Private Tales Read between the lines

[Zana]

"Yes," Zana felt so tired it was like it was in her very bones. She had been keeping herself going on fumes today really and she had used a lot of her magic to push the Guards. She knew he had been worried about her, had thought about telling her to take a break, but not only did they have an image to uphold but for Zana weakness was like bleeding in shark infested waters.

Other Dreadlords would come for her.

"I can walk, but if you want to carry me I won't complain..." in truth she loved it when he did. There was just some odd feeling about being cherished and cared for when he did it. "C'mon Grey, bedtime," she gently nudged the wolf off of their laps. He gave a growl then yawned and slunk off up the stairs ahead of them.

"Oh, and our home is going to need a biiiiig bed so Grey can sleep with his lady at the foot of it."

 

[Talus]

Without waiting for another second Talus slipped his arms beneath her, grasping her softly and pushing them up the couch as he carried her like a Princess in his arms.

"The biggest bed." He told her softly, kissing her softly before he began to follow after Grey and ascended the steps.

His steps were slow, careful, though it was obvious that of the two of them Zana was far more tired. His magic did not take as heavy as a toll as hers did, though running from the cabin to the city he had pushed himself almost as much as in the race.

He was getting stronger. "What do you think of my outfit?"

Talus asked jokingly as they reached the top step.

 

[Zana]

"The biggest bed," Zana repeated once they broke apart and looped her arms about his neck, resting her cheek against his shoulder so that she could watch his profile as he carried her. Not for the first time she wondered if he was her gift for her years of suffering. Her eyes drifted down his attire when he asked about her opinions and her lips kicked up at the corners.

"It's nice to not see you in armour or soldier-y gear for once," she ran one hand down his chest and pinched a bit of the fabric to rub it between her fingers. "I like this colour on you too, it brings out your eyes," Zana released his shirt to gently trail her fingers over his jaw and the slight stubble there.

"It is probably a good thing I am too tired to rip it off tonight."

 

[Talus]

Talus smirked at her. "Well, maybe another night."

The more he was going to sneak over here the more he was going to have to be careful. Those sent to spy on Dreadlords were not fools, patterns became noticeable after a while, and a man in armor was something to watch out for.

He had to be more careful, had to take care of more things...for her. Zana carried too much weight, Talus had to pick up some of the slack.

"Now that I know you like it." He kissed her softly as he stepped into the bedroom. "I'll be sure not to not always look like the amazing and handsome Soldier I am."

Talus smirked. "Seems Rogue fits me too."

With enough care to make one think Zana was a delicate porcelain doll he gently placed her down onto the bed.

 

[Zana]

Zana broke away from the kiss with a laugh at his next words.

"Rouge, Soldier, incredibly hot carpenter," as she was laid out on the bed she fanned herself dramatically. She wasn't sure there was anyway he could turn up at her door where she wouldn't find him the most irresistible man on the planet. Before he could pull away she tugged him down on top of her with a gentle push from an invisible force behind and claimed his lips once more.

Despite what she said about being tired she could stretch at least to laying under his comforting weight and kissing him for a little while. Perhaps it would fill her dreams with sweet things instead of visions of murders again.

 

[Talus]

His lips pressed against her in slow, trailing kisses. Eyes closed as he took in her scent and gently sprawled himself on top of her. Fingers slipped beneath the hem of her clothing, slowly stroking over her skin in soothing touches.

"I wonder what other careers I can fall into." He whispered to her softly. "Sailor."

Talus had mentioned it before. "Pirate maybe. I think I'd make an excellent pirate Captain."

With his magic he could take over entire ships, something he'd learned recently when retrieving the gem for her ring.

 

[Zana]

Zana's hands slid around to his hips and under his shirt, shivering slightly at the skin to skin contact. He was always so warm it was like having a hot water bottle in bed with her at times. She stole it off him when he spoke about becoming a sailor then set about stroking her hands over his skin.

"Yes," she chuckled and claimed his lips in another slow and sleepy kiss. "You would make a fantastic pirate captain," her fingers splayed across the small of his back. "What about... a blacksmith? Or a treasure hunter?" she kissed him between each suggestion. "Maybe you could ask Vorak to teach you when we holiday there in the summer," it was a phrase she had heard nobles say but she owned a manor house so she decided that made her one too, in an odd way.

 

[Talus]

He smiled down at her. "Woodworking and blacksmithing?"

Talus slowly shook his head under the guise of gently nuzzling her nose.

"Now you're just getting greedy." Though in truth the idea did rather appeal to him. He was good at woodcarving, and he imagined that the two could overlap quite well in certain ways. Her latter suggestion interested him far more though.

"Treasure Hunter, hmm?" He considered with a soft kiss to her lips. "I could scour the world for jewels, artifacts, ancient scrolls. All for you to horde in our home like a Dragon."

He smiled against her lips.

 

[Zana]

Zana giggled as he nuzzled against her and her nose wrinkled up.

"What? The idea of you coming home all hot and sweaty from work is just..." she bit her lower lip and ran her hands up his body to his arms. Her eyes followed the way her fingers trailed over his skin. In the end she forced herself to raise her eyes to his and let go of her lip as he leaned down to kiss her. One hand came up to cup his cheek.

"Mmm..." her eyes stayed closed as he spoke. "I do like shiny things," almost absentmindedly her hand drifted to the necklace she hadn't taken off since the day he had put it on her. "And I think you would look very, very handsome in one of those adventurer hats they all seem to wear," she grinned and opened her eyes to look up at him.

 

[Talus]

"You think?" He said tilting his head up for a second as he considered what he might look like.

Talus had never really understood why in the stories Adventurers never wore armor. It seemed incredibly stupid to him to run around in only a jacket and a hat, but then again with Zana's reaction...maybe it was just to impress women.

"It'll be my next outfit then." He told her with a smirk. "I have a day or two to find it."

Lips pressed softly against hers, and slowly he trailed his fingers up her thighs.

 

[Zana]

"Mmm..." Zana's arms looped around his neck and as she returned his kiss he would be taste the smile on her lips. These little games made her feel so... normal. Human. She loved him for playing them with her, teaching her how to embrace her emotions in this way and find a little bit more of her true self. Slowly her foot ran up the back of his leg and her skin tingled as he stroked up the outside of her thighs. It was a long, slow kind of kiss that made her toes curl and a warm feeling spread throughout her body.

"We should sleep," she whispered when they broke apart and kissed his nose once. Her hand came up to brush his hair away from his face. "I need to be gone with the dawn," her hand lingered on his cheek.

 

[Talus]

"Alright." Talus said softly as he slowly shimmied his way to the side of her, slipping his tunic off and tossing it onto the floor.

He could never sleep with a shirt on.

"You're going to sleep tonight." Talus said as his arm wrapped slowly around her belly, drawing Zana into himself. "One vision tops."

His lips pressed against the back of her neck. "Any more and I'm going to be very upset."

The tone of his voice told that he was obviously saying the words in jest. He wanted her to sleep, wanted her to actually get the rest that she deserved. His fingers played slowly over her belly, nose nuzzling softly into her neck.

"Understand me?" He said with soft kisses on her skin.

 

[Zana]

Whilst he was wriggling out of his own clothes Zana pried herself out of her own. Her breeches landed on Grey who shrugged them off with a shake of his fur. She barely got time to apologise before Talus wound his arms around her and pulled her into his torso. A soft laugh escaped her. There was an ache in her chest despite his jesting tone; she wanted to please him and not have visions. Despite it his kisses made her smile and soften against him, her laugh turning into sweet musical giggles.

"I'll try, but the punishment might be worth it," the last 'punishment' definitely had been even if he had lost a wall of his cabin in the process. Once her laughter had subsided she pressed a kiss to his bicep and closed her eyes.

"Thank you for what you did for me today."

 

[Talus]

"Anything." He told her between soft kisses. "Any time."

There was a strong confidence in his voice as he said the words.

There was nothing he would not do for Zana, nothing. That decision had been made weeks ago. He did not require her thanks, for Talus knew that she would do the exact same thing without even a second of hesitation to it.

"Go to sleep, my love." He told her softly.

His breath fell over her skin as he slowly closed his eyes and drifted off.

 

[Zana]

Despite falling asleep feeling loved and safe, Zana's dreams were once again riddled with visions. The murders were getting worse and with it the pain of seeing them.

It was still dark when she woke up and for a moment she just laid in Talus' arms and listened to him sleep. At least they didn't seem to bother him; that would have been a worse pain. When she felt the blood drying to her cheeks she eased her way out from beneath his arms, gently soothed the sleepy wolf when he raised his head, and went to run herself a bath.

By the time she was finished and had tidied up as best she could, she knew she had to leave.

"I love you," Zana whispered and pressed a kiss to his forehead. "I'll see you in a few days," gently she brushed the hair from his face whilst he slept then left behind a muffin and note explaining she had had to leave for when he woke up.

 

[Talus]

Talus practically ran through the hall of Castle Basheer, the ancient fortress that lay just to the South of Vel Anir. It had been built as a Bulwark against the Elves just after the first War, and since that time had stood unwavering as a symbol of Anirian Ingenuity and prowess.

The Fortress itself a was a massive thing, long sleek walls and massive towers stretching all around the Central Keep.

It was also one of the few places in Vel Anir where the Seven Great Houses had absolutely no power. Castle Basheer was controlled entirely by the Anirian Guard, it's great Ramparts staffed only by men who had proven themselves loyal. Basheer was an outpost of sorts, an island in the sea of Chaos that was Anirian politics.

That was why this place had been chosen by the Five Generals for the meeting with Zana. There were no spies here, and any that were found would be hung within the day. Zana and Talus were the first Dreadlords to step into Castle Basheer in nearly five hundred years.

"There you are." Talus said as he swept around the corner and found Zana sitting on a small bench. At the end of the hallway was a set of two Great Double doors, two Guardsmen clad in black and crimson armor guarding each side. "Apologies for my timing, Dreadlord."

It was difficult to keep up the act, nearly impossible not to seize her in a deep embrace and kiss her, but she would feel his love through the bond. It was a powerful feeling, mixed with half a dozen others. Anticipation, smugness, mirth. They were all there, though none of them were about the meeting.

His plan was nearly completely now. Nearly, and he couldn't quite contain his excitement.

 

[Zana]

Zana was sat with her elbows braced upon her knees staring at the floor. She hadn't bothered with the armour or the flashy clothes to meet the Generals; she very much doubted any of it would do much for her image to those who saw her as just a Luana Dreadlord. Instead she had opted for clothes she often wore on her days off, which this was technically. Tan riding breeches hugged every curve tucked into black thigh high riding boots that were turned down at present into the bucket boot style, showing off a flash of their deep royal blue lining. Her shirt was crisp and a brilliant white that complemented the dark tones of her skin. she had left her hair loose and it fell about her in a curtain in her current position.

She hadn't wanted to get out of bed for anything let alone this.

The last four days had gone surprisingly well; the mission into Falwood had proved uneventful despite tensions amongst her and the other Dreadlords, the training she had carried on when Talus had been gone was going smoothly and only five others had been sent to the infirmary on stretchers. Lola had even invited her for a drink and though she had had to decline she had hung around with the group of women she seemed to hang out with discussing idle things Zana had never even bothered of speaking before. It had been a whole new experience.

So she had been looking forward to her day off. Which had been promptly ruined. Ashur had had her dragged out of bed in the early hours of the night and sent her on a mission with Sloan and Flor to protect a man she despised most. It had escalated into something far more brutal and dark than any of them had accounted for and Zana had had an entire house dropped on her.

Ashur was thankfully one of the best healers this city had. It was that and Talus' frantic feelings through the bond that had made her leave the infirmary yesterday when she truly shouldn't have been up and running for over a week. At least she had the next week off.

There were still a few nasty bruises on her face and she sat up awkwardly when she heard Talus' voice, offering him a weak smile then glancing to the guards at the end of the corridor.

"I thought you were going to let them execute me without even bothering to come for the show."

 

[Talus]

It was hard, so very hard not to ask her a thousand questions about what had happened and who had done this to her. He wanted to sweep her into his arms and hold her, draw her close and never let her go. Yet as soon as he did the game would be up.

"Is that a joke, Dreadlord?." He said with a smile. "Because I wouldn't miss something like that."

His eyes seemed to roll over her, almost as if checking out her injuries in assessement of how truly hurt she was. A part of him felt bad nor for the excitement he'd felt now, seeing the state she was in. When it had happened he had been able to tell through the bond, but thousands of miles away all he'd been able to do was reassure her. "Even for all the Pasta in the world."

Talus said, using the small code as the double doors fell open.

A woman of middling years stepped out, fiery red hair draped in a ponytail over her armored shoulder. She was at least ten years Older than Zana. A regal baring clung to her, the way she carried herself speaking not only of experience, but hard won respect. The Crimson armored Soldiers bowed to her as she stepped by.

"Talus. Good to see you made it. Did you find what you were looking for?"​

"I did, General." The woman smiled at him, nodding her head, and then turned her attention to Zana.

"You must be Zana. I am General Ilyana Del'Karth, It's a pleasure to meet you."​

Ilyana held out a hand, a soft smile settling on her features. There was a delicacy about the woman, though Zana would know the name from reputation alone. Often called 'The Butcher Belle' Ilyana had a reputation for absolute brutality in war. She had never lost a single battle, and it was said she offered the enemy only three chances to surrender. After the third, no quarter was given to those who still stood against her.

She was a fierce woman, and one who had well earned the respect of her peers over the years.

 

[Zana]

The faintest of smiles etched its way across her face at the code word but before she could respond the figure emerging from the doors drew her attention away. She stood to attention despite the civvy clothing and was about to snap off a salute when the woman offered her hand instead. It took a moment for Zana to even comprehend what such a gesture meant; Dreadlords were soldiers not... people. She tried to drag her mind back from the cutthroat person she had had to be yesterday to who she wanted to be and very slowly she took the other woman's hand and shook it. There was a brief moment as their hands touched that Zana stiffened ever so slightly as the vision rolled through her before she managed to speak. To most it would just appear as though she were not sure how to deal with the social interaction.

"You too, my mentor has spoken highly of you," Sloan was slow to give praise out loud but Ilyana had definitely caught the older woman's attention. Zana was glad it was her and not Yarl who was greeting her at the doors, she doubted it would have gone so pleasantly.

As the woman released her hand and turned back towards the door Zana slid her gaze to Talus to give a small reassuring look, a gentle caress through the bond and a promise to tell him all soon, before following her.

 

[Talus]

Talus clutched onto the reassurance in the bond for a few moments, watching after both Zana and Ilyana as they began to walked towards the meeting hall.

For a few seconds he lingered in the hallway. Eyes closed as he took in a deep breath. He wondered if Aldwaith had told the others, wondered if they would rebuke him. A temptation lingered in the back of his mind, one that had been there since Zana had mentioned it days ago; run.

Leave it all behind.

Vel Anir, the Guard, everything.

They could leave this place and never see it again. The world was large, and if they did it right no one could ever even hope to find them. A breath filled his lungs, and he knew that it would be no use. Zana would never go, not now.

"Talus?"​

Ilyana called out to him, waiting at the door. Talus nodded, following into the meeting hall.

The room was different than the other one had been. Here there was a semi-circle table with five seats, each of them occupied save for the one meant for Ilyana. Behind each of the chair was the symbol of the respective army that it represented.

Before the semi-circled table sat a single chair. It looked to be comfortable enough, likely dragged from some office somewhere. Another one stood in the corner of the room, clearly meant for Talus.

Instead of going for it the Dreadlord followed behind Zana as she seated herself, coming to stand behind and to the side of her. Yarl and Jarun each raised an eyebrow, though the other three seemed to have almost expected the move.

 

[Zana]

Judges and Jury.

Perhaps executioners too.

Zana thought as she sat down and crossed one long leg over the other. She was doing this for him, for them, she reminded herself calmly as she raised her cool green eyes to meet those of the panels in front of her. Part of her wished she had brought Grey with her, the wolf was a comforting presence and she would have enjoyed seeing Yarl's face in particular when the wolf growled at him.

Calmly she pushed a lock of hair behind her right ear showing the bruising that adorned her cheek and jaw went further down the graceful arc of her neck and beneath her shirt. The necklace glinted as sunlight drifted in the windows and she carefully folded her hands into her lap. She tried desperately not to look at Talus even though she could see his move had at least put two of them on the back foot.

Zana resisted the urge to frown.

"Good morning, Generals."

 

[Talus]

"This isn't an interrogation."​

The words came from Aldwaith, though by the looks of both Yarl and Jarun they would have begged to differ. The Admiral and the General of the South wore stern expressions, though the former did not hold any distaste for either of the Dreadlords. There was something else.

"There will be questions of course, but you've offered to help and have helped already. You'll have the respect you deserve."

"Yes."​

Talus was pretty sure it was the first time he had actually heard Blackforge speak. The man was a mountain, barely fitting in his chair. A great axe leaned against the table next to wear he sat, the huge man seeming to dwarf the weapon.

"But lets get on with it shall we? Some of us have actual work to do."​

There were a few eye rolls, but general nods of agreement as the Generals raised themselves up and the questions began.

Most of them were simple enough, and it was likely that all of them already knew the answers. Was the Patriarch of Luana still actually in charge? What were they planning behind the scenes? How many Dreadlords did they truly have? What information did they have on the other houses.

There were dozens of questions, maybe hundred, and eventually they switched gears. The Generals began to ask about her visions, how she could see the future, how it could be prevented or changed. Ilyana in particular seemed interested in the latter.

The questions came in an unending stream for nearly an hour. Yet the promise was kept. Respect was shown, and when Yarl was curt or too short he was rebuked. The General's did exactly as they had promised.

"Now. Do you have any questions for us?"​

It was Ilyana who asked. They had been inside of the room for nearly Three Hours now. Talus still stood besides Zana, his face stern an impassive.

 

[Zana]

Zana wasn't sure what it was but Blackforge's comment put her at ease more than Aldwaith's. Perhaps it was the way the others rolled their eyes or the fact he was very much like an old Major she had once served under. Or maybe it was the fact he made the whole thing insignificant in the grander scheme of things. Either way the tension eased a little from her shoulders and she took a breath before the questions started.

She answered as truthfully as she could. The Patriarch was losing control to his son who was planning to take over, she told them about the alliance with the Rous and the attention currently on the Empire and Virak, she didn't know the exact number but she knew that Luana had Dreadlords in different Houses and in regiments dotted throughout the kingdom. It took the most time telling them about the other Houses, mentioning also the reason she had been buried in a house the day previously was down to a person or persons still unknown attempting to assassinate the Patriarch's of the Houses in Vel'Anir.

The questions about her visions made her look more tired but she answered them as best as she could. Touch being the best method, dreams, how pain helps hone the vision and make it clearer or more crisp. She neglected to mention the bit about Talus' bond somehow making them sharper and clearer or his ability to kick start them at times. She tried to explain as best as she could about how she knew which visions were "Set Moments" as she called them and others fluid, but it was difficult without showing them.

A few looked dubious and so she even gave them a demonstration. She predicted precisely the moment someone would knock and give Yarl a message about an Elvish scouting band attacking a small village and she gave the exact moment a bird would smash into the window.

Zana sat quietly for a few moments after she was asked if she had her own questions. Her eyes focused on a spot on the floor and emotions rolled back and forth across her green eyes turning them into a stormy tropical sea. After a while she looked up.

"What is your plan for the Dreadlords when you overthrow the Houses?"

 

[Talus]

Talus' hands tightened for a moment. The question was not one that he had thought of himself ever, but mostly because he had never little hope than any Dreadlord would survive the Overthrow of the Houses. Most of them were conditioned, taught to be little more than weapons.

Zana had been the same once, hell, even Talus had been the same once. It could be broken, but did they have enough time? Could they even do it? The very thought made him anxious.

"Kill them."​

It was Yarl who spoke, but all four of the others stared at him hard.

"They are too valuable for that."​

It was Jarun that spoke up.

"Without them Vel Anir couldn't ma-"

"They are people. Our people."​

It was Ilyana that spoke, unsurprisingly. Talus' gaze slowly moved towards her. Aldwaith and Blackforge had remained silent during the exchange, and both men were utterly unreadable as Ilyana continued to speak.

"I will admit that once upon a time I thought the same as Harkon. Killing you, all of you, seemed like the only way."​

She pursed her lips.

"An impossible task to be sure, but...it seemed the only way, that was of course until him."​

Ilyana turned her eye on Talus, meeting his gaze. With a soft smile on his face.

"One little fool made a decision, and it changed the course of things. We knew you had thoughts, feelings, emotions. We're not idiots, but we thought the leash too tight, that the Houses held you like a pack of Dogs. Yet here he was, making a choice that would change it all."​

She motioned to Talus.

"Ready. Loyal. Independent."​

Talus couldn't help but feel a slight spike of embarassment flow through him. Pretty much the only complements he had ever received were from Zana, and even when she made them his cheeks colored. Now? Now he was not sure what to say.

"Talus made me think that not all hope was lost, that the Children could be saved at least, that those not yet fully formed could still be trusted. The rest of you would still have had to die, and an impossible task became more likely..."​

Yarl was scowling, but the look in his eye was strange, almost...admiration for the way Ilyana spoke. Jarun was leaning back, watching the woman with an air of interest. It was clear he had not yet heard this opinion.

"Then he brought us you."​

Talus couldn't help but look at Zana.

"I was skeptical, like Yarl, I didn't trust you, but...the pieces you told them...Talus' faith in you...now this. If the Pride of Luana can turn. What's to stop others?"​

There was a sudden slammed fist on the table as Blackforge roared.

"Aye!"​

Yarl looked at Blackforge, clearly somewhat shocked by the outburst...or perhaps the answer.

"We know for certain half of what she said is true, doubt her future sight can tell her what we already knew and didn't."​

He glanced at Talus for a moment as if confirming, then turned back to Zana.

"She turned, he came to us, and all the other little magical bastards deserve a chance too. They're Anirians, aren't they? Broken little shits but...still Anirians."

"Eloquent as always, Varok."​

Jarun took a breath.

"Vel Anir cannot afford to lose the Dreadlords, even after the Houses are dealt with but...the decision must be theirs to make."​

Yarl scowled, clearly understanding that the conversation had slipped away from him. He quietly grumbled something about trust, about what Vel Anir needed, but surprisingly enough he did not speak up. Perhaps already knowing it would fall on deaf ears.

It was Aldwaith that had the last word, slowly look between Zana and Talus.

"I will not Kill any Anirian I don't have to. Nor will I suffer slaves, but I am no fool. Most Dreadlords would not...will not turn. Those that would stop us will have to die. There is no other way."​

He looked grim for a moment, glancing at Ilyana who was sitting besides him.

"As for afterwards? I am not one to take children from the arms of their parents. I am not one to beat and break another man, or woman. I am not one to take someone else's rights. As long as I have an ounce of power, the Dreadlords will have the same rights as any Anirian, but they will follow the same laws."​

 

[Zana]

The Pride of Luana. Turned.

Traitor.

The vision rolled over her like a thin sheen of sweat as the Generals spoke so that the two overlaid one another. There would be those who tried to kill her and spit on her when she brought them the news. There would be others who would look at her with hope for the first time in their lives but even they... even they would look at her with disgust.

He trusted you.

She blinked twice to clear the vision from her mind and ran a hand uncharacteristically through her hair unsettling the gentle waves and loose ringlets. They fell about her face when she dropped her hand back to her lap.

"You are right," she looked to Aldwaith. "They will not all turn but... some... more than you think will. They will become your greatest champions, artists, musicians, teachers," she had seen the possibilities; Jayne's gallery, Mikel in his dojo with tiny tots tumbling about his feet, Leona's first performance on a stage. Zana swallowed the lump in her throat and looked down at her hands. "I ... do not view myself as turning against them. I agreed to help you because Talus asked, one of my family asked, because that's what they are," her eyes flicked to the love of her life briefly and a faint smile traced its way across her face before she returned her gaze to the Generals.

"I just ask you give them the chance, that's all. And I ..." Zana took a breath. "Will take the lives of those who cannot. It is... it is better if it is me where that is possible," it wouldn't be as dangerous for one, but she owed it to them. It was her fault. She deserved to look into the eyes of every single man and woman who wouldn't come on board with the new world order when she removed them from it.