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runicloreTitle: Lapis Rose [5/5]
Author: Amber Michelle
Rating: PG (at most).
Setting: The official IoM whatthefuckverse
Previous installments: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four.
Notes:
- "Yamato" is a historical name for Japan that was used in the Valkyrie Profile translation.
- "Chugoku" is the Japanese name for China.
- I chose Yule because, according to this site, "This is the most important of all the Norse holidays. . . . [Yule] signifies the beginning and end of all things; the darkest time (shortest hour of daylight) during the year and the brightest hope re-entering the world."
Early in the evening Raeger moved her ottoman over to the window to sit and watch the snow flutter down over the glittering domes of the city. The winter had been remarkably mild for Artolia, the snow sparse and overtaken mainly by rain and chill wind, and sometimes hail. Yule was nearly upon them before the familiar hint of snow finally hung on the air, like dust or smoke, and the sun hid its face behind a heavy bank of clouds that stretched beyond the cityscape to the horizon.
Bertha muttered that it was bad luck, the season being so out of whack, but the unseasonal dryness allowed the servants to clear the garden of the last debris before two weeks of their stay had passed. Until this night Raeger had enjoyed nighttime strolls among the evergreen boughs and bare branches of the walks. It was cold - too cold for her mother or sister to venture out, which was half the reason she liked it so much. Her furs kept away the worst of the chill, and it was often there that she had been able to talk to Judas during daylight hours, where she would not have the privacy otherwise.
How he managed to visit her during the day Raeger couldn't say. He kept to the shade, whenever there was sunlight to worry about, but he should not have been able to withstand the light. Her theory on his nature, which had made sense before, became uncertain.
Judas arrived later than usual the night before the first day of Yule celebration, long past the time her candle reached its mark. She had moved to the fire for warmth by then, but pulled a thick blanket from the cupboard once she served tea and settled nearer to him by the window to talk. He must have gone far this time to be away for more than a week, she'd commented, and he seemed amused that she noticed. But he had the grace to forget, and their conversation was about normal things - his journey, his stories, and her progress with hieroglyphs. It wasn't until she proved her effort at practicing that he settled back again.
"Storytellers in Yamato speak of an ancient land across the sea that they call 'Chugoku.'" Judas took a sip of his tea, but it seemed only to wet his lips. He sat comfortably in his usual chair by the window, as far from the fire as he could be without standing. "The gods and immortals dwell there, under the rule of the Yellow Emperor, who is said to be ultimately just and loving to his subjects. No one living today has been there. I would doubt its existence, but there are artifacts hidden in the ruins of the palace that are not of Yamato origin, and bear no resemblence to the works of this continent. Like," he said, holding his hand toward her, "This jade figurine. It appears to have been a pendant of some sort, but the chain was beyond saving when I found its resting place."
The pendant was cold to the touch when she cradled it in her palm. She had never seen anything quite like it. The color was milky and not quite translucent, carved in the likeness of what she thought was a dragon, though it was more sinuous than she was used to, more like a snake. Its scales were carved in the likeness of water, and its mane like flames.
"Did they have this in Egypt too?" She brushed her finger over the jade. "Sarah's eyes were the same color. Exactly. Would they inlay it in coffins, like the artifact you showed me?"
Judas smiled, and his eyes crinkled in a way they rarely did. "No, I don't think this was used in our burial rites. But it would be striking against gold wouldn't it?" He glanced into the fire and its reflection leaped in the pale of his eyes. "There was more of better value, but I did not want to dig too deeply. The Yamato build all of their structures with wood, and their buildings do not stand to the test of time."
"Why would their palace be in ruins?" she asked, holding the figurine by its flat edge, reluctant just yet to give it up. "Why would they leave valuable treasure?" Her mother wouldn't dream of such a thing; the family jewels would come first, Elise as much a part of that collection as the hierloom ruby ring or the sleek diamond pendant; she once said so. All else was secondary.
Her companion shifted his shoulders in a minute shrug and placed his teacup on the little round table beside the chair. "There was some commotion in the ranks, and I haven't gotten the straight of it from anyone yet. They're a close-mouthed lot, the Yamato. By appearances, the royal house was overthrown by a class of warriors, who are now dominant on the island. And I suppose they couldn't decide who to follow once their ringleader died, so now they're at war. The slave trade has profited greatly from this. They sell their prisoners of war when their terms aren't met, and the merfolk sell unlucky sailors who sink at sea, and poor families sell their children for morsels of bread when their villages are trampled down by the warriors. It isn't very different from what you know here."
Raeger looked down at the little dragon again, giving it one last turn before handing it back to its owner. "That's barbaric."
A corner of his mouth turned up, humorless. "Humans are barbaric."
Before she could stop herself, she retorted, "Are you speaking as one of our race, or from outside of it?"
"What do you think?"
She stared at him, searching his eyes for a hint of anger or amusement, or whatever he might show at such an impertinant question. They deflected her search like mirrors, until she looked away to the window simply to face something without the intelligence to look back. The snow still fell thickly, barely stirred by wind. It blotted out any hint of lights from the other dwellings in the city and gave the impression that she, behind her frosted panes of glass, was by herself in the darkness. Her face was twice as pale when she gazed at it, framed by a wan fall of gold hair. So unlike the fire of the princess, she thought. Jelanda would have lit the room like a lamp.
"You've doubted a long time, my lady," he said, when her silence stretched. "I'm surprised you are bold enough to ask."
Raeger glanced at him from the corner of her eye, sure her hair would conceal her action, but he looked directly at her. "I don't see why you wouldn't be-- human," she said, and picked at the embroidered eyelets on her skirt.
His smile appeared genuinely amused when he reached out to still her hand. "Really."
Though she wasn't in the habit of touching men to know the difference, his hand - his touch - was always just a little electric, like static shock, and she assumed it was different because he was so unlike anyone she had ever met. He allowed her to turn his hand over and run her fingers over his palm as she had with the jade dragon, and his skin was dry and delicate to the touch, and cool, like dusty silk left too long in a closet. There was no warmth to it at all, except for a flat golden band on his ring finger, carved with hieroglyphs she didn't understand. Only the word 'hail' made any sense to her, because every greeting he'd shown her began with that word. Her fingers lingered over the ring and she turned it to see the other letters, tugging it down, very aware of his gaze.
His hand snapped over her wrist before she pulled it over his knuckle, and he pulled her up with him so quickly she stumbled. "Now, my lady," he whispered in her ear, "if it's pretty rings you want, I have a bauble that will look prettier on your finger."
Raeger jerked back with a gasp, but he released her hand slowly. When he let it fall to her side, she wondered if that was what she wanted after all. Though she knew it would press her luck, she stammered, "W-what does it mean?"
"Nothing sensible," he said, pushing the ring back to its place. Maybe he would know better than she did, but Raeger didn't quite believe him. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I believe I should go. Good night my lady."
"Wait--" she stopped herself, and glanced at the candle on her nightstand. It had extinguished itself when they were talking; so it was later than she thought. When she looked back, he was gone.
How does he do that? She bit her lip. Judas's feelings were so hard to pin down, but she didn't think he'd been offended. There was no way to know without seeing it happen, but she suspected that offending him would have more unpleasant consequences.
Rubbing her arms through the quilt to banish a sudden chill, Raeger tried firmly to put thoughts of him from her mind and readied herself for bed. She had drawn the curtains closed and was snugly under the covers before the hieroglyphs came to mind again.
Chewing again at her lower lip, she braved the chill without her robe or slippers to dash to her writing desk and write down what she remembered. There were a few missing near the end, but maybe it would fall into place the way phrases in her own language did, when she read enough of a sentence to figure out the rest.
Raeger did sleep that night, but her dreams were restless. When morning came she shoved her notes into the drawer and locked it with a little golden key she wore around her neck with the lapis rose. She kept her practice sheets there, and the manuscripts he brought to help her learn. As far as she knew Bertha didn't venture into anything of hers that was private, so she thought it safe enough.
At breakfast she requested a carriage for a visit to the palace, so she could return a folio of music to Jelanda. She was scolded for using her highness's name so insolently, but her request was granted and she rushed from the house as soon as possible, as much to get away from her mother's sharp eye as anything. The hieroglyphs and the ring would not leave her mind, perhaps because they were the source of what she thought was an annoyance to him, and perhaps a reason he might not be back to visit. Not for a while at least - he always seemed to come back, no matter how long the wait.
Copies of all scholarly essays and research reports were filed in the palace library, as far as Raeger knew. One governess or another had bestowed that little detail upon her, and she remembered it now, just when she needed it. There weren't many expiditions into Egypt from her own kingdom, but there were a few now and then, when the wars with Villnore and Crell Monferaigne let up enough for money to be spent on peaceful pursuits. There had been attempts to translate the inscriptions on the stone walls of the abandoned temples and palaces along the Nile. She had a book of such works, well worn and loved. It was her hope to find more; a translation key, a side-by-side comparison, anything that would allow her to figure it out on her own with a little bit of study.
Going was slow with the street covered in snow. Raeger was nearly frozen by the time she arrived, and had to spend a little while recovering in one of the sitting rooms before she could go about her business. The folio of music was left with Jelanda's handmaid - the princess herself would not rise until at least after noon - and Raeger left with a slimmer folder, another piece Jelanda wanted her to learn before her next visit. She asked another servant for escort to the library.
Elise would barely speak to her now. It seemed she was a favorite of Jelanda's before, and felt abandoned now that the princess was so interested in someone who could be useful to her. A few of the other girls had become friendlier too, sensing this shift in advantage, but Raeger thought it little enough repayment for the constant glares she had to endure from her sister whenever she ventured downstairs to practice, or sat at the table to eat. The petty grudge wasn't intimidating, but it was tiring. She was surprised Elise hadn't insisted on accompanying her, on the slim chance that Jelanda would be willing to see them so early.
Raeger thanked the servant when they reached the library's heavy wooden doors, and took a deep breath before entering. The smallest sound echoed in the marble hallways, and when she entered a cavernous hall greeted her, dimly lit from above by windows frosted over with snow, and lamps lit at intervals. Their light was misty, blurred by an ever-present pall of dust. She pushed the door closed carefully, and announced her presence instead with a sneeze.
Face burning, she moved away from the door to search for an attendant, or someone who could direct her to what she wanted.
She was wandering for only a few minutes before a voice piped up softly behind her, "May I help you, miss?"
Raeger turned. "Yes, I--" The words jumbled in her throat.
Yamato natives were rare in Artolia. There was one restraunt, and a small neighborhood of them in the general vicinity, which was well-known among the better classes as a questionable part of town. This one was dressed in grey palace livery, and her hair was pulled up and twisted, held to her head with a plan white stick. She bowed in Yamato-style, and said, eyes taking in the necklace at her throat and the fine material of her dress, "What are you looking for, my lady? Perhaps I can help."
No accent, so she must have been born in Artolia. Raeger's shoulders relaxed, and she reached up to clasp the rose. It should have been hidden beneath her dress. "Research reports and travelogues on Amenti. Any will do, as long as they're not in a different language."
The girl smiled. "Third level." She pointed, and Raeger looked up.
Like the throne room, the library stretched to the roof of the palace. Though there were different floors, they all opened wide at the center so the glass dome at the top could shed light to every level. It was the sort of architectural statement that Raeger thought looked very nice on paper, and not at all reassuring in reality. "Um..."
"I'll show you." The girl waited for her to follow and then guided her to the appropriate section, smiling the whole time. Raeger thanked her and shooed her away with assurances that she could do well enough without help now that she knew where she was, and then turned to the shelves.
The section dedicated to Amenti was close to the floor, so at least she didn't have to climb up one of the spindly ladders to a higher shelf. They didn't look at all secure. It took the rest of her afternoon to find what she wanted. When she got home, the folio tucked securely under her cloak, she was welcomed by a snappish remark from her mother and a glare from Elise, who was sitting by the fireplace attempting to practice her embroidery. A glance told Raeger that she wasn't getting any better. That deficiency seemed to run in the family.
Raeger made her excuses - she got lost, she got distracted, she was detained for this or that reason - because they would be expected of her, and managed to reach her room with a minimum of fuss, though she was sure the subject would come back to haunt her at dinner. Practicing at the harpsicord would be hopeless.
Instead she set the music on a shelf and unlocked her drawer to retrieve the notes she wrote the night before. Judas never approached her before dinner for fear of being discovered, so there was time to examine the hieroglyphs.
Unfortunately, there were over a hundred to compare in the folio she brought home, and she had to look back and forth between each new letter just to remember the shapes. She made only a little progress before dinner, and locked it away before she left the room. When she returned it was too late, and she didn't want to risk discovery, so she sat by the window to watch the stars, and waited.
But Judas didn't come that night, and she awoke chilled the next morning with a terrible cramp in her neck. Bertha tried to massage it out, scolding her all the while for doing something senseless like sleeping by the window, where she might catch a chill. Her attention was only partly successful, and Raeger had a headache for the rest of the day. Attempts to practice Jelanda's music and translate Judas's hieroglyphs met with no success, and she ended her day early.
Again, Judas didn't visit. Days passed without his presence, and Raeger began to wonder if perhaps she had offended him with her question. She tried not to think about it, pouring her attention instead into music and her efforts at translation. It was clear after their months in the capitol at Jelanda's caprice that she was getting better at playing, and might even do well for herself if asked to entertain during any of the holiday parties. The princess hinted at something to that effect, though she said nothing else.
'Hail, Living One. Abide thee--' was the result of her translation effort, and she was fairly sure it was accurate, if only because she spent so many hours checking and double-checking both the letters and her interpretation of the grammar. Language was not Raeger's strong point. That she managed that by herself was something of a miracle in her opinion. She locked it away and resolved to catch a glimpse of the rest of the engraving if she could.
Artolia palace was alight with parties all week, but Raeger and her family were only invited to the last one - the grandest, by far, and prestigious enough that even her mother couldn't complain. Bertha laid out a heavy silk gown in lavender that reminded her of the wisteria blooms at home, along with matching slippers and pale lace gloves. The petticoats alone were heavy enough to make moving an effort. She would be warm, then, wherever her mother decided to lead her.
When her hair was done to satisfaction - curled and clasped loosely with silver combs - she bundled up in her fur-lined cloak and let herself be herded into the carriage with her mother and sister. Bertha came along to keep an eye on Elise, who remained popular despite the imagined slights she said she suffered from her clumsy older sister. Raeger tried to keep a smile on her face, and stared out the window for the entire trip. The cold air left her cheeks rosy, which was just as well.
Raeger sat at the keys so the princess could impress and amuse her guests with song; she found herself asked no few times to dance, by faces she barely knew, and accepted only because she didn't know how to refuse when they were already leading her to the dance floor. Perhaps it was her association with Jelanda that drew their eyes, or maybe lavender suited her complexion. What they wanted wasn't quite clear to her, but she was positive she wasn't interested. At the very least she was promised to someone else; that day, her wedding day, was soon enough that she didn't want to risk anything odd being said of her. She was glad Lawfer wasn't there, though he likely would have deflected some of their attention. Weddings were the talk of any party, and she found herself drawn into conversations several times on that very topic.
Eventually a moment came when her mother's sharp gaze was elsewhere, and it seemed the number of potential dancing partners had dwindled, at least for her; the novelty wore off, perhaps. Raeger seized her chance to flee and tried to hurry from the ballroom without seeming hasty, as that would simply draw more attention to her.
There was a deserted sitting room at the end of the corridor. The fire burned low when she entered, and the decanter of cordial was already empty, likely the reason the room wasn't occupied. She moved immediately to the divan and arranged herself carefully so it wouldn't wrinkle her dress, then folded her arms on the back and stared into the fire.
At least, she thought, Lawfer agreed with her on one point: the passtimes of the nobility were better left to other people. He'd been quite frank on his preferences in the realm of socializing and entertainment, mostly because it would mean money that his family did not want to spare. Only her mother would be disappointed about that, or maybe relieved that her daughter wouldn't be able to foul up her position on society. She didn't blame him for staying with his troops. They said winter was hard up near the northern border. Staying with them was a kind-hearted move on his part.
Though Raeger could appreciate that, it was still difficult to summon anything but apathy for the day they would be joined. Lawfer was anchored to Artolia, and a woman could not leave, except in the company of her husband or other family. What of her dreams to see Marie and Flenceburg, to visit Sarah and see for herself that steel corsets were real, and not just something Sarah told her to inspire horrified giggles?
What of Louise, and the acres of fields around her manor that she promised to visit, so they could sing and weave garlands of flowers?
Raeger closed her eyes and rested her head on her arms. The room was dim. It would be easy to fall asleep, though she was reluctant to try when so many people were still about. The celebration was still in full swing, and it was almost midnight. The music started again, muffled through the walls and intervening space.
A sharp fragrance drifted past her nose, one she knew, and Raeger started up. Mere shadow met her gaze when she searched, no matter how hard she tried to find his elegant form within it. She settled down on the cushions again and breathed deeply to calm her heart.
Of course he wouldn't be there. Whatever he might be, human or otherwise, it would be dangerous to approach her in the palace. The buildings were surely protected by wards, and there was always Lombert to worry about, darkening whatever corner of the room he chose to occupy. She was glad he hadn't shown up for the party. The few times she met him in Jelanda's chambers were enough.
When she was sufficiently calmed, Raeger left her sanctuary to seek a servant to fetch her cloak. Her mother loved the society of the capitol, and would probably stay as late as was fashionable, which meant she wouldn't notice if her daughter borrowed the carriage long enough to go home. The footman obeyed her order without protest, and Raeger breathed a sigh of relief when they left the palace grounds.
The house was quiet without her family and Bertha there to keep it lively. The chambermaid greeted her with a yawn and said, "The seamstress brought your wedding gown at dusk, miss," before retreating to the kitchen, and Raeger felt her stomach sink with each step up to her room.
As far as dresses went, it was the most beautiful she had ever seen. The lace, the embroidery, the tiny seed pearls sewn to the bodice and the elaborate neckline, the diamonds somehow attached to the veil. The satin gleamed pale and ghostly, tinged with pink in the firelight.
Raeger made herself gather it in her arms and take it behind the screen to change. She couldn't manage the veil; it was meant for an elaborate hairstyle that she wasn't wearing at the moment. There were three rows of buttons, of which she could only complete one. It was enough. She moved carefully across the room to her mirror, giving wide berth to the fire.
White had never been her color. She was too pale for it, when it was laid out in such profusion, such gleaming richness that it outshined her hair and made her skin seem darker than it really was. Make up might have made it a better picture, but the only bit of color in her reflection was the lapis rose on its thin gold chain.
Cool fingers closed over her shoulders, and Raeger gasped, going rigid. The familiar hint of frankincense told her who it was; the mirror only reflected her own face, pale, her eyes large and feverish. It showed her sleeves crinkling, but no hands to cause it.
"I apologize for startling you, my lady." His voice was directly over her ear, no more than a whisper. It made her shiver. "I thought it best to answer your question in a manner that left no others."
Raeger caught her breath with difficulty. She pulled away and turned around to face him, so she wouldn't have to speak to an empty reflection. "You've-- been gone..."
"Yes." He paced to the fire, and then looked back at her. "Making preparations, if you will. I see you have as well."
She glanced at her dress, then away to the desk. "I'm... not sure I like it."
His gaze was heavy; she thought it would know her thoughts, if she lifed her head to look. "Nor do I."
Something in her chest fluttered, and she had to take another deep breath to steady herself. She felt a little dizzy. "Why not?"
"Do you want this, my lady? Are you looking forward to this marriage?" She started to shake her head, then stopped herself. But he was already moving on. "Of course not. I can feel it. And yet you walk willingly into bondage, when you could be free. So many of you could be free, if you would only seize the chance."
"Free?" It came out nearly a shout. "How? Where else can I walk? What other paths are there? I'm not a man, I can't come and go as I please and do what I want. I can't make a living for myself. Where is this choice you've been saying I have?"
"Say the word," he replied softly.
She drew back, her hand instinctively clasping the lapis rose.
The fire limned him with light that seemed unearthly, now that her suspicions were confirmed. With his back to it, his face was left in shadow, but she still clearly saw the arch of his eyebrow. "I am cursed my lady, but not by my own hand. Like you I did not have a choice in my fate - and like you, I had to abandon everything I knew to pursue my chance for freedom."
His eyes were still bright despite the shadow over his face, and they anchored her gaze when it would have wandered aimlessly for a place to rest. She couldn't make herself say no, or tell him to get out as she should have done before. Either would have been sensible. "Why-- is that what you want me to do?"
"You may do what you wish, my lady. I will not force an answer from you."
"But--" Her mouth felt suddenly dry. "You're-- how do I know you won't--"
"I have been honorable thus far, have I not?" Judas spread his hands. "I would not seek permission, if I wished to make you my victim."
There was no sense to be made from the situation, but that statement felt, ludicrously, as if it made the most sense of all. "But why? Why me?"
He approached slowly, and she backed away only a step before deciding to stand her ground. When he took her hands in his, she couldn't keep them from trembling just a little. "Like a star, you shine so brightly that I can't help but see you, no matter which way I turn. But your fire will be extinguished in this place. Suffocated."
There was commotion downstairs; the sound of the carriage outside, followed by the opening and slamming of doors, and the loud voices of her mother and sister. She caught her name amid the din, and bit her lip. So mother had come home early after all, probably because of her.
"Come with me, and I will give you what freedom I can. I will show you the lengths of the world, if you desire." His gaze sharpened, and the color of his eyes deepened with some mood. The fire was there, though his back was to it. "And I will not push upon you the demands of marriage. Make this choice free of expectation."
Raeger's mother called her name, she reacted instinctively, hiding her face against his chest and clasping his hands tightly. The words of refusal were on her lips until they thinned and disappeared. Footsteps sounded up the stairs and he reacted quickly, freeing his hands to throw one arm around her waist, and the other to cast a spell. The words were sinuous and foreign, and she recognized them this time as the language of Lorien. The slithered into the silence and the air grew cold, as if the window opened to admit the winter chill.
He clasped her hand over his heart that lay in bitter stillness and his final words made her room, her mother's voice, and everything she had ever known melt away into darkness. She gave a cry, lifting her head, but it was already done.
Judas's earrings, and the pendant hanging from his neck, glowed in soft, cold blue. Only the ring on his finger was warm, and she saw at last the final letter, one she remembered from her study, though it afforded her no comfort.
Hail, Living One. Abide thee in darkness.
* * *
There is implication, of course, that she may or may not regret this later. That depends on further storytelling to decide. =D
Why am I not asleep? Notes forthcoming, because I really, really need to go to bed. >_>;
Author: Amber Michelle
Rating: PG (at most).
Setting: The official IoM whatthefuckverse
Previous installments: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four.
Notes:
- "Yamato" is a historical name for Japan that was used in the Valkyrie Profile translation.
- "Chugoku" is the Japanese name for China.
- I chose Yule because, according to this site, "This is the most important of all the Norse holidays. . . . [Yule] signifies the beginning and end of all things; the darkest time (shortest hour of daylight) during the year and the brightest hope re-entering the world."
Early in the evening Raeger moved her ottoman over to the window to sit and watch the snow flutter down over the glittering domes of the city. The winter had been remarkably mild for Artolia, the snow sparse and overtaken mainly by rain and chill wind, and sometimes hail. Yule was nearly upon them before the familiar hint of snow finally hung on the air, like dust or smoke, and the sun hid its face behind a heavy bank of clouds that stretched beyond the cityscape to the horizon.
Bertha muttered that it was bad luck, the season being so out of whack, but the unseasonal dryness allowed the servants to clear the garden of the last debris before two weeks of their stay had passed. Until this night Raeger had enjoyed nighttime strolls among the evergreen boughs and bare branches of the walks. It was cold - too cold for her mother or sister to venture out, which was half the reason she liked it so much. Her furs kept away the worst of the chill, and it was often there that she had been able to talk to Judas during daylight hours, where she would not have the privacy otherwise.
How he managed to visit her during the day Raeger couldn't say. He kept to the shade, whenever there was sunlight to worry about, but he should not have been able to withstand the light. Her theory on his nature, which had made sense before, became uncertain.
Judas arrived later than usual the night before the first day of Yule celebration, long past the time her candle reached its mark. She had moved to the fire for warmth by then, but pulled a thick blanket from the cupboard once she served tea and settled nearer to him by the window to talk. He must have gone far this time to be away for more than a week, she'd commented, and he seemed amused that she noticed. But he had the grace to forget, and their conversation was about normal things - his journey, his stories, and her progress with hieroglyphs. It wasn't until she proved her effort at practicing that he settled back again.
"Storytellers in Yamato speak of an ancient land across the sea that they call 'Chugoku.'" Judas took a sip of his tea, but it seemed only to wet his lips. He sat comfortably in his usual chair by the window, as far from the fire as he could be without standing. "The gods and immortals dwell there, under the rule of the Yellow Emperor, who is said to be ultimately just and loving to his subjects. No one living today has been there. I would doubt its existence, but there are artifacts hidden in the ruins of the palace that are not of Yamato origin, and bear no resemblence to the works of this continent. Like," he said, holding his hand toward her, "This jade figurine. It appears to have been a pendant of some sort, but the chain was beyond saving when I found its resting place."
The pendant was cold to the touch when she cradled it in her palm. She had never seen anything quite like it. The color was milky and not quite translucent, carved in the likeness of what she thought was a dragon, though it was more sinuous than she was used to, more like a snake. Its scales were carved in the likeness of water, and its mane like flames.
"Did they have this in Egypt too?" She brushed her finger over the jade. "Sarah's eyes were the same color. Exactly. Would they inlay it in coffins, like the artifact you showed me?"
Judas smiled, and his eyes crinkled in a way they rarely did. "No, I don't think this was used in our burial rites. But it would be striking against gold wouldn't it?" He glanced into the fire and its reflection leaped in the pale of his eyes. "There was more of better value, but I did not want to dig too deeply. The Yamato build all of their structures with wood, and their buildings do not stand to the test of time."
"Why would their palace be in ruins?" she asked, holding the figurine by its flat edge, reluctant just yet to give it up. "Why would they leave valuable treasure?" Her mother wouldn't dream of such a thing; the family jewels would come first, Elise as much a part of that collection as the hierloom ruby ring or the sleek diamond pendant; she once said so. All else was secondary.
Her companion shifted his shoulders in a minute shrug and placed his teacup on the little round table beside the chair. "There was some commotion in the ranks, and I haven't gotten the straight of it from anyone yet. They're a close-mouthed lot, the Yamato. By appearances, the royal house was overthrown by a class of warriors, who are now dominant on the island. And I suppose they couldn't decide who to follow once their ringleader died, so now they're at war. The slave trade has profited greatly from this. They sell their prisoners of war when their terms aren't met, and the merfolk sell unlucky sailors who sink at sea, and poor families sell their children for morsels of bread when their villages are trampled down by the warriors. It isn't very different from what you know here."
Raeger looked down at the little dragon again, giving it one last turn before handing it back to its owner. "That's barbaric."
A corner of his mouth turned up, humorless. "Humans are barbaric."
Before she could stop herself, she retorted, "Are you speaking as one of our race, or from outside of it?"
"What do you think?"
She stared at him, searching his eyes for a hint of anger or amusement, or whatever he might show at such an impertinant question. They deflected her search like mirrors, until she looked away to the window simply to face something without the intelligence to look back. The snow still fell thickly, barely stirred by wind. It blotted out any hint of lights from the other dwellings in the city and gave the impression that she, behind her frosted panes of glass, was by herself in the darkness. Her face was twice as pale when she gazed at it, framed by a wan fall of gold hair. So unlike the fire of the princess, she thought. Jelanda would have lit the room like a lamp.
"You've doubted a long time, my lady," he said, when her silence stretched. "I'm surprised you are bold enough to ask."
Raeger glanced at him from the corner of her eye, sure her hair would conceal her action, but he looked directly at her. "I don't see why you wouldn't be-- human," she said, and picked at the embroidered eyelets on her skirt.
His smile appeared genuinely amused when he reached out to still her hand. "Really."
Though she wasn't in the habit of touching men to know the difference, his hand - his touch - was always just a little electric, like static shock, and she assumed it was different because he was so unlike anyone she had ever met. He allowed her to turn his hand over and run her fingers over his palm as she had with the jade dragon, and his skin was dry and delicate to the touch, and cool, like dusty silk left too long in a closet. There was no warmth to it at all, except for a flat golden band on his ring finger, carved with hieroglyphs she didn't understand. Only the word 'hail' made any sense to her, because every greeting he'd shown her began with that word. Her fingers lingered over the ring and she turned it to see the other letters, tugging it down, very aware of his gaze.
His hand snapped over her wrist before she pulled it over his knuckle, and he pulled her up with him so quickly she stumbled. "Now, my lady," he whispered in her ear, "if it's pretty rings you want, I have a bauble that will look prettier on your finger."
Raeger jerked back with a gasp, but he released her hand slowly. When he let it fall to her side, she wondered if that was what she wanted after all. Though she knew it would press her luck, she stammered, "W-what does it mean?"
"Nothing sensible," he said, pushing the ring back to its place. Maybe he would know better than she did, but Raeger didn't quite believe him. He raised an eyebrow at her. "I believe I should go. Good night my lady."
"Wait--" she stopped herself, and glanced at the candle on her nightstand. It had extinguished itself when they were talking; so it was later than she thought. When she looked back, he was gone.
How does he do that? She bit her lip. Judas's feelings were so hard to pin down, but she didn't think he'd been offended. There was no way to know without seeing it happen, but she suspected that offending him would have more unpleasant consequences.
Rubbing her arms through the quilt to banish a sudden chill, Raeger tried firmly to put thoughts of him from her mind and readied herself for bed. She had drawn the curtains closed and was snugly under the covers before the hieroglyphs came to mind again.
Chewing again at her lower lip, she braved the chill without her robe or slippers to dash to her writing desk and write down what she remembered. There were a few missing near the end, but maybe it would fall into place the way phrases in her own language did, when she read enough of a sentence to figure out the rest.
Raeger did sleep that night, but her dreams were restless. When morning came she shoved her notes into the drawer and locked it with a little golden key she wore around her neck with the lapis rose. She kept her practice sheets there, and the manuscripts he brought to help her learn. As far as she knew Bertha didn't venture into anything of hers that was private, so she thought it safe enough.
At breakfast she requested a carriage for a visit to the palace, so she could return a folio of music to Jelanda. She was scolded for using her highness's name so insolently, but her request was granted and she rushed from the house as soon as possible, as much to get away from her mother's sharp eye as anything. The hieroglyphs and the ring would not leave her mind, perhaps because they were the source of what she thought was an annoyance to him, and perhaps a reason he might not be back to visit. Not for a while at least - he always seemed to come back, no matter how long the wait.
Copies of all scholarly essays and research reports were filed in the palace library, as far as Raeger knew. One governess or another had bestowed that little detail upon her, and she remembered it now, just when she needed it. There weren't many expiditions into Egypt from her own kingdom, but there were a few now and then, when the wars with Villnore and Crell Monferaigne let up enough for money to be spent on peaceful pursuits. There had been attempts to translate the inscriptions on the stone walls of the abandoned temples and palaces along the Nile. She had a book of such works, well worn and loved. It was her hope to find more; a translation key, a side-by-side comparison, anything that would allow her to figure it out on her own with a little bit of study.
Going was slow with the street covered in snow. Raeger was nearly frozen by the time she arrived, and had to spend a little while recovering in one of the sitting rooms before she could go about her business. The folio of music was left with Jelanda's handmaid - the princess herself would not rise until at least after noon - and Raeger left with a slimmer folder, another piece Jelanda wanted her to learn before her next visit. She asked another servant for escort to the library.
Elise would barely speak to her now. It seemed she was a favorite of Jelanda's before, and felt abandoned now that the princess was so interested in someone who could be useful to her. A few of the other girls had become friendlier too, sensing this shift in advantage, but Raeger thought it little enough repayment for the constant glares she had to endure from her sister whenever she ventured downstairs to practice, or sat at the table to eat. The petty grudge wasn't intimidating, but it was tiring. She was surprised Elise hadn't insisted on accompanying her, on the slim chance that Jelanda would be willing to see them so early.
Raeger thanked the servant when they reached the library's heavy wooden doors, and took a deep breath before entering. The smallest sound echoed in the marble hallways, and when she entered a cavernous hall greeted her, dimly lit from above by windows frosted over with snow, and lamps lit at intervals. Their light was misty, blurred by an ever-present pall of dust. She pushed the door closed carefully, and announced her presence instead with a sneeze.
Face burning, she moved away from the door to search for an attendant, or someone who could direct her to what she wanted.
She was wandering for only a few minutes before a voice piped up softly behind her, "May I help you, miss?"
Raeger turned. "Yes, I--" The words jumbled in her throat.
Yamato natives were rare in Artolia. There was one restraunt, and a small neighborhood of them in the general vicinity, which was well-known among the better classes as a questionable part of town. This one was dressed in grey palace livery, and her hair was pulled up and twisted, held to her head with a plan white stick. She bowed in Yamato-style, and said, eyes taking in the necklace at her throat and the fine material of her dress, "What are you looking for, my lady? Perhaps I can help."
No accent, so she must have been born in Artolia. Raeger's shoulders relaxed, and she reached up to clasp the rose. It should have been hidden beneath her dress. "Research reports and travelogues on Amenti. Any will do, as long as they're not in a different language."
The girl smiled. "Third level." She pointed, and Raeger looked up.
Like the throne room, the library stretched to the roof of the palace. Though there were different floors, they all opened wide at the center so the glass dome at the top could shed light to every level. It was the sort of architectural statement that Raeger thought looked very nice on paper, and not at all reassuring in reality. "Um..."
"I'll show you." The girl waited for her to follow and then guided her to the appropriate section, smiling the whole time. Raeger thanked her and shooed her away with assurances that she could do well enough without help now that she knew where she was, and then turned to the shelves.
The section dedicated to Amenti was close to the floor, so at least she didn't have to climb up one of the spindly ladders to a higher shelf. They didn't look at all secure. It took the rest of her afternoon to find what she wanted. When she got home, the folio tucked securely under her cloak, she was welcomed by a snappish remark from her mother and a glare from Elise, who was sitting by the fireplace attempting to practice her embroidery. A glance told Raeger that she wasn't getting any better. That deficiency seemed to run in the family.
Raeger made her excuses - she got lost, she got distracted, she was detained for this or that reason - because they would be expected of her, and managed to reach her room with a minimum of fuss, though she was sure the subject would come back to haunt her at dinner. Practicing at the harpsicord would be hopeless.
Instead she set the music on a shelf and unlocked her drawer to retrieve the notes she wrote the night before. Judas never approached her before dinner for fear of being discovered, so there was time to examine the hieroglyphs.
Unfortunately, there were over a hundred to compare in the folio she brought home, and she had to look back and forth between each new letter just to remember the shapes. She made only a little progress before dinner, and locked it away before she left the room. When she returned it was too late, and she didn't want to risk discovery, so she sat by the window to watch the stars, and waited.
But Judas didn't come that night, and she awoke chilled the next morning with a terrible cramp in her neck. Bertha tried to massage it out, scolding her all the while for doing something senseless like sleeping by the window, where she might catch a chill. Her attention was only partly successful, and Raeger had a headache for the rest of the day. Attempts to practice Jelanda's music and translate Judas's hieroglyphs met with no success, and she ended her day early.
Again, Judas didn't visit. Days passed without his presence, and Raeger began to wonder if perhaps she had offended him with her question. She tried not to think about it, pouring her attention instead into music and her efforts at translation. It was clear after their months in the capitol at Jelanda's caprice that she was getting better at playing, and might even do well for herself if asked to entertain during any of the holiday parties. The princess hinted at something to that effect, though she said nothing else.
'Hail, Living One. Abide thee--' was the result of her translation effort, and she was fairly sure it was accurate, if only because she spent so many hours checking and double-checking both the letters and her interpretation of the grammar. Language was not Raeger's strong point. That she managed that by herself was something of a miracle in her opinion. She locked it away and resolved to catch a glimpse of the rest of the engraving if she could.
Artolia palace was alight with parties all week, but Raeger and her family were only invited to the last one - the grandest, by far, and prestigious enough that even her mother couldn't complain. Bertha laid out a heavy silk gown in lavender that reminded her of the wisteria blooms at home, along with matching slippers and pale lace gloves. The petticoats alone were heavy enough to make moving an effort. She would be warm, then, wherever her mother decided to lead her.
When her hair was done to satisfaction - curled and clasped loosely with silver combs - she bundled up in her fur-lined cloak and let herself be herded into the carriage with her mother and sister. Bertha came along to keep an eye on Elise, who remained popular despite the imagined slights she said she suffered from her clumsy older sister. Raeger tried to keep a smile on her face, and stared out the window for the entire trip. The cold air left her cheeks rosy, which was just as well.
Raeger sat at the keys so the princess could impress and amuse her guests with song; she found herself asked no few times to dance, by faces she barely knew, and accepted only because she didn't know how to refuse when they were already leading her to the dance floor. Perhaps it was her association with Jelanda that drew their eyes, or maybe lavender suited her complexion. What they wanted wasn't quite clear to her, but she was positive she wasn't interested. At the very least she was promised to someone else; that day, her wedding day, was soon enough that she didn't want to risk anything odd being said of her. She was glad Lawfer wasn't there, though he likely would have deflected some of their attention. Weddings were the talk of any party, and she found herself drawn into conversations several times on that very topic.
Eventually a moment came when her mother's sharp gaze was elsewhere, and it seemed the number of potential dancing partners had dwindled, at least for her; the novelty wore off, perhaps. Raeger seized her chance to flee and tried to hurry from the ballroom without seeming hasty, as that would simply draw more attention to her.
There was a deserted sitting room at the end of the corridor. The fire burned low when she entered, and the decanter of cordial was already empty, likely the reason the room wasn't occupied. She moved immediately to the divan and arranged herself carefully so it wouldn't wrinkle her dress, then folded her arms on the back and stared into the fire.
At least, she thought, Lawfer agreed with her on one point: the passtimes of the nobility were better left to other people. He'd been quite frank on his preferences in the realm of socializing and entertainment, mostly because it would mean money that his family did not want to spare. Only her mother would be disappointed about that, or maybe relieved that her daughter wouldn't be able to foul up her position on society. She didn't blame him for staying with his troops. They said winter was hard up near the northern border. Staying with them was a kind-hearted move on his part.
Though Raeger could appreciate that, it was still difficult to summon anything but apathy for the day they would be joined. Lawfer was anchored to Artolia, and a woman could not leave, except in the company of her husband or other family. What of her dreams to see Marie and Flenceburg, to visit Sarah and see for herself that steel corsets were real, and not just something Sarah told her to inspire horrified giggles?
What of Louise, and the acres of fields around her manor that she promised to visit, so they could sing and weave garlands of flowers?
Raeger closed her eyes and rested her head on her arms. The room was dim. It would be easy to fall asleep, though she was reluctant to try when so many people were still about. The celebration was still in full swing, and it was almost midnight. The music started again, muffled through the walls and intervening space.
A sharp fragrance drifted past her nose, one she knew, and Raeger started up. Mere shadow met her gaze when she searched, no matter how hard she tried to find his elegant form within it. She settled down on the cushions again and breathed deeply to calm her heart.
Of course he wouldn't be there. Whatever he might be, human or otherwise, it would be dangerous to approach her in the palace. The buildings were surely protected by wards, and there was always Lombert to worry about, darkening whatever corner of the room he chose to occupy. She was glad he hadn't shown up for the party. The few times she met him in Jelanda's chambers were enough.
When she was sufficiently calmed, Raeger left her sanctuary to seek a servant to fetch her cloak. Her mother loved the society of the capitol, and would probably stay as late as was fashionable, which meant she wouldn't notice if her daughter borrowed the carriage long enough to go home. The footman obeyed her order without protest, and Raeger breathed a sigh of relief when they left the palace grounds.
The house was quiet without her family and Bertha there to keep it lively. The chambermaid greeted her with a yawn and said, "The seamstress brought your wedding gown at dusk, miss," before retreating to the kitchen, and Raeger felt her stomach sink with each step up to her room.
As far as dresses went, it was the most beautiful she had ever seen. The lace, the embroidery, the tiny seed pearls sewn to the bodice and the elaborate neckline, the diamonds somehow attached to the veil. The satin gleamed pale and ghostly, tinged with pink in the firelight.
Raeger made herself gather it in her arms and take it behind the screen to change. She couldn't manage the veil; it was meant for an elaborate hairstyle that she wasn't wearing at the moment. There were three rows of buttons, of which she could only complete one. It was enough. She moved carefully across the room to her mirror, giving wide berth to the fire.
White had never been her color. She was too pale for it, when it was laid out in such profusion, such gleaming richness that it outshined her hair and made her skin seem darker than it really was. Make up might have made it a better picture, but the only bit of color in her reflection was the lapis rose on its thin gold chain.
Cool fingers closed over her shoulders, and Raeger gasped, going rigid. The familiar hint of frankincense told her who it was; the mirror only reflected her own face, pale, her eyes large and feverish. It showed her sleeves crinkling, but no hands to cause it.
"I apologize for startling you, my lady." His voice was directly over her ear, no more than a whisper. It made her shiver. "I thought it best to answer your question in a manner that left no others."
Raeger caught her breath with difficulty. She pulled away and turned around to face him, so she wouldn't have to speak to an empty reflection. "You've-- been gone..."
"Yes." He paced to the fire, and then looked back at her. "Making preparations, if you will. I see you have as well."
She glanced at her dress, then away to the desk. "I'm... not sure I like it."
His gaze was heavy; she thought it would know her thoughts, if she lifed her head to look. "Nor do I."
Something in her chest fluttered, and she had to take another deep breath to steady herself. She felt a little dizzy. "Why not?"
"Do you want this, my lady? Are you looking forward to this marriage?" She started to shake her head, then stopped herself. But he was already moving on. "Of course not. I can feel it. And yet you walk willingly into bondage, when you could be free. So many of you could be free, if you would only seize the chance."
"Free?" It came out nearly a shout. "How? Where else can I walk? What other paths are there? I'm not a man, I can't come and go as I please and do what I want. I can't make a living for myself. Where is this choice you've been saying I have?"
"Say the word," he replied softly.
She drew back, her hand instinctively clasping the lapis rose.
The fire limned him with light that seemed unearthly, now that her suspicions were confirmed. With his back to it, his face was left in shadow, but she still clearly saw the arch of his eyebrow. "I am cursed my lady, but not by my own hand. Like you I did not have a choice in my fate - and like you, I had to abandon everything I knew to pursue my chance for freedom."
His eyes were still bright despite the shadow over his face, and they anchored her gaze when it would have wandered aimlessly for a place to rest. She couldn't make herself say no, or tell him to get out as she should have done before. Either would have been sensible. "Why-- is that what you want me to do?"
"You may do what you wish, my lady. I will not force an answer from you."
"But--" Her mouth felt suddenly dry. "You're-- how do I know you won't--"
"I have been honorable thus far, have I not?" Judas spread his hands. "I would not seek permission, if I wished to make you my victim."
There was no sense to be made from the situation, but that statement felt, ludicrously, as if it made the most sense of all. "But why? Why me?"
He approached slowly, and she backed away only a step before deciding to stand her ground. When he took her hands in his, she couldn't keep them from trembling just a little. "Like a star, you shine so brightly that I can't help but see you, no matter which way I turn. But your fire will be extinguished in this place. Suffocated."
There was commotion downstairs; the sound of the carriage outside, followed by the opening and slamming of doors, and the loud voices of her mother and sister. She caught her name amid the din, and bit her lip. So mother had come home early after all, probably because of her.
"Come with me, and I will give you what freedom I can. I will show you the lengths of the world, if you desire." His gaze sharpened, and the color of his eyes deepened with some mood. The fire was there, though his back was to it. "And I will not push upon you the demands of marriage. Make this choice free of expectation."
Raeger's mother called her name, she reacted instinctively, hiding her face against his chest and clasping his hands tightly. The words of refusal were on her lips until they thinned and disappeared. Footsteps sounded up the stairs and he reacted quickly, freeing his hands to throw one arm around her waist, and the other to cast a spell. The words were sinuous and foreign, and she recognized them this time as the language of Lorien. The slithered into the silence and the air grew cold, as if the window opened to admit the winter chill.
He clasped her hand over his heart that lay in bitter stillness and his final words made her room, her mother's voice, and everything she had ever known melt away into darkness. She gave a cry, lifting her head, but it was already done.
Judas's earrings, and the pendant hanging from his neck, glowed in soft, cold blue. Only the ring on his finger was warm, and she saw at last the final letter, one she remembered from her study, though it afforded her no comfort.
Hail, Living One. Abide thee in darkness.
* * *
There is implication, of course, that she may or may not regret this later. That depends on further storytelling to decide. =D
Why am I not asleep? Notes forthcoming, because I really, really need to go to bed. >_>;
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no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 03:09 pm (UTC)I see what you mean about not writing out dialogue in scenes
though hey, that just means more cutscenes for me to fill in later -- Raeger running into Lombert should be entertaining, for one, but I think this reads quite well as it is.At the heart of it all, the story is purely about Judas and Raeger, and their interaction is wonderfully and sensitively done, if I may say so myself. Raeger's hesitant fascination and Judas's mixture of sly courtesy do play off each other so very, very well. I'm a great sucker for character focus more than plot, most of the time, so this story presses all my happy buttons without generating into incoherent internalizing, like everyone in my fics seems to do. :P
Also, is it weird that I think the way he chose to reveal his nature to her was kinda sexyhot? 'Cos like, I thought it was. Noting that she could see her reflection's sleeves crinkling was a really nice touch, and it stays with me for some reason. :0 Also, the idea of Raeger becoming a vampire (which would probably not happen for ages, if at all) amused me at that point -- I got this strange mental image of them having to, well:
She hadn't realized quite what she was in for when she took that last plunge, and the knowledge that being able to personally managing her appearance was entirely out of the question was just one of them. Judas caught her in front of the mirror one night, frustrated and hopelessly afflicted with bed hair, and had taken pity on her, offering to brush her hair for her.
The girl had accepted, resigned to her fate, before it occurred to her to question Judas' ability to maintain his own immaculate appearance. The inquiry earnt her another mysterious smile, and Judas gently brushed her hair away from one ear before he responded: he'd learnt the knack of it, with time. Would she like him to teach her how?
Raeger shivered at the feeling of his breath on her neck and nodded, not trusting herself to say anything else. She ignored the feeling that they were predators in a lair, fitfully grooming each other's fur while they waited for their next chance to kill.
SEE WHAT YOU INSPIRE ME TO WRITE, YOU FIEND. D: But yes, I'm mostly sure that Judas isn't quite seeking to vamp-ize Raeger, just keep her for company; still, he's already gotten her permission for him to spirit her away, and who knows where that will lead to. DUN DUN DUN DUN, as they say.
Another touch I liked in this section was the bit with the ring. I couldn't guess the word until the end, which made it that much more effective. XD (Although having 'The inscription read' makes it read strange, to me. Hmm. Maybe just italicize the entire inscription for Bonus Drama points? XD)
On a technical note, I can spot more typographical errors than usual, but considering how late you stayed up typing this, those can only be expected. I'm still insanely giddy that you actually finished this for my (MY!!1111) reading pleasure. XD MANY HEARTS FOR YOU.
Mind you, I still think you ought to do something from Judas' point-of-view -- a record of the beginning of his acquaintance with Raeger, perhaps, or whatever prompted him to approach her in the first place (although I suppose his motivations are more attractive swathed in mystery?). Either way, it should be an interesting read. XD I notice that Judas says 'so many others', which does make me wonder if Raeger's not the first he's pitched this offer to, and something I'm sure she wonders about as well: after all, arranged marriage isn't uncommon, so why her out of all these poor girls?
I can just imagine her friends would be utterly scandalized if she ever dropped by with her shiny new man-friend. XD
no subject
Date: 2006-03-12 11:52 pm (UTC)Although he doesn't intend to make her a vampire, that is pretty funny. :p He's still hoping to find a way to live, here, but I've given him a slightly different path.
There are a lot of "loose ends" in this story that could lead Raeger's family on an interesting trail to find her, if they chose. All of the manuscripts and practice sheets of her hieroglyphs would naturally imply that she's mixed up in something related to Egypt, and the Lorien script would imply the city in the mountains, if anyone could recognize it.
Something I meant to fit in, and just didn't, was Judas's explanation that his curse was 'of Yamato origin, but not cast on Yamato land' - meaning that the key to his success is in Japan, or even China, and not in Egypt at all. The ring he's wearing is the same one in our normal canon. He's still embracing his heritage, but their journey will not take Raeger into the desert this time.
I thought about that, and decided it would be more charming if she wasn't forced to hike through miles of sand, and all.
I may or may not go back and fix the errors, because... well, I'm lazy. But you knew that when you signed on. :P You're right about the inscription though, so I think I'll change that, at least.
The lack of dialog in some parts still feels technically wrong to me, but I used those parts mainly as transition, to pass long periods of time that I thought wouldn't actually be relevant to the story. If this were a novel I'd turn her attempt to translate into a subplot, and her society with Jelanda and resulting family issues into another subplot, etc., but since this is meant to be short and to the point, I didn't want to digress that much.
That would also require time and effort I literally can't spare for personal projects right now, with school throwing so much at me. I wanted to start a project I could finish, for once. So it wasn't laziness believe it or not, even if it might look that way to some people. :p
I like your snippet. XD WRITE MORE.
Originally he was going to kiss her at the end, but I couldn't make that work with the way the rest of the chapter turned out, so I decided to wait on that. Maybe I'll write something from his POV one of these days, like you say I should.
I'm glad you liked it. Thank you for such great comments! XD