Disclaimer: I do not own Tairen Soul Series by C.L. Wilson. However, I do own OC, non-canon and fictional magic.
A/N: Reviews welcome. They are great for speedy updates :-). I know I focused almost exclusively on their budding relationship. I hope to infuse more action, etc.
Angela stared down at Cyr's dirty blond hair, awakening a little before dawn. He's so peaceful. She thought mildly as she compared all of last night and his Rage. She wondered about her feelings regarding the Fey warrior.
But no one has told me exactly what a shei'tanista bonding actually is. The young woman rolled her eyes in askance. I guess I'll just have to be direct with him.
Cyr mumbled in his sleep something Angela did not understand. I need to learn Feyan. She thought annoyed. I don't like being the dark about everything. She frowned.
She lightly stroked Cyr's hair, accidentally awakening him.
"Shei'tani?" The Fey warrior murmured as his glowing amber eyes looked at her blearily.
Angela smiled at him and tried to extricate herself from his hold. "Sleep, Cyr." she said softly. Cyr frowned and his arms tightened.
"Where are you going?" He asked, fully awake. Angela blushed. "Oh, I was just going to, er, find something to drink?" Angela felt torn. She wanted some space but did not want to leave Cyr.
Cyr slowly rose above her. "Last night was beautiful, shei'tani." He said slowly, searching her piercing grey eyes. "What is it that I'm sensing from you?" She almost seems ashamed...and disoriented...is it because I went too fast? Or shocked her? His guilt started to eat at him despite knowing they did nothing wrong in the sight of the gods and his people.
Not that it's anyone's business except ours. He thought decisively.
Angela gulped. Oh to hell with it. She thought irritably.
"I just don't understand your culture." She said simply. "I feel very lost here...because in Norban I would've been shamed or stoned or beaten for acting the way I did with you; but when you touch me I feel…" Angela sighed, looking away from him. "I feel safe, warm and...er…" Scowling, she sighed again and looked up at him from beneath her eyelashes. "You seem like you're interested in me, yes?"
"Aiyah." Cyr answered promptly, his expression serious and calculating. "Very much so." Surely, she's not so naïve as all that? Or did she sense nothing from me?
He lightly kissed her forehead making Angela smile shyly.
"That's just it," Angela pointed out, hating herself for what she was about to admit and ask. "I know I'm not going back to Norban―nor do I want to," Angela said quickly, her hands gripping his shoulders and fisting his hair. "But you told me something about daughters being OK and wanted and then that fight made no sense to me." She said staring up at him. "I just...what exactly is a bond?" She asked frustratedly. "All I know is everyone here holds it in high esteem and that I'm supposed to trust you." Angela bit her lip. "You're making everything too easy. Where's the catch?"
"The catch?" Cyr asked, taken aback. "What does that mean?" His mind wildly raced. Jaffing hell. The Fey thought horrified. Beaten? Stoned? Shamed in something pure and natural and good?
"What do I have to do in return?" Angela asked slowly. "Do I have to perform...favors? Or something? I just don't want to get hit." Angela fidgeted seeing Cyr's face contort angrily.
He was at a loss to answer her. Cyr removed her hands from his hair and shoulders. He swiftly rose with every line in his body stiff and furious as he went toward their bathing chamber.
"Nothing." Cyr practically spat at her. "I require nothing of that sort." He shook and glared at her before entering. "Let's get that straight. I am nothing like those rultsharts you lived with. You're never going to be struck by me. If someone dares lay a hand, stone or whatever that'll be the last thing they ever do." He took a deep breath. "Children are eternally sacred. Even a dahl'reisen warrior would die for a child." Angela's gaped at him. She had heard of the legendary, dishonored dahl'reisen warriors. "Daughters in particular are a rarity to the Fey." Cyr finally said.
Furiously, the Fey warrior left her to her thoughts as he shut the door behind him.
Angela sighed and buried her face in her knees.
Ruin everything you touch, why don't ya Angie? She echoed her Papa's words. Just had to ask him too many questions instead of waiting, listening and trusting him.
Meanwhile, a furious Norban priest returned to his hometown and glared at his umagi.
"You're telling me Angela Michaelson is gone? Dead just like her family?" He demanded.
"Her clothes were ripped apart by the river, sir." The young umagi said. "She's been gone for nearly a week."
Scowling, the Norban priest stared at his hands. I should've remained in Norban while she was here. He thought aggravated. She may be an illegitimate, illiterate fool but she knew her father's trade better than his own son.
"Search her former house for any clues," he commanded. "Including her father's smithy."
"Yes sir," the umagi said promptly as he gathered seven others to perform the task.
I'll have to find you and use you for that battle plan. The Norban priest fingered his gold rings. Hopefully, there's some leverage here.
He did not want the High Mage to be disappointed in him.
Rain Tairen Soul chewed his breakfast thoughtfully. How to speak to Angela without startling her. He had managed to ask unsuspiciously about Angela to Marissya who waxed poetic regarding her new charge. She's still ignoring Dax. He thought sympathetically toward his fellow shei'tan. I don't want Ellysetta to know either. He purposefully told Bel to distract his shei'tani while he would look for Angela later in the day. Both agreed that Angela is a possible threat to the Fey and they needed to ascertain a few things regarding the foreign shei'tani.
A Fey warrior entered and bowed before Rain, Ellysetta, Marissya and Dax.
"A Brother Able* requests a meeting along with his messenger, kem'feyreisen and kem'feyreisa."
Marissya shot up from her seat. "Oh bellah sallan." She said breathlessly. "Angela told me about him." She quickly explained to her friends and shei'tan. "I must go to Angela and tell her." Marissya donned her scarlet cowl and briskly walked toward their suite.
Dax shook his head. "Angela, Angela, Angela." he said.
Ellysetta agreed. "We should hear him out, Rain." She said to her shei'tan.
"We'll see them in the Throne Room." Rain ordered. The Fey warrior bowed and Rain glanced at Bel gave him an imperceptible nod behind Ellysetta's back.
Angela donned her navy dress and sighed when she looked at her barrette Cyr made her. Should I wear it? She wondered as she glanced at the ominous door. The decision was made for her after hearing a knock and her name.
She quickly placed the sea-inspired barrette down at the vanity and opened the door revealing Lady Marissya.
Marissya frowned sensing turmoil between the young matepair. Not now. She thought. You can't interfere with a matebond, Marissya.
"Ajiana," She said soothingly, causing a faint smile from Angela. "Brother Able is here."
Angela beamed. "I mustn't keep him waiting," she said immediately. Angela hesitated then closed the door behind her. He's not done anyway. She thought. He probably still needs his space.
Angela walked briskly to match Lady Marissya's longer strides. The two women exchanged pleasant conversation. Angela lowered her voice and stared at the opulence of the Fey Throne Room.
"Angie?!" Brother Able shouted.
Angela started and smiled shyly at her former neighbor. I hate the name.
"Hello Brother Able," Angela said softly. She felt a flicker of awareness from Cyr and decided to ignore it. If he's going to be mad then fine.
"I see you two know each other," the Feyreisen commented dryly.
"Yes sir," Angela said quickly, curtseying to him. "Brother Able was friends with my brother before he joined the clergy."
The Feyreisen frowned slightly and looked at Marissya, noticing Cyr's absence.
«I think they quarrelled.» Marissya Spirited. «Happens to the best of us.»
Rain could not help but agree more.
"It was Angie who enabled me to get here," Brother Able announced, embarrassing the young woman whom he could not take his eyes from.
"Indeed?" Rain queried.
"I have the box, Angie." Abel said sincerely as he withdrew a medium-sized box with a fearsome black tairen drawn on it from his bag.
Angela gasped. "The cat-dragon got scratched!" she said upset, her hand reaching toward it.
"Ah, no Angie." Abel said embarrassed for her. "This is a tairen."
Angela tilted her head in confusion.
Rain smiled at Angela. "It would look like a cat-dragon to anyone else," he said smoothly. Angela gulped, embarrassed but unsure as to why.
Why am I even here? She thought. This is for highborn folks.
"What's in it?" Bel prompted.
Brother Able blinked. "We don't know," he said slowly. "I left with Angie's help before Norban was ransacked by the Mage Marked priests."
Angela frowned as the whole room stiffened. What's Mage Marked? She wondered. She decided she would not ask Cyr anymore questions since all her inquisitiveness did was get her in trouble.
Cyr heard Lady Marrisya and Angela speak and then leave their suite as he quickly dressed. He noted Angela left her courtship gift on the vanity. He vaguely wondered if she had found his other courtship gift to her liking hidden in her sleeve.
I shouldn't've lost my temper like that. He thought chagrined. Lady Marissya and Master Baristani did warn me Angela would have a tough go at it.
But he was insulted beyond measure at Angela's implications and naïve questions.
Not naïve. He chided. She's ignorant through no fault of her own and her upbringing made her afraid. Cyr could not understand it because his own childhood had been filled with love, hope, laughter and protection.
Cyr is a perfectionist, highly educated and a reserved man by nature. It was both a strength and a fault. His eyes narrowed seeing the familiarity between Angela and this 'Brother Able,' he especially did not like Angela being called Angie and could tell Angela did not like the nickname either. Furthermore, he could sense lust and interest from the clergyman while Angela seemed oblivious to his advances.
His life is spared for that reason alone. The jealous Fey thought contemptuously.
The Fey stayed a little off to the side next to another guard as he watched between his shei'tani and Brother Abel.
Angela wisely remained silent as a firestorm of questions from the Fey reacted toward her former neighbor.
"What does Angela have to do in all this?" Rain asked raising his voice above their questions.
Everyone turned to Angela, causing her to blush.
"I snuck Brother Able out through some of the old passages to get help to the Fey per Mama's orders." She said quickly.
Brother Able nodded. "Yes, Felicity," he glanced at Angela apologetically. "was a staunch Fey supporter and knew enough to weld the contents of that box to safety at Lord Teleos' holding. Felicity said we couldn't open the box. Only the Feyreisen."
Angela frowned a little, and waited. I don't recall those orders.
Rain rose from his throne next to Ellysetta as several Fey warriors placed shields around the women and prepared themselves.
To Angela's surprise Cyr appeared before. He did not look at her directly but concentrated. Angela looked away.
The Feyreisen opened it carefully with Air and Spirit weaves.
Inside the wooden tairen box was a letter, several designs and a pair of tairen kitling wings.
Angela gasped as hers was lost in the anguished crowd. For some reason her shoulder blades twitched painfully.
Sniffing, Angela turned away. Cyr allowed the shield to lead Angela to the doorway. And backed away while Bel called for reinforcements to follow his shei'tani at a distance.
Rain opened the letter and stared at the unfamiliar script in horror.
My Lord Feyreisen,
Please accept these sel'dor plans with all sincerity. My one true love was a Fey warrior and the true father of our daughter. I do not know what became of Lord Tajik vel Sibboreh*.
Underneath Norban are tunnel system leading to the Mages. They're using several means to get Fey. I don't know for what purpose.
I tried to protect my little girl the best way I could. I know I should have brought her to the Fading Lands; but I was scared. I fought for my little girl and I know she'll never forgive me for the monstrosity that I and another had to do to seal her magic. I know as she gets older and more beautiful she becomes forfeit.
I honestly wish she had never been born so she would not be so miserable where we are. I'm selfish but I've suffered enough to guard and guide the Fey. I just wanted to be happy. I know I did a cruel and wicked thing to a baby. May the gods forgive me.
Angela has a gift for metals. Particularly sel'dor and only she can fully activate the weapon...but it comes at a price.
Felicity Erica Michaelson.
Rain looked around for Angela and Cyr.
"Merciful gods," he whispered, and held Ellysetta's hand. "Angela is your cousin and daughter to Tajik."
Angela shivered as she all but raced down the corridor and nearly ran into someone.
"Oh! I'm―," Angela started to say until she saw the messenger. She backed up but not soon enough for the man to grab her plaited hair and spin her around.
"Cyr!" Angela cried as the blade went to her throat.
Her shei'tan froze and the Rage was visible for all to see.
«Fey! Ti'Angela! She's been attacked and I can't get a clear shot!»
References:
Brother Able:is actually spelled like 'able to do something,' and not Abel the masculine biblical name.
Angela's Fey parentage: So I am totally going AU and creative license regarding Tajik fathering Angela. Canon states that only truemated pairs can have daughter or sons while e'tanista bonds can father sons only.