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13.

Desire's Intrigue

She hadn’t noticed anything until the door closed behind her. Sianna found herself in her new chambers. Had a servant brought her here? Or had it been Lycin? The only thing running through her mind was the Rhokin girl she had seen and her big, liquid–silver eyes. She clasped her sword as she remembered locking sights with her. 

Her hair was done in little braids falling before her shoulders. Just like little girls but she’s not one. No matter how pretty her auburn hair looked.

Sianna stepped into the room, eyes sweeping it. It was large, as she had expected, with a featherbed that looked big enough for five sleeping bodies. A fire was roaring, warming the room. The only window was tall and narrow like a giant arrow racing towards the heavens. Its drapes were drawn back, adding a sheen gloss to the marble furniture. She felt like a rock herself surrounded by such grey. Even the privy had a marbled seat.

 As she walked around the room, her footsteps would muffle when she’d pace over rugs embroidered with purple, silver, and black patterns. Sianna removed the few pieces of her armor and her sword, placing them on a table. The rugs were too pretty to allow her dirty chainmail to clang on it. Her eyes were held by the faded seal of Dracarr on the chest piece. 

“He didn’t tell me,” she said to herself. “Reth didn’t tell me he had awakened his magick. Next time I see him, I am going to kill him. Or maybe I’ll order him to fall on his sword.”

She sighed, recalling his demeanor with the Dux. He had done well. His conduct was precise, nothing short of what was to be expected when addressing those ranked higher than himself. He kept quiet and poised and only spoke when spoken to. Even when the Dux had shown surprise, Reth kept his face indifferent and continued to wait on his words.

Aldermeck had played her part too. She had called a Rhokin “ser” and had even been interrupted by one. It was an odd sight to see the Leitnant—the highest Guard ranking and source of power Sianna had ever experienced—be brought down to the level of a fresh Miles recruit. It had been Inya. Inya and Essdin, the Dux’s Rhokin.

I’m surrounded by Rhokin. Everywhere I turn. Nothing but damn Rhokin.

A knock interrupted her thoughts. Sianna opened the door to see a scrawny lady look up at her.

“My lady,” she said. One hand held a tray of fruits, bacon, and roasted meat and the other carried a silver pitcher. She entered and walked across the room to one of the many marble tables and placed the food on top of it.

“Does my lady need anything else?” she asked Sianna.

“No, thank you.” She shook her head, the food having awakened her hunger.

After feasting, Sianna went to the bed and threw herself on it. She sunk into its unfamiliar comfort. It was the sound of knocking that woke her up. The room was dimmer as was the fire. She sat up, surprised she had fallen asleep.

Another lady, fresher and younger looking than the previous servant, was at the door. She smiled at Sianna and presented her with a folded black cloth.

“My lady, this is for you,” she said.

It took a moment for Sianna to realize it was clothes.

“My name is Miriam if it pleases my lady. My lord asked me to give these to you. Shall I set them on the bed?”

She blinked. “Yes. Don’t call me ‘my lady’ though.”

The girl nodded. “As it pleases my—ser.”

Miriam unfolded the clothes and set them on the bed. She then walked around the entire room, lighting every candle and feeding wood to the fire before coming back full to the staring Sianna.

“I will return shortly with water for you bath. Is there anything you need before I leave?” Miriam asked her.

“Bath?”

“Yes. For tonight’s feast, ser.”

That damn feast. I had forgotten.

She shook her head and the girl left. Sianna turned her attention to the bed and the clothes spread on its sheets. It was a tunic black in color, hems outlined in gold, with the Guard arms sewn on the breast. Golden buttons lined the top of the right shoulder, easy adorning for the folded Leitnant cloak set upon the pillow. 

Though she had never owned one, Sianna recognized the clothing as formal Guard wear reserved for activities where plate and armor was not needed, such as feasts. Technically, everyone in the Guard was given a formal garb, but it was mostly the higher ranks that actually found use of them. There was a designated color for each ranking, all seven hues appearing on the seven pointed Guard star. Sianna had never bothered to learn all the colors though, so the black surprised her.  

Another knock on the door ushered in more serving girls that held pails of hot water. They dumped it into the pattern adorned tub. The amount of flowers and oils added to the water made Sianna uncomfortable. After the bath, she was dried and more fragrant oils were applied on her underarms and neck before Miriam and the others dressed her. As excessive and awkward as it was, Sianna resolved to keep quiet, thinking it would be rude if Lord Gabard heard she refused his service.

Play the part. Odd as he may be, Lord Gabard seems to be close in some way to the Dux.

It wasn’t till the girls began to brush her hair and weave strings of pearls in her locks that Sianna pushed them away, setting her hair in its usual side braid. One of the girls came back with her belt and looped it around her waist while the others picked up her dirty smallclothes and empty food tray.  

Miriam came up to her, all smiles. “Ser, are you ready to depart for the feast?”

Sianna nodded and followed her down winding staircases and past lavished halls. Everywhere Sianna turned there was purple and silver, as if the color wasn’t displayed enough. They stepped through another door decorated with the Gabard arms that led them outside. The fresh evening was cool but not so much that it would freeze the melting snow. Sianna found her new clothes surprisingly warm.

She trailed Miriam down a path cobbled with rainbow stones. The frayed paint on them suggested they had been hand painted at some point. The path branched to other footpaths that led to distant buildings. The Gabard castle wasn’t so much a castle but several smaller castles spread out within a massive courtyard.

Sianna could see there was an area reserved for the Guard but for what purpose she could not guess. The Guard itself had its own towers and buildings, but she noted there was an abundance of stables and smithing huts. A large stone and wood construction, an armory she figured, stood out the most.

By the time they reached the dining hall, encased with smoke from the attached kitchen, Sianna’s feet hurt. She grinned. Of course her feet would ache now.

“Here it is, ser,” Miriam said and stopped before twin doors flanked by two guards.

“Shields,” Sianna blurted.

One of the two men grinned at her.

“Ser?” Miriam asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing. Thank you.”

The young lady nodded and left.

“Never seen a Shield before?” the man that had smiled said. He had a chipped tooth.

“Last time I saw one was when I was a little girl,” Sianna answered. “Jabel was too poor to pay for Shields to help patrol the town. Usually the Guard had to serve as the town’s justice as well.”

“We be the Lord’s personal Shields,” said the second man. “Paid a lot more than city Shields.”

“Of course,” Sianna said, seeing the Gabard mark on their armor.

“Come on in, my lady,” Chipped–tooth said and opened the door on his side.

The sound of lutes, harps, and skin drums pounded at her ears. Sianna inhaled, tasting smoke and meat, and stepped inside. The feast was a small one, housing only forty or fifty people. The hall was not a fifth full even with the long wooden tables that lined the walls.

Another table was at the head of the arangement; a violet cloth with silver tassels covered it. Seated in the middle was Lord Gabard. To his right was his son Torm and next to him was a woman Sianna didn’t recognize but by the way they were flirting she figured it was his wife or betrothed. Lycin was next to her.

Dux Suller and Capatain Loque were seated to Lord Gabard’s left, their respectful Rhokins standing behind them. The Dux was dressed in a tunic similar to Sianna’s but beige instead of black. The Captain’s color was a woolen grey. Both were trimmed with gold same as hers though.

“Sianna!” Aldermeck said, red faced and smiling as she came up to her. She was dressed in an identical tunic as hers.

Sianna smiled. Of course the Leitnant would be drunk already. Aldermeck slipped an arm through Sianna’s and led her to the table where she was sitting. A few seats away she saw Reth, Deneck and Calera back in their usual blue, but the other faces around them were unfamiliar. They greeted her with laughter and hoots though, and that was all she needed.

The haze of ale and wine settled quick enough, but Sianna slowed her gulps when others around her had dropped their heads. She was, after all, in unfamiliar settings. The courses of food were five, four too many for Sianna who filled up with the first one. She nibbled on the last meal’s pie crust but didn’t dig in to see its contents. As they ate, the music grew louder and was only punctured by the brawly singer’s impressive voice.

A tap on her shoulder caused her to turn. Lycin’s smirk faced her along with his outstretched hand. He was dressed in a Centurio purple tunic. How appropriate.

Sianna placed her hand on his, her actions behind her thoughts. He whisked her to the open area where other couples were dancing. Skirts were flaring and laughter was high. Some guests were dancing alone. There was a man in a satin doublet that would twirl and sway with any serving girls that passed too close to him.

The music was a haze to Sianna but she felt sure it wasn’t that calm that Lycin had to pull her so close to him. He smelled of wine, but she was sure she did too. Sianna pulled away from him but did not leave. She scowled at him, swaying to a beat she could not decipher.

His smile grew. “I’m glad you wish to dance with me.”

“It’s not for you. I wouldn’t want to offend your father,” she said.

“You should at least hold my hand lest you offend him.”

“Don’t push it, Lycin. Why don’t you go dance with Calera?”

His arms brought her closer again. “I rather have you.”

Sianna grit her teeth but remained, hoping this part of the night would be detached from her memory come morning. She didn’t know how long she danced with Lycin. Her focus was on keeping his hands on the neutral area of her waist. Several times she gave him warning stomps to his feet but he’d just laugh.

Someone bumped into her back. She turned to see, out of all people, Reth and Calera dancing. His steps were clunky and awkward or perhaps they appclaeared as such when compared to Calera’s smooth, fluid movements. Reth’s sights were on the ground but Calera’s were on him. A small smile settled on her lips.

Sianna blinked, convinced it was her drunken eyes playing tricks on her. She leaned over to catch a better look but ended up stumbling over her feet. Her head bumped on Lycin’s chest and ached in protest.

“Maybe I should take you to your room?” he said with a smirk.

“No. Do not speak to your Leitnant like that.” She shoved him.

“You are not my Leitnant anymore.”

She sobered for a moment and shot him a glare. “I am still your superior, Gabard. Watch your tongue around me.”

 She spun to walk away but her clear-headedness decided to leave her. She tripped and back–stepped into a dancing couple. Sianna mumbled an apology but they twirled away before she could finish her words.

“Ser, shall I help you?” Reth’s voice hit her ears.

She smiled at him, her eyelids feeling heavy. “Reth, I don’t like your face.” She palmed his cheek with a gentle pat. “But you are loyal. Annoyingly loyal. Why are you loyal to me?”

He blinked. “Ser, I am your Rhokin. It is you whom I was assigned to. To you I was taught to obey. There is nothing else for me to know.”

She sighed. “So it’s because you were told.”

“Ser?”

She shook her head and patted his shoulder. “Let’s get more wine, Reth.”

More wine had been a bad idea. Sianna found herself back on her featherbed surrounded by darkness save for the softly illuminating fire. She rubbed her eyes, trying to recall how she had arrived back in her room. The only thing running through her mind was Aldermeck’s voice saying, “Have another cup with me, Sianna!” She fell back on the pillows, groaning. Who knows what else had happened.

Her eyes opened a second time to find someone in her room. Is it morning already? It is still dark.

She blinked. It wasn’t a person in her room; it was the bones of a person. The upright skeleton was bare, its bones a musky brown, but encaged within its ribs was a gray flame. It appeared wet like melted metal that churned and curled within a smith’s mold. The tendrils reached up to its neck and head, crawling up and through its jaw. At the eye sockets they circled and tightened into spheres, wisps of silver coiling from them like rays from a gray sun.

It walked. The noise of its bones moving sounded like fresh rope being pulled in a knot. Sianna held her breath as she watched it. Though the fire was almost out, she thought it seemed as if it was looking for something. Its head circled the room, paces steady. 

Sianna inched her hand out of the covers, reaching for the edge of the bed. Her palm groped the wall as she tried to find her sword, but it wasn’t there. It was still on one of the damn marble tables.

“Shit,” she hissed.

The dead bones jerked towards her, molten eyes glowing, and raced at her. Sianna fumbled with the covers and stood on the bed. She jerked back from the blade that came down on the mattress.

It’s armed!

Sianna backed away. Her foot came down on empty air and she tumbled off the bed. Her head bounced off the bare floor and she only saw blinding white. The errrr and clank of bones sounded closer. Sianna crawled across the floor, knuckles colliding on furniture feet as she scuttled around blind.

The dim glow of the fire oozed into view and Sianna saw she was on the other side of the room. Her eyes scanned the area for the marble table that held her sword. It was the one with the mountain of candles on it.

It was too quiet.

She spun around to come face to skull with the walking dead. It was only by the light of its own strange flame that Sianna saw the gleam of its sword swinging down on her. She ducked but the table behind her dug into her spine. The hot piercing sensation of blade slicing through flesh was felt. Sianna gasped, her palms smashing on the gasp across her left side. Warm liquid seeped through her fingers.

The skeleton stood still over her, arms by its sides as if truly dead. A clawed hand burst through its flame licked chest. Veins blistered out of it, crawling and chocking the grayness, willing it to disappear. With its fire gone, the bones fell apart, clattering on the floor like dice. From behind the heap, orange eyes gaped at her.

“Kota?” Sianna said through her teeth.

The Nayichi smiled and stepped towards her. “I told you I would be watching. Here.”

She reached to Sianna’s wound. She tried to pull away but the pain from her injury and from her head mixed with her lingering drunken haze kept her rooted in place. Upon the Nayichi’s touch, Sianna’s body felt warm. It left and with it all aches were gone, though her drunkenness remained.

Sianna stood and lifted her shirt. The blood was still slick on her skin but there was no wound for it to seep from. Through the darkness she could see the skin around her chest was smooth and pink.

“My bruise is gone too,” she said.

“Yes. All alignments are gone.”

She shook her head and pointed at the pile of bones. “What the fuck was that? And what the hell does it have to do with you?”

Before Kota could answer a midnight blade appeared under her throat. Reth’s silver eyes gleamed behind her.

“Ser, shall I kill her?” he asked. His voice was chilling.

Sianna stood speechless but soon found her tongue. “No, Reth. No. I need her to answer some questions.”

“Well,” Kota said, “it is rather difficult to answer questions in such a situation. Perhaps another time?”

Her form began to blend with the room’s dimness.

“No!” Sianna reached for her.

A spark of yellow erupted by the Nayichi’s shoulder. Kota yelped and Sianna flinched, taking into account Reth’s magick for the first time. She wasn’t sure what had happened but his flare manifested Kota back into sight. The Nayichi glanced at Reth.

“You have gained your magick rather early, I see. How intriguing,” she told him.

“You will talk. Now. What is going on?” Sianna’s face was stern.

Kota sighed. “Just know that it is Iari.”

“Iari? He did this?”

She shook her head. “No, he is the key to it. The key to helping stop it. You have to find him and protect him. Do not let anyone else capture him, especially the Guard or the Gabards. He should be with no one but you.”

Sianna’s eyes narrowed. “How do I know you’re telling the truth? Why should I even do as you say?”

Kota smiled, exposing her canine teeth. Her skin lightened and her jewels disappeared, replaced by simple breeches and a cotton shirt. Brown hair spilled over her shoulders and she faced Sianna with eyes that now had pupils.

“Please reconsider, Sianna. I can do much as you,” she said, her voice mimicking her own.

Sianna paled as she stared at her double. Hesitation flashed over Reth’s face. That was all the Nayichi needed. She shoved the Rhokin aside and slipped past his blade. She jumped to the top of the bed’s canopy and melted into the ceiling’s blackness.

“Please, Sianna,” Kota said still using Sianna’s voice.      

She ran up to the bed in search of her. “Reth, can you sense her?”

“No, ser. She is gone,” he said as he came up to her.

Sianna sighed and sat on the mattress. Her hands cradled her face. She could smell the wine on her breath, and her head was a pounding mess.

“Ser,” Reth said. She could hear him shift closer to her.

“What, Reth?” she said through her fingers.

“Are you alright? Shall I fetch you some water?”

Her hands came down and she stared up at him. A haze of a memory entered her mind from the feast: Reth coming up to her on the dance floor and asking if she was alright. Sianna remembered questioning him why he cared if it only stemmed from orders. Did Rhokin not truly desire things for themselves and not because it was expected of them?

“Are you truly concerned about me, Reth?” she asked. “Is it from you and you alone?”

He gave her a curious look. “Ser? Are—”  

“I saw Calera smile at you while you were dancing. At least I think I did. Did she?”

“I would not know, ser. I was looking at my feet.”

“Of course you would be. Did she ask you to dance?”

He blinked. “Yes, ser.”

“Did she ask you because she wanted to?”

“I am sorry. I would not know. Are you sure you are alright?”

She dodged his question. “Did you wish to dance with her? Is that why you said yes?”

“I simply did it because Ser Aldermeck said I should.”

Sianna sighed. “Don’t you want anything for yourself, Reth? Do any desires burn within you?”

Something crossed his features but Sianna didn’t catch it.

“Sit, Reth,” she said.

He obeyed.

“Did you want to sit?”

“You ordered me to, ser. I would not know what else to do.”

She studied him. His face held its usual resigned nature. Sianna realized he had come into her room straight from bed. He was in laced breeches and nothing more. The low fire cast heavy shadows around his muscular torso. She leaned closer to him.

“Do you truly have no personal desires?” she asked him.

Sianna didn’t allow him to answer. She threw her leg over him and straddled him. Her hand slid up his chest. She was startled when she felt a heartbeat. Sianna willed her hand higher, fingers brushing his collarbone. Her arm curled around his neck and she gripped his hair. Her other hand traced his abdomen, tips of her fingers digging into his pants. They traced his skin and pulled on his laces.

Reth held her eyes as she pressed herself against him, unnerving her. She pushed him down on the bed, hiding his eyes from her sight. Her hands went back to his laces and the warmth of his own spread over her hips as he gripped them.

She grinned. Everyone has sexual desires.

“Ser, I believe rape is what this is,” he said.

Sianna stopped and pulled away from him. “Rape?” she laughed. “Are you saying I’m raping you?”

He sat up. “You are drunk, ser.”

She stared at him until her mouth hung open with her realization. He meant her. He felt like he would be raping her. Sianna stood up and glared at Reth.

“You’re fucking with me,” she snarled.

He stood up as well and relaced himself. “It is what I’m trying to avoid, ser.”

Sianna shook her head. “What if I had ordered you to do it? What if I had told you, ‘Fuck me, Reth.’?”

“I would have no choice but to comply.”

“But you didn’t. Were my advances not an order?”

Reth’s face scrunched up with sorrow. It was so vivid but Sianna was sure the dim lighting was to blame.

“Ser, I would not mind lying with you, but since there were no absolute orders, I chose not to.”

Sianna stood in awe as she gaped at him. For the first time ever, she felt comfortable looking at him in the eyes. Not wishing to do something is also a desire, right? The desire not to do…

“You can go back to sleep, Reth,” she said.

“Yes, ser.” He picked up his sword he had left on the bed.

“Reth?”

He turned around to face her. “Yes?”

Sianna licked her lips, tasting the faint flavor of wine. “Thank you for your help today.”