Private Tales Read between the lines

[Talus]

"Thank you." He said softly, leaning down slowly and placing a soft kiss on her lips just as her hands passed over the rest of her face.

"The Cabin." With the changes he was making things would be safer there. The Runes were taking time, but it would be worth it in the end. "And I'll figure out how to easily take them off."

There was of course a key with them, but they would need to figure out a system whereby she could always have it nearby and easily accessible. He did not want to trap her, simply wanted her to be able to sleep for even a single night.

His nose nuzzled hers. "Acceptable?"

 

[Zana]

Her hands moved from her face to his and she nodded pulling him to her again so that she could press her lips to his again.

"Acceptable," Zana let out a breath that despite her words, shook. Even though they had the bond and they had already been through so much, this still felt like an enormous amount of trust she was putting in him. "Do you think it hurts?" her voice was quiet as she asked.

It had been made by elves in a time of war it wouldn't surprise her if they didn't care too much about the comforts of their prisoners. It was also the matter of the fact magic was a part of her very being. It seemed almost obvious to her that cutting off something like that would cause a little discomfort.

 

[Talus]

Talus shook his head. "They're not cruel like us."

The words were all but treason. Most Dreadlords would have balked at saying something like that, most in fact would have thought the direct opposite. Yet he had encountered the Elves, spoken with them, understood just a piece of who they were.

"The intent was not to torture, I think." He thought about the manacles, the beauty in their craftsmanship. "Just to stop us."

Dreadlords were soldiers, weapons of war. "Blunting the edge of a sword."

He said quietly.

"If they hurt, you take them off." Talus told her softly. He would not have her in pain, not for something he wanted.

 

[Zana]

Her fingers stroked over the lines of his face as he spoke. She had never really stopped to speak to elves apart from in times of interrogation. Zana had been a ruthless weapon and for all intents and purposes she still was. But, Talus had approached the world in a different way and made friends with races she had only seen as the enemy. If he considered them less cruel, she would believe him over her Dreadlord Masters.

"Okay," she tugged him down again into another soft and loving kiss. "When I am next at the Cabin I will wear them," there was equal mixes of fear, panic and also... hope. It would be nice to sleep the whole night through - or at least longer than four hours which was her current record.

"I should really get going, I have to leave early tomorrow for this trek into the Falwoods," her eyes closed and she let her head flop back into his lap.

 

[Talus]

"Will it be dangerous?" He asked softly, not able to help the little bit of concern that dripped through the bond.

It was a silly thing really. Zana was objectively more powerful than he was. Her magic could rip apart half the Falwood if she really wanted.

Yet he couldn't help but be concerned for her. At least they now knew that the bond worked even over distance. Things were more feint, a bit softer, but it still worked. That alone would be a comfort. He smiled at her, and then remembered something.

"I have to go away too, next week." That was when he had arranged the voyage. "Three days."

Hopefully he could wrangle the damned fire bird in that time.

 

[Zana]

Their work was always dangerous.

"No more than a normal mission," Zana smiled once more, gave his cheek one final caress, then she slowly rolled to her feet and disturbed Grey in the process. The wolf gave a small growl and feinted as if he might bite her for interrupting his slumber but then lurched to his feet and padded moodily after her as she went to catch Zandor.

"I have a meeting with all of your Generals next week," she physically grimaced. It was not a conversation she was looking forward to after their last confrontation. The Dreadlord made a mental note to try and make sure that the meeting didn't take place on the same day as her vision session with Cain. She would most likely snap if it coincided. "You coming back to the city or heading to the Cabin?"

 

[Talus]

"I'll be there." He told her firmly.

There was not a way in hell he was letting her attend that meeting without him at her side. The Meeting was really more of a debriefing than it was anything else. Ilyena would be there too, meaning that Zana would have another ally besides him.

Plus if he was right about Aldwaith...

"I'll be returning the same day." He told her as he stood to his full height. "And I'm going to stash these at the cabin."

Talus patted the Manacles. "Then I'll be coming back. If that's okay."

 

[Zana]

"Always," Zana's smile was a playful lazy thing as she stepped into his personal space and stole another kiss. This time her lips lingered, her free hand resting over his heart. "Thank you, for doing this for me Talus," for introducing her to Fen and taking the risk. She would have to think of a way she could repay Fen another time if he wouldn't accept dinner.

She always thought she could never feel more loved and then he did something like this that reminded her he saw everything, felt everything. After a few more minutes she pulled back and mounted up.

"I'll have dinner waiting," one of the benefits of foresight was knowing when exactly she would need to have it ready for. With a final wave she turned Zandor about and finally took Grey for the run he had been waiting for all day back towards the city.

When he did finally turn up Zana was putting his plate of curry down at his setting.

 

[Talus]

Talus was not wearing his usual armor, not even his usual soldiers fatigues. Instead he wore similar clothes to what Fen had on in the field of flowers, save he had no leather armor.

Seeing his older mentor had made him remember some of the man's lessons in blending in, and if he was going to come to Zana's home nearly every night then he'd figured it would be a good idea to at least change his clothing.

Even if he was using his magic to sneak in. Better safe than sorry. "Hello, my love."

Talus said softly as he snapped back into reality, coming up directly behind her and placing a soft hand on her hips.

"What's this?" He asked, placing a kiss on her cheek.

 

[Zana]

"Curry - sssh Grey," the wolf still hadn't quite got used to the whole phasing in and out thing. He had been asleep on the sofa when he had suddenly sat bolt up right, jumped to the floor and followed where Talus' form had been under the house then had howled loudly as the man appeared. The wolf licked his lips and then snuffled at the mans trousers as if to make sure he was the right person before turning and trotting to his bowl, sitting by it expectantly.

"I've done it quite mild, I wasn't sure how you would be able to handle the spice," her lips twitched and she turned her face to return his kiss on the cheek. "Wash your hands and dig in before it gets cold," she reluctantly shifted out from his grip to go and deal up Grey's food before washing her own hands and sitting down at the table.

 

[Talus]

"Spice?" Talus asked as he walked over to the sink and washed his hands.

"What do you mean?" He frowned for a second. "Like...'The spice of life'?"

Talus had very obviously never had spicy food.

Just about the spiciest meal he'd ever had was...probably a glass of milk. Walking back over to the table he sat himself down, eying the meal suspiciously for a second before glancing up at Zana. A shrug rolled over his shoulders.

She hadn't let him down yet, and thus he bashed into the Curry with the same reckless abandon as he'd had done with every other meal she'd ever made him.

 

[Zana]

Zana had been about to tell him to take it easy before he dived into the meal. It was only a Masala, more cream than the heat of a true curry like she had promised the King of Karak when she next visited. She hoped he wasn't that shocked but she did set a tall glass of milk beside him just in case before sitting down and tucking into her own food.

"Spicy means... hot, it makes your mouth tingle," she had added hotter peppers to her own plate in order to make it a little more intense. In the middle sat a flat bread which she tore a chunk off and scooped up both meat and rice before popping it in her mouth. "If you want to try something spicier you can try a bit of mine."

 

[Talus]

"I likef it." Talus declared with a broad smile.

Though he was still shoveling the food in his face, he could actually already feel the heat building in his mouth. There was something pleasant about it, a tingle on his tongue that enhanced the flavor while also bringing...something else to it all.

Still no Bolognese, but closer than anything else she had put in front of him.

"I like spice as it turns out." He said, swallowing and putting down his fork for a few moments as he gazed across the table.

There was a pause as he simply stared at her. This was a moment he had never imagined for himself, and yet now he'd had it three nights in a row. Being here with her, eating a home cooked meal...going to bed with her. It was all better than he'd ever imagined his life to be.

"I'm glad I saw you going into that shop." He reached out across the table, grasping her empty hand and squeezing her.

 

[Zana]

Zana had been preoccupied with eating her own food and laughing under her breath at his comment on spices that she hadn't noticed his look to begin with. Her eyes raised briefly before returning to her food, then snapped back up when she realised he was staring. She slowed her chewing down then swallowed, tilting her head to the side quizzically until he spoke.

"Me too, though I feel inclined to say on behalf of the other citizens of Vel'Anir to stop going around staring at people's souls," she laughed and returned the squeeze of his hand. Then scooped up a forkful of her curry with some of the added peppers and held it out to him.

"Ok, let's see if you can handle something a little hotter. I promised Thork I would make him the hottest curry I could when we next visited so you need to get used to it."

 

[Talus]

Talus half leaned over the table, putting the fork in his mouth with a comical chomp before slowly drawing back.

He chewed for a few seconds, and then let the heat grow within his mouth. Eyebrows slowly began to climb, but his expression was not a bad one. There was a mixture of confused, and then slow chewing as he continued to let the heat rise.

Then he slowly breathed out as though he were a dragon spewing fire.

"Amazing." He declared with an almost child-like glee.

 

[Zana]

Zana watched him with open amusement as he leaned forward and ate what she offered out to him. Her eyes flickered over his face to take in the change of expressions and then she grinned as he announced his verdict. Without a further thought she stood up and grabbed the spare peppers and piled them onto his plate.

"I want to say thank you to Fen," she said when she sat back down. Thanking people had become an important thing for her since learning to become a little less like a Dreadlord and a little more human. "Do you think he would trust me if I baked him and his wife a cake?" she moved the food around on her plate thoughtfully. He might think it was laced with poison but perhaps if Talus vouched...

 

[Talus]

"He would...his wife..." Talus had only met Dhala once, and it had...not gone very well at all.

The young Dreadlord thought for a few moments, wondering just what Fen might consider a gift. An idea then popped into his head.

"I'm not sure if you could but..." He frowned. "Luana watches him. As do the other Houses."

They were suspicious of the Wastrel, though none of them had any insight into the truth. "Perhaps you could put in a word? Even one less spy following him would be a gift, I think."

He took another bite of his food. "If not, I'll vouch for the cake."

 

[Zana]

An uneasy expression crossed her face as he mentioned putting in a word.

As much as Zana wanted change and could see the pitfalls in her own House, in her own way she was still loyal to Luana. They had raised her. Sloan was practically a mother and she did truthfully believe what they had done for her visions had been for her own good. It was her love for Talus that had turned her wish for change into a full blown rebellion like this - sharing her visions and training the Guard - but she still held out hope when the time came Ashur would stand with them not against.

So it made her uncomfortable to meddle in the affairs of the House when clearly they had been right to put tails on him.

She sighed.

"I will... see what I can do," she had removed the spies from Talus by making the point she would be better placed to do it now, maybe she could do the same for Fen. Ashur trusted her, and it was a weird knife in her gut every time she had abused that since.

 

[Talus]

Talus felt the emotions of course, and even if he hadn't he could see the expression on her face.

A part of him understood, but the greater whole of him couldn't help but feel a small sense of anger. Not at Zana, never with her, but the situation that she found herself in. Lips thinned for a moment, and slowly he pushed himself out of the chair.

With slow steps he moved over towards Zana, gently cupping her cheek and leaning down to kiss the top of her head. "Don't cause yourself any trouble."

He told her softly.

"Whatever you showed him, it was enough." Talus was sure of that. If there had been some sort of debt Fen would have made that much clear. He was a straightforward man, simple in many aspects.

"Let's not dwell on it the night before you have to go." He told her softly, running his fingers over her cheek. "No more talk about work for the rest of the night."

Talus commanded quietly. "You're going to tell me what you want our House to look like."

 

[Zana]

Zana shut her eyes and waited for the argument as he slowly stood. Her whole body was tense as he made his way around the table with thoughts on how she could even justify her feelings. She knew from his viewpoint it would make zero sense. He had hated the Houses from the offset and now she had met Fen she understood more of how he had survived and kept himself whole. She actually winced when he raised his hand and then slowly let out her breath when he kissed the top of her head instead.

"Okay," she leaned her cheek into his hand and brought her own up to rest over the top of his. Gods did she love him. Zana placed a kiss to the inside of his wrist then stood up herself and walked with him over to the living area, pulling him down onto the sofa where she curled up against him to dream.

"Well... I really like the porch we've already got, maybe a slightly bigger swing so Grey could sit with us," she folded his arms around her then put her own arms over the top. "The kitchen is obviously the most important part," Grey trotted over and jumped up on the sofa too and laid himself across them both. "Something big, with a nice dinner table that always has flowers on it, and a large window so I can watch you and the kids playing while I cook," her cheeks heated. "A cozy living area with a lovely fireplace, a work room for all your carvings, three bedrooms. Oh, I've always loved those little balconies you know people have outside their master bedrooms?" she tilted her head to look up at him with a lazy smile. "Obviously a little paddock for Zandor, I'd love to grow my own vegetables so maybe a little patch for that outside... a swing for the children to play on... Maybe even a treehouse for them when they get a little older."

 

[Talus]

Talus pulled her closer as she smiled and recounted all of the things that she wanted for their home. Her eyes lit up, the smile tugging at her lips, and he could feel her melt into him. It was gratifying to watch, and he couldn't help the waves of love that flowed through the bond.

"Two stories, huh?" He asked as he gently brushed his lip over her temple. "I've never done stairs before."

The idea of a treehouse excited him for some reason. He had always thought Elven homes held a particular beauty to them, melded with the nature around them. Talus wasn't sure he could build something like that, but...he would enjoy trying.

"Sounds perfect." He said quietly, taking in a breath. "Start looking for land."

His hands gently played over her skin.

It would be some time before they could have that home, some time before they could have children, but...the dream could still be there, and he could put some of what she'd said into the Cabin. He thought she might like that.

 

[Zana]

"Somewhere far away from here - somewhere on Epressa," her mind was lost in the future and for the first time not in a bad or painful manner. It had the soft quality of a beautiful dream.

It was the perfect moment.

Zana let her head drop against his shoulder and tried to think of a time she had felt more loved or happy as she did right then. Grey gave a yawn and she buried her hand in his thick fur, scratching at the spot he liked his below his ear. His tail gave a happy thump.

"What about you, what would you like in our House?" she tilted her head a little to look up at him without moving from her position leaned up against him. It was their home after all

 

[Talus]

He considered for a few seconds. "A memory room."

Talus sort of already had that in a way, it was his bedroom. Yet he liked the concept of having an entire room devoted to the whole idea.

"It could double as a library too." He spoke softly. "But filled to the brim with things from all the places we've gone."

His fingers played over her skin. "The Banners, statues, my sword eventually."

Talus did not always want to carry a sword.

"Somewhere we can sit, and just remember all the things we did together." It would probably have to wait until the children were grown a bit, but that was alright.

 

[Zana]

Talus' vision completed the house Zana had been speaking of and turned into a real home. She wriggled herself closer to him and closed her eyes with a content smile.

"I love that idea," and when they were old and grandchildren ran about their feet they could tell them all about how they had sung to dragons. Her hands ran through the wolfs fur. "I love you, Talus, I truly do," her words were said in the soft murmur of someone fighting off sleep but it still brimmed with the love that went both ways through the bond.

"And I want our home to be filled with that love in every little way."

 

[Talus]

"It will be." He told her as he softly kissed the top of her head.

In his head he could already see it. The slats on the outside walls, the shingles on the roof, the way the windows would catch the sun and heat the whole house even at night. All of it filtered through his mind, coming together perfectly.

"Bedtime?" He asked her softly. "I can carry you if you're too tired."

His hand brushed over her side. "I know you must be tired."

He had pushed her hard on the training ground today. They'd made progress, but he had noticed her weariness.