve never held still very long, nor did I stay with one woman very long…” He had the grace to look embarrassed before he went on “…in fact we weren’t together very long at all, just a few short months, and your heart was already spoken for. You’d get this funny look and when I’d ask all you would ever tell me was ‘I love you Fenin, but my heart can never really be yours.’ I was fine with that, really what we had was good but it was short and both being soldiers it wasn’t going to go anywhere. We were more than friends but what made us work was we were friends to start and promised to stay friends if it ever went south. We never guessed that when it went south it wouldn’t be either of our doing. When the Asmodians, they took you, I wasn’t there. I was with the party that rescued you, and brought you back though. I’ve checked in on you from time to time, since the infirmary let you go, maybe once or twice a year. Lately you’ve just looked so unhappy and I’ve wanted to know why. I promise not to bother you again after this; I just wanted to make sure you are okay.”

             Ailsie sat down and crossed her arms, watching me carefully. I looked from her to the man and back before finally staring at my hands which were covered by one of his.

             “I’m okay.” I said finally. “Aion works in some of the most mysterious ways. Thank you for telling me all this Fenin, I’m sorry I don’t remember more of you.” He touched under my chin tipping my face up to look at him.

            “You remember enough, if you ever want to know more, you can find me through the Legion’s Board.” He went to get up and I stopped him.

            “One last thing?” I asked and he nodded.

            “If not you, who did my heart belong to?” I asked.

            “You never said, just that he had died. I thought he was some human but one night when you were pretty drunk I asked you again, and you said he was a Sorcerer, a Daeva you had trained with, and that he was lost when the Tower of Eternity had fallen. You were pretty drunk though and I thought you had to be pulling my leg, there aren’t that many Daevas around old enough to remember the fall aside from the Seraphim Lords themselves.” Ailsie looked at me her eyes wide.

             “She is that old.” Ailsie said quietly. I knew Ailsie to be one of the older Daeva, she had ascended around two or three hundred years after the Tower’s fall… To think, I had felt so young and inexperienced around her before my memory had begun to return. Fenin looked surprised before he slipped his glasses back on.

            “Take care of yourself Sirona. If you ever want to talk, come find me.” He said finally when the silence between the three of us had grown long. I nodded to him and he took his leave. I looked back at my friend who chewed her lip thoughtfully.

          “Come back to my place I want to talk about this some more.” She said finally.

          “I think that was Aion’s way of showing you I wasn’t crazy.” I said. “Because only He knows, I’ve needed someone to talk to and to believe in me Ailsie.” I watched her shoulders sag.

          “I’m sorry Sirona; I didn’t want to believe all this. It’s too much, I don’t know how you do it, how you’ve been doing it. I can’t imagine how this must be for you.” She trailed off and we sat across from one another in silence.

            I didn’t know how I was going to do this either, I loved Elethor, but I also loved Aalairius with every fiber of my being. Now all I had to do was find a way to love them both and be happy. Wasn’t that what Aion said He had wanted for me? What any Father wants for his child, for them to be happy… Right now looking at my friend across the table in the Dancing Dove I realized that Aion had set before me one very tall order. I loved them both completely, but how to be happy? It was then that Ailsie said it…

            “Well Sirona, you love them, and I know that when you are with them you are happy, I guess the times in between where you are sad are there to make sure you cherish the happy when you get it.” She smiled encouragingly at me and paid for our meals and another bottle of Ervio wine, holding out her arm in a crook for me. I smiled at her and linked my arm with hers and we strolled out of the public house and down the lane towards her dwelling.

            “Tell me more about tall dark and…” she looked carefully around us and whispered for my ear alone “… tall dark and Asmodian.” I laughed and as we walked let my mind fill with images of Elethor both the way he had been before… and the beautiful man he was to me now.

             I had a lot to tell my friend…

Thirty Three

2010-02-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

Sirona,

         I smiled, and let out a breath I hadn’t remembered holding. The single sheet of rich parchment trembled in my shaking hands. I read on, my vision slowly beginning to blur as the tears began to well and prickled the backs of my eyes.

          I have written this letter a dozen times over, and every time words fail me. After the Cataclysm I searched for weeks looking for you, I was hell bent on finding you. My mind was frantic with worry. I spent weeks alone in the wilds, hoping and praying that you were still with us and unharmed. As time passed and I found no signs of you I began to lose hope, and finally I was forced to face facts. You were lost to me.

          I was devastated, and nearly overcome with grief. It took some time but I was able to recover, but I was not the same. The pain of losing the one dearest to me was unbearable, but I had my duties to attend to and could spare no more time for my pain. I devoted myself to my studies so I could become more powerful and so I would never again lose someone close to me. Time passed and my pain dulled, but my memories stayed fresh and sharp in my mind.

          My dreams were often haunted by your visage, of our days at the waterfall, and our tree where we would laze quietly with one another. But through it all, I remained determined to not let it weigh me down or interfere with my responsibilities. This was my life, going day by day with a dull ache in my heart that I could never soothe nor replace with anyone else.

          I choked, a sob biting at the back of my throat, and covered my mouth with the back of my hand startled at the sound I had made. I knew his pain… in a rush of sense memory so strong it left me gasping and bereft. I scrubbed furiously at the tears in my eyes so that I may continue reading.

           When I first saw you in that cellar I had thought I was mistaken, that it couldn't be you. But when you looked at me I knew, and it was all I could do to keep my feelings hidden. After we handed you back to your people I was again plagued by dreams, and I feared for your safety. And yet, if you hold this letter now, you have found me again, though reading it means we have been parted again as well. It seems it is Aion's will that we be reunited only to be thrust apart again and again.

            Well I have had enough! I must see you, but I would not risk your safety. When your people next control Asteria Fortress on the highest layer of the Abyss, I will be waiting. Just West of the fortress is a small cave system, its entrance is marked by a waterfall. I shall be at the end of the cave on the fifth day of every month. I shall await you once the sun has set in your land of Elysea.

            Tell no one and come alone. Please, for you own safety, burn this letter. Though I know there are few of us left that know the old language all it would take is one...

           I hope to see you soon.

A thousand years and still yours,

          Elethor

            I crushed the letter to my chest and bent double, overwhelmed. The tears spilled freely down my cheeks, hot, immediate and unrelenting I sobbed. A thousand years and he still loved me. He had looked for me and hadn’t stopped for week’s maybe even months. If I had ever wondered if Elethor loved me back, I held the proof now. Oh Aion, Father, why must it be this way?

             “Oh hey now, what’s this?” I sat up startled and quickly wiped at my tears. A man, another Cleric stood near, arms crossed over his chest, considering. “What’s the matter?” he asked.

         “Nothing.” I answered and was surprised that in this moment, that was true. I was loved, and I would see him again, how could anything be wrong? I wiped my face with trembling fingers and smiled bravely.

          … I will be waiting… I shall be at the end of the cave on the fifth day of every month...

           “A woman does not weep like that if nothing is wrong, child.” He said gently, and took a seat at the other end of the bench. His coat was fine chain and a true red edged with gold. A Miragent Knight, though he had to have just come from an official meeting of some sort, for he carried no shield or mace. I considered him carefully. He looked careworn, but it did not detract from how handsome he was. He was young, having ascended no later than his early thirties, but his hair had gone white as the snows I had wondered at in Beluslan. Stubble shadowed his cheek, and you could see his nose had been broken and reset badly a time or two. He was a warrior and by all accounts some kind of leader with how his shoulders weighed with his responsibility.

           I swallowed hard and folded the letter quickly before he could see any of it and tucked it away inside my cube, seeing I was about to speak he took a seat at the other end of the bench I occupied.

            “Have you ever lost something or someone precious to you for a time, only to find years later that they were never lost at all?” I asked.

          He leaned his elbows on his knees and considered what I had said.

          “I can’t say that I have.” He finally said honestly. He looked back at me and smiled and I smiled shyly in return. “So I take it that these are good tears and the Abyss isn’t falling on your head after all?” he queried.

          “Something like that.” I answered and smiled again.

           “Oh, well good, what is your name?” he asked.

           “I’m Sirona, Centurion of Legion Destiny and Cleric of Aion’s holy light.” I held out my hand and he took it shaking it firmly.

           “Well Centurion Cleric Sirona. I’m Andrei, Brigade General of Ascendance and also a Cleric of Aion’s light.” My chest squeezed tight and my mouth went dry.

           “Pleased to meet you, General Andrei.” I whispered. He laughed, and it was a genuine sound, clear and full of mirth.

           “Don’t look at me like that Sirona.” He said.

           “Like what?”

           “Like I’ve just sprouted a second head.” He laughed again, though it was more of a chuckle, and got up. “I’m glad you are feeling better. Blessings upon you.”

            “And you sir.” I replied automatically.

            “Not sir, just Andrei.” He said as he wandered off, the most brilliant tactical leader the Elyos had seen in almost a hundred years… both bless and damn my luck today.

            I looked at the setting sun and got up myself. I had just enough time to meet Ailsie and not be late, Aion forbid I be late to a meeting with Ailsie, Bless her heart she was so punctual she made my mind ache.

*Special thanks for this post goes straight to the man who plays Elethor in game. He wrote the letter to Sirona for me because I just couldn't get into his character's head enough to do it my self which is why you guys haven't gotten anything from me in almost a month, Elethor wrote the letter, emailed it to me and I wrote three parts to the story last night. So here you go, here is another one. If you have the time and you play on Ariel you can thank Elethor on the Ariel official forums if you are Elyos or in-game if you are Asmodian. More to come soon.

Thirty Two

2010-02-23T17:15:00.000-08:00

          Miriamonyerk took one look at the state of my chain and with many tsking sounds and with her little clawed hands on her hips demanded I leave it with her. She muttered and worried at her apron at the amount of my blood that coated the inside of the cloth lining and metal links and handed me a robe to go home in. She told me to return in the morning for my armor, and for once I acquiesced. I went home with my cube clutched in one hand and the thick parchment letter from Elethor tucked safely out of sight. I was almost afraid of what it would say and so, I put it off, setting it on the small dining table, the blue wax seal enticing as I moved about my small galley fixing a meal for my beloved and best friend.

          Aalairius had been beside himself when I’d approached him. He had clutched me to the plate of his chest and only let go when Toxemia had stepped up and said that I may need to breathe sometime in the near future. They had both returned to duty but not before making me promise to bring them dinner at their guard posts at Roah Fortress later that night. I had agreed, all too happy to spare them from the rations Aalairius always complained ‘taste like oppression’.

          I worked carefully, lovingly preparing the Calydon meat dumplings that were their particular favorite and fixing the Cellatu porridge that I knew they would do without if they could. All the while my gaze swung back to the small table with its white envelope smeared at the corner with a bit of my blood, the elegant script spelling my name on its front, the blue wax seal embossed so carefully with his Legion’s crest begging to be broken. I set everything to steam and cook and went into our bedroom to dress.

          The letter lay like an accusation in the home that Aalairius had built for me with his love and devotion. I felt as if I betrayed him somehow because I knew that despite my best intentions towards them both, neither would understand the other. I finished preparing the meal and packed it carefully into my cube, took my staff from the corner and picked up the white parchment bearing my name. I finally tucked it into the front of my dress near my skin and smoothed a hand over the spot to assure myself that it left no outward appearing line in the fabric. I would have to find the time to read it and soon… perhaps on my way back from Roah, but for now, my beloved awaited me and some decent food and so I left our home and went down the lane toward Elyos Square.

          I stepped through the teleporter at the Exalted Path and into the bustle of Veriton Citadel and its open air market. I spread my wings and took flight through the Abyss gate and touched down lightly at Teminon Fortress into the bright light and hot winds of the Abyss.

          “Sirona!” a light and airy voice exclaimed and I turned a genuine smile on the person that it came from. She was a sorceress and a dear friend whom I hadn’t seen in months due to her Legion activities.

          “Ailsie, you’re back.” I said. She smiled, dark eyes lighting up.

          “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” she asked me. I smiled wanly,

          “Tox and Aal pulled guard duty at Roah this week, they asked me to save them from another night of rations.” Ailsie laughed, a wisp of her blonde hair escaping it’s careful knot to trace the graceful curve of one cheek. I always envied my friends beauty. Forever feeling so plain beside her.

          “Well don’t let me keep you then. Have you eaten?” she asked. I shook my head. “Then come have supper with me tonight at the Dancing Dove in Sanctum, my treat.” I agreed happily. “Don’t be late,” she said as she slipped past me into the fortress. “I’ve news for you.” She called back. I nodded and went down the landing to catch a transport direct to Roah.

          “About time!” Tox shouted from across the fortress proper, trotting up to me I grinned at him and opened up my cube and handed him several of the dumplings and bottled porridge before I even had the chance to step out of the alcove designated for arrivals.

           He kissed my cheek and with a rakkish grin tipped his head back and yelled to the watch above us on the ramparts.

           “Aal! Your woman is here! She has food! Delicious, delicious food.” He mumbled the last around a mouthful of dumpling. I laughed at him and took the ramp up to where Aalairius stood watch. He removed his helm as I approached and bent at the waist to kiss me gently before taking his meal into his large gauntleted hands.

           “Thank you.” He murmured as he tucked in.

          “I ran into Ailsie at Teminon. She asked me to meet her for dinner at the Dancing Dove.” I told him as he ate. He chewed and swallowed and nodded at me.

          “Good, it’s been a while since you’ve seen her, I think you need a night out with another woman.” He smiled at me teasing.

           “Well you can get those images right out of your head.” I told him. He laughed, a deep rich sound.

          “When will you be home?” I asked him. His expression darkened a bit.

           “Day after tomorrow. Try to keep out of trouble for the next day or so?” he pleaded. I smiled wryly and nodded, throat tight with guilt. I hadn’t meant to appear in Asmodae like I did. Truth was I still didn’t know how it was even possible. I talked a while more with Aal as he ate and finally when he needed to return to watch I kissed him farewell and used a scroll to return home to Sanctum.

I slung my staff over my back by it’s cord and wandered into Elyos Square, it was near deserted this time of day… I chose an unoccupied bench and checked the angle of the sun. It would be another hour or more before I would need to meet with Ailsie, and so now was as good a time as any. I plucked Elethor’s letter from the inside of my dress and broke the seal…

Thirty One

2010-01-25T08:28:00.001-08:00

The shock on his features mirrored my own as we stood for a heart beat taking each other in. There were others, on the small stage, and when I realized a stage was what it was I turned, painfully slow… His entire Legion was seated in their great hall; some had all ready risen to their feet while others sat, in various states of shock and surprise. It was so quiet, unnaturally silent, and then someone shouted, the silence shattered and chaos reigned supreme. I raised my shield barely in time to deflect an arrow and barked a prayer and felt myself infuse with vitality. Elethor shouted, and leapt for me wrapping me in his arms and lifting me, spinning me away from the crowd, as his magical wards went up. He put his back to his people shielding me with his body, his wards doing their work, deflecting their spells and arrows.

A man shouted to him, a string of language I couldn’t understand, but he was too close and right now everything was a threat. My attention diverted to him while Elethor’s attention was elsewhere, my mind, fueled with a surge of adrenaline quickly identified him as one who had been standing to the left and a little behind Elethor as he stood at the podium, addressing his Legion. It marked him as a Centurion, and I raked my eyes over him taking him in and assessing what threat he posed to us now. His skin was a dusty purple and his eyes deep and soulful, were colored a ghostly silver and striking, framed by long auburn hair. His jewel was set to spinning between his hands and a great earth spirit rose up behind him, coming around the man and moving towards us. I screamed for Elethor to look out, but he was unconcerned as he intoned a spell near my ear. I watched in horror as the Earth Spirit drew closer to us and struggled in Elethor’s grasp to raise my shield in our defense, trying to get Elethor and my self both behind it. A mighty crack, near deafening went off and Elethor’s sorcerer’s gate opened before us, the man continued advancing on us, just behind his elemental and was just outside of too close, he dove for us just as Elethor shoved me through the gate. I went through, sprawling into the paved street beyond, Elethor followed and before I could scream at him to close the gate down his Legionary came through… though his Earth Spirit remained on the other side, facing away from the gate… at the churning mass of angry Asmodians bent on my destruction.

It wasn’t over; even as the gate dissolved and collapsed I sprung to my feet, mace out shield up and put myself between the spirit master and Elethor, who was bent double behind me. I kept my eyes on the stranger as I carefully uttered a healing prayer for the man I loved… He straightened and held out his hand, beseeching the other man to stop, speaking furiously in Asmodian. The man straightened out of his battle stance, and dropped his hands to his side, his jewel returning to its resting place at his wrist. I cautiously let down my shield, and mace, trusting in Elethor that this man was safe.

Elethor looked around us and said something to the man who jumped almost startled and took in our surroundings as well, which of course caused me to look. I blinked surprised; we were on a vast causeway in a very large city. Aion had blessed us, for the street was empty but with the size and complexity of design I was sure it was a heavily populated place and the street would not remain empty for long. I quickly opened my cube and shoved my shield and mace away trusting in Elethor and his trust in this man. I withdrew the cloak from all those many months ago and slung it over my chain armor, drawing the hood over my face. Elethor smiled at me thinly, he seemed pleased, though with Elethor no one could ever be sure. The spirit master’s eyes widened in surprise at the production of the Legion cloak bearing the stylized ‘p’ in flame done on the velvet black. He looked at Elethor and asked something, but Elethor simply shook his head and took my elbow leading me toward a darkened alley.

We retreated from the view of the street and momentarily safe I let my guard down enough to look up at Elethor, drinking in his features, still shocked that I stood here with him. He bent carefully; his motions guarded and tentatively brushed his lips against mine in the barest whisper of a touch, so quick I almost wondered if it had happened… I closed my eyes and swallowed the tears that threatened, relieved that my feelings for him had been felt in kind.

“How is this real?” he asked, wonder in his voice, “How did you get here?” I opened my eyes. He brushed my cheek with the backs of his knuckles in a gentle caress and my heart seized, I took his hand between both of my own and kissed his fingers softly.

“I don’t know…” I answered honestly. “I was in a battle at the Western Shard, one moment I am trying to heal, the next I was pulled into the fray and a Templar’s sword was in my back. I fell, and as I was pulled through the aether to my bind point, I found myself with you instead.”

I looked at him, and he pulled me against his chest, holding me tight. He relayed what I said to the spirit master over my head and I think explained who I was as he held me, trembling faintly as we stood there, drawing back to look at me when he was through. He was as unreadable as always.

The spirit master spoke and I locked eyes with him. He stopped mid-sentance, whatever he was saying dying on his lips and tilted his head, looking at me curiously. Elethor tightened his hold on me imperceptibly and asked something. The spirit master shook himself as if waking from a dream and looked at his Brigade General before making a statement. Gesticulating with a negligent wave of his hand at my face, I frowned at him and he laughed softly, continuing to speak to Elethor who relaxed, letting me go to step back and lean against the alley wall.

“What did he just say?” I asked. Elethor considered me a moment.

“When you looked at him?” I nodded. “Billy said he had always wondered why my favorite color was deep blue, and now he knows, it’s the color of your eyes.” I blushed to the roots of my hair, heat creeping in a wash up my face. The spirit master – Billy, laughed softly at me and I averted my gaze to the flagstones. Elethor inclined his head a ghost of a smile tracing his lips and took my arm leading me further into the alley. He unclasped the cloak at my throat when he deemed it safe and draped it over his arm.

“You have to go back.” He said at last. I looked passed his shoulder. Billy had wandered to the mouth of the alley and looked out into the city beyond, attempting to give us the illusion of privacy, even though it seemed he could not understand the Old Daevic language we spoke. Elethor brought out an envelope of thick ivory parchment; I caught a glimpse of his Legion crest done in blue wax as the seal as he tucked it carefully into the chest of my chain armor near my skin.

“Kiss me?” I asked softly. He nodded and bent, carefully laying his lips against mine in another chaste kiss before tearing away and turning his back, shoulders squared and tense. I bowed my head in sorrow and began the incantation for the spell of return. I felt myself phase out of the physical world in Asmodae, one moment gone, the next I was standing in Teminon behind my beloved Aalairius who was shouting at Moia, the fortress soul healer, Toxemia standing beside him, arms crossed not interfering but not amused either. I bit back my tears at having to leave Elethor so quickly, and took a deep breath stepping forward to end my beloved’s distress…

Thirty

2010-01-22T11:35:00.001-08:00

I burst through the portal onto Teminon landing and hit the ground running. I vaguely remember hearing Reilla shout from behind me to slow down, but I couldn’t… I wouldn’t. My Legion needs me, was the only thought I had as I dove off the edge of the landing unfurling my wings, feathers snapping against the wind as I bore myself up and out toward the Western Shard. I caught up to several other Elysians making their way to the fight, the apprehension thick between us as we fell into a natural formation, touching down at the lower end of the shard. Reilla caught up to me panting and we waited as each warrior Daeva took off for the upper layer in rapid succession, the layer teleporter sweating and winded with his efforts as he put soldier after soldier through the proper incantation to infuse their wings with strength.

I stepped up to him, mace at the ready in one hand shield on my arm and as the words died on his lips I was aloft, beating my wings, flight muscles in my chest screaming as I flew straight and true and burst through the crust at the top layer. I tucked and rolled neatly my wings dissipating into the aether my feet landing square as I bent my knees to take the rough impact of landing from that height. I stood and strode forward fluidly into the clash of metal, the shouts and screams and the light display of spells, the first prayer of healing touching my lips.

Light gathered in my hands and a wounded Daeva stood straight, turned and dove back into the churning mass of bodies, her polearm arcing cleanly downward into inky black wings. I fought and healed my way to the front of the fray, Elyos packed tightly around me until finally the shining figure of my beloved in his icy silver-blue plate rose head and shoulders above the crowd and I was by his side. He had his great sword out and as he raised it an Asmodian assassin darted in to drive a dagger into a chink in his plate, I dove forward and rammed my shield into her path, the blade glancing off the metal with a shriek. I rooted her in place and the Elyos around me dispatched her, Aalairius laughed, a booming jovial sound and I heard him shout above the din,

“Thanks beautiful, glad you could join me!” The Elyos were being pressed back by an onslaught and I put my back to my beloved’s and healed all that were close in my Legion, the complexity of the prayer taking longer but the result well worth it as at least six of my compatriots revived and pushed forward, meeting the Asmodian force with stronger opposition than expected.

The two sides would surge and ebb as two great seas, crashing into one another before receding, a smattering of broken bodies in their wake, I would resurrect those that I could from their torpor, in a fine dance of being close enough to accomplish the task, yet far enough back from the front lines, to not be trapped in the surge and thrust to the Asmodian side. Once upon a time I had relished battles like these, but now I worried, the constant niggling thought at the back of my mind as I performed my duties… was Evensong in there? Or was her Haji… Was my Elethor in there trying to hurt me? Did they know that I was here? Then it was, as this thought flickered through my mind, I finished casting out, calling the souls of the fallen to me. I noticed too late that I stood alone, the Elyos force had fallen back and I was in the open. I was pulled violently in the inescapable snare of blue light from a templar, and before I could shout… before I could scream, they were upon me.

I felt the Templar’s blade enter my back in an assured deathblow had I been mortal, it caused pain sharp and immediate, a tearing and a searing through the center of my being as the weapon erupted through my chest and I was left gasping for air my lungs could no longer hold. I had just enough time to let slip a silent plea to Aion for mercy, for a quick small death… my last thought as I slid to my knees my body dissipating, my physical being letting go of the world was thank you Father, thank you that it was not my Elethor…

Elethor. I had locked him away safe in my heart and forced myself to think about him seldom. It was strange that as I was struck down that my thoughts would go to him…. My last vision that played out within my mind was of crystalline eyes and dusky blue skin, and the strong features of his face as he had carried me across the ice and snow the night he had found me. Oh Aion, how I missed him.

My physical self dissolved and was pulled through the aether to where my soul was bound, it was an uncomfortable and scary thing for a Daeva, not always knowing if you would or could make it back to your bind point… Never knowing if this could be the time you were lost for good.

Something felt wrong. It was taking impossibly long to reach the obelisk; I should have come back to my physical form by now. I was just about to tip off the razor’s edge of panic when I felt myself contract and coalesce, coming together becoming less transparent and phasing more into being. I collapsed to my knees on the wooden floor; sucking air into lungs that were absolutely convinced they were still torn and could not hold any. I knelt there for what felt like an eternity and tried to relearn how to breathe. Everything was blurred around the edges and slowed, as it always was with soul sickness.

I forced myself to stand shakily, my wings dissipating back to the aether, my shield a comfortable weight on my arm, my mace resting on the floor gripped loosely in my hand. I went over the inventory of all of my soul-bound items in my mind, ensuring all were intact and in place and tried to ease through the rest of the fractured and crazed thoughts racing through my mind. One thought in particular screamed louder than all the rest…

You aren’t in Teminon! Teminon is stone not wood! You’re somewhere else!

I turned agonizingly slow and saw him standing there, at some sort of podium. He was beautiful, the rich blue of his tunic complimenting the dusky shade of his skin. I blinked in shock and confusion and rasped his name…

“Elethor?”

Twenty Nine

2010-01-20T13:30:00.000-08:00

I hadn’t realized how much I missed the bustle of Teminon Landing until I stood upon the gleaming marble once more. My armor still faintly reeked from they dye I’d used on it, and though the design was the same it still startled me when I looked down and saw a light purple instead of blue. The dye had been a gift from Toxemia; he had brought it to me along with a new set of orders for my beloved. While Aal had gotten ready, strapping on his plate in the next room Tox had given me a run down of things to do for myself to make things harder for Switchkin should he try to find me again, which was likely given that he was insane and obviously obsessed. I missed the familiar weight of my shield at my back and my mace at my hip. I just didn’t feel well defended with out them, instead I carried my staff. A plain looking thing, unassuming… which is why I liked it.

I needed to replace my shield, the one that had borne the Legion crest for Destiny was irreparable and though it saddened me, my friend the assassin had been right, I should not wear the Legion crest, either on my shield or my cloak, it made me to easily recognizable and Switchkin would be looking for it. I had a week of leave to myself, a very long week, of no duties to speak of, I was bored all ready, and I missed Aalairius, badly and so I had come to Teminon to hear how things fared in the abyss and because I preferred the trade broker here over the Hall of Prosperity in Sanctum.

Really I had come because I needed a change of scenery, even if only for a little while, and the scenery did not get much different than the abyss. I slipped out of the broker house and outside, veering to my left to lean against the fortress wall and soak in some of the sun. I had been going through my designs for my handy crafting and I had found something unique that I wanted to try, though it was vastly out of my usual purview. It was a design for a shield, an ostentatious thing that resembled a Mikaron’s momento sea shell. I had two of the delicate things tucked safely in my cube, though I need only one to craft the shield along with a host of other items. I felt a touch guilty at how expensive some of the materials required had been, though for Aalairius kinah was no extravagance, I still remained frugal with my spending. The fifty-four worthy morph catalysts had been outrageous and had lightened my purse considerably.

I rummaged in my cube and drew out the small scroll that would teleport me back to Sanctum… I knew that Toxemia and Aalairius would laugh at me for this, but the shield wasn’t half bad, from what the design stated. In fact it seemed rather sturdy from the stats listed. I was pulled through the aether and when I opened my eyes I stood nearby Elyos Square and the Sanctum obelisk. I set off on foot for the crafter’s hall and the small accessories studio to spend my afternoon working on my new piece of armor.

When it was completed I stood for a very long time looking at it, a stupid smile gracing my lips. It looked absurd, and I doubted that while I wore it, that anyone would take me seriously but I had made it and I had made it very well indeed, so despite its frilly absurdity I would wear it with pride. I went home, and slipped my tired and not oft used staff into the corner; I took my mace and new shield with me and headed for the arena, more specifically for the training rooms just off the arena for some practice. Breaking in new equipment was always a pain and beside that, it would be best to get used to such an item now rather than in the field when I returned…

I spent my afternoon sweating and taking hits until my shield arm went numb from elbow to wrist and my shoulder joint creaked in protest with every movement. Finally the Daeva that had been sparring with me stopped. He would duel me no further and called me crazy for wanting to continue. He was right and I felt a little sheepish, despite the shields over all ridiculous look it was good and I didn’t feel quite as ludicrous as I strapped it to my back. I shook hands with the training master and thanked him for his time before slipping out from the stone chambers beneath Sanctum’s arena.

Though my hair clung to my forehead and the back of my neck with sweat and the grit of the training rooms, I was ravenous and opted to eat before bathing. I slipped up the street, shoulders lax with tiredness and went up the sky bridge toward the exalted path. I went to one of the smaller city tap rooms, it was lovely and open and allowed for a view of the street through high archways, and always in the open air it was recessed far enough back under the eaves to remain dry during the most violent of torrents.

I settled into a seat at a small table for two just out from the café out in the street and ordered from the Shugo proprietor, who had always liked Aalairius’ big appetite. He bustled about and brought out a fine meal and I tucked into it with gusto. I watched the people of sanctum go by as I ate, pausing to sip my Ormea juice between bites. It was restful and the aches and tiredness in my shoulders eased. I paid for my meal and sat basking in the light of Sanctum finishing my drink when I caught a glimpse of a small figure tearing through the crowd, running up the lane at full speed. I recognized her immediately, partially because they looked so alike… Reilla, sister to Destiny’s Brigade General was in a hurry and I wanted to know why.

When she was close enough, I stuck out my leg and as expected she tripped, neatly tucking and rolling in a way I always envied to come up onto the balls of her feet. She whirled, her bow coming to hand, her face screwed up into a look of such fury which instantly smoothed when she saw who I was. I sat up out of my lazy slouch and in a light tone of voice asked,

“Where’s the fire Reilla?” she put up her bow and shifted from foot to foot.

“You’re on leave, I don’t know if I should tell you.” She looked genuinely torn and it would be a lie if I didn’t say her answer vexed me so I solved her dilemma by squaring my shoulders and demanding in an authoritarian tone said,

“Who, what, when, where and why Rei? I may be on leave but I am still your Centurion.” She smiled at me then, satisfied that Sin would find no fault with her now that she was under direct order and told me.

“Who are the damned fur backs, what is they’re at it again at the Western Shard’s top layer, when is now and why… well do those filthy crows ever really need a reason?” she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the last bit but my thoughts were all ready whirling as she continued. “The Elyos are getting hammered, Sin’s mobilized any in Destiny not all ready assigned. Tox and Aal are all ready there…” and that was it. I stood in one fluid motion, my glass tipping over as the little table rocked violently. I grabbed Reilla’s arm and hauled her with me, she grinned impishly, a dark light in her brown eyes as we both made haste for a port to Verteron and the Abyss gate above it.

Twenty Eight

2010-01-18T12:58:00.001-08:00

Sin and Boa were furious with me for drawing Switchkin off and getting my self captured again. The healers had given me calming herbs, which had allowed me to make my report. I had sat stoic and half addled as Sin had railed at me about duty and responsibility until the tears had started to slip and the healer had put her out of the room. Toxemia was of a mind that I had been very, very stupid… when the herbs had taken effect and the sobbing had abated. I remember looking at him, standing there with is arms crossed staring at me darkly. He had simply said “You dumb.” In that way of his that always made me laugh. I did laugh then, a choked thing that sounded bitten off and bitter at the end and lacked any humor. Aalairius had glared at our friend and told him to get out. I think he was frightened and Tox was a convenient place to direct his anger, our friend had shrugged and wandered off. I think he understood. Things became very hazy very quickly after that…

Cursing, shouting and the loud crash of broken crockery, Aion’s light what is that noise? I remember thinking to myself. My head hurt, a lot… and though I tried I couldn’t open my left eye. I turned my head on the pillow painfully slow toward the ruckus and saw it was a man two beds down from mine. He was a giant, easily half a span taller than I was, and I was long of leg for a woman. He shouted at the healers, and it took five of them to hold him down into the bed. I reached out a hand toward them and said.

“Please, please stop… it hurts.” And they all did, heads turning in my direction. The man’s eyebrows raised and he stilled, surprise flickering through his clear gray eyes as he forgot his struggles and calmed. One of the healers called out, loudly, and I winced, but could not muster enough energy to call after them, to beg them to stop, the loud slap of their retreating steps echoing in my skull, each sound punctuated by an immense stabbing pain that pierced fiery claws inside my head.

“I’ll be damned.” The big man said. “She’s awake; I thought you guys said she’d never wake up. That she was going to be like that forever.” I closed my eye and swallowed… in that moment I wished ardently that I had stayed unconscious. Oh Aion it hurt.

They had returned with the head healer and given me something for my pains, then the questions started, about how long I had been kept and what the Asmodians had wanted and I was so very confused… What would the Asmodians want with a human Priest? They’d all gone quiet then and some had looked solemn when the big man spoke from two beds down.

“Leave her alone. Let her rest. She’s going to be here a while by the looks of her.”

The healers reluctantly left my bed side, lest the man from two beds down cause another row. His leg had been broken in two places, he had said from a great fall. Now that he had settled and wasn’t thrashing and trying to leave I could see the splint, keeping the leg ridged so the bones may mend. He raked fingers through his tousled white hair and considered me a moment.

“My name is Aalairius, my friends just call me Aal.” He said. “Do you remember your name?” I sank into the mattress and rested my head back on the pillow, keeping my head turned so that I may see him.

“I’m Sirona.” I whispered.

“Sirona.” He repeated, and it was like he tasted the name more than said it. “Pretty.” He commented before he laid himself back and closed his eyes…

I woke with a start, the gentle caress of fingertips trailing the length of my spine. I lay on my stomach in my bed and pushed myself up, turning so that I could see my beloved. It was slow going; I was stiff and sore all over from the encounter with Switchkin. I finished sitting up and took the steaming mug of tea my lover offered me, sipping carefully.

“You’ve been asleep for a long time.” He said. When I remained silent, drinking my tea he continued, “It amazed us you stayed up as long as you did let alone that you managed to give a full report after they dosed you. They gave you enough calming herbs to put a tipolid into a coma.” He put his arm around my shoulders and kissed my temple. He was silent for long moments, finally saying “We need to talk about this Sirona.” He looked at me, expression solemn and I bowed my head. I finally nodded.

“What were you thinking?” he asked.

“That he was a mad man and that I needed to get him away from all of you, so he couldn’t hurt you.” I answered truthfully.

“That doesn’t make any sense.” He stated flatly. I didn’t know how to explain it, I really didn’t but I loved him and so I would try.

“I would rather die, true death, than know that you were at that monster’s tender mercies. I would rather give my self willingly to that creature than have him touch you with his blades. I had to protect you.” He held me tighter and I rested my head upon the swell of his chest, listening to his heart and taking solace in his nearness and warmth. He sighed.

“Sirona, I love you, but it’s not your job to protect me… It’s my job to protect you, and I promise to protect you, but you have to let me.” He chided. I closed my eyes and nodded.

“I’m sorry.” I murmured and looked up at him.

Aalairius traced my jaw with his thumb and leaned down carefully, brushing his lips against mine. I closed my eyes and leaned into the kiss and he obliged me, deepening the contact, tongue flicking across my lower lip, tentatively first, before becoming slightly more demanding. I eased myself against his chest fingertips caressing his collarbone before resting against the side of his neck where his pulse beat warm and sure. When he finally drew back from me his expression was peaceful and he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before taking the cup of cooling tea from my hands and retreating off the bed. I was just beginning to dose again when he returned, slipping out of his clothing and between the sheets, and gathering me close in his arms.

He kissed me again, long and lingering, his large hand resting against my ribs the other at the back of my neck, buried in my hair as he cradled me against his chest and I sank gratefully into the strength of his embrace. He laid me back into the softness of our bed, his lips moving carefully along my jaw to play along the side of my neck, and I closed my eyes, a tension I hadn’t even known was there easing from my body beneath his gentle ministrations. He kissed down the length of me, hands caressing over my breasts drawing a moan from my throat. My back arched beneath him and I felt rather than saw the smile grace his lips, as he pressed them over my own once more. His kisses became more urgent as our bodies twined closer and the heat built between us. Finally, he broke our kiss and locked gazes with me.

“I love you.” He said voice low and intense with emotion. My “I love you too” was lost in a moan of pleasure as he took me. My body bowing off the bed, bent nearly double back upon its self with the bliss of him. He struck a rhythm slow and sure, his body tightly controlled, intent on drawing our time together out as long as possible. I loved him so much, and I let the light fill my eyes as I gazed up at him, relishing the euphoria overtaking us. He slowed and stilled to bend and kiss me thoroughly again and my chest squeezed tight with the beauty of his touch and as he resumed his steady pace, the fire within me stoked higher and higher until finally both of us went, gasping and laughing, our skin dewed with sweat. We collapsed in each others arms lightly kissing each other where our lips could reach with little to no additional effort.

Limbs tangled, I listened to his breathing slow, before deepening and evening into the steady pace of sleep. I lay there cuddled and warm, his breath playing against the back of my neck and I was calm and relaxed. With a contented sigh I tried to sleep myself, drifting off lightly, warm and safe, my lover spooning me in the twilight of our bedroom. Why couldn’t moments like these last forever?

Twenty Seven

2010-01-14T08:32:00.001-08:00

I heard the patter of rain and came awake slowly to the rich smell of earth and the odor of decay. I had been here before, I knew the smell, and I also knew that it meant I was still in Elysea. That was good at least. What was not good was that I was tied to a chair, with thick rope that chafed my wrists, throat and ankles. That last was really not good, I could feel the damp air against my bare legs, and the soft earthen floor beneath my feet, but I was dry which meant I was not outside. I swallowed and cracked my eyelids, jerking back at his nearness, the tip of his nose nearly touching mine as he studied my face, his hands resting upon my bare knees.

I dropped my hands, my shoulders at a painful angle before and the rope pulled taught against my throat. I raised my hands back up. It was meant to make me uncomfortable and with how close he was in proximity, I wouldn’t have enough time to choke myself in order to return to my obelisk. Damn him. I took a moment to look around and felt a small surge of self satisfaction. We were, as I had thought, in one of the abandoned farm houses on Orton Farm.

Switchkin locked eyes with me, jade ice to sapphire flame. He knelt before me, hands loosely resting on my knees, swords lying neatly on the ground to either side of me, well within a quick and easy reach. He had been admiring his handiwork, and even now bent at the waist to plant a kiss where the scars began on my right knee, gentle and reverent as a lover. I shuddered in revulsion and he smiled taking it as an invitation and bent further, licking a wet line from my ankle to my knee over the macramé of scars he’d decorated my flesh with. I screamed at him in fury, an inarticulate sound and struggled against my bonds finally relenting when my body demanded air and my joints screamed in fiery protest.

He laughed at me as I stilled, and sat straighter. He knelt up higher on his knees, hands still on mine and laid a kiss on my forehead. It was revolting, his touch slimy to me, an unclean thing I wasn’t sure even a bath could remove, after all you couldn’t scrub what was inside your head, could you? He sat back on his heels and considered me.

“Good girl.” He murmured as I stilled and watched him with a baleful look that thinly disguised my malice. He sat and stared at me for so long, almost as a child does with a new toy. “You know what I want don’t you?” he asked and I nodded slowly, resigned. He smiled at me.

“You and I are going to make a lot of people hurt.” I blinked in confusion, now I didn’t have a clue what he wanted, but whatever it was, it clearly didn’t involve what I had thought seeing as I woke with no boots or greaves on. So if rape was not on his agenda… Stop it! I thought fiercely to myself. I just needed to buy myself time, not worry about his intentions. I was carefully picking at the knots that bound my wrists when he laid his head in my lap and closed his eyes lost in his own thoughts, he was mad as a hatter and I needed to use it to my advantage, I wasn’t sure how, but I needed to if I was going to make it out of this relatively unscathed.

“You don’t want to hurt me.” I said, and let the confusion tinge my voice, trying to get him talking again. He kissed my knee again and his eyes were closed as he gently ran the fingertips and palms of his calloused hands against my scars, caressing my skin. It was disturbing and perhaps rape was on the agenda for this afternoon after all, but I breathed out in a sigh and forced myself to relax continuing to bending my fingers at sharp and painful angles to tease at the knots at my wrists.

“No, I can’t hurt you; you don’t give me what I want when I hurt you… No one has been able to do that before. No one. You screamed and you cried and it was beautiful, but it wasn’t what I wanted out of you. I love you for that.” He looked up at me, his chin resting on my paired knees and even though I stared back and searched his eyes carefully I saw that there was nobody home. I swallowed hard.

“What do you want out of me now Switchkin?” I asked him, the first knot in my bonds freed, I quickly went to work on the second, Aion how many were there?

“I want you to hurt them with me Sirona. You’re a Cleric; I want you to keep them alive so I can hurt them more, make them tell me all their secrets.” He nuzzled his face against the side of my thigh like some large cat and I shuddered. It was dizzying the implication, and horrifying and sickening and I swallowed my disgust and did everything I could to make it appear as though I considered it.

Aion save me from this mad man…

“I see your point. No one could resist that much pain forever, but what about their minds? If they loose their minds what then..?” I waited and watched his face, his shoulders slumped and he wrapped his arms around my legs and cuddled against the scars, laying his head in my lap, carefully considering and just like that, my hands were free, though I did not give myself away, his swords being too close.

He knelt up suddenly, pressing his body to the front of my legs, gripping the tops of my thighs, his claws pricking my skin with the promise of violence and my stomach lurched as his body told me just how happy he was to be there. He pressed his lips to mine and though I resisted he kissed me hard. That is when I saw the potential for distraction. I parted my lips and allowed him to kiss me the way he wanted to, his jade green eyes opened in surprise and I closed my eyes and just tried to imagine that he was someone else, someone I wanted… one of the two men I loved, to keep the illusion clean.

He relaxed into the kiss and I made my move, slipping my hands before me I raised them to cup his face and kissed him back lovingly, I let my touch be gentle and so lost was he that thankfully he did not notice my hands, not at first… by the time he stiffened and I knew I’d been found out, it was too late. I gripped his face even as his claws plunged into the meat of my thighs and I bit his lower lip savagely and with a cry plunged my thumbs into his eyes, blinding him, scratching his face with my nails as he fell back and reached for his swords, shouting and angry.

Everything happened at once then; I tumbled to the side and picked up the heavy chair, holding it before me as both a makeshift shield and weapon… The rotting door to the farm house crashed in on its hinges, a hulking figure in blue plate roaring his rage, a blur of motion slipping in just behind him. Suddenly the assassin from my nightmares was engaged, Aalairius slammed his shield into Switchkin knocking him into the farthest wall, Toxemia taking up position between them, blades out crouched and ready and I screamed as Switchkin, blinking blood from his scratches out of his eyes advanced on my friend, who with a wicked grin began his lethal dance.

I scooted back and gasped at the pain that lanced through my legs, and looking down to see my own red blood I drew breath and uttered a prayer, watching the wounds seal and the flesh mend with nary a scar. Aalairius stood between me and Toxemia and as their Cleric I did what I was supposed to, I stood back and healed, cleansing their blood of the poison Switchkin had laced his blades with, keeping them fit as they beat him into submission, until finally with a roar and full bodied strike Aalairius brought his mace down and dashed the Asmodian’s head into a welter of blood and bone on the farm house dirt floor.

I stood gasping, breath heaving, and my body trembling. Switchkin was making a terrible keening noise, high and piteous like a wounded larial, and as his body dispersed into the aether, I was grateful that it would stop… but it didn’t, and as I looked at my beloved and my friend in confusion, the tears welling and spilling hot down my cheeks I realized, the sound was coming not from my aggressor, the sound, the terrible wailing and keening sound… it came from me.

Twenty Six

2010-01-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

          The days since my return had blurred into weeks, the weeks melded together into months and I had almost gone an entire fortnight’s worth of sleep with but one or two nightmares. I had been steady in my improvement and with that had come more assurance to my Brigade General that I could perform my duties as one of Destiny’s Clerics, without provision. Aalairius, Toxemia, and I had been assigned to take several of the mid-level Legionaries into Heiron, the reports of Asmodian infiltration activities having increased at an alarming rate… Aion I should have known. With hind sight there is always perfect vision, we had been too lax as we had approached Stenon Bay and we had paid for it with the blood of one of our colleagues as an arrow had sprung from their shoulder. Too late for recourse, the ambush was upon us. We were six to their five but they had the upper hand… I healed my people as fast and as sure as I could, my prayers leaving my lips and the light leaving my fingertips almost simultaneously when I saw him…

          His face was hidden beneath a mask of tragedy, but there was no mistaking that shock of raven black hair, nor the way he moved as he engaged one of the newer Destiny recruits, I knew I was not mistaken, and as he struck down the Chantress he locked eyes with me and I knew. There was no mistaking the icy jade gaze of my worst nightmares, nor the way his eyes crinkled at the corners beneath the mask as he grinned at me… the bastard. Switchkin the assassin who’d tortured me for four long days, the man my friends had warned me would not relent, he’d found me. Worse yet, he was close to my beloved, and my dearest friend.

          I cast a renewing spell upon Aalairius and one upon Toxemia and slapped Switchkin with a hallowed strike to slow the swing of his twin cursed blades and I ran. I ran as hard and as long as I could for Storm Circle and beyond, away from my people, away from the rest of my assigned unit, because in my heart I knew it was the only way to save them. My breath came in heaving gasps and the voice of panic tried valiantly to overtake the voice of reason that kept repeating that I remain calm. I listened to my body, heart pumping, blood rushing, and air filling and leaving my lungs and tried to find a rhythm to it all that would carry me farther from my legionaries, leaving them safe. I tasted the bitter copper of my fear and fished for one of the small enchanted rolls of Egrasi paper in my cube, I slipped one free held it before me and spoke the word of command written upon it, the paper crumbled and an infusion of renewal slipped through my being and I felt stronger, increasing my speed. I kept going, running with everything that I was worth.

          I let my stride take me south and flew as fast as I could across the aether soaked environment of Storm Circle folding my wings in and diving into a glide out the other side. I landed deftly and heard him grunt as he landed not far behind… I reached the small tumbling water fall of the stream that fed past Jeiaparan Village and I turned, swinging my mace free and shield on my arm and faced the son of a bitch.

          He circled me much like a wild kirrin would and I watched, waiting for him to strike, waiting for him to make any sort of mistake I could exploit. I had to get further away. He slid in the dirt and came to a stop not expecting me to fight, and oh Aion did I want to fight him. I spit in the dirt before his feet.

          “Not so easy for you now that I’m not chained to a post in a locked room.” Malice coated my words and he tilted his head to the side, much like a bird of prey that thought I’d just done something interesting.

          “I don’t want to hurt you. I’d like to but I don’t want to.” His Elysean was near perfect, barely a hint of an accent at all and I raised my shield and dug my boots into the soft mud of the marsh for a better purchase. He sparked his blades, running them down the length of each other and leapt, he angled his back to the sun and I raised my shield, temporarily blinded as I followed his movement, eyes watering in the bright light. What a stupid mistake! I got my shield up between us just in time, his swords making contact with the destiny crest emblazoned on it’s front, grating painfully down the shield’s length. The blow had been blocked, but at the cost of my arm going numb from shoulder to wrist with the force of it. I took the risk though blind and swung my mace and swung it hard at him, he leapt back and I hit the catch on the handle with my thumb, the weapon extended, catching him off guard… the head of the mace, loosed on its chain smashed into his jaw, the mask cracking and splitting, blood blossoming from a brutal gash in his lip. It was a glancing blow but he retreated, and I smiled to myself, a wicked grin… Perhaps I owed him a little pain after all. He pulled the fractured mask off his face and tossed it violently to the ground and spat blood after it.

          “Feel good?” he asked, and I raised my shield returning to battle stance, ready for the next round. His clawed feet dug ever so slightly into the loose soil, and I saw it, he launched forward and I spoke to the earth beneath his feet, vines springing forth to wrap his legs. I leapt back and shouted sacred words to the sky.

           “Kaheirgan!” the bolt of light sprang from the ground to smite him back a pace, and before he could recover I called down the lightning, a bolt from the blue striking him again before calling the wind to clap him into a stupor, but the last left my lips too late because he was forward and near upon me, blades whirling and slashing at me, and before I could regain my concentration I was off the ground and in the air, helpless in an aether hold.

          Aion! Father! Help me! My terrified mind screamed. I was suddenly on the ground and rolling away, but not quick enough. Twin swords point down crashed boldly through the front of my shield on either side of my arm and it was either let go or let myself be pinned. I let go and sprang back, swinging my mace before me to give me some clearance. He leapt back away from the swing and I rooted him to the ground once more, stepping back into the pool, sinking knee deep into the freshwater, it was not where I wanted to be, but it was the only place I had to go. I called upon the earth’s wrath and let the light smite him back, drawing another thunderbolt from the air, and finally feeling the spark of the divine within me I willed the aetheric energy to my hands as the roots snapped and he began his approach and called upon the wind and with a cry loosed the energy from my hands at him. It caught him full in the chest, staggering him back and I could tell it had hurt him, badly. A surge of triumph bubbled up in my chest but had no time to spill over as he regained his footing and slid to the side in a long step and disappeared from my sight. I picked up my ruined shield and went on guard, the falls to my back and waited.

           Damned assassins, bending the light and shadow to their will, hiding in plain sight, I ground my teeth in frustration and waited. I heard the splash behind me too late, I whirled but only made it mid-motion, the hilt of his sword crashed into the back of my skull, my eyes rolled up into the back of my head and the dark over whelmed me, I felt my self slipping and began to fall, everything sounded fuzzy and my senses went gray as I heard his swords sheath and the steel bands of his arms went around me, catching me and lifting easily.

          Oh Aion…

          Switchkin had captured his prize.

Twenty Five

2010-01-04T22:18:00.000-08:00

            “Well, that does it.” Nepech straightened and held up a sheaf of thick parchment, the leather cover open and several obvious scouting reports sticking out at odd angles, though the script was foreign and unreadable to my eyes. He tucked them into the chest of his robe quickly thinking I had not seen and I allowed him the illusion. We had been back at the core for most of the day, killing Balaur and taking down a stray Asmodian ranger and chanter that cross our path. The day was nearly done and for that I was grateful. Nepech looked me over and finally nodded.

           “You did well. I’m going to recommend you be returned to field duty.” My heart leapt, but I quickly quelled my excitement when he pointed at me. “You gotta get those dreams under control baby girl. I’m telling you right now, no night assignments that have you sleeping out in the field. Your unit would be a sitting duck. You swear to me that you haven’t had any flashbacks?”

            “I swear to you Nepech, no flashbacks, no hallucinations, and no waking dreams of any kind, just the night terrors.” I held up my hand in Aion’s oath and he nodded, satisfied.

          “I’m putting up a portal.” He stepped back and made the incantation, the arcane energy forming a ring, then a vertical pool that rippled before clearing to a view of Sanctum’s proper. I smiled appreciatively and stepped through, Nepech right behind me. I breathed deep the scents of home and turned to Nepech a querying look. He nodded and said “Dismissed.” And I smiled and started for home.

           Aalairius met me at the door, and grimaced as he caught a whiff of me. I laughed, kissed him and took his hand, heading for the bath house. It was good to be home, and even better knowing I would return to my unit the next day.

           “Where did they have you go?” he asked as we walked.

            “The Eye of Reshanta.” I answered, with no further elaboration. He nodded sagely and did not ask anything further. Instead he held out his hand to me, which I took and we walked up the lane together in a comfortable silence. We chose our usual bathhouse, and as we rounded the corner I looked for the familiar shop shingle with the Mikaron’s memento carved into it, richly inlaid with gold leaf along the scalloped edges of the shell to make it stand out.

            Aalairius and I stepped into the greeting area of the small bath house and we were quickly greeted by Miriamonyerk, the regular Shugo on duty, the small silver bells she was fond of wearing on bracelets around her ankles chiming softly with ever small step. I liked Miriamonyerk and she held a particular fondness for me for when Elysea had undergone its last bout of the sweating sickness, I and a very few other Clerics had done our best to tend to the Shugo population that had succumbed to the illness. I had saved Miriamonyerk’s little brother, and just barely at that. It was something for which the Shugo mistress of Soothing Sea’s bath house was grateful and truth be told, her expressions of gratitude had begun to make me uncomfortable though I did not ask her to stop them. Though overt, it still gladdened my heart to hear how well her little brother fared, for we had nearly lost him.

           She chattered her tiny laugh and waved a paw for us to follow quickly when she smelled the Balaur reek emanating from my armor. I did not blame her, I despised the smell myself. We slipped down a short hall and through the door way leading to the small antechamber for changing.

              “Nyerk, mistress Sirona, leave your armor. I will have it cleaned for you.” The little Shugo said. I was fond of cleaning my own armor as a way to bring myself out of the field and back to regular life, but this time I acquiesced, nodding to Miriamonyerk. Aalairius, whose hands rested on my shoulders, gave them a reassuring squeeze. He had been after me for what seemed like an age to relax more and accept these small kindness’ I smiled to myself and as Miriamonyerk closed the door behind her, sighed, suddenly tired and grateful to be alone with my lover. Aal chuckled and tipped my chin up so that he may look at me. He searched my face with his gray eyes, the silver of clouds just before a rain, and I smiled at him. His look turned serious.

             “You look tired.” He said, his strong fingers working the leather straps and buckles just behind my shoulders to loosen my hauberk.

            “I feel tired love. Nepech is relentless out there.” I said it as he slid me out of the chainmail lifting the web of rings over my head easily, for which I was grateful. I didn’t think my aching spine would take it if I’d had to bend forward and shuck it off the traditional way. We eked me out of the rest of my chain and Aal out of his comfortable sobi pants and shirt and slid into the heated pool. I sank to my shoulders in the soothing waters and leaned back against my beloved who cradled me against him.

             “I love you.” He growled against the side of my neck, trailing a line of kisses, barely more than a soft touch of lips to my skin, down the side of my neck along my collarbone before planting a final errant kiss on my shoulder. I sighed and closed my eyes tension leaking out of me. He turned me around to face him and claimed my mouth with his in a lingering kiss. I smiled up at him as he drew back and he smiled down at me, reaching for the pitcher at the edge of the pool.

             “Head back.” He murmured and I complied, the warm water slicking my hair back from my face and trailing down my spine, the water in the pool suddenly tinged with a combination of the rusty color of dried Balaur blood and the copper dirt from the core. Aal drew me back against his chest as he reached for a vial of soap and unstopped the top tipping the viscous liquid into my hair. A scent rich with herbs and vaguely spicy filled my nose as Aalairius massaged my scalp, my hair engulfed in a frothing mass as the soap went to work on the grit and grime of battle. I relaxed and let my lover spoil me, enjoying his nearness and the feel of his arms around me.

              He rinsed my hair and we finished our bath at a leisurely pace, finally lounging at the edge of the pool on the low stone bench beneath the surface. I rested in my beloved’s lap lightly dozing when his voice came, low and soothing to my ear.

             “Who is Elethor?” he asked me, and I stiffened, jolting in the water, his arms going around me and locking me to him, steadying me.

              “I, why do you ask?” I looked up at him and he gazed down at me, eyes searching my face.

              “Who is he?” he demanded, and I swallowed hard and spoke the truth to him.

              “Do you remember, a few months ago, when I came back from the skirmish at the Eastern Shard, rattled?” I asked him. He nodded. “And do you remember the night before, the dream I had?” I asked. He drew me against his chest tucking my head beneath his chin.

              “The sorcerer. The friend of yours before the cataclysm.” He said a dawning of understanding in his voice.

               “Yes.” I replied, lips numb. “Why would you ask about him?” I asked.

               “You said his name. In your sleep the night before you left.” He kissed my forehead. “Were you dreaming again? About before?” he asked. I settled against him, suddenly uncomfortable in my own skin.

                 “I don’t know.” I murmured, and it was the truth. I didn’t know if it had been a dream of before the cataclysm, though I suspect it had not been that I had been dreaming of a land of darkness and ice, which the piece of my heart I had left in Asmodae had made its absence known. I rested against my lover and tried to force my lost love from my mind. We did not have to worry about any new assignments until mid morning, and though declared fit for duty, I was well aware that the duty my unit would be receiving, on a more likely than not basis, would be of a simpler kind than what we had done prior to my abduction.

                 My armor was clean and mended when we returned to it, and I was appreciative of the fine work and caring that had gone into it. I took my lover’s hand and we made for home, that night he would erase my fears beneath a cloud of tender caresses and whispered endearments until finally I drifted off to sleep, close in his arms and for once, in a very long time, without any doubts or worries, not because they were not there, but simply because I was too exhausted to have any.

Twenty Four

2010-01-02T16:36:00.000-08:00

I touched down in Roah Fortress’ courtyard and nodded politely to one of the Gallowglass’ on patrol. Nepech landed beside me, jaw set in a hard line, his temper clearly outlined in the furrow marring his brow. He looked me up and down and his look softened slightly. I straightened and rolled my shoulders and tried to hide my weariness, but I knew that it was too late and he had seen.

“You did good out there girl. You’ve earned your aches and there’s no shame in being tired.” He tipped his head from side to side, audible popping sounds emanating from his neck as bones slid back into alignment. I was filthy and stooped with exhaustion I wanted a bath, a meal and my bed, I would settle for a basin of water, some rations and a cot or a corner. I stood waiting for any additional orders. Nepech looked at me for several moments before reluctantly muttering

“Your dismissed, eat something, clean yourself up and be ready to go back out tomorrow morning. There is a room for you passed the artifact chamber. Mine is two doors down from yours.” I saluted nonchalantly and dragged myself toward the ramps leading down. First I found my self a shugo and sent the message to Aalairius that I was well, then I found myself some hot gruel, a washbasin and sighed with relief that there was an armor rack in my room. I hated leaving my gear in a pile, just didn’t feel like I was taking proper care of it. I shucked off my chain and hung it properly before collapsing onto the thin but sturdy mattress on the battle scarred bed frame.

“I’m dreaming aren’t I?” I asked him. He bowed his head and nodded. I stood in the white dress on the vast expanse of snow and I was not cold. I looked at my bare feet, whole and unscarred and knew it was indeed just a dream. Aion that hurt. I gazed lovingly upon Elethor’s face as the flakes began to fall and closed my eyes as the tears welled. When I opened them is when the nightmare took over.

Jade green eyes, as cold as the snow had looked andso terribly calculating much like kirin’s were inches from my own, he drew back just a little, and brought the glowing metal of his heated sword between us, letting me look, letting the dawning cross my face before drawing the blade slowly away, making certain I followed it with my eyes and it travelled lower and lower over my body before pressing into the flesh just below my knee. The sizzling is what did it, the sizzling and the smoke rising and my voice rose with it into an earsplitting scream that boiled in my chest and poured from my throat in a scalding wave…

Hands gripped my shoulders pinning me down, pinning me back as I arched, body bowing taught and I heard a voice screaming my name.

“Sirona!”

“Sirona! Wake up girl!” Nepech shook me violently and after a moment of disorientation I snapped my teeth together and came back to myself and the borrowed chamber in Roah. The abyss, I was safe… I closed my eyes a moment and felt his fingers dig painfully into my upper arms, and I knew there would be bruises. I swallowed hard and turned my face, hiding behind my own hair, shamed.

“What was that?” he demanded, his grip loosened on me but he did not let go.

“I’m sorry. A bad dream is all” I swallowed hard and repeated it, more for myself than anything, “Just a bad dream.”

We were quiet for a moment when finally the rumble of his voice came, asking “This happen a lot?” I nodded, but did not speak.

“Aion.” He said, and let me go. “How does Aal do it? You woke the whole damned Fortress and set the guards on edge on the battlements. We thought the damned Balaur were falling from the sky til we figured out it was you.” He scratched his chin through his beard and I looked at him then wide eyed.

“I… I’m sorry.” I stuttered lamely, at a loss for words.

“Its fine now baby doll.” He drawled. “You ever have any of these bad dreams while you’re awake?” he asked. I frowned at him.

“I’m a Cleric of Aion’s light and a healer, not some green recruit damnit. I know what a flashback is Nepech, and no it only happens when I sleep.” I crossed my arms over my breasts, the thin undershirt not leaving much to the imagination before realizing I was being foolish, and blushing. Nepech, ever quick caught on right away, and started laughing at me, which colored me an even deeper red.

“No you’re correct. I may love Astat but I notice women too, so does he.” He stood up and stretched. “You okay now?” he searched my face. I nodded and scooched down, bringing the regulation issue, stiff Fess blanket to my chin.

“Good night Nepech. Sorry again.” He nodded at me and went for the door, I watched the rectangle of light cast on the floor from the hall disappear as he shut it behind him and I was plunged into the dark once more. For a fleeting moment I missed Aalairius and then the dark, and the beginning of my dream reminded me… and I missed Elethor, a sharp ache emanated from my cracked heart and I closed my eyes, shoving all of it from my mind. When sleep came again it was complete, and I did not dream again.

Twenty Three

2009-12-31T08:03:00.001-08:00

I leapt to the side just as the pole axe came crashing down where I’d stood. The Balaur screamed its frustration and I quickly spoke the word of command firing off the spell that would save me. I felt the infusion of vitality and dodged again, backpedaling as Nepech’s fiery wrath struck the fetid creature full in the face, toppling it to the ground where it smoked and twitched its last. I planted my mace firmly against the ground and heaved myself to my feet with a groan. Nepech rifled through the stinking lizards many pouches looking for something. He finally rocked back on his heels and looked at me.

“Try not to piss them off or draw their ire Siona. That’s my job. You’re just supposed to heal me.” He said. I caught my breath and nodded straightening up.

“You can have their attention Nepech, you can have it all you want.” I replied, making the sign against evil on my chest. Nepech laughed the sound booming and startling in the stillness that was the Eye of Reshanta. We had been picking off guards for quite sometime near the Divine Fortress. Each Balaur that fell, Nepech would stoop and search but when I had asked he had said he merely sought anything that may be of interest. I did not prod further but at least once I had seen him discreetly tuck a sheaf of leather wrapped parchment in his robes. It had the distinct look of scouting reports I myself had carried for Sin a time or two. I caught Nepech looking me over.

“Don’t just stand there Neppie, kill something. I can’t very well heal you if you aren’t hurt and you aren’t getting hurt standing here gawping at me.” I smiled as I said it and stuck my tongue out at him as I finished. He laughed at me and ice collected at his fingers. He spoke the arcane and flung his arm at me, the frost passing my shoulder and catching a Balaur at the top of a nearby rise unawares.

I stepped passed Nepech several paces and flung a healing prayer at his back the words slipping passed my lips easily and familiarly keeping the prayer in place over him, protecting his well being over a time, remedying his condition almost as instantly as he was hit. When we next paused I chanted the prayer of rebirth, placing the self imposed geas on my soul to remain with my body, should I fall and felt some of my vitality secret its self away within my self should such a situation occur. It was a secret known only to clerics and very useful, though also very taxing.

The light in the Eye was diffuse, being in the shadow of upper Reshanta as it was. Nepech had explained that this was what gave us our advantage, explaining Balauric anatomy in great detail and how their eyesight was imperfect in twilit conditions, even though they see well in darkness or in bright light. It was macabre at first listening to this dissertation as he annihilated the very creatures we spoke of, but my pity for these fearsome brutes was very short lived when one attempted to ambush me.

Nepech signaled to me to back away and follow after he finished off the Balaur scout and I followed him as we eased our way passed yet more of the stinking dragon-kin. We took wing and found a free floating shard of rock mercifully devoid of anything living to land upon.

“We rest, we eat and we go back at it for a while. We’ll head back up to Roah for the night; one of our Legions took control last night, so it’s safe for a time while the enemy regroups.” He sat heavily and I joined him opening up my cube and pulling free some dumplings I’d made the night before. He made a face at me and pulled out something of his own.

We ate in silence for a time before he finally spoke, I knew it was coming, Nepech did not strike me as one to let go and I know he knew I had not been forthcoming; still I had almost convinced myself he wouldn’t ask.

“Who were they Sirona?” He asked, taking another bite of his food. I tried not to still or to flinch and I think I did a passable job at it as I took another hasty bite of my food and chewed slowly to give myself time to think. I decided to try and play dumb.

“I said in my report, the sorceress responsible for my abduction is Kuraia; the Gladiator with her was unknown to me and later Kuraia brought the assassin Switchkin to torture me for our Legion’s location in Heiron.” I looked at him and he sighed groaning a little.

“So much for this being simple with you.” He stated. “You know that is not the ‘three’ I am talking about. I mean the Ranger, Chanter and Sorcerer that had you at the rift. You know that is who I meant, and you are not stupid. Nor am I baby girl, I would appreciate it if you would at least give me the courtesy to not treat me as if I am so.” He gave me a patient look but beneath it I could see he was barely controlled and that I should not test him, or push him too far. I felt suddenly guilty at his words and decided to be as straight as I could yet remain within the bounds of my written report.

“When I woke in that room and the sorcerer that had me at the rift came, I was burnt, bloody, and broken. I did not know who he was or why he was there but at first I assumed the worst of him.” I stared at the half eaten remains of my dumpling and I was suddenly not very hungry. “He wrapped me in his Legion Cloak, picked me up and I lost consciousness again.” I wrapped the half eaten food in a square of cloth and placed it neatly in my cube. Wonderful things, cubes, so small yet magical in such a way that the interiors held so much more than their compact outside allowed for. Nepech broke me out of my idle musings by impatiently clearing his throat. I stared at him for long moments; I would not volunteer any more information. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I was there in the days after your return. You’re one of the most singularly stubborn women I think I have ever met baby doll.” He rocked back and settled himself again after letting out an explosive breath.

“I want to know who they are Sirona. If I thought it would get me anywhere I would torture you myself, but you have all ready proven that it would gain me nothing.” His mouth set in a grim line he stared at me. I looked him in the eye and stared back defiant. His words had cut to a certain degree and a line had been drawn now all that was left was to see how far either of us would cross it.

“I can’t tell you.” I said.

“No, you won’t tell me.” He shot back. I let out my own breath and slumped a little, but I was not defeated.

“No, Nepech. I mean what I say, I cannot tell you.” He rocked back again and the anger was there painted across his features in one of the darkest looks I have ever beheld on anyone’s face. I took a deep breath and plunged forward, deeper into my lie. “I swear to you Nepech, I can not tell you, because I can not say what I do not know.” I watched his face and in a last ditch effort to protect my friends I prayed with all my heart and soul, a silent plea from my soul to Aion’s ear.

Please Father, I would do anything you ask, please Father let him believe me. Please, just please let him believe me and let them be safe.

“Damn you Sirona!’ he slammed his gloved fist into the stone at his side. “I do not want to believe you girl, but you have given me no reason to disbelieve you.” He crossed his arms disgruntled. “I should report you unfit for duty to Sin you piss me off so.” He looked at me hard. “I don’t think I will though, because so far, it isn’t true and I am a man of my word. Let’s get back down there. Those Balaur reports aren’t going to find themselves.

It was a testament to how upset he was that he let information like that slip in front of me. I swallowed hard and rose, dusting off my chain. What in Atreia was Destiny into that we would need Balaur reports? I pondered this for only a brief while, for Nepech was angry and he was determined to make everything in his path pay. As his healer, I was very glad I now stood behind him.

Twenty Two

2009-12-30T11:43:00.000-08:00

Polydius smiled sympathetically at me as I shifted from foot to foot, restless and waiting for Nepech. My shield hung at my back, the hot sun reflecting off of it, causing small children passing by with their mothers to stare wide eyed at the patterns displayed behind me on the marble wall. The new mace was an unfamiliar weight at my hip where it hung at my belt and I shifted impatiently yet again, in an attempt to settle it. I heard whistling and looked up from my fidgeting, it was Nepech, and he strode up the Exalted Path in my direction idly turning pages in his spell book, finally stopping before me.

“Morning baby doll.” He said nonchalantly raking his eyes over my appearance, inspecting my condition.

“Good morning sir.” I murmured.

“None of that Sirona, I’m just Nepech, no need to call me ‘sir’ or anything else formal for that matter.” He laughed. I nodded and waited for my orders. He scratched his beard and scrutinized me further. I held still though I wanted badly to shift from foot to foot with my impatience. He jerked his head indicating I should follow.

“Verteron Citadel, Polydius.” Nepech tossed the man a bag of kinah to pay our fare and Polydius opened a portal. I swallowed hard and followed Nepech through. We emerged into a bustle of activity, Shugo porters carried boxes and pushed carts to and fro, their complaints kept low and their small squeaking voices calling out warnings to those that managed to get in their way. I stepped back to allow a pair to pass by their tails held high, and rushed to catch up to Nepech.

“Wings out Sirona, we’re going to Teminon.” He let his wings appear from the aether and stretched them taking to the air with a few powerful strokes, dust swirled up behind him and I closed my eyes willing my own wings into existence, extending them carefully before stroking them against the wind myself. The flight muscles in my chest screamed with disuse and I grimaced, I had a moment, a sharp pang of worry which soon turned to relief as I lifted off from the ground. Though the short flight up to the stationary portal to the Abyss left my chest and back aching, it was a good ache, dull and bittersweet, the return to an activity that I did so love. I missed flying.

This early, Teminon wasn’t as busy, I followed Nepech across the wide expanse of marble that was Teminon’s Landing and basked in the silvery white glow of the stone. The hot winds of the abyss stirred the hair at the back of my neck and with wings out I yearned to let them bear me up and out over the void. Nepech called over his shoulder

“You want to take the lazy way or the cheap way?” Nepech called over his shoulder. I grinned impishly, I knew what he meant.

“The cheap way of course.” I called back, and smiled broader as he passed the teleporter on duty. We stepped to the edge of the landing. Nepech looked at me, and the look he gave me was sanguine. I smiled and spread wing, tipping myself over the edge content at the snap of feather on wind as I bore up into the air. I heard the boom of deep laughter and turned to see my temporary commander winging his way after me.

“You don’t even know where we go Sirona!” he called over the rushing wind.

“So tell me! Where do we go?” I called back.

“Head for the Western Shard of Latesran, take the layer port up to the Ridge, do not go further and stay close, we are in the Abyss never forget what that means.” He glided near me and I swallowed the joy that flight brought me and reigned in my senses. He was right; this was the Abyss and what better way to prove my worth then to allow myself to be owned by some random Asmodian or Balaur because I was too far into my own mind to pay attention to my surroundings.

I drew in my wings slightly and made for a straight line to the Western Shard, slipping through the aether infused flight rings where they appeared to ease the strain on my body. I double checked my cube’s supply feeling foolish that I may have left anything behind and found a good supply of vials, the silvery liquid of wind serum swirling within. I smiled to myself, I had forgotten nothing per usual.

I banked right and swung a lazy gliding circle down to the ground and willed my wings away for the moment. Nepech landed heavily beside me.

“I didn’t know you were such a good flyer.” He said, between gasps for air. I smiled barely winded and said nothing. Nepech paid our way topside and we flew between the layers of the abyss easily, and in silence. At the top we both sobered and I clicked easily into the role of silent shadow to the imposing sorcerer.

We flew and my nerves set on their edge when I realized where we headed. I had never been to the core, but it was very clear to me that it was Nepech’s intention we should go there. Only the most powerful Daeva fought in the Eye of Reshanta, rife with Balaur as it was, and powerful Balaur at that. This was no mere test; this was going to be a baptism by fire. As we went into our dive to slip passed the upper layer of red stone and down to the core, I fitted my shield to my arm and loosed my mace from my belt. Nepech looked over his shoulder to make sure I followed, and when he caught site of me, ready and armed something in his eyes hardened and he inclined his head slightly in what looked like respect. There was no time to delineate the meaning of the sorcerer’s expression for when we landed, the fighting began, and for me the struggle to survive for I had forgotten something after all… I had forgotten to bind my soul to Teminon’s obelisk…

A Very Big Thank You and Some Recognition At Last

2009-12-30T06:37:00.000-08:00

I need to pause in my writing for just one very quick moment between this year and the next to say some very big thank yous.

First of all I need to express how grateful I am to several people both in and outside my story for reading it, continuing to read it and for enjoying it enough to keep me motivated to keep writing it.

I am sure all of you have seen the new change to the top of the page and that, my friends is all thanks to Zieg over at aionsource.com, I encourage all of you to look at his beautiful images, and while you are there to also look at Zhoul's, Londonrain's and the newest addition to the family of graphicdesign artists, Oz. They hide in the Creative Corner and really, someone out there ought to ask them out to dance in a big way because their art deserves to be seen.

I also want to extend a very big thank you to my boyfriend, Aalairius. For having the paitience to let me write, and for being absolutely graceful about Sirona's character relationships with other people. Some people it's an issue, but with him, he's so amazing that he reads my stuff and likes it, and only moderately QQ's when his character isn't in it, but only in good fun.

Aalairius is responsible for the original banner when the blog first went up, the one you have all been used to seeing, and he did it for me despite my own QQing and making him go back and tweak it several times to get the lettering juuuuuuust right. When he has the time, and the adventure he has done some of the images for some of the posts as well... So thank you baby, with every part of my being, thank you for being there for me and with me through my bad moods and crazy family, and the added insanity that is this story.

So lastly, a huge thank you to all of my in-game friends , especially (again) Aalairius, Toxemia, Elethor, Kuraia, Evensong and Haji for dropping everything, as often as you do to run your character half way across Atreia for the pretty screenies that go into each part of My Sirona.

The best is yet to come, because I never seem to run out of ideas, so keep reading, and have a safe and happy New Year, there will be more of My Sirona after the new year and probably one or two more parts before 2010 hits, so stay tuned... or don't, but please come back and catch up!

I really do love you guys,

Sirona

Twenty One

2009-12-29T10:29:00.001-08:00

I followed Nepech into the legion office and retook the seat at Sin’s gesture, smoothing the dress over my knees, again hiding the ruined skin of my legs. Nepech returned to his place upon the tall stool and I waited expectantly. Sin took a breath.

“It is the decision of this council that you return to active duty as soon as possible Sirona.” She began, and the tension in my shoulders eased. “However, whether you are fit to return to that duty remains in question.” My heart sank, the room went silent.

Finally Boa spoke, her soft voice startling in the stark silence that had befallen us. “It is not that we doubt your courage, or your resolve Sirona, we understand that you have gone through something very terrible and for the safety of the fellow soldiers in Destiny, we feel that it is appropriate that you be eased into full active duty. We wish no ill to befall you or any other member of your unit.” She leaned back in her seat. I swallowed hard, eyes misting. Nepech made a disgruntled sound beside me, crossing his arms and shifting upon his stool. I didn’t understand, on the one hand it sounded to me as if they were going to return me to active duty with my peers, on the other it sounded as if they had no intention… I felt as if I were in limbo.

“Give her to me, two days. I’ll put her through her paces and tell you if she’s ready.” Nepech’s voice was steady and I looked at him, I could tell this was not the decision that they had reached behind closed doors… Sin had tensed in her seat and Boa leaned forward, but what had made Nepech change his mind? Sin cleared her throat.

“That was not what we agreed Nepech, it was unanimous, our intention clear, that Sirona serve in the infirmary in an auxiliary capacity. I do not like the risk involved in your proposal, if something should go wrong, we are…” Sin was cut off mid-sentence by Nepech’s loud laughter.

“Nothing could go wrong Sin. It’s the same thing you have me doing on my own, in fact I might be able to accomplish more with a personal pocket healer.” He looked at me speculatively and I bit the inside of my cheek. I, as with anyone, disliked being spoken of as if I weren’t there, but I waited. I did not want to be alone with Nepech in the field but I could not disagree, it wasn’t my place and I wanted to return to duty with Aalairius and the rest of my unit, as soon as possible. I did not know who they had as their healer in my absence, and selfish as it may be I doubted whoever it was could adapt to the fighting style and unit tactics I was already accustomed to.

Sin and Boa conferred with one another before leaning back in their seats. Nepech looked pleased with himself, while the two women simply looked uneasy, which unnerved me. Oh how I did not wish to be locked away in the infirmary though. I waited… Sin finally inclined her head and I let out a breath that I hadn’t known I was holding.

“Two days Nepech, but you must understand that you are taking responsibility not only for yourself but for Sirona’s well being, and I want a full written report at the end of your duties on how she is doing. I do not like this. Destiny, cannot afford to be short a healer of Sirona’s caliber, nor can we afford to be without a Sorcerer of yours. So both of you, I want you to be cautious. You leave in the morning. Sirona, you are a direct subordinate to Nepech for the next two days. Follow his command and do well. I would like to see you in the field instead of the infirmary with your talents. Do not make me regret this Nepech. Both of you are dismissed.”

I stood and bowed, and went for the door, Nepech following me into the hall.

“Tomorrow morning Sirona,” Nepech called at my retreating back… “Meet me on the Exalted Path! Polyidus will teleport us where we need to go!” I had heard everything he said, though I disappeared around the corner as he’d said the last, eyes misting with tears, heart heavy with the lies I’d told. I was on my way home to my beloved, though now I was uncertain that I even deserved him.

I stopped below the trees in Elyos Square and stood watching the people of Sanctum go by and allowed myself my moment of self pity, wiping the tears from my eyes with angry swipes of my fingers. I would make this right, somehow. I would serve my Legion and the people of Elysea and I would make it right. I would start in the morning with whatever it was Nepech had planned for me. I would prove my worth and my ability and protect the ones I loved both on and off the battle field.

I went home. As I stood opposite the front door to our dwelling I heard Aalairius, his voice raised. I stepped into our small dwelling to see him standing opposite Toxemia, his armor a bright pretentious pink.

“Aion damn you. You sick bastard! Who do you think is going to take me seriously in this?” Aalairius demanded. I covered my mouth with my hands and forced down my laughter. Tox stood at our small galley counter, hip against the counter, arms nonchalantly crossed, grinning.

“I kinda like it, lawls.” He answered.

“It’s… a becoming color on you my love.” I laughed. Aalairius turned sharply toward me and jabbed a finger in my direction.

“Don’t you encourage him; I don’t have time to dye this before we go out tomorrow.” His eyes smoldered, and he raked his gauntleted fingers through his white locks, causing them to stick up at odds.

I closed the door behind me, suddenly somber and turned to my beloved and dearest friend. Aalairius’ face fell and Tox’s expression became guarded. Tox pulled out a chair at our small table and Aal led me to it. I sat and Aal with me, Tox moved around our small galley and put on some Ferilla tea.

“I won’t be with you tomorrow. Sin, Boa and Nepech decided that after… my time away that I may not be fit for a return to duty so soon. They were going to have me work the infirmary for a time, it sounded like… but Nepech convinced them to allow him to take me into the field and test me over the next two days.”

Aalairius slammed his gauntleted fist into the table and swore. Tox handed me a cup of tea.

“I don’t like it!” Aal burst out. “Sin and Boa haven’t the right, if you say you’re fine then you’re fine, who the hell are they to…” I placed my hand over his and he quieted.

“Sin is our Brigade General; do not blame her for putting the many of Destiny over the desires of one or two.” My words were gentle but a scolding none the less.

“I’m going to talk to them, see if they’ll reassign me to go with you tomorrow.” He rose and I set my cup down with a clatter.

“You will do nothing of the sort Aalairius. I do not need to be coddled. I will go with Nepech and I will be fine, it’s only two days and whatever it is, if Nepech can do it, I can do it or perhaps I really do belong in the infirmary and not out of the field.” Tox pushed himself off from the Galley counter.

“Aal, I think you ought to leave this one alone. Sirona and Sin are right you know. You don’t come back the same after something like that. Sometimes you need a little longer than you think to get back into the swing of things.” He waggled his hips to illustrate the last and I laughed. Aalairius raised an eyebrow and took a breath to speak; I was afraid of what he’d say to our friend and lightly smacked his breast plate. He smiled at me and my heart gave a twist. Aalairius and I had no trouble getting back into anything behind closed doors. However, Toxemia did not need to know that. Tox's voice took on a more serious tone.

“I didn’t get these sharpening my swords Aal.” He said indicating the crossed scars on his face. “Torture messes you up.” He took a Mela fruit from the bowl on the table and bit into it crisply and I bowed my head, taking a moment to hide the flicker of memory that crossed my face behind my hair. Aalairius sighed, he was there at night when I woke screaming, and he knew the truth of it. He stripped off his gauntlets and took my hands between his.

“Get out Tox, if I’m to let her go in the morning I want some time with my woman.”

Tox laughed. “Oooo can I watch?” he asked.

“I said get out.” Aalairius called Toxemia a name that made my ears burn and finished with “…and buy me some blue dye to fix this mess you bastard!”

The door closed firmly behind our friend and quiet settled over our little dwelling.

“I don’t like it.” Aalairius said, and stilled me as I was about to say something in retort by kissing me softly, cradling the side of my face in his hand, his thumb gently resting on my lips. “I failed you once and I won’t let that happen again. I promise you.” He sat back, grim, his plate making the movement restricted, but he got his point across, that he would brook no argument. I was about to give him one anyway.

“Do not become so protective that I can not perform my duties Aalairius. That would be a failure in and of its self. Destiny depends on both of us and both of our abilities. You did not fail on the beach that day. Nor did I, Aion has a plan and though you or I may not understand it, it is His will and we are His vassals.

I spoke rarely of my faith with Aalairius, I knew he was skeptical even though he never begrudged my belief in Aion, though now his skepticism showed on his face. He finally gave an equal parts disgruntled and exasperated sigh.

“Humor me beautiful. Send word by Shugo messenger, express if you have to, that you’re okay each night.” He held up his hands seeing I was about to protest the cost. “I don’t care about the kinah, I will give you plenty for this before you go.” I thought about it, and finally pursed my lips and nodded my agreement.

I kissed Aalairius and rose; I had time enough to check and secure my armor and weapons, and to restock my cube with potions and remedies before setting out tomorrow… I used that time wisely and as I fell asleep in my beloved’s arms that night I prayed silently that I could do what was expected of me and that both my ability and sanity would not be left in question.

Twenty

2009-12-26T16:52:00.001-08:00

The report Boa had requested was written and rested in my hands - several heavy sheets of parchment laden with ink, thick with omitted truths. I stood in the white dress Elethor had given to me on one of Sanctum’s many terraces and crossed my arms, suddenly chilled. I had written everything of my capture and as many details as I could commit to the page on my torture. I included the name of the assassin Switchkin and the sorceress Kuraia for I did not owe them anything. For a while I thought to myself that I owed them pain, but what would revenge accomplish me? I thought hard on that question as I visualized the sorceress on the floor, her body broken burned and bleeding as mine had been and I felt sick. So no, I owed them nothing neither safety nor pain, but I would not protect their identity.

Elethor, Evensong and Haji, on the other hand, I owed everything. So when it came to the point in my report where Elethor took me from the torture chamber, I wrote the truth - that he moved me and that I did not know him, but when it came to the rest… well then, I lied. Though it killed a small part of me to do so, but there just wasn’t any other way.

The rest of the celebration had gone well the night before, but I still heard Nepech, Sin and Astat laying plans for rifting into Asmodae, and forays into the Abyss. It frightened me, the thought of the two sorcerers coming against Evensong or Haji … or worse, my Elethor. Though I was not meant to, I also heard an exchange between Sin and Nepech about scouting reports and the Balaur, and information being held in Heiron. I pressed the conversation from my mind as it was not something for my ears, but I could not help but chain these things together and wonder… Had I been taken for a reason?

Though I was a Centurion in Destiny I was not privy to all the Legions comings and goings. Oddly, when Sin approached me with the position it was not for militant reasons. She had seen me speaking with Legionaries, one in particular that was going through a rough time on the front. I was assigned the rank of Centurion, and my given duty was to simply take care of our people - to be an ear and to be a comfort, a go between if you will, to be a voice for our Legionaries to the Brigade General and other Centurions of Destiny. It was a position of trust, a position I would no longer deserve once I handed this report to my superiors.

I closed my eyes and prayed. Aion please let this be the right decision. I stood very still for a long moment and let the sorrow wash over me at what need be done before steeling my resolve. I strode up the steps and down the lane to the Legion’s Board, a hard lump in my throat, tears pricking the backs of my eyes. I bypassed the storefronts and took a side entrance, stepping lightly down the spiral stairs down into the heart of Sanctum. I passed several Centurions and Legionaries from some of Sanctums’ most valiant Legions, and several from some of her start-up Legions as well. Each bearing their own Legion's cloak, each with their unique crest. I saw the silvery wings of Wanted’s emblem and the skeletal figure that was Hardcore as I traversed the hall, further down until I reached the Brigade General’s office with Destiny’s plaque riveted to the front.

I took a deep breath and knocked.

“Enter.” I heard Nepech’s masculine voice emanate through the wood. I grabbed the door’s handle, hitting the catch with my thumb, squared my shoulders and stepped through the door, the heavy planks swinging inward on well oiled hinges.

The room was neither extremely large nor very small, it could hold twenty Daevas comfortably, but no more. Maps and book cases cluttered the walls, a low square table sat in the center of the room, chairs around it, ten in all and yet more maps sprawling across the scarred wood surface. The maps on the table always changed, and today it seemed it was Heiron. I quelled my thoughts on any activities my Legion may be undergoing in Heiron once again and closed the door behind me. Sin was at her large desk in the corner, Boa just behind and to her right; Nepech perched upon one of the stools before them both. A chair with a rigid back and sturdy legs sat vacant beside the sorcerer.

“Sirona, please have a seat.” Sin waved me in and gestured to the chair. I stepped forward and handed her the folded parchment of my report, my stomach lurching and took the proffered chair. It was as hard and uncomfortable as it looked. With a flick of her wrist a sharp thin dagger appeared in Sin’s hand and she sliced the wax seal from the sheaf of papers. She read the first one, and handed it to Boa who then began to read. I sat quietly as the pages went from Sin, to Boa and finally to Nepech. We all sat in silence as each of them finished until Nepech finally looked up from the report and folded the papers back into shape, his eyes burning.

“So you know nothing of the three?” He turned on me, “You were with them for three maybe four days and you know nothing?” He was angry with me and my heart sank. He knew, Aion help me, he knew I wasn’t telling the truth, but I had to protect them… I had to.

“I’m sorry, but no. I was unconscious for a lot of it, and when I wasn’t they spoke Asmodian… I couldn’t understand them. I just knew in my heart they weren’t going to hurt me like the sorceress and assassin had. I hung my head and tried very hard to keep my thoughts out of that hot, dark room.

“Your report is complete, yes?” Sin asked me and I looked up at her sharply and swallowed.

“Yes General.” I answered.

“You’ve remembered nothing else, left nothing out?” Boa asked brow wrinkled with concern. I swallowed, it was now or never and it was time to choose, my dearest friends, or my Legion. I silently prayed to Aion that I made the right decision, the crystal of Elethor’s eyes swimming up from the depths of my mind… He had made this very same decision and he had chosen me. With renewed resolve I chose.

“No, I’ve remembered nothing else, nor have I left anything out.” I lied. Aion save me, I lied and in doing so I protected them, but Aion, Father… I lied to them. Sin sat back in her chair, thoughtful.

“Please Sirona have a seat in the hall, Nepech will fetch you when we’ve made a decision about your return to active duty.” She smiled and I think it was meant to be encouraging but the smile never reached her eyes. I nodded and stood, stepping lightly across the room, hollow with my betrayal, I closed the door and leaned on the wall beside it heavily, my emotions warring with one another my chest tight and aching with guilt.

I spent what felt like an eternity in the hall, my guilt weighing heavier on me with each passing moment. Waiting for Nepech to come, waiting for the three of them to tell me I was a disgrace and that I was dismissed from Destiny. I deserved nothing less. I leaned against the cool marble, my hands folded before me; head bowed and prayed, falling into a light meditation as I waited. It helped with the pain in my feet and my calves. I had debated wearing the white dress, with the scars as bad as they were, but decided I needed something of my friends with me, if only to remind me of the grace they visited upon me in my hour of need, and the loyalty that deserved.

A light touch to my shoulder brought me back to myself. I started gently and looked up. Nepech stood beside me, very close, and asked

“Are you all right?”

I searched his chocolate brown eyes, and for the first time, I did not see anger there but a very real concern.

“I’m fine Nepech; you act like you’ve never seen a Cleric at meditation before.” I smiled, and played it off lightly but he was having none of it.

“I’ve seen Boa meditate, but not like that.” He took his hand from my shoulder and straightened his coat by tugging at the waist. “In any event, we’ve reached our decision. Come with me baby doll.” He turned sharply and crossed the hall, stepping through the door leaving me to follow, which I did obediently.

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T08:39:00.000-08:00

As the snow falls in Beluslan and the sun shines in Heiron, may all the Asmodians and Elyos alike have a very merry Solorius holiday, and many of Aion's blessings this season.

Thank you for reading!

~Sirona~Aalairius~Elethor~Toxemia~Kuraia~Sin~Boa~Evensong~Haji~Switchkin~Nepech~Astat~ and many others from the North American Ariel Server!

More of My Sirona will be posted after Christmas, so for now be safe be happy and tidings of comfort and joy!

Nineteen

2009-12-21T20:05:00.001-08:00

Some time later, we were washed and clean and in the outer dressing room. Several bulky paper wrapped packages rested on a low bench, each with my name on them, each in a different hand. I turned to Aalairius.

“What is this?” I asked.

“By the time I got back to the village you were gone. Your chain too… so everyone pitched in and either made you something or bought you something to replace it.” He rested his large hands on my shoulders and I looked at him in disbelief.

“They…” I began but I did not finish, I was speechless.

“Your Legion loves you Sirona, I love you. Now get dressed, we have some place to be.” He swatted my backside and sauntered over to where his gear lay and began suiting up.

I picked up the first package and undid it. A beautiful set of blue chain gloves… My Legion had spared no expense, after the gloves there were boots, greaves, a pair of shoulders, a hauberk all of them a beautiful shade of blue set off by the color of Ervio petals, I finally reached the last two packages, and I sat there dressed in my new chain, earrings and necklace also in place, new rings on my fingers and unwrapped the largest package with shaking fingers. A beautifully worked shield with Destiny’s Legion crest sat among the discarded paper and tears sprang to my eyes and rolled down my cheeks.

“Sin had that made especially for you.” Aalairius said gently as he knelt beside me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder, over whelmed. He laughed softly into my hair and said “You haven’t even opened the last one.”

I hefted the bulky wrapped package and tore the paper. A mace lay within, the head the shape of a skull in a plate helm. I looked at Aalairius… the weight was exquisite and it swung with beautiful follow through, the shape… the shape left much to be desired which meant only one thing.

“Let me guess…” I said. “Toxemia?” He laughed and nodded at me. The thing was garish, but there was no denying the amazing craftsmanship that had gone into it. I finished suiting up and took my lovers hand.

“Where do we need to be?” I asked.

“We’re a little late all ready.” Aal said ushering me out into the bright evening sun. I squinted and rushed to keep pace beside my lover as we made our way through Sanctum, the streets we followed leading us to the airship dock.

“Outer dock?” I mused more to myself than anything as we took our place in line for the airship.

“Yes.” He answered absently, his hands rested on my shoulders towards my neck, gently kneading where the new armor would allow. I leaned back against his plate with a soft click of metal on metal and closed my eyes. I still tired easily, though I wasn’t about to admit it. I wished to return to active duty, and soon. Though I did not know when that may occur.

The airship docked and we boarded, I loved these vessels. Such an amazing feat of creativity… I smiled and looked toward the bow toward our destination and soaked in the sun despite my watering eyes. Aalairius retreated to speak with one of the merchants from his family’s trade dynasty briefly when he spotted them, leaving me to myself for a moment, all though he never really stopped watching me.

The ship docked and I stepped lightly onto the gleaming stone of outer dock, lacing the fingers of my free hand through Aalairius’ he drew me toward the Dionysia Tavern and as he stepped into the dimly lit interior I paused to let my eyes readjust. Before they could I heard the applause, whistles and cheers, and my Legion surged forward, many welcoming me home.

My breath caught and my eyes misted. So many familiar faces greeted me and some very new. Tox came forward and pointed at me leaning forward until he poked my nose before giving me a silly grin and hugging me. He wore an eye patch and I frowned.

“Are you hurt?” I asked.

“No.” he said.

“Then why do you wear it?” I asked.

He put an arm around my shoulders and led me to the bar and said, “ ‘cause I like it,” he said it in such a way that I laughed, mollified. As we reached the counter I let him order me a drink. Aalairius came up to us and kissed me deeply.

“Hands off my woman.” He said and punched Tox in the arm lightly.

“Didn’t you know? Sirona’s mine now…”

I snickered as they bantered back and forth, though the subject of their play allowed my thoughts to creep back to darker places covered in snow and ice bringing with it the scent of herbs and earth, parchment and ink…

“Sirona!”

I turned to the back of the tavern and where the call had come from and left Aalairius and Tox to their conversation which had diverted to tactics or some such, I followed the sound of my name and I found our Brigade General Sin and her lover Boa along with Nepech and Astat at a table, ensconced in a private corner. Nepech stood and offered me his seat, choosing instead to sit in Astat’s lap. I smiled and sat gratefully, my feet all ready beginning to ache from standing.

Boa spoke first. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m all right.” I answered. I smiled at her, and she smiled back her large dark eyes coming to life with warmth.

Sin leaned forward the charms on the hilts of her swords chiming softly.

“We have questions Sirona…” at a look from Boa she changed her wording, “I have questions, what were they after can you tell us?” She stared at my face intently, trying to read my expression. I tried very hard to school my features into a neutral mask, for I knew what questions like these would lead to.

“They wanted the location of our Legion’s goings on in Heiron.” I answered honestly. “I gave them nothing Sin, I swear it, by Aion’s light I swear it… I don’t know what they wanted beyond that, they never got passed that question.” I leaned back on the low stool, the shield on my back clicking against plate. Aalairius’ hands descended upon my shoulders as I started, jumping in my seat, with the sudden bitter copper taste of fear on my tongue. I hadn’t heard him come up behind me, so intent had I been on our Brigade General. Sin frowned at my beloved and leaned back, placing her hands on the scarred wooden table, nails tapping a staccato of irritation on the boards.

“What of the three? The masked ones Nepech, Toxemia and Aalairius saw?” I gave my best blank look and Sin looked exasperated. “The Asmodians, Sirona. The three Asmodians that returned you to us.” Sin’s nails tapped a rhythm on the table. I had been dreading this question for the last two days, since I woke… and I swallowed hard and thought furiously on what I could say that would satisfy her, yet keep them safe.

“I…” I didn’t know what to say. I was saved by an unlikely ally.

“She’s home Sin, and this is supposed to be a celebration. Not an interrogation.” Astat chided. I looked over to the large man, Nepech perched on his thigh. Astat held his beloved around the waist and gave me an encouraging smile. Nepech looked lost in though, his brow furrowed, features dark with anger. We all remained silent for several passing moments, laughter and the clinking of glasses, cheering and music permeated the air, yet our table was still locked under a pall of tension. Boa broke first, her small quiet voice drawing all of us to look at her, which was very unusual for the tiny woman.

“None of this can be, or should be settled here. Sirona will you submit a full written report of your time…” she paused searching for the right word finally settling on “away, by evening tomorrow?” I nodded, agreeably.

“Good. Bring it to the Legion house here in Sanctum, we will review it, ask any questions and give you your returning assignment. You’ll be placed on active duty as soon as may be.” Sin rapped her knuckles on the table and smiled her grin wolfish. “You’re one of our best Clerics, I want you back in the field, and soon.” Though her words kind, the tension at our table had not abated which is why when we heard the crash and the tinkling of broken glass, most of our table went to their feet, and turned toward the sound, some with glimmering fingertips others with weapons half drawn… my own shield rested on my arm and out before me. Sudden noises in a room full of jumpy soldiers used to the front lines in the abyss made for interesting reactions. We all laughed nervously and put our equipment away. A shout and a cheer rose from the bar, several of the Legion’s women whistled and called. Toxemia was on the bar, stripped to his under things and dancing.

“Someone had better stop him, before he does something regrettable.” Boa said, but it was all but lost under all our laughter. Aalairius bent double his plate shivering on his muscled frame as he laughed so hard he found it hard to breathe. I laughed as well… so that tears sprang to my eyes.

When the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, leave it to Toxemia to bring his swords.

Eighteen

2009-12-17T07:28:00.000-08:00

The water was warm and soothing to me. Here in the bath house it was dimly lit, we were in a private room which was expensive but given my beloved’s connections I knew that for him, it was a trifling thing. I suppose that aside from being here that the lighting adjustment was also Aalairius’ doing. I had returned from the dark of Asmodae and though gone for just a scant eight days my eyes had grown accustomed to the perpetual night and I now found myself to be sensitive to the bright of Elysea. Of course, Daeva’s were known to adapt quickly, so I was sure it would not be a permanent hindrance.

He held me in his lap as we lazed in hot water up to my neck, my head resting on his chest; he trailed fingertips up and down my spine light enough to make me shudder. He laughed a little, the sound making me start, sending the water lapping against the pool’s edge.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, even though I all ready knew the answer.

“The reactions I get out of you.” He answered predictably. I cuddled closer to him, though in the heat of the pool, it wasn’t for warmth. I had missed him terribly. I kissed the side of his neck softly and breathed him in. He always smelled vaguely of the forge, of light and stone, metal and heat. His breath escaped him in a shuddering sigh and his hand rose out of the pool, and with gentle, yet calloused fingers he tipped my chin to look up at him.

“I love you.” He whispered, and claimed my lips with his own before I could utter a reply. The kiss was soft, and almost chaste, but I desired more than chaste. I flicked my tongue across his lower lip, a quick teasing caress, and he groaned deeply, his arms locking around my body drawing me against him as our kiss deepened. He broke first, drawing back gasping as I maneuvered beneath the waterline so that instead of sitting sideways across his lap on the low I had a knee to either side of his hips. He always had to slouch low in the bath houses, his towering height a disadvantage when trying to soak any aches or muscle strains away and I used his decided disadvantage to my benefit now by slipping my lower legs around his back. I wound my arms about his neck and kissed him again, twining my body around his in the heated waters melding our bodies as closely together as possible. He had one muscled arm around my lower back drawing me near and supporting me, while the other rested against my upper back, his fingers massaging my neck and trailing in a tingling wash across my skin.

I shivered under his touch and he smiled against my mouth laughing under his breath. I drew back to look him in the eyes and what I saw was so much warmth, love and devotion it made my throat close and it was suddenly hard to breathe for a moment. I smiled at him and let my love for him fill my eyes and we kissed again, the meeting of lips finally giving way to more intimate touching that made my blood sing, and my heart soar.