Private Tales Read between the lines

[Zana]

As they began to fall Zana felt her stomach leave her entirely and her initial scream turned into a squeal. It took every ounce of control not to reach for her own magic - to throw something in their way to break their fall and stop them becoming paste on the ground below. Instead she clung to the trust she had in him, her face still planted firmly against his chest and her eyes screwed shut as her breathing hitched. He wouldn't have jumped if he didn't think they would survive it, she told herself until she felt the subtle shift in the way they were moving. No longer falling but... gliding.

Slowly she glanced up and the air rushed out of her lungs as she saw the wings unfurl behind him. She would have likened them the most to a dragonflies but even that was... wrong.

"Oh my god," Zana went as if to touch one then decided against it, unsure of how it might disrupt their movement. Instead she cast her eyes down and over the forest. It was just as beautiful up here as it had been walking through the forests. She could vaguely make out a spot of grey fur winding his way over some smell or other. "This is amazing!"

 

[Talus]

He smirked as Zana yelled in delight, the forest of blue passing below them. Talus could see Grey through the trees, the slight wisp of smoke erupting from his path as he searched for the stick that had earlier been thrown.

Wings buckled slightly, and slowly they began to set down.

Maintaining this particular trick, especially while carrying someone else, was almost impossibly difficult. Talus could already feel himself tire. Bringing her here had been hard enough? Flying with her? He was ready to collapse.

Within just a few seconds they were back on the ground, Talus' wings slowly beginning to melt away the instant that he touched the ground. "Annnnd."

There was a sudden snap, and the reality returned. "There we are."

As soon as they did Grey seemed to jump back and bark loudly, the dog clearly having not expected Talus and Zana to just appear.

 

[Zana]

Zana was breathless from the exhilaration of the flight and part of her was loathe to touch down on the ground and end the experience. She ensured to keep a hold of his hand until he had whisked them back to the other world - the real world - but she did let go when Grey jumped and barked to crouch down and assure him they were friends. The wolf gave them a suspicious look but finally seemed to trust his nose and went to her to lick her face all over.

"That was incredible," her eyes raised to his even as she petted the wolf who was looking a lot calmer. She stood up in a swirl of deep orange skirts and took the stick and threw it for him again; all seemed forgiven. She fished around in her pockets and quietly handed him a small piece of chocolate - she had gotten into the habit of carrying something sweet wherever she went for if a bad vision took hold to help her with the after shock of energy drain.

"You didn't push too hard did you?" she cupped his face gently, searching his eyes for any sign they needed to turn back.

 

[Talus]

He gently kissed her lips. "Not too hard, no."

There was a tiredness to his eyes, but it wasn't like he was about to collapse onto the floor. His hand brushed over her cheek with a smile.

"I've never had someone else there with me for so long." Usually he grabbed someone and pulled them through a wall, touched them so a sword would pass through them. A few seconds at most. He and Zana had been there for a full five minutes. "That's all."

Talus assured her, gently letting his thumb stroke over her cheek.

 

[Zana]

She returned the kiss with a heavenly sigh. Would she ever get tired of that feeling? She doubted it. As his hand cupped her cheek and ran across her skin she nodded to his words, accepting them and trusting he would tell her if that were not the case. Even so she took his hands and guided him over to one of the trees and sat him down with a gentle but firm push before sitting opposite him.

"My turn," Zana wasn't going to push herself too hard given how tired she knew she was but beneath them silvery lines of energy took shape until it looked as though they were sitting on a rug which after a moment lifted up and floated them above the ground. Every little ripple of the wind could be felt beneath them as the magic carpet hovered, awaiting the next command. As they floated Zana created a small bubble around them and suddenly every noise, sound, and smell from the outside world was gone. If he were to touch it a purple light would admit from the point of touch, ripple round the sphere then disappear.

 

[Talus]

Trying his best not to be terrified of the idea of floating off the ground with no way of catching himself slowly looked around himself.

The bubble erupted around them, and the world went deaf. For some reason that made Talus marvel even more than floating. There was something to be said about being able to shield someone...the people that you cared about.

He had always wished his powers could defend instead of destroy.

Though it was not something he would whisper to Zana. "Amazing."

He truly thought so too. Talus had seen her destroy chairs and tables, but this was an entirely different side to her abilities. He took a step on the invisible platform, slowly looking around himself,

 

[Zana]

"It is a very interesting gift, it's taken me a while to work it out," she touched the bubble herself to make the little tendrils spread out from her touch around the rest of the orb before vanishing altogether again. She could see how she could improve upon it, push it further. But for now she was quite content with having a defensive gift as well as an offensive one. "For example," Zana's eyes flicked now to one of the trees under whose canopy they still floated and with her more destructive talent so broke one of the heavier branches that was directly above their heads. The thick wooden limb hit the bubble but nothing was felt inside. Again, the purple ripples spider webbed outwards from the point of impact but then there was a great cracking noise and the branch broke in two, falling either side and down to the ground below.

"I seem to be able to manipulate things inside it but outside too but I'm still working on that," she had discovered in the heats of the Empire for example, she could some how lower the temperature within the bubble or increase it.

 

[Talus]

Talus watched, shirking slightly as the tree limb smashed against the bubble. "Fascinating."

He said with genuine interest.

The magics of different Dreadlords had always been interesting to him. Some gifts were more powerful than others, but all had their uses. Talus had seen many even fourth levels become far more dangerous once they figured out how to properly utilize their magic in a given situation.

"Now..." Talus turned back to her, smirking. "Do you think you can use it to protect my furniture tonigh"

He closed the small distance between them on the invisible platform, not reaching out to touch her in case it would break her concentration. "Because I have plans."

The words were a low, sultry whisper.

 

[Zana]

A series of images flicked through her mind at his words and her cheeks coloured somewhat, a tense warmth spreading through her stomach. She had heard of the feeling termed butterflies before but this was like a warm liquid. She lowered them to the ground before her concentration broke. As their feet touched ground the bubble dispersed into a shimmering show of purple lights.

"You make my magic do things I.. I cannot control it," she wasn't sure if his question was a serious one or not but she did still feel bad about the table. She had also thought she had felt a sap of this energy magic spreading outwards from the cabin but the feeling had been lost very quickly in the very real passion he had been exerting in her.

"I've never felt so much emotion in one hit, not since the day my father died," when she had brought down nearly half a street in her grief. The Dreadlords had come the next day and she had been taught such emotions were bad ever since. She was beginning to suspect they were wrong and that it was the key to far more powerful magic.

 

[Talus]

He paused for a second, realized that his jest might have hit a nerve. Lips thinned, and he studied her, the look in her eyes. He the confusion there, the tiny hint of shame.

It hit him like a punch to the gut.

Talus didn't hesitate, he stepped forward one hand gently lacing around her waist while the other softly reached to her chin. He used his index and thumb to nudge her eyes to meet his. "I don't care if you destroy my entire cabin."

He said softly.

"I don't care about any of it." There was such assurance into his voice, such conviction, it was hard to doubt any word he said. "If this...if I make you lose control."

He paused. "Then I'll help you get it back."

Even if it meant his home would be destroyed in the process.

Talus had no idea how they could do it, if they even could, but he would do his very best.

"I want...I want you to feel safe." He said softly. From the outside. From Vel Anir. Even from herself. Talus wanted to be that for her.

 

[Zana]

His touch was like wildfire and she automatically took a step closer to him as his hand came about her waist so she could press herself close to him. Her eyes roved between his as he spoke and she couldn't help the smile that graced her lips at the sheer passion and conviction in his voice. It loosened the worry that had been creeping in to her heart and she slowly rocked onto her toes to give him a soft kiss of gratitude.

"Being with you is the first time I have ever felt safe, Talus," her words were as gentle as the touch on his cheek before she let her hand drop to rest on his shoulder, her fingers tracing patterns across the side of his neck.

"It would never hurt you, ever," that she knew with the upmost certainty and it resonated in her voice and on her face. "It's just not something we are taught as Dreadlords is it? To cope with emotions. It's always about suppressing them. It is just... a new challenge to learn and if it means I become more human and a little less like their puppet I have no problems with it."

 

[Talus]

He smiled. "Nor do I."

Talus said softly.

He could safely say that his own emotional training had been sorely lacking. The Guard had helped, but all of this with Zana had thrown him through an absolute loop. Half the time he found himself completely dumbstruck just staring at her and unable speak.

The other time he wasn't even really sure what he wanted to say.

All he knew was that at his core he wanted to be with her. He felt better when she was with him. Stronger in some way. Verbalizing that fact terrified him, even acknowledging it within himself seemed daunting. All because they had never been told about any of this.

"And." He began. "You don't have to do it alone."

She didn't have to do anything alone anymore.

 

[Zana]

A wicked glint flickered to life in the green pools of her eyes.

"You're just looking forward to the hours and hours of meticulous practise it's going to take," Zana sighed dramatically as her hands smoothed out across his shoulders and slid down to his chest. In truth though she was grateful for his words and they struck a deep note within her. She wanted to tell him how much it meant but she couldn't find the right words to express it so she thought it wise best to not say it at all.

Grey bundled into the pair of them suddenly, stick dropping at their feet once more before dashing off with an excited howl into the undergrowth.

"He's definitely happier out here," it was a lovely thing to see. "Maybe I will leave him with you," it would be the wolfs choice but she wouldn't force him to leave his new found freedom. Two of them didn't need to stay locked up in the cage.

 

[Talus]

Talus smirked. "Well I so have the perfect place for you to sit while you practice..."

The words trailed off as Grey came running, Talus leaning down and grabbing it.

He inspected the branch for a second, then reeled back his arm and threw it as far as he could. The wood tumbled end over end, rushing far off into the distance.

"Leave him here?" He echoed her. "Only if you're staying too."

Talus wasn't serious of course, if she wanted to give Grey the freedom of his cabin then he wouldn't say no. Yet the thought made his heart ache, for both of them. It didn't seem fair that She would have to part with her pet, even if it was for only short whiles.

 

[Zana]

Zana's whole face went a shade of red as her own mind finished the mental image he gave her. He really had dropped all of his walls when it came to being reserved in that department. She would be lying if it wasn't getting a reaction out of her from just the thought of it. Swallowing the lump in her throat and trying to ease the sudden spike in her heart rate she focused on his other words. Back to staying here. She didn't need to have visions to know that this was going to be a constant sore point for the pair of them every time they had to leave one another. She sighed and dipped her chin so that she could rest her head in the crook of his neck, her arms wrapping around his waist.

"Perhaps when I am working in the Guard too I can make some sort of argument for getting my own cabin out here..." even as she said it she didn't fully believe it. Luana would always want her closer to them for when she had her visions. But perhaps she could wrangle it. Maybe. Ashur seemed keen to keep her happy.

 

[Talus]

Talus smiled hopefully at her words, but he knew that it was easier said than done.

Though Luana was rich, they had a decided lack of interest in the countryside. It was so for many of the Houses save Pirian. That was why the Guard had so much land around Vel Anir itself, why he'd gotten the cabin. If Luana wanted some they could have it easily of course, but the problem was in the wanting.

A fact they both knew.

Still, it was a little spark of hope at least, and Talus would take it all the same. His arms lightly squeezed her. "You don't have to do it all."

He told her quietly.

"I can come to the city just as as easily." Talus was followed there, but unlike many Dreadlords that wasn't much of a problem for him. His magic allowed him to pass through walls. Losing a tail was easy.

He kissed the top of her head, running a hand soothingly through her hair.

 

[Zana]

His hand through her hair had her eyes drifting shut. It was therapeutic and comforting.

"I know," and it was not being alone that was the reason for all of this as well as why she wanted to fight for it. Why she was willing to risk the noose about her neck for it. Her hands slid down so that her thumbs hooked casually into the waistband of his breeches and ran gently around the rim with a feather light touch. "I just... loved this morning. Waking up here with you, sitting out on the bench in the peace and quiet," it was a touch of normality she had always watched from afar but had never been able to touch and have for herself. She pulled back a little, her eyes drifting around the forest with wonder on her face at every little thing. The dappled light, the wild flowers, the freedom of it all.

"And it is a lot more peaceful out here," as much as she loved the city and the ease of it all she was quickly falling in love with the forests too. "What's your favourite spot out here?"

 

[Talus]

Talus considered for a few moments. He had lived within this forest for months now. The freedom it had granted him was immense.

Miles upon miles of land stretched all around him, most of it entirely empty. There were rivers, ponds, glades, dozens of things to look at and experience. He looked down at her, smiling. "Now?"

Talus couldn't help himself.

"Wherever you happen to be." The words were painfully true. All the sights around them meant little to him when she was nearby. It was something she might have noticed this morning.

While she'd read Talus had not been watching the fields, not the forest or even Grey. His eyes had been on her most of the time. They had found a spark of happiness, and their surroundings did not matter all that much compared to that.

"Before?" He still wanted to answer her question, knowing what lay at it's heart. "I can show you, it's a little ways away."

Though not farther than they had already walked.

 

[Zana]

As she felt his head tilt down towards her she couldn't help looking up to catch his gaze. Zana narrowed her eyes into a suspicious squint at his words though her joy was clear from the way her lips strained to form a smile and the light caught and danced in her eyes. It was like a line from one of the books she enjoyed reading so much but it was the first time anyone she had wanted to use it on her had done so. There were always similar cheesy lines from men in taverns but they always backed down when they realised what she was.

Normal humans were scared of Dreadlords. Zana struggled to see it would be any other way even if she wanted it to be so.

"Show me," Zana echoed with a smile, her hands returning to his to allow him to guide her in the right way. She always found knowing where someone enjoyed to spend time the most told you a lot about their character and personality. In the past she had used such tactics as a way of hunting down a target. Today she wanted to use it as a way to know him better.

 

[Talus]

Talus and Zana walked for another few miles. It took them nearly half an hour and a small climb up the backside of a hill to reach where Talus wanted to go. Once they began to crest the Hill he reached up and wrapped his hand around hers.

Then they finally arrived.

It was a small hill, one that ended In a deep cliff side. Directly below the cliff lay an abandoned mine entrance, one that had been closed up seemingly centuries ago. Yet that was not the reason he had brought her here.

The reason lay within the distance. Across from them, twenty miles in the distance beyond open fields and patchy forests lay the city of Vel Anir in all its glory. High walls and tall towers stood out from the horizon, and good eyes could make out some of the larger banners streaming from the walls of the central Keep. The entire city was laid out for them, a distant jewel illuminated by the sun behind them.

"When I came here." He began softly. "I was reminded of what I was fighting for. Not the politics. Not the Houses or even the Guard, but the city."

The people. Those that made Vel About what it was.

Yet there was a pause to his words, and slowly he turned to Zana. "But now..."

His lips thinned in thought.

"Now every time I see you..." His fingers tightened on hers. "I think I may be fighting for us."

 

[Zana]

It felt good to just stretch her legs again after weeks of travelling. Despite being tired it invigorated her to get those muscles working and blood flowing in a decidedly different way to the night before. She practically skipped up the hill she was so excited to see what it was he had in store for her, tugging him behind her once his hand curled into hers. There was no respite from the sun up here but there was a cooler wind which balanced it out in the very least. Zana was certainly grateful for when it whipped the loose curls back from her face and off her heated neck and chest.

The sight before her made her breath catch. It was stunning to see the city in all its glory from afar. Living in it she often became blind to the impressive scale of it - it truly looked like a force to be reckoned with. Her eyes followed the pattern of a swarm of birds that were spiralling around the looming tower of the keep. It was easy to see what Talus meant when he spoke of the people and the city itself. From this far away it was... it was the heart of the city that mattered and that would always be the people.

Her face turned towards him as he continued on however. Her eyes widened but there was a mirroring understanding. Her other hand came over his and she pulled it to her lips to kiss across his knuckles with a faint shake of the head.

"For all of them so they can find this too. They all deserve to be this happy."

 

[Talus]

Talus nodded. "For all of them."

What more was there to say?

Dreadlords had been created as weapons. They were trained to fight, kill, and take whatever Vel Anir required. That had always been the way, that had been their purpose for nearly five hundred years.

Now though...perhaps now it was time for a new purpose.

Instead of a sword they could be a shield. Instead of weapons they could be guardians. Instead of striking fear...they could inspir.

The thought welled in Talus' chest, and he realized just how much he wanted it.

His eyes cast towards Zana, arm gently wrapping around the small of her back as they slowly sat themselves down in the grass and watched the city before them.

 

[Zana]

They sat like that for hours not saying much but idle things about this or that. Zana spoke a little more about the family she remembered from before the day the Dreadlord's came and of things she had seen she thought he might like in the Empire. Happy things. Spices and amusing street performers, humans who did tricks that were not real magic but that caused children to laugh. She didn't feel this was the place for anything negative. Over the course of time Grey had joined them and draped his head in Talus' lap and Zana rubbed at his ears.

"Have you ever thought about what you would do if you weren't a Dreadlord?" Zana asked after another period of quiet as she watched Grey's eyes flutter shut and his breathing quieten as he slipped into sleep. She had often thought about her life if she had never had magic but recently.... "I keep thinking when this is over, when we change things, whether I would stay a Dreadlord," it was an almost timid confession. She just wasn't sure if this was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

 

[Talus]

The sun was slowly starting to set now, it cast a cool orange light on the City ahead of them.

Her question came, and quietly he had to think about it. The last time someone had asked him he'd been unable to answer. Nothing had come to him, but since then he'd thought about it. "I think I would be a Captain..."

He smiled.

"A ship's Captain, or a sailor at least." Talus had come to like the idea over the last few months, remembering the journey to and from Coraliv. "My family is from Vel Luin, and I like the sea."

His smile did not go when she continued, in fact he wrapped his arm a bit tighter around her. "If you don't...that's okay."

He could understand the drive, the want of something else.

"When we get there." Talus told her softly. "You can be anything from a Homemaker to a Queen."

That was what they were fighting for. "Whatever it is, I'll be there."

 

[Zana]

The idea of sailing made her feel a little ill just thinking about it. She had spent enough time on the sea in the last month for a life time. But she could see him easily at the wheel of a ship with the wind in his air and joining in the friendly banter that sailors seemed to share. A faint smile ghosted across her face at the scene that played through her mind.

"Vel Luin is beautiful," she had passed through there several times over the years and it had always had a nice atmosphere. Not quite as imposing at the capital but busy and full of life. She had only ever heard stories of where her family were from; a city far to the West that was now a part of the Empire. She could only ever conjure pictures of harsh desert lands not the beauty they had described.

With the tightening of his arm around her waist she shifted herself even closer to him, her head leaning on his shoulder and a soft laugh escaping her.

"A homemaker?" she tilted her face towards him and raised a brow. "You want children?" In truth it had never been something she had thought about. "I think I would be a vet," she looked down at Grey. Something far away from dealing with people and the possibilities of seeing their futures.