Aalairus emerged from Nepech’s portal to cacophony of sound that was equal parts cheering from spectators and frantic shouting from the healers on what they wished done with me. A stretcher lay on the grass several feet away towards Elyos Square and as grateful as I was to be warm once more and among friends I still hid my face in Aalairius’ breastplate.
It was so bright. After the never ending night of Asmodae the bright midday sun reflecting off the white stone of Sanctum was blinding. My eyes watered and stung as the activity swirled around me. Aalairius marched purposefully to the stretcher laid out for me and set me down as gently as he could. Cool hands rested on my forehead and a familiar whispery voice filtered through my consciousness.
“This is not good.” Telemos, the soul healer of Sanctum said. “I sense part of her soul is missing, she has come too close to being Lost.” He mused further. “We must do something for these broken bones before she is unable to walk… Out of the way.” He commanded briskly.
When it did not yield immediate results he shouted. “Out of the way!” The stretcher was borne into the air and I looked about frantically catching sight of Aalairius, Toxemia standing beside him. Our friend’s hand on the larger man’s shoulder he held Aalairius back to allow the healers room. My beloved’s helmet had been cast aside somewhere and now that I could look at him I saw he looked stunned. Toxemia simply looked grim.
Telemos held my hand and kept pace beside the stretcher, carried by two acolyte priests. He issued orders to a harried looking young human who then dashed off ahead of us. We did not seem to be going far. The Lyceum was just ahead, looming up from the city street and had an impressive infirmary being as close to Sanctum’s main gate as it was. I was brought down a hallway, and into a large chamber, the stretcher set upon a stone table so that the healers may have room and access to work. A young soul healer whom I had never met approached me with scissors and I glared at her.
“Absolutely not.” I said flatly and began the task of unclasping Elethor’s cloak with shaking fingers.
“Speed is of the essence, Sirona.” Telemos chided and I turned my burning gaze on him.
“How long was I gone Telemos?” I asked. He was taken aback.
“Eight days…” he answered slowly.
“Eight days.” I echoed. “They tortured me for at least four of those days Telemos. For the last four I have been taken care of, just not by a healer of your caliber.” I let that sink in before I continued. “Eight days Telemos, I think my injuries can wait the few moments it will take us to properly disrobe me. My dignity has been affronted enough.” Telemos bowed his head and acquiesced. He helped me remove the cloak and folded the fur-lined black material neatly. Part of the legion crest peeked out from one of the folds, the flame color stark against the black background and I blanched, snatching the cloak to my chest hanging on to it, silently praying no one had seen. Telemos eyed me carefully and clapped his hands twice, the sound loud in the small treatment room. Everyone scattered for an exit to the room, the door closing behind them.
“I am your healer Sirona. Let there be no secrets between us, you know the healer’s code.” He softly chided, and I sighed and thought carefully on how much to reveal to him.
“The ones who saved me didn’t have to Telemos. They tended my wounds, fed me, and clothed me all at their own peril. Who would I be if I did nothing to honor their sacrifice?” I clutched Elethor’s Legion cloak to my chest and silently prayed that he would understand. Telemos pursed his lips and went to one of the doors. A Shugo appeared and stepped into the room at his call.
“Take these articles of clothing to mistress Sirona’s dwelling.” He told the little man.
“Put them in the chest that serves as my altar in the outer room.” I instructed. The Shugo twitched his ear inquisitively and took the cloak from my arms, Telemos helped me out of the dress and into a patient’s gown and we turned the white gown Elethor had given to me over to the Shugo as well. Telemos paid the little man handsomely and with nary a squeak he was out the door and on his way. I felt the panic in my breast ease. Shugo were masters at discretion and the amount Telemos had paid would buy this ones silence for certain.
Telemos turned to me. “Now, are you going to behave like a proper patient or do I have to use calming herbs?” He asked. I obediently lay down and submitted to his examination. It was not long before the loud clashing of plate could be heard distant at first but nearing at a rapid pace. Aalairius burst into the chamber, the distress clear in his eyes, and his short white hair in disarray from the cover of his discarded helm. Toxemia ghosted in behind him, concern for his friend clear on his features.
“Is she all right?” he asked strain clear in his voice.
“I’m fine.” I said. “She is not.” Telemos said in unison with me. I glared at the healer and he looked over his shoulder, a rag coated in calming herbs and ether was shoved over my mouth and nose before I could even protest. My body went lax and my mind began to swim even as Aalairius reached my side and took my hand in his. I vaguely remember Tox gliding up to my other side, and taking that hand even as Telemos bent over me to say something… I nodded despite not having understood and a moment later a scream tore up my throat, clawing its way out of my mouth to echo off the chamber walls back at us as every nerve in my legs below the knee lit aflame, worse than the tortures that had been visited upon them in the first place.
“Hold her!” Telemos shouted.
Aalairius looked stricken and grabbed both my wrists in his larger hand, pinning me to the table with an arm across my chest. Toxemia, an apologetic look upon his face did likewise across my hips, another set of hands pinned my thighs and as Telemos worked to repair the damage done to my bones I screamed, on and on, loud and louder until I had no voice left to scream with and finally my consciousness slipped away with it.
“It is time, are you ready?” He asked me. I looked up into the crystal of his eyes and smiled a little sadly.
“As I’ll ever be.” I answered.
I sat in the chair beside the bed, my bare feet just off the floor and watched him. He gripped his fur lined legion cloak in his hands and scrutinized me as if to commit to memory every thing about me. He looked a little lost, and more than a little lonely, as if he would never see me again…
Truth be told I wasn’t sure we ever would, but in my heart of hearts I knew we had to. Aion would not have instructed me to love them both if I were never to see one or the other ever again. Would He?
Elethor knelt before me, and slid the cloak around my shoulders, wrapping me it its warmth his clawed fingers gentle as he clasped it at my throat. Haji and Evensong had gone still behind him and we both looked up in unison. Elethor’s brow wrinkled in irritation.
“What?” he demanded, harshly but not unkindly.
Haji responded in a mumble, and I was pretty sure it was a hasty “nothing” that he uttered. Evensong continued to stare; she had seen something though I know not what exactly. I smiled weakly at her and she raised an eyebrow. We would talk later, if there was time.
If there was time… I swallowed past the lump in my throat as the three checked their weapons and made certain their armor was fitted properly. Haji was striking in hardened red leather, the wicked curve of his bow over his shoulder crying the warning that even at a distance, you were not safe. Evensong stood beside him, small and striking in amber colored chain, her staff held fast in her hands unassuming until it met with an enemies’ head.
And then there was Elethor, the cerulean and white of his vestments setting off the dusky undertones of his blue skin to perfection. He flipped his jewel, the embodiment of his sorceric powers lightly through the air; almost nonchalantly save for the deep lines carved into his brow as he thought furiously, about what I don’t know. He set the jewel back to the holder at his wrist with a thought and came to me. He, Evensong and Haji exchanged a look and nodded to one another and without a word Elethor tucked the cloak around me tightly and lifted me in his arms.
The three of us slipped silent and unseen into the deepest dark of Beluslan. Elethor kept a firm grip on me, and my arms twined about his shoulders and neck, holding to him, perhaps for the last time, perhaps for a long time to come. My legs were still brittle and unsound and the plan was for Elethor and Haji to switch off carrying me until we reached where the rift was to spawn. The journey would be long, and dangerous, though his cloak was long, and hid me well all it would take would be one curious passerby or one over cautious night watch to bring this whole endeavor crashing down.
Elethor kept his pace even and I held to him and just breathed… I just breathed deep and even and tried not to weep, for I had finally found him again and soon would be lost to him all over again, yet still I would be reunited with Aalairius, and my heart longed to see him, whole and safe, and with our friends. Aion had told me to love them both, and He never asked of his children that which they could not do, yet still my heart ached for though I loved them both, I knew neither would understand the other nor would it be fair to ask them to… It was up to me. I had to be strong for all of us. Aion had a plan, and I was his instrument.
Elethor murmured something in Asmodian and Haji nodded, I thought for a moment that they were going to switch but instead Haji bent and kissed Evensong deeply before trotting ahead in the familiar scout’s way. He would warn us of danger ahead. And they walked, and I held to Elethor and tried not to shiver despite the frosty air that crept along my skin finding every nook and fold of his cloak to seep in to.
The snow began to fall, and all went silent, the soft shushing of their footsteps convincing me that we were the only living beings in Asmodae on that road, heading further into what was for me hostile lands, and turning the home my friends had known for the last thousand years hostile by my proxy. I could not help it; I began to shiver with the increasing cold… Elethor gazed at me a brief moment and called softly to Evensong who returned to us. He uttered silvery words in the language of the arcane and the air around us colored with warmth. I murmured my thanks and we continued on.
The snow fell thick and silent, and I marveled. There was no snow in Elysea, not since before the cataclysm… over one thousand years and yet another thing I missed. The scenery changed from barren rock and ice fields slowly to trees and frozen forest loam. Haji ghosted up to our small party and signaled. Whatever it was he communicated must have meant the all clear because Evensong and Elethor visibly relaxed. Evensong dug out three hanks of cloth.
“From here on in we should wear these.” She said. Haji took his and tied it over his nose and mouth, Evensong followed suit. I expected Elethor to hand me off to Haji to tie his but he surprised us all.
“Give it to Sirona she will fix it for me.” Evensong handed me the cloth. I folded it in half into a neat triangle and looked at him, memorizing his face before covering the lower half obediently, securing the material with a sturdy but gentle knot. Haji said something, and Elethor withdrew his crystal gaze from mine and looked at him, shaking his head. Haji shrugged and we moved on. The clearing was just ahead, and though I knew Elethor must be growing tired under my burden he still had refused to let me go… it tore at me, a deep wrenching emotional pain.
We waited and rested, well hidden by the trees and brush, the skies lightened from inky black to an almost twilight that passed for day here as the morning wore on. I held fast to Elethor’s hand beneath his cloak. None of us dare to speak, remaining silent less we alert anyone to our presence, or to the impending rift my beloved and my friends were sure to come through.
It was beautiful despite the cold, the clearing where the rift was to spawn sparkled and glittered with frost, a waterfall cascaded into a moonstone pool. I turned to Evensong and held out my free hand to her, she took it and both of our eyes welled with tears. Haji, uncomfortable cast his own eyes to the ground, scuffing one boot against the frozen moss cover on a nearby rock. Elethor held me tighter in his lap, his expressions, ever hard to read, were nigh impossible to interpret now that the lower half of his face was obscured by the triangle of dark cloth.
I shivered but not with cold. The mere thought of what could be done to them for their protection of me filled my soul with icy dread and made it hard for me to breathe. Elethor looked to Haji and asked him a question; Haji looked at me, shifting from foot to foot and gave a one word reply.
“Soon.” Elethor translated. I closed my eyes, a deep bass filled crack emanating from near the falls. We all turned and where the sound had come from the air swirled and colored a deep violet shot through with blues and greens and began to whorl and my time with my old friends and love was at an end…
I looked up at Elethor. Working up my courage I spoke low and urgently.
“You have to live, you cannot become lost. I couldn’t bear it a second time Elethor, I need to know you’re well and that we may someday meet again.” He closed his eyes above the mask in a long pain filled blink.
“I promise you Sirona. I promise.” He returned, low and intense, and I couldn’t leave without doing it…
I lifted the cloth covering his face and pressed my lips to his, gentle. He froze unsure at first, but then, with a deep mournful sound he buried his fingers in to the hair at the nape of my neck and pressed my mouth to his, holding me there returning the kiss with a devastating urgency that left me breathless, on fire, and on the verge of tears.
He broke the kiss first, gasping and I bowed my forehead to his shoulder and rested there a moment, when he finally stood, face obscured once more. Evensong and Haji both stared, eyes wide and more than a little surprised, but it was too late for explanations… three shadowy figures appeared on the other side of the rift. It was time for me to go home.
Toxemia stepped through first, his swords out, quick mossy green eyes scanning the darkness. Next came Aalairius, so large and imposing in his full plate, mace out and shield at the ready his visor down and hiding his face from me. Then the third figure emerged, and I honestly did not know who it could be. As he stepped into the twilit clearing my heart leaped into my throat and I tasted the bitter copper tang of fear for my friends. Nepech, straight laced and unflappable as always, stepped through the gate, his tome open and at the ready, sorceric powers gathered in his right hand casting the clearing in an eerie glow.
“Of all the sorcerers in my Legion I do not know why they brought Nepech, but be careful he has great power and is one of the most feared warriors of Elysea.” I warned my friends. Elethor nodded and stepped out from the trees, Haji and Evensong flanking his either side, weapons cautiously at the ready. Aalairius strode forward.
“Sirona!” his voice cracked with emotion. Tox’s swords sparked as he drew one down the length of the other, spoiling for a fight.
“It’s all right! I’m all right! They mean me no harm; they are just trying to get me back to you.” I called out to my Legionaries, and prayed to Aion that no blood would be spilled. Evensong lowered her staff, Haji reluctantly following suit with his bow, his dark eyes smoldering. Nepech, grinned, white teeth bright in a wolfish grin, set behind his dark close beard. Aalairius put up his mace and slung his shield carelessly onto his back and reached for me. Elethor took a small involuntary step back and I looked up at him, pleading in my eyes even as Tox raised his swords and the glow emanating from Nepech’s right hand intensified.
Elethor finally took the last few steps and carefully, tenderly transferred me to Aalairius’ waiting arms. I gasped as he drew me close against his cold plate, my legs jolting painfully into one another. Elethor, Evensong and Haji retreated hands raised. Aalairius held me tightly.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded. “What did they do to you?” I drew a deep breath of the icy air.
“My legs are… bad. They didn’t do anything,” I said looking back to Elethor, standing with a sheer naked helplessness in his eyes. “They got me out. Please, please just take me home.” I begged, the tears starting. Tox’s swords dropped, Elethor’s cloak had parted and my feet showed from beneath the hem of the dress Elethor had given me. His expression grew hard and grim and he whipped about turning to Nepech.
“Open a port to Sanctum. Now! She needs healers.” Tox backed up and looked to my three friends, two old, one new, but they were gone, melted back into the shadows of the thicket, and my heart dropped and my tears fell and I knew loss once more.
I held tightly to Aalairius as the portal to Sanctum went up beside us, I could see a large crowd gathered on the other side, several Destiny members waited, as well as several temple healers. Tox went through first, yelling something. Nepech’s eyes were on the dark of the wood, I called to him.
“Nepech. Nepech please… take me home.” He turned to me a static cloud of anger flaring about his head and shoulders in an almost visible nimbus. Aalairius stepped through the portal first, Nepech I saw, followed. I praised Aion under my breath and as we crested the portal into the warmth and light of Sanctum, the chaos set in…
Elethor and I stared at one another for long moments after he closed the door behind Evensong and Haji. So many unspoken words and questions hung between us, so many things I dare not say aloud trickled through my mind as I sat in silence in his bed. He sighed and came towards me, but stopped mid-way to the bed and went to the shelves of books behind his desk. He selected a very old, slim volume and walked to me, indicating I should make room with a negligent wave of his hand. I obediently moved over, cautious of my body’s protesting groans. He handed me the book and I felt the heat rise in my face as he stripped off his vestments to just his cloth pants before settling himself beside me.
He took the book from my numb fingers and pulled me gently to his side. It felt so natural and wonderful to lay my head on his shoulder, which is what I did as he opened the slim tome and began to read, his voice low, deep and soft to my ear.
“It wasn’t always like this. The world, Atreia, had one side, not two, and we were all brothers. We looked the same, we had the same ideals, and we shared a common purpose: to protect the Tower of Eternity…” He began, I had no notion of what it was that he read to me, though I dare not interrupt him to ask, instead I simply listened the tone of his voice and the warmth from him lulling me into a relaxed state.
I listened to him read to me the history we both knew and had lived a thousand years ago from the perspective of a man that was much like Zenton had been. His voice was low and lovely to listen to, soothing as the lamps burned low and the fire dampened to mere embers in the hearth. He seemed to be able to read clearly, despite the dark being too much for my eyes to make out much more than faint outlines of the chamber’s furniture. I lay there comfortably, warm and safe in his arms, listening to the velvet of his voice and the tale of Asmodae’s beginning to the tempo of his heart beat and I did not wish to leave him. As much as I missed my beloved Aalairius, I knew with a terrible certainty, that when I was returned to his arms, I would miss Elethor’s just as much.
I tried to push the turmoil from my mind and be still, soaking in this moment I knew I would never have again in all my years remaining as a Daeva. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly and allowed myself to love Elethor, to rest in his arms safely, and quietly if not wholly contentedly. I would never get back the time the cataclysm had stolen from us, but this was so very close to what could have been and I would not deny the gift that Aion had given to me, nor would I begrudge the torturous price I’d had to pay to be here.
I was so lost in the swirling miasma that was my own thoughts I did not hear when he stopped reading. I noticed the silence too late when he shifted a bit beneath me, the soft press of his lips against my hair a gentle surprise. I remained still as he shifted more lifting me gently and bringing the blankets over the both of us, pulling the thick cloth to my chin as he settled me more comfortably for him. I smiled a little, and did not dispel the illusion that I slept, for I was tired and sleep would claim me very soon.
I did not recognize this as a memory, I stood in the temple of my youth, before the tower’s fall, before Atreia was sundered and it was quiet. So still and silent that I whole heartedly believed I was the only living being there. I looked down at my self and marveled at the white lace dress I had never seen before and how rich the red carpet felt beneath my feet. I lifted the hem of the dress, my feet rested on the crimson carpet whole and perfect, the flesh and skin intact and un marred and I knew then that I must be dreaming a dream.
“Yes, you are dreaming daughter.” A rich male voice said from the temples alter, and I whirled crouching into a naturally defensive stance. The rich voice chuckled at me, a living thing, the sound rubbed along the inside of my head like thick sable fur. It felt good, soothing in a way but my fear grew.
A white light began to coalesce on the dais where the solid stone alter rested, the twelve steps down to the aisle awash in pale light. My heart hammered in my chest, and I could taste my fear as it flooded my mouth with bitter copper. The light swirled until standing there, robes infused with light, a being stood. His cowl covered all but his mouth and chin and the elaborate stitchery of his robes shone softly in a constant shifting myriad of color. I stood dumbfounded before falling to my knees.
I could not see his face, obscured by his cowl as it was, but he laughed, the sound rich and vibrant and I swear I could hear the hounds as they belled on the hunt in it. He sat down on the stairs before me as I knelt, bowed to the floor and prostrate.
“Rise my daughter and speak with me. You are troubled and I wish to put your heart at ease.” I raised my eyes slowly and kept them at the hem of his robe.
“Father… Aion… what is it you wish of me?” my voice trembled uncontrollably and twin tears slipped from my eyes, the grace of His presence almost too much to bear.
“I wish what any father wishes for his child Sirona. I wish for you all to choose your own path and I wish for you to be happy.” He folded his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. “Tell me what troubles your heart so?”
I swallowed hard. “I love them Father, I love them both so much and I fear that my love for them alone is a betrayal to each of them and I cannot bear it.” I sobbed, hugging myself, rocking as the shards of my shattered resolve ground together like so much bitter broken glass.
“To love is not to betray. You are a Cleric of my order and very special child. 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. You are all my children and it is because I love you that I have allowed you free will. Choose your path Sirona guide as many as you can in my light, but do not fret so over the love you have for these two men, simply love them both and be at peace within yourself.” He cupped my chin in his hand and raised my face to look at him, though I still could not see beneath his hood save for his mouth as he smiled at me.
“Please Father, how am I to do it? Help me understand.” I did not know how I was to love them both, neither would understand the other, nor would it be proper for me to ask them to.
“You will find your path daughter, my time with you has come to a close and I leave you now with this, though this memory will be… unpleasant for you it is one I wish for you to see. Learn something new from it daughter.”
And with that he bent and placed his lips against my forehead and suddenly I was filthy, blood and sweat covered my breath heaving in choking gasps as the assassin, Switchkin came towards me, my memory raw and fresh with the horror of that basement…
Kuraia spoke, stopping Switchkin’s advance and he returned to her, they conversed in the rough Asmodian tongue in velvet undertones out of my hearing’s range. No doubt they were devising what to do now. The assassin, Switchkin’s calm had begun to fray under my steel resolve to say nothing. He was a man that was used to getting results; it vexed him that I provided him none.
So sudden, it startled even my captors, the heavy wooden door crashed open to its fullest, slamming loudly into the workbench behind its’ swing and rebounding halfway before being stopped by a silk clad arm.
Elethor… for I knew it was he now was awe inspiring; his skin was the soft blue of the clouds when they threaten rain, and he was broad of shoulder. His hair was somewhere between regulation short and wildly unkempt, and kept in check and out from his eyes by a circlet on his brow. His expression was hard, and his eyes threatening as his gaze swept over Kuraia and Switchkin. His voice when it emanated from his broad chest was deep and rolled like thunder. I could not understand any of the words, but the question in them was clear. Kuraia’s expression went wintery and her intense gaze icy with defiance as she responded cold and clear.
Switchkin looked bored as he leaned a hip against the workbench, watching the two. The Elethor ignored him completely. I remember I prayed he would not look at me, that he would leave… he looked at me then and something flashed in his eyes as he took me in and his look went at once from aristocratic and cold to one that I mistook as sheer revulsion. I saw it now, I recognized it… Was this what Aion had wished me to see?
He barked out what could have been orders and both Kuraia and Switchkin snapped to attention. He uttered something low and threatening and Kuraia blanched. Elethor had whirled, long coat snapping around his legs, his legion cloak with the stylized ‘P’ done in flame as its crest swirling about his shoulders and he departed.
The moment Elethor had looked at me, what I had mistaken as revulsion, what I had seen as horror, was indeed shock, amazement a little pity and before his mask closed down over his face, locking his expression away, I glimpsed it… hope and something else… something more solid. I closed my eyes and the memory shattered. I shouted not wanting it to be over, unsure if I had seen what I was meant to see…
I sat up with an inarticulate cry reaching into the black as if to grab the dream-memory and draw it to me, firm hands gripped my shoulders and drew me back into the solid warmth of Elethor’s chest, his arms went around me and held me to him and his voice broke through the cascade of rushing thoughts in my head.
“Shhhh shhh shhh it’s all right now. Shhhhh.” He rocked me and my mind spilled back as receding as the sea from the shore to what Aion had told me to do and I obeyed Him, I loved Elethor, I loved him and Aalairius both, and I turned in Elethor’s arms, and I looked into the twin points of glowing red light that were his eyes my voice emanating from my throat in a breathless choked rush and I told him.
“I love you. I never stopped loving you, even after The Fall, I prayed for you and held you in my heart and though I never dreamed that you had survived I never stopped loving you Elethor and I never will, even though I may never see you again I never will. I promise you I will love you always.” The oil lamps and the wood in the hearth furiously flamed to life and I stared into his face.
He had no time to hide behind his mask, my words startled him so and in his eyes, and carved into the lines of his face I saw wonderment and pleasant shock and he held me tighter and simply stared into my face and I knew in that moment though we were soon to be separated that he had loved me too and despite his loyalties to his Legion and to Asmodae his love for me had spanned a thousand years and had trumped it all and he had saved me from a fate worse than death.
“Sirona…” he started voice thick with emotions he had never expressed, then closed his eyes and swallowed hard. I placed gentle finger tips on his lips to silence him and tucked my ear to his chest listening to his heart. He rested his chin on the top of my head and held me tightly, and for the first time since my capture I felt no guilt, and no sorrow and no weight upon me, I simply felt content, and loved and as I fell back asleep I was happy.
The men had both gone and Evensong and I sat before the fire in Elethor’s chambers, catching up as best we could. She asked me;
“What is he like?” her sea green eyes inquisitive. I bowed my head and smiled at the thought of him.
“He is strong, but not overbearing. He is light and laughs with our friends and Legion mates, and does not let us fall into despair, even when the circumstances are dire and the outlook of our predicament is bleak. He is intense behind closed doors, but not stormy, and never angry.” I sighed, and felt a keen ache of loss as I missed my beloved, so far away from me; I struggled still with my feelings for Elethor, though I remained devoted to Aalairius. I tried to dash the turmoil these thoughts and emotions brought to my soul and turned the subject to the personality of my other legion mates. Evensong could not stop laughing as I related Toxemia to her.
When Elethor had come back to claim me from my bath he brought with him a dress, it looked new and fit me well, and was a welcome change, though I must admit I had enjoyed wearing his old shirt and how it had smelled of herbs and earth, ink and parchment a scent that had remained uniquely his. It was a light material and soft, so as not to aggravate the new healing skin where it was still raw from my ordeal. When we had reached his chamber, a clean set of sheets had been put on his bed and Evensong and Haji waited with news. Haji and Elethor had taken leave to implement the next portion of the plan for my escape from Asmodae, while Evensong remained to keep me company.
She and I had been quiet for a while when I finally gave myself enough courage to ask.
“What is happening? The three of you spoke Asmodian for Haji’s benefit before they left, I know only a few words…” she smiled very pleased with herself.
“Haji and I made contact with one of your Legion members; we paid a Shugo fluent in both Elysean and Asmodian to write a missive, a place and time to exchange you back to your people. Then we found one bearing your legion crest, a sorcerer, cornered him and gave him the message. Don’t worry, Sirona, Haji insisted we wear masks, so we could not be identified.” She looked very pleased indeed at how simple and well executed their plan was and I was impressed. I thought carefully about the sorcerer’s in my legion, it couldn’t have been Nepech or Astat they had found, as both of them were far to advanced for even two Asmodians to corner, Nepech and Astat both would have fought until they were forced through the aether and back to their bind points.
I frowned, “Was the sorcerer a young man? Close cropped black hair?” Evensong rocked back and clapped her hands.
“Bravo, you know your Legion well. Who was he?” she asked.
“It had to have been Ulquiorra, he is still mastering his abilities, as I am re-mastering mine. You are lucky it was he and not Nepech or Astat. They would have allowed themselves be torn apart before conceding. They are headstrong and to a certain extent fool hardy.” I chose my words carefully, I loved Evensong, she was a sister of my heart, yet I could not deny that she was Asmodian and I, Elyos… two halves of the same whole separated by that accursed abyss.
We had both gone quiet when suddenly Evensong rose and began rooting around Elethor’s things. I was appalled.
“Evensong what are you doing!?” I blurted at her. She smiled impishly over her shoulder as she moved things aside in a drawer at the base of his wardrobe. With a triumphant sound she held up her prize, a brush and returned to me.
“You let your hair dry without brushing it and it looks like a Griffo nest.” She knelt behind me and started at the ends of my shoulder length mouse brown hair, tugging the brush through the strands gently. I closed my eyes and tried not to think of my fingers in Elethor’s hair.
“When do I go?” I asked, and I know she did not miss the sorrow my voice contained.
“The rift opens day after tomorrow. We will leave during cover of deepest night tomorrow and make our way there.” She sounded a little sad and fell silent, the only sound in Elethor’s chambers being the crackling of the logs on the hearth and the sound the brush made as it passed through my hair. I would leave Elethor behind soon and go home to my beloved. I closed my eyes and Aalairius’ image floated up behind my closed lids unbidden. I bit the inside of my cheek, the turmoil in my soul an unbearable amalgamation of sorrow, loss, love, lust and under it all incredible guilt. I missed Aalairius fiercely, so strongly it was a physical choking ache rasping beneath my breastbone. I knew that when I returned to him, safe in the circle of his arms that I would miss Elethor just as terribly, just as I had missed him for the last thousand years. Perhaps Aion had been merciful in letting me forget… After all, it had allowed me to love Aalairius. Had I never forgotten, I doubt we would have met let alone been given such a gift of an opportunity to love one another.
“Tell me about him.” I urged, desperate to take my thoughts away from Aalairius and Elethor both. Evensong lit up.
“Haji?” She asked and I nodded, I was curious about the darkly tempestuous young Daeva. “I love him” she blurted, “More than anything, more than life.”
I blinked, startled. Evensong had always been passionate. Like the seas, she was always calm on the surface, smooth as glass… but her currents ran deep, swift and strong, and I could see she was caught in one now and that I was about to be pulled along with her.
“I can’t remember how long ago it was now;” she began “I went to one of the further outposts of Asmodae as instructed, and was at the tavern for a meal. I was exhausted; I had pushed myself too far and too hard on the trip. I know it was foolish but I just wanted to get there, you know?” I nodded, I knew what she meant, I had done several trips of my own in Elysea where I had arrived at my destination, filthy, aching and exhausted.
“I was in the taproom of one of the area’s most inexpensive inns, and you know with the cheap comes the rabble.” She continued drawing the brush through my hair as she spoke, settling into an easy rhythm.
“The Daeva that were there were all very young, and cocky with their new found power, there were four of them, I remember it like it was just moments ago. One was a Gladiator, a big brute of a man, another Scout, not sure which kind though, then there was a Spirit Master and I honestly can’t remember what the fourth was. Things are rougher here in Asmodae Sirona. It’s a different world. We had to adapt or die and the mentality never left us even after we were established and thriving.” I listened to Evensong and I understood. We of Elysea were fortunate in some ways after the Tower of Eternity had fallen. Though our world lay in ruin, it was warm and sun filled, and we had enough light and materials to rebuild relatively easily. Here in Asmodae, in the dark and the cold with no real shelter to begin with, I imagined it was a very different tale. Evensong continued.
“I was standing at the bar when the Scout leaned up against it, he was too close for comfort but the Gladiator had taken up position on my other side and the other two behind me. I figured I would have to put up with them as a minor annoyance but that they would grow bored and go away. They weren’t having it though, the scout grabbed me… I tried to back away but the Gladiator was there and well things were going south in a hurry.” She paused in her reflection.
“I didn’t have a chance Sirona. It was four to my one, and just when I thought it was over and my heart began to sink, just as the Gladiator began to tug at my shirt, he showed up. Just like Aion Himself had sent him. His arrow flew straight and true and hit the Spirit Master between the shoulders, incapacitating him with one blow. I watched his body return through the aether to its obelisk. The other three followed suitand by the time he finished with them. He broke every one of the Gladiator’s fingers before sending him through. He took all four of them on Sirona, you should have seen it.” Her voice was far away with memory and I turned and looked at her. She stared at something I could not see, lips quirked in a sideways smile and her face… I wonder if I looked like that when I thought of… Evensong interrupted my thoughts by finishing her tale.
“When they were gone, I looked at him and he looked at me and he said his name, and I said mine and he echoed my name and the sound of it from his lips…” She sighed contentedly, a woman in love. “We’ve been together ever since.” I smiled, happy for her.
We talked more, and though I grew tired I stayed by the fire with her, our time was too short for me to sleep through it. The men returned a time later with the sound of the tumblers sliding back into place in Elethor’s chamber door. It glided open and he and Haji stepped through, both looked troubled, though when Haji looked at Evensong, the furrow in his brow smoothed and a light touched his eyes that I had not seen before. His manner eased, the tension pouring from his body and suddenly he went from this ridged, hyper aware and dangerous creature to one of boneless liquid grace. He lived and breathed for my dear friend and it was obvious, and my heart eased towards him, all nervousness a thing of the past.
“Sirona… after The Fall, did you ever see Claire again?” I knew she would ask… I sighed and swallowed past the newly formed lump in my throat.
“No.” I said finally. “She was lost.” I looked at each of their faces, “What of Zenton?” I asked. Elethor raked fingers through his hair.
“Zenton survived, for a time. He became Centurion within his Legion, was honored as one of our fiercest and most brave. He led his Legion in a rash offense against a Balaur Dredgion. He and his entire Legion were Lost as a result.” He pursed his lips in a grim line. I bowed my head in prayer.
Haji said something to Evensong. She nodded and my attention switched to Elethor who still stood in the door, he was looking me over a slight crease between his eyes as his eyebrows drew together in a slight frown. I smiled at him, though I could not keep it from being a tired one. He closed the door which remained slightly ajar and strode towards me while Haji filled in Evensong softly by the desk. Elethor swooped and picked me up in one fluid motion, barely breaking stride as he moved me to the bed, setting me gently where the blankets had been turned back. I watched him as he wordlessly folded the blankets over my lap. It took me a while to delineate the look in his eyes and when I did I was vaguely surprised I had done it. Elethor was worried.
“What’s wrong Elethor?” the question stopped his fussing with the covers and he looked at me, the impossible mask slipping back into place with an almost audible click.
“Nothing…” he began but then stopped. He sat heavily in the chair beside the bed and covered his face with his palm. Evensong and Haji drew up to the foot of the bed, Evensong was paler than usual and Haji was tense again… the tempest that was his thoughts raging just behind the curtain of dark hair spilling into his eyes. Elethor leaned forward sharply and took my hands in his. I leveled my gaze to his and spoke gently but firmly.
“Please, I am injured and I am not a child. What’s wrong?” I waited patiently while they mulled it over. Finally Elethor nodded once and began.
“Everything is going smoothly, we will leave tomorrow night and make the night long trek to where the rift will open. Your people have received the message and made return contact. Evensong, Haji and I will cover our faces to protect ourselves not only from your people and any ideas they may have for revenge but also from our own and any ideas they may have about treason.” I nodded carefully but I knew there was more. I searched Elethor’s face but as usual he carefully schooled it to give nothing away by expression. He searched my own for a long time before finally giving in.
“Switchkin has become… fascinated by you.” He said fascinated like it was unclean and I felt a jolt of fear deep in the pit of my stomach. “You resisted his methods, and the man is all ready cracked, I fear what this might mean for you should you encounter him again.” His fingers griped down on mine with a vice like intensity. He is good at his craft Sirona, the best assassin Asmodae has to offer. The Shedim Lords themselves call upon him. I do not think he wishes to end you.”
Evensong interrupted.
“Men like him… no one could imagine what he wishes but what ever it is, it isn’t good.” I nodded, I loved my friends with all my heart and soul, but they had not been at Switchkin’s tender mercies. I shuddered and Evensong pressed me back into the mound of pillows and pulled the blankets to my chin. I was cold, but it was not the type of cold a blanket, nor would a hot bath cure. Evensong, Haji and Elethor laid their plans with me for our departure the following night.
Before leaving Haji looked at me and said something I could not discern. I looked to Evensong and Elethor for help.
“He said he found your cube in the basement of the inn Elethor found you in. There isn’t much in it though.” Evensong translated for me, as she finished Haji brought out the small magical bronze and wood box. I opened it and the contents were grim, a bit of broken odds and ends, a running scroll that I would not be using for some time and at the bottom a small square of jelly wrapped in a bit of waxed parchment. I smiled and plucked it free tucking it near the top of my cube within easy grasp. I doubt I would have use for it but if I did it was there.
I thanked Haji and he nodded at me with a small smile. He and Evensong left to provision our impending sojourn shortly thereafter...
Elethor shuddered beneath my palm and I watched him with keen interest. His arm tightened around my midriff as he stretched and the one pale, crystal colored eye I could see opened and focused on me. A smile touched his lips, the corner of his mouth quirking up and suddenly I saw the Elethor of a thousand years ago, and my heart broke and I lost a small piece to him, and I knew it would never return.
“You’re awake.” He said voice roughened with sleep. I nodded, not trusting my own voice to remain steady and curled my fingers in his hair. He drew me slightly closer and laid his head on my chest, listening to my heart. He sighed and relaxed for a moment, and I must confess I enjoyed the warmth of him. My stomach made a sound of protest and he sat up sharply, moving away and I cursed my body’s small betrayal.
“I will bring you something to eat; you haven’t eaten in several days by now. I should have been more thoughtful.” He walked to his Armoire and pulled out a clean, simple robe, lifting it over his head. I sat up and folded my hands in my lap to disguise their shaking and nodded my head. He considered me for several moments and finally nodded his head, expression guarded yet troubled, slipping gracefully out the door. I closed my eyes and quickly wiped away the tears.
He returned, tray on his arm, a bowl perched on top with steam rising over the brim. He gently set the tray in my lap and walked around the bed to take a place beside me on the soft mattress.
“It is not much, but Evensong told me not to overdo it for your first meal.” His expression was guarded and I hated it, but his thoughts and emotions had always been his own and I respected his privacy, for the most part, a thousand years ago and I would do so now. I smiled weakly and fingers, belaying my orders to remain steady, shook fiercely as I tore a piece of bread to soak in the broth. I concentrated on eating, and tried to remain neat and was, surprisingly, successful.
While I ate quietly Elethor sat at his desk, and shuffled through papers, I watched him and tried to think of something to say. He spoke first.
“Evensong has done what she could for your legs, the flesh is intact, but I am sorry, scarred.” He looked angry, jaw line hard and shoulders set, crystalline blue eyes lost beneath a red glow. I smiled at him.
“They are just scars, and scars heal too among our kind, a few hundred or maybe a thousand years and you would never know anything had happened.” He looked at me then, sharply critical and I bit my lip.
“Physical scars heal, yes.” He set down his quill and rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. “Your bones will take longer to set, there was not much she could do for that, her healing abilities are limited as a Chantress, I am afraid it will be some time still before you are able to put your weight on them.”
I ate my soup, and after a time when the bowl was empty and the bread gone I looked at him, carefully considering his face as he watched me back.
“What now, Elethor?” I asked him. “I cannot stay here forever, I know that I place you and Evensong and even Haji in a horrible peril, I am sure this is considered treason harboring an Elyos on Asmodian soil. I know it would be in Elysea, if our positions were reversed and I am no fool… I know the consequences…” He snorted, an indelicate sound a pounded a closed fist on his desk, something in the wood groaned in protest before releasing an audible crack. He pursed his lips, and squared his shoulders.
“You know nothing of the consequence!” He shouted, biting off the rest of his sentence and rounding the desk, his power crackling around him like an impending storm, his fury apparent, but I sensed it was not at me. He stood in the center of his chamber and seethed, unwilling to say more but still, so many emotions played across his face, tumbling and cascading through his eyes one after the other, and his perfect arrogant mask was cracked for the first time that I had ever seen. So many of his thoughts were clearly displayed, and shockingly mirrored my own. Loss, regret and sorrow, hope, a small bit of joy, triumph deep friendship and I think maybe even love played in an endless war before he turned away from me.
I closed my eyes for several moments and when I opened them he knelt beside me. I stared into his face, and saw my own deep sapphire eyes reflected in his own.
“I can not speak of this now Sirona, I cannot. Just know that I will protect you, I will get you safely to your people of Elysea, beyond that I don’t know.” I nodded slowly, and placed my hands in his. We sat silent, lost in our own thoughts before he stood carefully pulling his robe over his head and discarding it at the foot of the bed, picking me up in his arms. I swallowed hard and tried not to enjoy myself, my thoughts returning to Elysea and my beloved Aalairius.
“Where are we going Elethor?” I asked him as he eased me out the door and into the hall.
“In order to protect them; and you, I sent my Legion on a campaign to upper Reshanta to capture the Fortress at the Ruins of Roah, they left early this morning.” I chewed my lip thoughtfully, completely missing that he had not answered my question with this new revelation.
“How long have you been a Brigade General?” I asked.
“Long enough,” he chuckled. “long enough.” He continued to walk down a long hall and down a flight of rough hewn servant stairs. “What of you Sirona? How long have you been in, well whatever your legion is called…”
“Destiny.” I said. “My Legion is Destiny, and a little over a year and a half.” He looked thoughtful.
“Such a short time yet I saw a Centurion stripe on your Legion cloak.” He continued down another shorter hall taking a bend and proceeded down another stair.
“Something happened to me. I… I lost all memory of who I had been as a Daeva, I thought I was still human for a while. It was only two years ago that I found I was a Daeva and my training began to come back to me. It was barely two months ago that I remembered all of my friends, and my life before the Cataclysm.” I felt shamed in that moment, that I could have forgotten anything about them.
“Aion blessed you to give you such a reprieve, even for a short two years.” His response surprised me.
“Why would you say such a thing Elethor?” I asked, aghast.
“Because I never once had the luxury of forgetting my…”he had been about to say something, something he rarely let forth… I did not want to speculate as to what his final word on the matter would be, before he changed what he was about to say, simply ending with “Well forgetting, in the last millennium.”
We must have gone down four or more floors. Finally he came to a heavy wood door with a relief of a spirit master’s water pet carved into the front. He opened this door and steam billowed forth warm and inviting and I was acutely aware of how unclean I felt, sweat covered and stagnant as I had been.
He went down a scant four steps, carved from natural rock and into a cavern, I blinked surprised. The bath house for his Legion was a natural hot spring, worked by craftsmen to add steps into and benches into the three pools of mineral rich water. Elethor indicated with a nod of his head.
“That one is hot, hotter and that one hottest. Which do you prefer?” I pointed at his direction and he set me carefully beside the pool. I smiled shyly and appreciatively as he began picking at the knots in my bandages.
“Thank you.” I said as he began unwinding the first.
Elethor’s jaw set into a hard line, his eyes crackling with energy and glowing fierce red in the dim light of the cavern. I reached out and touched the side of his face, making him stop and look at me.
“You got me out. I could not ask for more.” I drew a shuddering breath. “You got me out.” I wrapped my arms around the underside of my thighs and hugged myself, placing my chin on my knees. Finally he lifted me once more and set me in the water, shirt and all. I blinked at him in surprise, at that but he just smiled a little sadly.
“I will return soon, rest and enjoy your bath Lady Sirona.” I nodded and watched as he picked up a towel to dry his arms and chest, leaving me in quiet and solace. I pulled the soaked shirt over my head and set it on the edge of the pool to drip back into the water. Settling myself more securely on the low slung stone bench beneath the water I let my legs float a bit and sank gratefully up to my neck.
It was soothing listening to the water trickle and flow around me, and I prayed lightly to Aion, thanking Him and at the same time wishing to understand why it had to be this way. Finally I took a breath and submerged my head raising myself back up out of the water gasping and blinking, my hair clinging to my neck in thick dark strands. I reached for the fragrant bar of soap Elethor had presumably left out for me and lathered my hands, pausing a memory coming back to me swimming up behind my eyes so vivid and intense.
“I brought you something.” He dug through the satchel at his hip. He had been gone this last week on a scholarly pilgrimage to the jungle to learn a different form of earth magic. I had missed him terribly, and raced from shield practice the moment I had heard of his return, eager to see him.
He brought forth a small crystal vile and unstopped the top. The most delicate fragrance perfumed the air, sweet and floral and surprisingly strong for such a little vial. I looked at him a little stunned.
“It’s beautiful.” I said, “What is it?” He smiled at me and stopped the bottle, pressing it into the palm of my hand.
“It’s distilled from Moonflower sap, and it reminded me of you,” he put an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s find Claire and Evensong, I picked up a little something for them too. I have to keep my girls happy.” The last he said in a mocking tone, a glitter of mirth in his eyes. His gift to me was lovely and I wore it sparingly, when the lot of us had moments away from the academy…
I blinked water from my eyes that had dripped from my hair and sat there, the familiar scent from the soap in my hands wafting around me. It seemed that he had forgotten nothing, nothing at all…
Evensong looked grave as she inspected my legs; they were not good, smelling of infection, the flesh turning unimaginable colors in places.
She had been shocked when she first saw me, mouth hung open in a little ‘o’ of surprise, then she had shrieked with delight and run at me, flinging her arms around my neck as Elethor tried to yell for her to stop. It had hurt, badly, but I hugged her small frame back, and cried my tears of joy and let my laughter sing with hers.
Her beloved stood in the door, his bow out arrow trained at the floor his arms lax and mirroring the confusion in his dark eyes. Eventually he had cautiously stepped into the room and waited to see what Evensong did before making another move. My mouth was dry as I waited to see what, if anything he would do. Elethor spoke rapidly in Asmodian, presumably telling my tale as quickly as he could to ease the ranger that Evensong had mentioned as Haji.
Evensong sat in the chair beside the bed and held my hands as she and Haji listened to Elethor. They both had grown pale and very, very somber. Neither one interrupted Elethor save Haji just once to repeat something Elethor said once to make certain he’d heard it correctly, it was a word I recognized, a name actually… “Switchkin.” Evensong had blanched and gripped my hands tighter at the name, and Haji stirred uneasily in his seat. Both of them looked at me with a mixture of awe and concern at whatever it was that Elethor said next, exchanging a worried and knowing glance between them.
Finally all three went silent, and thoughtful. I studied Elethor’s face, he looked so far away lost in his thoughts, Evensong too looked lost, her own thinking tumbling through her sea green eyes. Haji stared at me, coal black eyes smoldering and intense. Evensong’s fingers twitched in my own and she looked at me.
“Let me see what I can do, I’m no Cleric but I learned how to heal too.” She spoke the old tongue for my benefit.
Haji stood at the foot of the bed, and stared at my legs, hands flexing, fingered opening and closing rhythmically as if he wished there were blades in them. His rich black hair spilled into his eyes, escaping the half-tail he had put it in. I did not think he wished me harm, but indeed he looked as if he wanted to hurt someone in that moment. It took Evensong saying his name once, then twice for him to snap from his reverie. She asked the two men to perform some tasks for her, which both of them silently left to do. Elethor returned with clean sheets, Haji moved the screen Elethor had changed behind to in front of the fire. Evensong turned to me.
“Haji is going to pick you up and put you behind the screen for me so I can tend to you.” She nodded at me as if to tell me all would be well. I gritted my teeth and felt my cheeks flame before opening my mouth to speak.
“No.” I said. “I want Elethor, no offense to Haji but Elethor has all ready seen the worst and I want it to be him to move me.” Elethor translated to Haji who looked relieved, I don’t think he had wanted to touch me, whether that be because of my being Elyos or because he wished not to be the one to cause me pain I didn’t know but I would not probe either.
Elethor came to the side of the bed and gently placed an arm behind my back and the other beneath my knees. I placed my arms around his shoulders and inhaled sharply as he lifted me with ease. He was warm, the silk of his robes soft against my skin and I admit I derived a guilty pleasure from being close to him. I immediately felt horrid, not from my injuries but from my betrayal. I thought of Aalairius, and where ever he may be in Elysea or Reshanta. Did my beloved think of me? Did he miss me? I chastised myself silently for my moment of weakness and remained very stiff as Elethor set me down on a clean sheet behind the screen.
Evensong knelt beside me and as Elethor rounded the bend and out of sight she called out “You boys change the sheets on that bed.” I heard cloth against cloth as the two set to work and turned to Evensong.
“What now?” I asked. Evensong looked sad.
“Now I hurt you.” She said; face sorrowful, as she began the delicate task of removing the bandages. I tried not to scream I really did, but when it started Elethor rounded the screen like an impending storm, held out a hand in my direction and uttered a word of command. I felt the world swallowed in a black void and I was never so grateful for an Asmodian sleep spell as I was then.
The temple bells clamored and the earth shook beneath our feet. I looked at Elethor Zenton, Claire and Evensong.
“They need more healers in the south! Claire, Sirona, go! Evensong Elethor and I will go north! We will find each other after.” Zenton and Evensong went to the commander where Claire all ready stood arguing with him. She looked at me, but my eyes were for Elethor and the stricken look upon his face, I had never seen an emotion so clearly displayed upon his features and it made my chest squeeze tight with emotion of my own… I did not wish to leave him. He came to me and we stood drinking in each other’s faces.
“After, I promise you we will see each other after.” He said; hand on my cheek, his thumb tracing my bottom lip. I nodded quickly, and jumped when the earth roared beneath my feet and shook us apart.
Zenton roared louder, “Elethor! There is no time for sentiments! We go now!”
Elethor took me in one last time before his hand slipped away and he was gone, swallowed by the rushing churning crowd of people. Claire materialized by my side.
“Aion preserve us Sirona, I don’t know that there will be an after.” She made the sign against evil on her chest and I echoed her hollowly.
“Aion preserve us…” and silently to myself… Aion, preserve him.
I lay on my back, in softness, my hair stuck to my neck, damp with sweat and a weight crossing my stomach keeping me down but not in a restraining fashion… just a simple, it was there fashion. The oil lamps glowed softly but it still took my eyes ages to adjust. It was silent, and the horror of earlier was gone, a faint shade of what it had been. Elethor could not keep the sleep spell indefinite. I had woken several times as Evensong had drawn knife, excising the infection from my legs. Haji had held me down, hands pressing into my shoulders until the imprint of them raised in deep purple welts. His mouth had been set into a grim hard line as his lover worked. She had done her best and then, with no other recourse, she instigated the fever as a means to drive the rest of the infection out.
Elethor had been by my side for as long as he could until a knock came at his door stilling everyone. He slipped out and had not returned, I vaguely remember Haji saying something about running a legion while hiding in your room. Finally my body, having had enough pain allowed my tortured mind to retreat into unconsciousness. I had dreamed then, but they were unpleasant. Nightmares about the cataclysm, I had never seen any of my friends again, in the south Claire and I had been separated, and she had been lost… In the north, everyone had been lost to us, so we thought. I had never dared dream that any of my friends had survived, I had never dared that I was anything but alone.
I looked down, to see what it was that held me. A dusky blue well muscled arm lay across my middle. I turned my head, Elethor lay beside me on his stomach, half his face was buried in the snowy white feather pillows, and the part that I could see looked careworn. His brow furrowed as he slept. I let my gaze trace over the smooth hard plane of his shoulder and along the mane that traced his spine, I was surprised to see it up close and I wondered if it was as soft as it looked. I let my gaze flick to my legs beneath the blankets, the splints were gone and I could feel the tight bandaging around my calves and ankles, but thankfully there was no pain. I twisted a bit, and lay on my side face inches from his and watched him sleep, pleased that he was whole and alive, and saddened at what could have been and never was.
Tears stung my eyes as I remembered the last moments we had together before the Tower fell. It wasn’t fair, but then again it was what it was in Aion’s way of things. I reached out, gently smoothing my fingers through his hair as I had done so long ago as we studied, letting them trail down his neck and through the mane at his back… it was as soft as it looked. I let my tears fall unbidden and watched him for I don’t know how long, I did not stop touching his hair, and I did not stop thinking of Aalairius either… He held my heart now. I loved him so much, but I still could not stop wondering about what could have been, and my trail of thought made my chest ache with sorrow and guilt.
“Don’t cry.” He said his deep voice pitched low with sorry. He knelt beside the bed, clawed hands resting on the covers. I was suddenly horrified, revulsion and a deep loathing for myself washing up from the center of my body and pouring out in wracking sobs. Aion why!? Why Elethor of all people to see me like that, broken and abused? It wasn’t logical of me to feel the way I did, but it did not stop me from feeling that way none the less. It would have been better that a stranger had found me, but not Elethor.
When my tears would not abate he stood, liquid grace and put an arm behind my shoulders leaning me forward carefully and climbed into the bed behind me, he rested his legs on either side of me and wrapped his arms around me, drawing me to his chest, tucking my head beneath his chin as you would do for a small child. His clawed hands were gentle around my wrists, holding my arms to my body as he rocked me, making soothing noises into my hair.
I wept bitterly, the sorrow at the loss of them for the last thousand years stained my cheeks, until I felt empty and hollow, yet still the tears came. He murmured over and over into my hair that everything would be well, that it was all right to cry, and in that moment I felt weak. It was not a good feeling. I don’t know how long we were like that, or how long it took for the sobs to turn to hiccups before falling quiescent all together.
I slept and I remembered.
The shade from the tree was cool and the day a lazy one. I leaned my back against the rough bark; legs outstretched a small book of some silly romance or other in my hands. Elethor lay at an acute angle from me, head in my lap as he read something of his own for some bit of spell or other. He chewed a piece of grass deep in thought as I played thoughtlessly with a lock of his hair with my free hand.
Zenton had stopped talking to me several days earlier, as the peace talks with the Balaur were just weeks away, our disagreements on the subject had grown heated before finally he had struck me. Open handed across the face. Claire, Evensong and Elethor had all been there. They had stopped talking to Zenton, and would remain silent until there was an apology, which was likely never going to happen.
Claire had earned herself extra lessons for insubordination… why were any of us not surprised? Evensong had been sent to Sanctum on a currier mission. So it was just Elethor and I today.
I set my book down and studied my friend’s face in the dappled light from beneath our tree’s canopy. His brow was furrowed slightly at what he read in his tome, the set of his mouth grim with concentration. I looked at my silly little book and how he lay so comfortably in my lap and gave a short laugh. His eyes flicked from the page to my face.
“What?” he asked.
“You.” I said.
His brow creased but his eyes gave him away with how they sparkled. “What about me?” he asked.
“We keep this up.” I quipped taking in the scene with a sweep of my hand. “People are going to think we’re lovers.”
His eyes darkened with a look I could not define, and his mood was suddenly very serious. I expected him to say how ridiculous the prospect was; his voice when it came was low and intense and shocked me with what he said.
“Would being my lover be so terrible Sirona?” heat and darkness filled his eyes when he posed the question and suddenly my heart was in my throat, I smoothed my fingers absently through the silk of his hair and put my book back in front of my face to hide the color that crept up into my cheeks. My chest felt tight and funny and my mind raced but I forced myself to present an affectation of calm, Elethor’s gaze was intense as he considered me before he shifted, cuddling himself into my lap further. Nothing more was said as we continued to read and I played with his hair, but the atmosphere in our little place beneath the tree suddenly felt charged and it remained that way as he walked me back to the cloister.
I inhaled deeply, and let my arms slip around Aalairius’ hips in the dark as I lay with my head on his chest. He stiffened beneath me, muscle gone to wood as his entire body went rigid beneath me. I brought my head up sharply and blinked, but not at my beloved. Elethor’s eyes were a little wide and glimmered red at me. I hastily removed my arms and tried to push myself up off of him but my body protested with sharp grinding pain from everywhere. He caught me up and slipped out from the bed, easing me back down into the mattress. My face flamed with embarrassment but before he could finish opening his mouth to speak to me a knock resounded on the bedchamber door.
I lay my hands in my lap calmly and pursed my lips. Elethor’s shoulders sagged in frustration and he bit off what he had been about to say as he turned, and marched purposefully to the door, He wedged himself in such a way that when he opened the door the person on the opposite side would not be able to see me, using his own body to shield my broken one from view.
He opened the door and a musical voice greeted him. “Elethor!” his shoulders sank as he took in whoever had shown at his door before saying in Old Daevic, “I told you to come alone in my missive Evensong.”
Silence. Finally the voice came again. “Why are you talking like this Elethor? What’s wrong with Haji being here?” Elethor let out a string of Asmodian words that I could only imagine were curses, I tried to commit them to memory for Toxemia, should I ever see my friend again.
“Can you keep your man in check?” he asked her in the old tongue, and I surmised that this was more for my benefit than anything.
“Elethor, what the bloody blue blazes is wrong with you? You’ve never had a problem with Ha—“ her words died on her lips as Elethor yanked open the door and stepped aside revealing me to Evensong’s view as battered as I was.
When it did not yield immediate results he shouted. “Out of the way!” The stretcher was borne into the air and I looked about frantically catching sight of Aalairius, Toxemia standing beside him. Our friend’s hand on the larger man’s shoulder he held Aalairius back to allow the healers room. My beloved’s helmet had been cast aside somewhere and now that I could look at him I saw he looked stunned. Toxemia simply looked grim.
