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Starry Night ball

Location: Grand Ballroom

“Might I borrow you for a moment?” She closed her fan with a snap. “I’m afraid the matter concerns your sister, and what the court has begun saying about her.”

There is not an immediate response given to the beautiful woman who approaches him. Farred takes the moment to finish his drink and set it aside, finishing with a composing breath before turning back to address the Duchess.

”Pray tell,” He begins with a voice of long suffering exasperation. ”What has she done and what rumors have arisen from it?” It would be far from the first time he had to deal with unfounded (or very founded) rumors of any of his siblings. Honestly, he was supposed to guard their physical form not their reputations. Unfortunatly, he has experience with one much more so then the other.

Dohmnall Durmand sat outside his home in the rural reaches of Vermilion, the prized family dirk lying in his lap as he sat on the lush grass, facing where the horizon prepared for the sun. Soft rays of light just kissed the undersides of the clouds that dotted the sky above. Behind him, behind his home, the forest shrouded the lake and horizon beyond, but before him, meadows and plains swayed beneath the winds. Worked fields dotted the sight on gentle, wide hills rolling into the distance.

For a little while now, he’d been telling his daughter to rise before the sun. It was important that she bring herself out of bed. As he was beginning to wonder if he would have to send someone in to help him in this matter, he heard the door behind him. That must be her.

The little girl yawned as she stepped from the house, rubbing her eyes at the horizon that hadn’t even revealed the sun yet. She approached her father, grumbling softly, “Ye wanted me out this earrly?”

“Therre y’ arre, Gwen.” He couldn’t help but smile about this precious girl of his. She could hear him trying to be stern and failing.

She gave a sheepish giggle, “hehe, sorry. it’s been about a week or so, hasn’t it?,” since he started asking her to get up early. When he pat the ground next to him, she stared for just a moment before approaching with sleepy steps to have a seat next to him.

“Isn’ i’ beau’iful?” Dohmnall breathed deeply of the crisp, morning air, gazing out at the sprawling landscape, yet dim before the sun would rise. Then, the warmth of the Sun kissed his forehead, “ah. Be sure tae close y’rr eyes, as y’ feel th’ warrmth,” and he did so.

Gwen – Little Stratya, age 6, not even halfway to her nameday yet – watched him for a moment, watched her father as the light crept down over his forehead, his face, down his neck. Groggily, she remembered she was supposed to do the same thing, and the little girl turned toward the sun. She settled in like he was, closing her eyes when she felt toasty warmth like fresh bread creeping down from the top of her head. Together they sat as light spread over them from head to toe.

From the front, at least. After a moment or two of sitting facing the sun, the lass pitched back and rolled across her hips to turn around and have the sun warm her back, too. Her father looked when he heard the movement, and had himself a laugh. Yes, she had a point, didn’t she. Your back could get cold, if you did it improperly.

“We’ll have another go at it tomorrow. When ye no longer have tae turn around, it’s well in your ken.”

A few chores and a meal later and that was, apparently, the day’s training. She’d spend the rest of the early morning with her mother before going off to either dabble in another trade or find where the other kids were going for the day.

The next day, when she joined him, he spoke as the light traveled across him, “Zivitas, The Life-Fatherr, gave us the Sun that life migh’ grrow, that we migh’ see and be warrmed. The ligh’ he gave us was sae powerrful that Zivitas had tae send the grreat spherre o’ light and firre he made farr away, ferr it would blind and burrn us if nae.” Dohmnall was not doing the meditation, despite sitting with her.

“Is tha’ why we need such carre, Pa?”

Dohmnall smiled for how clever his first-born was, “aye, just so. We sit here so, in the earrliest light, that we might sup ever so gently frrom the grreat power he made for us. You feel it, don’t you?”

Little Gwen thought for a moment, looking down at her wiggling toes, “a wee bit.”

“Ye’ll get it. Nowt’s beyond yerr ken, my darling lass.”

This day would have a little more training than the last. For the moment, however, the girl looked up at her father and smiled at the confidence he had in her, before her gaze swept out over the fields in front of them. The sunlight spread over the fields and she watched for the words her father said were true.

---

Dohmnall’s eyes widened as the touch of the family dirk let him hear enough to warn his daughter before his wound took the life from him.

“He will.. Command ye…” That was all he could manage, and that was all she would need.

When the voice entered her mind, she knew what it was. She knew who it was.





Her body only began to turn on its own before she understood what had happened; what Maximilian had done.

One step. One step was all he could take from her body before she stopped. Her muscles seized as they fought each other. The brilliant, rich gold shine of her eyes signaled the full maddening weight of Fury coursing through her.

I will kill you.

The Fury lifted the foreign weight from her mind with its forceful presence.

Then she was sprinting, charging the isolated manor they had planned the night around. With a great leap, Stratya Durmand kicked down the heavy oak door to the entry hall, her body like the bolt from a ballista as she drew her knives.

One man lay crushed beneath the door ripped from its hinges, reduced to a red smear and a limb or two sticking out from underneath. A knife flew from her hand and embedded in the skull of an archer taking aim ahead of her. Her body chased and plucked it from the still body as she ran past.

At the top of the entry stairs, her momentum carried her briefly into the air when she collided with the next archer as terror drove him back.

She wrested the bow from him and tore the quiver from his body before she crushed his skull under her heel, turned, and shot another archer aiming at her. At the door, Gale and the rest of the squad were entering.

She and her father had never reached them. They must have heard the door break down.

One of the squad shot yet another archer on the second floor balcony, but not before he loosed an arrow into Stratya’s shoulder. A short cry of pain, and she ripped it out. Fury closed the wound and bound the muscle back together.

The doors to the second-floor main hall kicked open, hinges straining to hold. Maximilian had transformed the second floor chamber for ritual. Candles flickered in steady arrangement, traitors rose from ceremonious seats around the caster in the center.

Duncan Lancaster, Heir to the Barony, came forward, drawing steel. He sought to outmaneuver her, but she caught his sword in the guard of her parrying dagger and pushed the tip over his shoulder. His own blade bit into him, and was driven down until his limp body fell away from her.

The traitors in the room began to attempt to flee, only for the first of them to reach the door to fall forward and die, the parrying dagger in his back. Stratya picked up the longsword Duncan had used. One of them tried to sneak up behind her, but stepped too heavily in pooling blood. She spun about and the blade she’d just retrieved carved a path up his body.

The rest hid themselves in the shadows of the room, becoming as small as possible while praying she would pass.

She turned, and her eyes found him. Maximilian desperately plied magic from the center of the room, but without supporting casters, his attempts to control her were futile at best.

She approached him slowly, family dirk in her right, longsword in her left.

The blade of his son’s longsword was put to his throat, “there werre only men guarrding this place. What did ye do wit’ th’ women, Max?” If that golden gaze could kill, this would have been over already.

He told her. She killed him.

And then she collapsed.

When Nik had realized that Ari was no longer in the ballroom, his mind swirled in panic. He felt the pang of an emotion that he couldn’t quite place. It was somewhere between sheer panic and anger, an emotion he wasn’t used to, especially with people he barely knew.

Find her.

Nik quickly excused himself from the group he’d been conversing with, his tone likely more strained than he’d meant to allow. A dull ache spread across his temples as he made his way through the crowd, scanning. The speed at which his eyes darted around the room made him dizzy which only added to his panic. Anyone watching could clearly see that Nik was distressed by something.

FIND HER.

Nik pushed people out of his way, his face shifting into something angrier as he grew more annoyed with the obstacles in his way. The dark-haired knight hadn’t even realized that there were now people staring at him like he was the new spectacle. His mind shut all of that out, tunnel-visioned on finding that damned girl.

He almost missed it.

A pair of shoes tossed on the floor beside the bar and purple flowered accents trailing not far behind.

Relief came like a sudden rain shower and Nik visibly relaxed as a loud sigh escaped his lips.

”I’m going to kill her.” He mumbled under his breath as he started in her direction.

As Nik approached the strangely unattended bar a mop of red headed curls began to appear from behind it. Looking up at him with bright emerald eyes, brightened by the red and puffy color around them, Ari sat huddled in the corner with her legs tucked into her chest and a half empty wine bottle in hand.

Her eyes glanced down to the bottle than back up at Nik before extending her arm out.

”Drink?” she asked, her voice nearly cracking at the word.

Nik’s anger never left him. It just shifted. No longer was he angry at her for leaving him, he was angry at whoever did this to her. He took a moment to temper the fire growing in his gut, taking breaths. Then, he shifted his weight and moved to sit next to her.

”I’ve got my own.” He replied, holding up his glass of scotch, though barely a swallow was left of it. He raised it to his lips and drank the last little bit before setting it down on the ground to the side of him.

”Do you want to talk or do you want a distraction?” He offered, turning his head to look at her.

Looking at the bottle and his empty glass, without hesitation she poured more into it nearly overfilling the glass before taking a long swig herself. Nik couldn’t help but laugh before he carefully brought the glass to his lips to sip too. He didn’t want to think about the fact that just a second ago, he was ready to punch someone to find her and now he was perfectly calm and at peace. That realization would not sit well with him.

”A bar full of alcohol is a great distraction, I can tell you from experience.” she said softly as she sniffled back more tears. The bottle hung between her legs as her arm rested across her knee.

”After this whole event is over, I’m going to do something I probably shouldn’t.”She added, still whispering soft enough that only he could hear. ”I’ll need you to support me in that.” Ari glanced to look over at him to get his reaction.

”Depends. Is there a good reason to do this stupid thing?” He asked, suddenly rather serious, his volume matching hers.

She looked at him in silence only responding with a simple nod, the seriousness in her eyes telling all that needed to be said.

Nik watched Ari’s face, his eyes narrowing as he took all of her in. His eyes glanced over her swollen red eyes, the way her hands shook just slightly, and the way she carried herself like someone who was on the verge of collapse. Knowing that she had a reason for doing her stupid thing was all Nik needed.

”A bar is an excellent distraction. But so is a dance, of which I was hoping I might convince you to share with me…” He responded, eyes still trained on her face.

Ari blinked, before taking another large mouthful of wine. Her cheeks puffing up with the alcohol before she managed it down. ”M-me?” she stuttered. ”There is a room full of beautiful women who are much better dancers then me…”

”Is anyone else down on the ground here with me?” He asked, brow raised at her. He rolled his eyes at her next comment, letting out a low sigh.

”The world is full of beautiful people, Ariella. But there is only one you. And you look like you could use a dance.” He added with a soft, surprisingly genuine smile on his face.

A coy smile spread on her lips as she turned from him taking another long drink from the bottle. Realizing it was nearly finished, she tilted her head back wiping the wine around her lips on the back of her hand.

”Well, how can I refuse when you put it that way…” her eyes appeared to brighten up. ”...but the shoes are staying off.” she gestured over to the heels that laid beside him.

Using the bar she pulled herself to her feet and dusting off her dress before setting the empty bottle on the bar top.

”I expected no less.” He replied with a soft chuckle. Nik lifted his head to watch Ariella as she dusted herself off, admiring the strength about her. Yes, she looked like she could collapse at a moment’s notice. Yes, she looked all the world like everything was crumbling around her, but… She stood up. She held her ground. There was a certain beauty he found in that.

Nik reached his hand out to her, giving her a soft pout. ”Help me up?” He asked, giving her the most pitiful look he could manage.

Leaning back with her hands on her hips she looked down at him, biting back a grin before rolling her eyes and shaking her head. She reached out and offered him her hand ”If this is a sign of your protection abilities, I'm worried.” she grinned cheekily.

Gripping on his hand she used all the might to pull him, her feet sticking to the marble floors as her back arched as a tiny grunt escaped her lips. However, to Nik it felt like a rabbit pulling a carriage.

He let out a soft chuckle and pushed himself up from the floor, giving her a little bit of help. ”I just wanted to see how cute you’d look struggling.” He teased lowly into her ear.

Ari’s cheeks pinkened, unsure if it was the wine or his words but she attempted to play it off nonchalantly.

He pulled away a moment later, a smirk on his face. ”Shall we?” He asked, still holding her hand.

Just as he asked the orchestra to start their next song, the timing was strangely too perfect. She felt the butterflies in her belly flutter, not necessarily because of Nik but dancing was not something she was very good at and usually just avoided it. It really was the first time anyone asked her to dance and she didn’t want to mess it up.

”Yes, but don’t laugh. I’m not very good.” she said while following him towards the dance floor. Thankfully for everyone else her dress was long enough to hide her bare feet but feeling the cool grounding touch against her skin helped ease the nerves that had started to build.

She looked around awkwardly trying to not be too obvious as she observed the other dance pairs and how they were positioning themselves. Her lack of experience was clear and as time went on she started to feel slightly embarrassed. Unsure of where to put her hands, how to stand, the direction it all started to become a tad overwhelming.

Nik guided her to the floor, his eyes already scanning the room again for any signs of trouble. When those amber eyes of his turned back to look at her, he could see the way her eyes seemed to dart around and the hesitant way she grabbed and let go and grabbed again.

….adorable.

Nik took Ari’s hand and placed it gently at his shoulder. ”Just follow me. I’ve got you.” He told her, his voice low so that only she could hear him. He took her other hand with his and began slowly pushing her, guiding her, through the song, one gentle step at a time.

One foot over the other, Ari stumbled once more than twice falling slightly into Nik but he caught her before she could really fall. She grumbled under her breath but with a few more steps seemed to get the hang of it. She smiled realizing as she was able to finally catch her steps.

”So…” she attempted to break the ice as they moved along the dance floor. ”You’re a dancer and a swordsman. I have heard that a good swordsman needs to be good on his feet so I suppose it makes sense. She didn’t look up at him, her eyes continued to look down at her feet as she attempted to continue moving without stumbling.

”I’m a man of many skills.” He replied with a small smile, clearly enjoying her compliments. He watched her steps, smiling as she slowly became a little more confident with each one. Nik was not known to be a very patient man, but at least with her, he seemed to be.

”Good, just like that…” He whispered, his hand at the small of her back pulling her with him as he turned them both. ”You aren’t so bad yourself, princess.” He continued after a moment, smiling down at her.

Large emerald eyes shot up to meet his nearly stumbling again at the word princess ”Please…dont use that. I- I don’t like titles.” she said trying to be as polite as she could but being called a princess made her skin crawl slightly. ”I don't really care for this world…" she said softly, nearly a whisper. ”it changes people. her mind went to Cal. ” I don’t mean to be rude, I just…Ari..you can call me Ari.” she smiled softly. ”Or something else but just, not that."

Nik stayed quiet for a moment, eyes searching her face for a moment. ”Of course.” He replied simply, giving her a soft smile. ”Ari.” He added after a beat.

”Want to tell me what this stupid thing you’re going to do is?” He asked, eyes lifting up a moment to scan the room again.

She returned his smile ”Thank you." letting out a soft sigh she thought about the best way to tell him.

”The king has a son, named Callum.” his name leaving her lips made her expression falter. A sadness crept in her eyes. ” He is my best friend. He’s gone missing." she whispered looking around. ”Anastasia, the princess, she was my childhood friend. I went to check on her after her mothers death and she told me that he was missing. I had a feeling something was wrong. I couldn’t find him. He always found me. He wasn’t at my hideout, he wasn’t at any tavern during drunkards day… he didn’t send a letter. Nothing.”

Taking a moment to take a breath she followed his lead, dancing with ease as her mind found itself elsewhere. ”She was told she couldn’t go looking for him, but I cannot just let this go. He … I" she thought about telling him about the dark magic, about how Cal and her would bond over it. She decided against it, not here. ”W
He had a lot of similar interests. Anyways, I need to find him. There have been some things that happened, changes I've seen in him and after his mother…he hates his father." her voice dropped.

”I’m worried." her large emerald eyes looked up at him. ”I need to find him."

He was quiet for a moment, listening to her speak. The king’s son… Even Nik knew that what she was doing was something that could get the both of them killed. Anything involving the royal family was something he’d much, much rather enjoy. However, the idea of his grandfather sending him out here, just to have his only grandson do something so stupid because of the girl he sent him to? Now, that was some sweet, sweet irony. And something Nik wouldn’t dare pass up.

”Then, we’ll find him.” Nik replied simply, his tone calm and firm. ”You just tell me what you need from me and we’ll make it happen.” He added.

Smiling, Ari’s shoulders dropped slowly. Her body, which was tense, seemed to relax as they continued to move around the dance floor. When her father instructed her to be watched by Nik every fiber of her being hated it. But, his understanding and willingness to listen to her was not going unnoticed, or unappreciated. In fact, it was one of the first times outside of Callum that she felt heard.

”I feel like I keep saying thank you but I really do mean it. For now, just..a distraction. I have to attend this or else my mother will put me on a pyre. Tomorrow though…tommorrow we can start looking.”

She took in a deep breath followed by a warm smile, her eyes brightening once again.

”Distractions I am all to happy to provide.” He chuckled, his smile gentle. ”I’d like to see her try, though. I’m not above cutting down a woman…” He mused, seeming to genuinely think about it.

Even he didn’t quite realize just how much he meant that.

”Look at you… Dancing like a pro already.” He teased lightly, pulling her closer to him now. ”Careful not to step on my toes, hm?”

”I’m more worried about you, stepping on mine.” she laughed softly ”My lack of shoes always makes that a possibility but one I am willing to risk.I give credit to such a great leader, I think you’re the only reason I'm not falling on my face."

”Me? Step on your toes? I would never.” He replied, his tone taking on that playful teasing lilt. ”Eh, you wouldn’t do that either. I’d just catch you and twirl and make it look like you’d always meant to do that.” He shrugged.

”As long as I can help it, I’m not letting anything bad happen to you.” He explained, watching her face now as they continued to move.

”Well you are kind of paid to do so.” she teased.

Glancing around at the other dancing couples Ari turned to look back at him ”I saw you mingling around, meeting people. Has anyone caught your eye? A number 87 perhaps? Or what is 92? I can’t remember.” she grinned playfully.

”Mmm, well… There was this one girl…” He mumbled softly, turning to look around. She might think he was looking for the girl, but once again, he was scanning the room, his eyes narrowing as he spotted a few annoyances. Luckily, they were either far enough away or occupied.

Ari looked around with him, attempting to spot who he might be looking for but had no luck.

”And I had planned on making a night of it, but… I think my plans just changed.” He explained with a shrug. He let his fingers splay out over the small of her back, feeling how small she felt in his arms. The change in his grip caused the hairs on her arms to stand. She turned her attention back to him, looking at him for a moment before speaking.

”I’m sorry if I ruined your plans. You could still find someone, I'm sure, tomorrow is still some time away. I don't want to spoil your evening. Though selfishly I am enjoying your company - surprisingly.” she smirked.

Once again, Nikolai found himself looking at her face, glancing at her eyes, nose, the way her lips curled upwards just slightly as she spoke to him.

”Surprisingly?” He asked, an incredulous tone to his voice. ”My plans aren’t ruined, simply changed. Besides, I’m fairly sure she’s already off flirting with someone else.” He whispered the last part like it was some secret between the two of them.

”So, whether you like it or not, I think you might be stuck with me.” He added, giving her a smirk of his own.

”It seems so.” she smiled.

As they danced, gliding across the floor with ease, suddenly her worries seemed to slip away. Though it was only momentarily she found herself getting lost in the moment.

Nik found himself staring at Ari more often than not as they danced, enjoying how comfortable she seemed. For someone dealing with so much, she looked so strong. He felt an unfamiliar rising desire to support her, to be the pillar that helps boost her up.

”You mentioned a place you liked to hide at?” Nik started, pulling her with him as he moved them around the dance floor. ”Is it nice?”

”Well it wouldn’t be much of a secret if I told you.” she said with a tone of playfulness ” It's a place that Annie showed me a long time ago, it's in the woods. It's where I feel most myself. I could show you it, maybe tomorrow. I suppose it would be important for you to know about it but only a few people know of it. Annie, Callum and I suppose my family but they know not to go there. The last time they did…” she paused.

”Well I don't remember it but according to my brother they destroyed many of my things. I’ve been trying to find a way to remember it but any journal or thing I would have had is stuck in a box that I can’t open.” she admitted.

Nik listened as she spoke, still leading her around the dance floor. He was far more graceful about it than he’d let on earlier, having enjoyed dancing. Though… he’d probably never admit that to anyone. Maybe especially her.

”We can certainly do that.” He replied, a smile on his face. ”You’re not going to jump my bones out there, right? I’m a man with sensibilities, you know. You shouldn’t take advantage of me.” He teased, his lips curling into a smirk.

Ariella nearly missed a step at his comment, stumbling over her feet as her cheeks warmed. She narrowed her eyes at him in mock offense, though the smile tugging at her lips ruined the effect entirely.

“Jump your bones?” she echoed, letting out a soft laugh.“Nik, I think you’ve confused me for some scandalous tavern girl or one of your 97 conquests.”

Her fingers tightened lightly against his shoulder as he spun her across the floor, the movement making the skirts of her dress sway around her legs.

“And besides,” she added with a teasing tilt of her head,“you’re the one who keeps pulling me closer. I’m beginning to think you’re the danger here, not me.”

She glanced up at him then, playful but slightly nervous beneath it all, still not entirely used to his charm or this kind of attention.

“You don't want me even attempting that, I wouldn’t know the first thing or even how where to start.” she admitted the wine clearly had some effect on her judgement of conversation.

Nik pulled Ari closer, spinning her as he leaned forward to whisper in her ear, ”I’ve always been the danger.” Ari leaned into his words, her cheeks flushing more as his voice tickled her ear.

He pulled back a moment later, that same calm smile on his face as he gave her a knowing look. ”You didn’t think you’d be much good at dancing either. And yet… here you are. I think you follow instructions very well.” He teased.

“I-that… my” she stuttered on her words, clearly flustered.

“I don’t like to follow instructions actually. she finally managed to say but her voice still quivered. “So is this how you have built up such large numbers?” she whispered. “Trying to make me just another number on your belt?” her tone seemed to drop slightly.

His lips curled upwards as she began to stutter, clearly flustered by him. No small amount of pride and confidence swelled inside his chest at that fact.

His brow furrowed, however, as she mentioned his ‘belt.’ It was rather quickly replaced with a slow, easy grin. ”Are you… asking me to bed you, Lady Edwards?” He asked, his slow, low tone hiding the hurt he felt.

lady edwards…

It was obvious she struck a nerve with him.

His image was carefully crafted and he liked that it gave him the ability to move about without much expectation. People didn’t expect a rakish rogue to be of any real use, but… The idea that she truly thought he would treat her that way stung more than he cared to admit.

Far more.

“I'm sorry…” she said softly. ““I just…” she looked up at him, her large eyes scanning his features and though he held his charm on his face she could see hurt behind his eyes by her question. ““No one has ever paid me any mind before.” Her eyes fell as she looked around as if checking to see if anyone was listening. ““And you, with your charm, your way with words. You're attractive and smart. You have the attention of so many. ” She looked back up at him before shaking her head softly. Being too embarrassed to look back at him as her insecurities were written all over her face.

Nik raised a brow and a moment later, something clicked. She wasn’t used to his kind of attention, much less any attention at all. He was likely one of very few who had ever glanced her way. It was hard for him to imagine given her looks, but wasn’t outside the realm of possibility.

““...would you have noticed me if my father wasn't paying you to watch over me?...”

Her voice cracked into a soft admittance. She wanted to run, to let go of him and end the dance. To curl back up behind the bar and drink herself into tomorrow. But she stayed. Why did she stay…

”Ariella… How many guards do you know willingly ask their charge to a dance? At a court gathering? Where most men are in want of a wife?” He asked, gentle amber eyes looking down at her. No longer was there that roguish charm he usually tried to put on. For one brief moment, he was simply Nikolai.

”Look over there.” He started, giving her a small spin so she could face where Ambrose and Stratya danced. ”Is he dancing with his charge?” He asked, his gaze scanning her face. She continued to look at Ambrose and Stratya as they seemed to be enjoying themselves. Her eyes glancing back up at Nik only moments later.

”My point is… As you said, I could have nearly any woman in this ballroom.” A small pause as he recalled a few who couldn’t stand the sight of him, ”And yet, I have asked you to dance with me. Not because of some need to keep you close, although that is a bonus…”

Nik let out a small chuckle at that before continuing, ”I just… wanted to.”

He wanted too…

The words lingered between them as he continued to move her across the dance floor. Enjoying the dance and being with someone who wanted to be there.

Nik allowed a quiet to settle over them, his eyes kept on the beautiful woman in his arms. Anyone watching would have clocked the way his gaze was softer, gentler than he had been with others, though perhaps the roguish knight hadn’t realized it himself yet.

As the silence lingered, Ari’s smile didn't falter. She continued to look up at him, their eyes unbreaking as if holding a silent conversation between them. But before long the music started to slowly come to an end.

Despite the lull of the music, Nik continued his slow dance with Ariella, pulling her with him as he moved. It was as if the world had melted around him and all that was left was him and her. It wasn’t until she began to slow a bit that he even realized that the music had ended.

Nik felt a heat rise to his cheeks, something not very many ever got the chance to see.

Did… he really just get lost in the moment with her?


Ari didn’t let go, not right away. Instead she stood in his embrace for a moment longer, catching the flush in his cheeks.”The wine hitting you too?” She asked, knowing full well it wasn't the wine.

Nik froze at her question, realizing that she may have understood what his actions meant before he even did.

And that scared him.

”Thank you, for the dance.” she added with a softer smile. ”Maybe we can have another? before the night is over.”

“...Maybe.” He replied, his reply short and quiet. He looked at her for a moment, really looked at her. Amber eyes scanned her face.

Bump.

No… He couldn’t. That was stupid.

Bump. Bump.

It terrified him how much he wanted to dance with her again.

He took a step back, bowing towards her, ”Thank you for the dance.”

”I don’t… want to take up too much of your time. I’ll be nearby.” He added softly before he turned and took a few steps away from her.

The sun had only just dipped beneath the horizon, and the night’s first stars only just began to shine, when Cynwaer stepped through the tavern’s doors. Right away, his nose sniffed out the heady, familiar, and very inviting scents of various liquors. Mostly cheap ones, but those were the sort he liked best. The boisterous chatter of a late-evening crowd unwinding after a day’s labours filled his ears. By their choice of words—or rather, expletives—Cynwaer reckoned that most of them were either sailors or longshoremen. That wasn’t surprising. After all, this tavern sat so close to the sea that the air within was thick with salt.

He tugged on the brim of his hat, pulling it just a touch lower over his eyes, and strode purposefully across the room. The clinks of bottles and glasses wafted over from the bar. Were this any other day, he would’ve gone straight there with barely a second thought.

But this wasn’t any other day. For today, he was here on business.

And so, he did his best to ignore the temptations of the bar—and to avoid it entirely, for that matter—as he carefully and firmly pushed his way through the mingling crowd. Thankfully, the night had not yet grown so old, and the patrons so inebriated, that a few shoves here and there were enough to start a fight. Even so, he did have to flash the sword and pistols hidden under his coat a few times, just to keep ones who looked to be more belligerent at bay.

“Over here, Captain.”

A man called to him through the crowd, his resonant voice rising above the din, and his Kimoonese accent distinct amongst a sea of Caesonian tones. Cynwaer immediately turned, following the man’s voice before it sank beneath the tavern’s noise. Soon enough, he found himself away from the bulk of the crowd, and in a quieter—relatively speaking, at least—and darker corner of the tavern. The dim lamplight illuminating the rest of the building couldn’t quite reach this area, leaving the handful of tables and chairs clustered against the wall shrouded in dancing shadows.

Cynwaer approached the only table that was occupied. “Evenin’,” he greeted with a tip of his hat.

“A good evening to you, also,” Kidelaut—the man who’d called him over—replied. A small, amicable smile graced his sun-kissed, weather-worn face, and he had an air of tranquil calm about him. The dark patches of red staining his white shirt and tan longcoat, and the stiletto knife stabbed into the tabletop, on the other hand, looked markedly less friendly and peaceful. “Please, do not mind the mess. There was some trouble with a few drunks earlier. Sioridann here attracted some unwanted attention.”

“Huh,” was all Cynwaer said. He nodded to the knife. “Must’ve been some feckin’ trouble, aye.”

Sitting to Kidelaut’s left, Sioridann tittered softly, covering their mouth with a hand. “Oh, that?” she said and reached for the knife. “Don’t worry, Cyn. I didn’t actually use it on anybody. The only thing that got stabbed was this poor table here! And I only did it to give some extra encouragement. Some people just need more of it than others, I’m sure you understand.”

They gripped the knife’s handle firmly, and with a hard tug—hard enough to rock the table—they wrenched it free. “But I’ve to admit, getting that kind of attention is rather flattering,” they said with a mischievous grin on their lips, and a playful shine in their eyes. Then, with deft, quick movements, they returned the knife to its sheath, which until now had been hidden within the ruffles of their skirt.

Kidelaut chuckled and shook his head. “Your flattery, Sioridann, is my trouble, I should remind you.”

“Oh, don’t say it like that,” Sioridann replied, the mock hurt in their voice much too obvious for Cynwaer, or anyone else, for that matter, to take seriously. “You know it’s useful, sometimes.”

Cynwaer cleared his throat, interrupting them before they could go on any further. “Right, well,” he said as he pulled out the chair opposite Kidelaut, and took his seat. He took off his hat and placed it over the deep gnash left by Sioridann’s knife. “I’m guessin’, an’ I’m feckin’ ‘opin’, that ta’ twa o’ ye did’nae ask me tae sail aw’ ta’ feckin’ way daen ‘ere frae Sorian jus’ tae ‘ave a chat, aye. What d’ye need me fer?”

Sioridann and Kidelaut glanced sideways at each other. Then, the latter pushed the bottle in front of him to the middle of the table, right beside Cynwaer’s hat. “This is for you,” he said. “For your troubles.”

Cynwaer moved the bottle closer to him, raising a brow but saying nothing. Not even a full day has passed since he’d received the letter calling for him to bring his ship to this small, unassuming village well south of Felipina, and to do so by this very night. For most ships, it’d be a tall order. For the Remembrance, herself a slower-than-average vessel, it was almost an impossible one. Preparations alone—resupplying her hold, recalling her crew that’d gone ashore, and expediting her repairs—had taken several hours. Gathering the necessary information to chart her route—to avoid the odd navy ship and privateer—took a handful more.

By the time they’d left Sorian harbour, it’d already been well after sunset. Had it not been for the fortuitous appearance of a particularly strong southerly, and plenty of hard graft—and creative sailing—on part of the Remembrance’s crew, they would’ve never made it in time. Cynwaer had been plying the sea for his trade almost all his life, and still he could do without reliving those few hours between Sorian and here.

And so, calling his experiences ‘troubles’ felt like a vast understatement. An insult, almost. And one bottle, no matter how rare, or potent, or luxurious, was certainly not payment enough.

But Kidelaut knew that already. Cynwaer knew that he knew.

The bottle, therefore, meant something else entirely.

“Cheers, pal,” Cynwar said, picking up the bottle and reading the label. It was Javarian whiskey, according to what was printed, but oddly enough listed a distillery closer to Wayness as its source. He glanced at the two, and they responded with small, surreptitious nods, just obvious enough for his eyes to catch.

Speak in code.

Cynwaer returned the nods, then leaned back in his chair. “So, ye business up near ta’ mountains, how’d it gae?” he asked casually. “‘Twas minin’ stuff, was it?”

Your work at Redwater didn’t go according to plan, did it?

Kidelaut offered a shrug. “We achieved our aims, but admittedly, not without a few surprises.”

Yes.

“But it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle,” Sioridann chipped in. “Although I’m sure I speak for the both of us when I say that a change of scenery would be welcome. The countryside is lovely, but the convenience and bustle of a big city is hard to forget.”

We took care of things as best we could, but we attracted unwanted attention. We plan to lay low in Sorian for the time being.

Cynwaer nodded slowly. “Aye, I can bring ye there,” he said. “But tell ye ta’ truth, once ye ‘ad a few days o’ city livin’, ye’d wan’tae get ta’ feck out quick as ye like, aye ye would.”

Are you sure you want to go to Sorian?

“We appreciate your concern, Cyn,” Sioridann replied. “But you don’t need to worry! It’s not our first time in Sorian, you know? We know a few people here and there. It might have been a while, but I’m sure they’re still around! We’ll check in on them, see how they’re doing while we’re in the city.”

Yes. We’ll find our contacts, see if they’re still active, and go from there.

Kidelaut smiled. “Yes, it has certainly been a long time since we last heard from them,” he said. “And even if they are no longer around, we always have you for familiar company, Captain, do we not?”

And if all else fails, we’ll be counting on you.

“I s’pose ye dae,” Cynwaer replied. “But I’ll warn ye first, dae’n gae lookin’ fer me ev’ry feckin’ day, aye. Ta’ city’s a busy place nowadays, an’ I’ve me own shite tae deal wi’, aye I dae.”

I’ll do what I can. The city has changed, and I’m currently doing some work of my own.

That earned him a pair of curious and slightly concerned gazes, and so he continued. Or at least, he made an effort to—speaking cryptically had never been one of his strengths, and it took him a moment to think of what words to use. “Ah, I s’pose ye’ve not ‘eard yet,” he began. “Ta’...Well, ye ol’ bossman—” he looked at Kidelaut “—’is lady got intae some major trouble, aye she did, an’ now I’m tryin’ tae make sense o’ it aw’.”

The Queen has been charged with a serious crime. I’m dealing with part of the aftermath.

Sioridann’s eyes widened. Kidelaut, on the other hand, merely furrowed his brow, and even then only for a fraction of a moment. “I see,” he said, sounding calm as ever. He paused, chewing on his lip and tapping a finger on the table. “Do you happen to know the nature of the trouble?”

“‘Tis ta’ unmentionable kind, aye.”

Magic.

“That…Is very major trouble, indeed,” Sioridann said, their voice dropping to a hushed whisper, their eyes looking down at the table. “And what happened to the lady? I mean, I assume the bossman’s not pleased, but surely he wouldn’t punish his lady too severely.”

What is the verdict on the Queen?

Cynwaer shrugged. “I cannae say. I’ve nae heard ‘bout it yet, but I’ll be honest, ‘tis nae lookin’ tae good fer ‘er, nae. She’ll likely get a feckin’ ‘eavy punishment, frae what I ‘ear.”

I don’t know, but she’ll most likely get burned.

Sioridann sighed, and shook her head. “So even someone like her can’t get away,” they murmured.

“I s’pose not,” Cynwaer said, his voice taking on a more sombre note. He hated the Queen as much as he hated every other noble, but he couldn’t deny that he understood why Sioridann might be feeling so upset at the news of her possible burning. The Queen was supposed to be untouchable—someone who sat well above the law. If the witchhunts could reach even her, could even sentence her to burn, then it meant that very dark times were coming for the common arcanist.

For arcanists like Sioridann.

“Do not worry,” Kidelaut said quietly, placing a hand on their shoulder. “You are safe with us.”

Sioridann shrugged his hand away. “I know that,” they said, a bite in their voice. “But what about those not with us? If the Queen—” she stopped abruptly. “I mean, if the lady—”

“Oi, let’s jus’ stop that, aye?” Cynwaer cut in. “‘Tis givin’ me a feckin’ headache, ‘tis so. ‘Ow ta’ feck ta’ twa o’ ye can keep gae’n on an’ on wi’ that, I’ll ne’er feckin’ know. We’ll nae be ‘ere much longer, anyway. We’ll ‘ave tae move soon, otherwise ta’ harbourmaster’s gae’n start askin’ me tae pay ‘arbourin’ fees.”

A quiet laugh came from Sioridann. “You didn’t pay?” they asked, their voice still small, and still heavy with worry. But at least it was a little chirpier, a little more playful, as it usually was. “I’m surprised they even let you dock to begin with.”

“Aye, well, I told ‘im I’ll be gone in an hour or twa,” Cynwaer replied. Sioridann tittered, and even Kidelaut’s lips curled in a wry smile. “What? I was’nae lyin’. I did’nae know we’d end up ‘avin’ a wee chat. I reckoned we could’ve talked on ta’ ship.”

He grabbed his hat, placed it snugly on his head, and stood up. “Come on, let’s gae. I’ll be fecked off if I’ve tae pay fer a full night when I’m nae e’en ‘ere fer half o’ that, aye I’ll be. We can talk more freely aboard ta’ ship. An’ ‘sides, I wan’tae be back in Sorian ‘fore daybreak. I’ve got shite tae dae.”

“And what might that…Shite, as you say, be?” Kidelaut asked, getting to his feet as well.

Cynwaer looked at him for a moment. Then, he grinned. “Ah, right, I did’nae tell ta’ twa o’ ye,” he said. “‘Tis nae aw’ doom an’ gloom, aye. I’ve a plan tae dae somethin’ about aw’ this shite, an’ best o’ aw’, I found us a new pal tae lend a hand. I’ll ‘ave tae introduce ye, once we’re back.”