A/N: Sorry about the late update. I am rapidly approaching the end of my backlog of chapters, so I will probably switch to every two weeks for updates shortly.
Also, I have been going through old chapters and throwing in some edits. Nothing earth shattering, mostly just typo fixes and some elaborations on Jian's psychology. But if you are backreading and feel like something is different, you aren't crazy.
Jian stands in front of the door to the archon's chambers, composing herself before she knocks.
The day has been a strange one. Lynx had found her on the window seat in the morning and offered her another cup of tea, seeming somewhat annoyed that Jian hadn't thought to tell her how much she loved it before.
After breakfast she had been left to her own devices, so she had inspected every inch of her quarters before curling up on the chair with one of the books supplied by whoever had furnished the place. She'd had to put it down less than a chapter in. Reena had always loved those awful romance novels that the Harlequins put out as some kind of surreal joke, and reading them reminded her too sharply of how much she missed her.
Her next attempt had proved more fruitful. The second book she'd picked up had been a translation of an epic poem from before the old aeldari empire fell, and it had taken all her concentration just to follow the archaic language. Jian had never been much of a reader, but for once she appreciated having something to do.
Eventually, she had filled enough of the day that she had been able to start getting herself ready for her "date" with the archon. This, too, had been a welcome diversion: putting her hair and makeup in place and picking an outfit for herself for the first time since her capture.
She'd waited for someone to come fetch her for a bit before realizing she was meant to go on her own and setting out. Which left her here. Standing outside his door. Dressed in the most conservative thing she could find in the closet, a scarlet dress that still left her back and much of her chest and legs exposed. Readying herself for whatever he had planned for her this evening.
She raises her hand and knocks.
"Come in, it's open," the archon says from inside.
Jian obeys his order, stepping inside to find the room softly lit with dozens of candles. The bistro table from her previous visits has been replaced with a somewhat larger one, loaded down with food. Jian can pick out loaves of bread, cheese, exotic seafood, bottles of wine and liquor, and a large steaming bowl whose contents she can't identify. As the door slides shut behind her, the archon himself stands from his chair, gesturing toward her in greeting. He, too, looks somewhat different, with his hair tied back and green and gold coat topping his usual leather pants and white blouse.
His face brightens as she approaches him. "You look great."
"So do you." Jian can almost believe he was a corsair once, seeing him like that. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"It's alright." He leads her to the table and pulls out one of the chairs for her to sit. "Did you forget the time?"
"No, I was, erm, waiting for someone to come get me. Then I realized that I was just supposed to go, but it was later than I should have left." She cuts off her stream of excuses. He's not going to torture you to get his kicks. Lynx's words are comforting, calming.
"Oh… Isha's tits, that was my fault. I see why you were confused."
Jian takes the offered seat. "It's no trouble, I managed to find my way here. Don't worry about it."
The archon moves to the other end of the table to sit in his own chair. "Alright. Shall we feast?"
"It looks delicious." And it does. Most of the meals she's been served since her arrival have been on the light side, and while she's never gone hungry, the thought of eating something richer sounds amazing.
"I'm glad you think so. I'm not much of a cook."
"You made all of this yourself?" The image of the archon bent over a counter, peeling vegetables, is somewhat absurd.
"I did," he replies. "It took me most of the day, but I think I managed to create an edible meal." He ladles something from the large bowl into a smaller one and passes it to her. Some kind of shellfish soup, Jian judges by the smell.
"You didn't have to do that," she says as she pours herself a glass of wine.
"I know. But I wanted to. I hoped it would lift your spirits a bit."
"Well, you did beautiful work."
"How does it taste?"
"Just fine." The soup is quite salty, and she sips on the wine to counteract it. Not as good as most of the things she's had since she arrived, but not bad at all.
"I'm glad. The last thing I want to do is accidentally poison you."
"I suppose that's more likely here than many other places." The banter is automatic. Almost effortless. If she can block out all the parts of her mind that keep reminding her of how truly fucked up this situation is, she can slide into a fantasy world where this is exactly the date that it appears to be.
"Oh yes. Luckily, you're also in one of the best places to get the appropriate antidote in time, so I suppose it evens out in the end."
"I guess I'll have to hope I get poisoned here, then."
"Well, no one knows what the future holds in store." The archon serves himself from one of the entrees on the table, taking a few bites in silence before looking up at her, suddenly serious. "Why did you come back?"
"I don't like leaving things unsaid." It's part of the truth, anyway.
Something the archon clearly picks up on. "What do you mean?"
"If I was going to apologize, I needed to do it right away and not risk something happening that would keep it from ever being said." There were so many things she'd meant to tell her mother… to tell her father… Reena…
"But what made you think you had something to apologize for?"
Jian looks up and studies him before speaking. She can't figure out his tone. "I saw how badly I had hurt you. And I began to wonder if there was some truth in what you had been saying to me all along."
He speaks again after several bits, but his emotions are no clearer. "I meant what I said. I would love to have you in my chambers and my bed at night, even without the sex. Just your company is enough."
"I'm not sure… maybe?" What is she supposed to think of his request?
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know when I'll be ready for that. But maybe someday?" Jian isn't sure if that would be better or worse than simply fucking her and letting her leave. It feels more intimate somehow.
The archon is obviously disappointed and his voice carries just the edge of a sigh. "Let's hope for the best then."
"I certainly do." Jian makes a mental note to get herself used to the idea as fast as possible.
"I'm glad you're here now, at least, sharing the evening with me." He raises his wine as if to toast. She responds in kind, unsure what exactly she's toasting.
After draining the glass, he returns his gaze to her. "So, I doubt you're interested in spending your days locked away in your room. Is there anything you'd like to do to keep yourself busy while you're here?"
Jian considers. There's only one thing that's made her feel alive since she's been here. "I know it's a lot to ask, but if I might be allowed to keep up my sword training while I'm here, I would very much like that."
"Interesting." He rests his chin on his hand. "Would you prefer to train with me, or with my bodyguard and his elite unit of cadets?"
"I don't care, as long as I can hold a blade in my hand."
"How about a combination, then? You can take part in their daily exercises, and then spar with me when I have the time."
"That sounds like it could work." In the midst of the polite small talk, she finds a question that actually interests her. "May I ask what you do? On a normal day, I mean."
The archon eyes her curiously and Jian wonders if she's asked something inappropriate. But after a moment he sighs and gives his head a brief shake before starting to speak. "Nothing particularly interesting, I'm afraid. I start each day working on private projects in my personal laboratory, and I also schedule daily survival training to keep myself on my toes against the dangers of the dark city. Exercising or weapons training, depending on the day. The rest of my day is taken up with reports from my officers and the elder lhamean sisters, management of the kabal's long-term projects, inspecting the health of our working slave population, and occasionally meetings with representatives from other groups within the city. After dinner, I spend time updating myself on the long-distance communications from my spy network and agents throughout the city and the galaxy at large and sometimes tutoring Lynx, before completing my personal health checks to ensure I have not picked up any residual toxins or diseases before I go to bed."
"It sounds very… busy." And perhaps all the more surprising that he's taken so much time out of his schedule to play with her. Amusing, in a somewhat strange way, to think of herself as ruining an archon's vacation.
"I won't lie, it gets intense sometimes. But moments like this make it all worth it."
Jian bites her lip and looks down at her soup, unsure how to respond. After another bite, she clears her throat. "This is very good."
She looks up to see him smiling awkwardly, cheeks and ears flushed red. "Thank you, I- I wasn't sure that you would like it."
"What's wrong with it?"
His blush deepens. "I mean, I know I'm not really a chef…"
"Neither am I. It's still better than ship food, I promise." Yet again, the conversation seems unreal. Almost normal. She finds herself blushing too.
"Well, thank you." The archon clears his throat. "So, what is your favorite food?"
"I like spicy food - there's a five-spiced meat that they serve on Yme-loc that makes your mouth burn in different ways over time after you've eaten it and I love it."
"Oh, you should have told me, I could have made you something spicy tonight! There's a version of the soup you're eating that will make you feel like you're swallowing fire." He sounds surprised by the revelation. "I like spicy food too."
"We'll have to have it for dinner sometime." He's probably going to expect her to come up with suggestions for how to spend their time together sooner or later; it seems like part of the relationship he wants her to give him. Might as well start now.
"It's a date," he grins.
They both fall quiet and Jian's plate is almost empty before the archon breaks the silence. "Unless you mind, I thought we could retreat to the couch for some entertainment before we enjoy dessert? I have a recording of an opera that I thought you might like."
"Alright." Suddenly, she feels less confident. What would the subject matter even be for an opera here in Commorragh of all places?
The archon takes her hand and leads her to the couch, where she takes a seat as indicated. A bowl of fresh fruit sits on the table nearby, next to a smaller bowl of melted chocolate. After fiddling with the recording, the archon sits next to her, pulling her into his arms as he brings the bowls into their laps.
Despite Jian's fear, the opera is familiar subject matter, a treatment of Eldranesh's battles against Khaine. She's seen the story depicted in numerous forms before, and this one is quite enjoyable. The archon maintains his embrace throughout, although he seems content to stroke her back and run his fingers through her hair. She allows him to feed her fruit and, to her utter shock, finds herself rather enjoying the evening. The food is delicious and the entertainment reasonably diverting. She's almost having fun. Almost.
She drags her eyes open. They feel crusty and her body is stiff from being contorted into a strange position while she slept. Blinking in the sudden light, dim as it may be, Jian tries to figure out where she is.
A table in front of her, her face pressed into something soft, a heaviness over her middle. The archon's arm. She must have fallen asleep on him last night. He's sleeping as well, halfway under her, leaning on his side against the arm of the couch. Strangely, she feels incredibly rested despite the unusual location. Not even a nightmare that she can remember. Perhaps even stranger, her clothing all seems to be in place. She has been left completely unmolested in her vulnerable state. The archon hasn't woken yet, so Jian remains where she is, content in a place with no expectations or demands on her.
But all too soon, reality settles in. She's here, in the arms of the man who owns her entire being. How can she be alright with this? How can she even think about accepting the situation? She should be kicking, screaming. Stabbing the archon in the chest with a steak knife. Not snuggling up to him the moment her mother's screams stop echoing in her brain. It feels like she's going to be sick.
He stirs under her and she can feel his hand caressing her back. Why does it have to feel so nice?
Sweat breaks out on Jian's forehead as she tries to focus on… what exactly? What does she even want from her life anymore? The archon tugs at her, still clearly asleep as he pulls her back into his arms. Eyes closed, harmless like this, expression peaceful, he's rather handsome. The fact that she can't help but notice is another kick in the stomach.
"Mmm… I love you…" he mumbles, pressing her even closer.
Oh gods, no. Jian finds herself moving numbly into the affection. He whimpers softly and nuzzles against her cheek as her eyes fill with tears. She'd thought she'd been prepared for whatever he would do or say on this 'date', whatever acts he would perform or get her to perform, but this… she had never considered it.
Does he even know what love is?
She gets no answer to her question, however. She simply lies in his arms and stares at the wall as he continues sleeping, a blissful expression on his face.
After what feels like hours, shame and confusion filling her to near bursting, Jian feels him stir behind her. "Good morning, dear," he murmurs in her ear, kissing the back of her neck.
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"Oh, yes. With you at my side, I had my best night in ages. Thank you."
Jian's confusion deepens. "You're welcome. I'm glad I could be of service."
"You most certainly were," the archon replies.
"What would you like me to do now?"
"Just… stay here. Share this moment with me." He twists, maneuvering their bodies so she winds up facing him.
"I'm not going anywhere." The weight around Jian's neck reminds her of the cold truth of her words as she says them.
"Thank you," he whispers. He kisses her again, lingering in the contact and Jian leans in to meet it. A daydream of happiness… The kiss continues, pauses, resumes. The archon runs his hands along her ears and down her jaw. His lips move to her neck and the bare skin on her chest, and she responds, twining her fingers in his hair and letting her legs wrap around him.
Finally, after what must be close to an hour, Jian pulls herself away. He might not be satisfied yet, but the tension in her gut has built to the point that she can't ignore it any longer. Before they go further, she needs to stop and clear her head. "I should go freshen up," she says softly.
"Of course. Take your time, we have nowhere else to be today."
She disentangles herself from his arms and hurries to the bathroom, trying to straighten her dress as she does. At the washroom door, she hesitates and looks back. She shouldn't assume that she is allowed to use his amenities. The archon is watching her from the couch and smiles encouragingly. So Jian enters, shutting the door behind her. All alone in the pristine, white emptiness of the enormous space.
Immediately, she rushes for the sink. It's too late. Her massive, rich dinner from last night comes racing back, splattering across the counter and backsplash. Eventually, her stomach empties and she finds herself braced against the marble vanity, face pale and tear-streaked, arms shaking. Her stomach has quieted but she feels no better.
Running the water to disguise any additional sounds she might make, she takes one shuddering breath, then another. This is survival, nothing more. Lynx is right, she can't live the rest of her days being miserable. If she manages to not hate what her life has become for a few hours, surely no one would blame her?
Regardless, she needs to get this cleaned up before he sees it. She washes the chunky mess down the sink and wipes the splashes from the tiles and her face. Her dress looks alright, the smudged makeup has been removed, and her hair is straightened easily enough with her fingers. Once again, she is acceptable.
As she returns to the main bedroom, she finds that the archon has moved from the couch to the massive bed that sits in the bedroom portion of his suite. His eyes follow her stride as she comes in and she can feel him taking in every detail of her appearance. Jian positions herself by the edge of the bed and waits for him to speak.
"You don't want to join me, do you?" He sighs.
"I don't mind." This sounds… almost like the truth? She's certainly not sure what she'd rather do.
"Well then please, come sit with me." He slides over to make room and she climbs onto the silk covers next to him.
"Will everything be alright? If you take the day off?" she asks. Based on his description last night, a lot of things currently demand his attention.
"Don't worry about it."
She can feel his gaze on her again and looks up to meet his eyes. "Okay. I had fun last night."
"So did I. We should make it a regular habit."
A regular habit? He wants to do this again? And he certainly won't be satisfied with just a bit of cuddling next time. "Not tonight, though. I promised Lynx I would spend the evening with her." Belatedly, Jian realizes she should have asked his permission before making such a commitment. "If that's alright with you?"
"Of course. I'm glad you're starting to make friends here and plan things on your own. Please, have fun for me. And the two of you are welcome to join me here when you're done."
"I'll see what she thinks." Her hopes for an evening to relax even slightly dashed, she falls silent as the archon kisses her forehead. "So… what did you want to do today?"
"Just spend the day with you, in whatever capacity you feel comfortable spending it with me."
He's letting her choose? The idea seems ludicrous and Jian has no idea what she feels 'comfortable' doing with him. But to deny him flat out would almost certainly trigger another outburst, one she might not be able to smooth over. "We could take a walk?"
"I like the sound of that." The archon smiles, but not fast enough to hide the disappointment that flickers across his face.
"What would you rather do?"
Seconds pass before he replies softly. "How about you take off that dress and come join me under the covers… and then when we're done we can take our walk in the garden?"
Jian's heart seizes. She knew this was coming. There was no way she could have expected such a pleasant evening without paying for it somehow. But still, she doesn't want him inside her again, claiming every part of her for his own. "Alright." She begins to slide out of the flimsy red dress.
The archon catches her hand. "Are you sure?"
Her cheeks flame. "Not really. Just- be gentle? Please?"
He shakes his head. "Never mind. Let's go for a walk."
Shit. "No, I can-"
"Don't worry about it. A walk sounds great."
"Alright." She bites her lip, realizing she needs to ask for yet another concession. "May I return to my room to change into something warmer?"
"There's no need," the archon says as he stands. "I'm sure there's something in my female clothing closet that will fit you. Take your pick."
Following his gesture, Jian enters a small room hung with women's clothing of every style she can imagine. Automatically, she reaches for a set of armor that looks very much like wraithbone, but forces herself to pick something more realistic for the situation. An embroidered tunic and matching leggings, somewhat scratchy but otherwise comfortable, present themselves and she changes quickly, folding her dress on a chair before she leaves. She tries not to think about his reasons for having a closet full of women's clothing.
The archon has also changed when she emerges, redressed in a soft grey shirt and fresh pants, and he's put on boots. He offers her his arm and leads her out of the room.
They use an elevator she's not familiar with, but Jian quickly realizes it takes them to the bottom of the spire and out into another segment of the gardens. For a long time, the only sound is their feet crunching on the gravel path.
Jian breaks the silence first. "Thank you for indulging me. I promise I will join you in bed the next time."
He pulls her closer, moving his hand to rest on the small of her back. "Don't worry about it, dear, it's what you needed."
Her eyes burn and she's not sure exactly why. "Thank you for buying me."
"It was nothing. I just cannot believe my luck that I found you when I did."
"The luck was all mine, I assure you." In the moment, she's speaking both truth and lies, feeling a strange kinship with him even as she remembers the sick, empty feeling of lying at his side, too exhausted and used up to move.
The archon doesn't seem to notice any of her mixed feelings though, turning to face her directly and running his hand along her jawline. "I know we are still in Commorragh, but I don't want you to feel unsafe at all, do you hear me? If there is anything or anyone that makes you afraid, just tell me and I'll take care of it." Not giving her time to respond, he presses her to his chest, bending to encircle as much of her in his embrace as possible.
Jian holds still, afraid to move. Unsure if she wants to.
"Thank you for giving me a chance, Vixen" he whispers. His lips brush the top of her head.
They stand like that for long minutes as Jian feels the wind tug at her clothes and hears the thin, bone-white trees that surround the path rustling their leaves together. "Jian. My name was Jian."
He starts. "That's a very pretty name. Do you mind if I call you that instead of Vixen?"
Jian shakes her head. She's not sure why she admitted it. Perhaps she simply didn't want to be Vixen, the helpless doll with no future. And now that she's passed through that doorway, she's even less sure if it was the right decision. But now that she is here, there's no more use pretending: she is indeed Jian, the same girl who walked the path of a warrior, the one who was beaten and held in the ship and forced to dance until she was nothing. The same girl who has a father and a lover waiting for someone they'll never see. "That would be acceptable," she breathes.
"My real surname is Levrain, not Aire."
She looks up at the archon, confused.
"I wanted to separate myself from the corsair life I once led, and to leave the door open to rejoining it should the need arise. I just thought you should know."
Jian nods. "You don't want me to call you that, then?"
"It is private, yes. My Lord or Master will do in public, and Valthiel when we are alone, or Val if you prefer something a bit more intimate." He releases her from his grasp and resumes guiding her along the garden path. "Is there anything else you would like to know about me?"
A chance to learn more about the man who will possess her for the foreseeable future seems too rare to pass up. "You said you never knew your parents. So how did you know to come here, that there was a throne waiting for you? If I may ask."
"Of course. I originally came as an ordinary corsair, and while doing business in the city, I encountered one of the elder sisters of the kabal. They had apparently been looking for the heir to the throne for a while."
Jian looks up at his expression. She's impressed with his ability to tell such a story with a straight face. Although she supposes it has little effect on whether it's true or not. His position would be difficult to maintain without the ability to lie seamlessly. "They let a mon'keigh travel here?"
He smiles indulgently. "No, by then I had worked my way up from my humble beginnings and commanded a crew of our own people."
"Oh, yes. You had mentioned that before. I'm sorry." She'd forgotten in her analysis. When no reprimand is forthcoming, she tries another question. "Have you ever been to a craftworld?"
"Hard as that may be to believe, I have, several times in fact."
"Which ones?" It's unlikely he's ever seen Yme-loc, but still, her curiosity gets the best of her.
"Saim-hann once, Ulthwe twice, and Kel'terath countless times. Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering if we had traveled to any of the same places. I haven't though."
The archon looks at her sidelong. "Would you like to?"
"I don't know. I certainly dreamed of it once…" With a pang, she wonders what would have happened if she had followed her impulse to join the Path of the Mariner. She would be at home with her father and Reena, and perhaps with her fate in some other aeldari's hands, her mother might not have-
"Which one would you like to see first? Ulthwe or Saim-hann?"
"Either, I - " Jian cuts herself off, realizing who she's speaking to. She cannot, will not become a participant in the doom of yet more of her people. "It doesn't matter."
"We will see where fate takes us, then." He leans in to kiss her. "It's the least I can do."
Jian kisses back.
The rest of the afternoon is unremarkable. The pair wander through the gardens, which are more extensive than Jian realized even on her trip to the other spire. She admires the beauty and diversity of the species represented and the archon explains the uses of some of them at length, but the conversation topics remain light. She's grateful for this- nothing will make this new acceptance of her fate worse than being forced to keep talking about it.
Eventually, she excuses herself to keep her meeting with Lynx and he escorts her back to her room, leaving her at the door.
As she enters, she finds the other woman sprawled across her bed, reading a book. "Hello?" she asks cautiously.
Lynx looks up with a smile. "Hello there. You took your sweet time, didn't you?"
"I'm sorry…"
"Don't worry about it." The other woman waves dismissively. "Did you have fun at least?"
"I think I did actually?" At least as long as she doesn't think about it too long.
"Ooooh? Please, do tell me while we walk over to my quarters."
So Jian follows her back out and into the gardens, describing her day and evening with the archon as she does. At first, she tries to keep her phrasing vague, to not dwell on the confusion that her happiness still brings her, but Lynx keeps pressing for more details until she has explained nearly everything. Except for her moments of agony over the sink, of course.
Lynx nods as she finishes. "This is very good, very good. Do you want me to use your name as well? Or is that strictly for the archon's ears only?"
Jian sighs. "It's Jian. You may use it if you want." If she has accepted the situation, there's no point in being coy.
"It's nice to meet you, Jian. I hope that means you're starting to feel a bit better about your time here with us?"
Jian is saved from having to respond by the view that opens up as they round a corner in the tall hedge they've been following for the last several minutes. A small stream flows over a bed of stones and under a bridge of intricately latticed black metal and pale wood. Beyond, lush grass covers the open center of a grove of heavy dark fallen trees, while a small cabin sits at the far end, pressed against the encroaching forest. "It's beautiful."
"Thank you so much. I like to think so as well. And privacy is a valuable commodity, don't you think?"
"Very much so. Valthiel must value you greatly." Jian says as she speeds up a bit to draw even with Lynx as they finish crossing the bridge.
"I hope so, yes," replies Lynx. Her ears are turning a bit pink.
"I think he does. Every time your name comes up, it's clear he trusts you a lot."
Lynx stops and bites her lip. "I wouldn't know… I haven't talked with him much lately."
Impulsively, Jian grabs the drukhari and wraps her in a hug. "I'm sorry."
"Thank you. I… appreciate that."
"Let me know if there's anything I can do."
"Just…" Lynx sighs. "Remind him that I still exist, will you?"
"He said he'd like to see you, when we're done here. Both of us, actually."
Jian doesn't need to be a seer to notice the change in Lynx's demeanor. "Oh? Really? Why?"
"I don't know. He just said he was happy I was spending time with you and that we were welcome to join him after."
"It sounds like a plan, then." Lynx resumes walking towards the cabin. "But for the moment, let's enjoy a game and some wine."
Sitting across from Jian, Lynx hands her a goblet of liquid, such a brilliant red that it almost seems orange. A bottle joins the chess pieces on the table and Lynx helps finish setting up the board with deft fingers.
Jian takes a sip. "Gods, this is amazing." It has a sweet, fruity note, but still somehow clear and sharp, a cool knife on her tongue.
"Thank you. I like to wrap up the day with a glass or two." Lynx moves a pawn forward.
Matching her, Jian replies. "That is one thing I can say about my time here: all of the food has been amazing."
"The Kabal of the Ashen Rose grows a lot of its own crops, and our connections with the corsairs enable us to get things from offworld as well. One of the lesser benefits of having our own pocket dimension in the city."
"Commorragh is a lot larger than I thought it could be."
Lynx pulls out an adjacent pawn. "I've heard that before. I suppose it proves the brilliance of our technology at the height of the empire."
"I can barely comprehend how large it is. Not that I got a proper look at it while I was outside." She shivers involuntarily at the reminder of what happened before she arrived here.
"You didn't miss much, trust me. Commorragh is not a tourist friendly city."
"I know." Jian looks down at her lap. She's certainly seen more of it than she ever thought in her worst nightmares that she would.
Placing a hand on top of Jian's, Lynx speaks quietly. "This place here isn't too bad, though. Especially not when you get a slice of it all your own." She adjusts her position and tops up Jian's glass. "Not that it beats realspace."
"Have you spent much time there?" Jian asks in surprise. As far as she knows, Lynx has lived her entire life in Commorragh. Although, she reflects, she knows little of who she was before their meeting.
"Oh, yes. When Valthiel still traveled with his corsair crew, I went with him. It was amazing." She smiles fondly.
"Do you have any stories you want to tell me?" Jian moves a knight over her line of pawns, into the playing field of the board.
It seems as though Lynx was simply waiting for an invitation. She launches into a narrative, painting a vivid picture of the Four Winds corsairs, of which the archon was a member. It becomes clear to Jian that the eldar love for a tale well told has not been lost in their dark kin. Lynx recounts a long and bloody campaign against a pack of mon'keigh aligned with She Who Thirsts, ending in the death of one of the men who commands the eponymous four sections of the fleet, but the ultimate victory of the corsairs. Despite the multiple glasses of wine she drinks while listening, Jian notices that the descriptions of the chaos cultists and their mad deeds sound rather like the horror stories she's heard about Commorragh's haemonculi covens. More interesting still is the almost son-like relationship that the archon seems to have had with Jhovar, the so-called Iron General and another of the four princes of the winds.
By the time Lynx has finished, they've long since abandoned their game and are well into a second bottle of wine. The brew is strong and Jian finds that Lynx has curled herself onto the couch next to her, Jian's own head resting against her shoulder. The stream is barely visible from this far away, but she can just make out a bit of silver near the edge of the grove. Another glass of wine is in her hand- her fourth, she thinks.
Lynx hums in pleasure. "This is quite nice, actually. I'll admit that I didn't expect to enjoy your company as much as I do."
"I had fun too. Thank you for spending time with me." Even in the pleasurable buzz of intoxication, Jian can still remember her manners.
"Any time, sweetie." Lynx runs her hands through Jian's hair. "We have to do it again, soon."
"Of course!" Everything feels warm and golden, a sort of rightness that she knows will disappear as soon as the alcohol fades. Yet this doesn't bother her. Her tongue moves without her asking. "I like having a friend." Friendship? Is that what this is? She doesn't trust Lynx with her thoughts, can't imagine letting her into her pain or telling her about her home… but there is an undeniable connection between them as well. An understanding, perhaps.
"I can't imagine they're in ample supply here, no. I'm happy to know you as well." She pauses and Jian can feel her attention wandering before she speaks again. "How about you? Do you have any tales of adventure or excitement you want to share?"
"Not really, the -" she stops. Her words tumble over one another and she forces herself to reorient. "The trip where I was captured was my first expedition off world as an aspect warrior. I had been in combat before, but only minor skirmishes." She barely remembers her other battles, a blur of movement and death locked in whatever part of her spirit holds her war mask now.
"I'm sorry to hear that. We'll have to make sure Valthiel takes you with him on all his adventures now, won't we?" She leans her head against Jian's.
"Okay. You'll be there too, right?"
"Of course." Jian can feel Lynx's head move to look at her more directly. "You really don't like being alone, do you?"
"It gives me too much time to think." Much as she hates the idea of being with the archon every day for the rest of her life, the thought of spending endless hours in Commorragh with nothing but her own mind is far worse.
"I understand." She moves down to stroke Jian's ear, an intimate contact that makes her stiffen slightly even in the relaxed pleasantness the wine has brought on. "Would you like it if I set up a cot in here so you could stay the night whenever you want?"
"I don't want to put you to any trouble…"
"Don't worry about it." Her hand slides across Jian's shoulders, stroking them.
"What are you doing?" The contact feels… nice. Too nice. But she's too comfortable to really get upset about it.
"Just… enjoying the moment."
Jian falls silent for a while as her mind floats away, then back to herself. She could fall asleep like this. "Why do you live here, by yourself?"
"Several reasons." Lynx's caresses are working their way down Jian's body. "I like my independence. And I don't… mix well with the other sisters in the kabal. This way they stay out of my way and I stay out of theirs. Win-win."
This seems to make sense. "It's beautiful. The archon must value you highly."
"I wouldn't know. I'm sure he does, but we don't really talk about such things."
"He gave you this place, didn't he? He must like you on some level," Jian says as the pace of the massage increases. She can feel herself growing almost aroused, something in her responding to the gentle touch, but she can't bring herself to bat the hand away.
"He's one of the good ones for sure."
"I don't think he would do that if he didn't like you." She's not conveying what she feels properly, but she hopes Lynx understands. Suddenly, she blurts "He said he loved me."
Instantly, she can feel Lynx tense. A few heartbeats pass before she speaks. "He did? When?"
"This morning. When we were sleeping on the couch. He wasn't awake all the way." Now that Lynx has stopped stroking her, she finds herself drifting back towards sleep.
"I see…" The stiffness leaves Lynx's posture and she sighs quietly. "You likely shouldn't confront him about it. It will only embarrass him."
Jian nods. She has no intention of doing it. The thought of him feeling for her whatever passes for love in this place is horrifying. To be even more dominated and possessed…
Her train of thought is interrupted as Lynx slides her hand into the front of her robe. "Hey! What are you doing?" Her voice comes out less firm and defined than she'd like it too.
"Like I said, just enjoying the moment." Lynx bends down and nibbles on her ear. "Do you mind?"
"Yeah…"
"Ah." She removes her hand and pulls away, wrapping her arms around herself. "Is this better, then?"
"Mmm-hmm." She's so tired.
"Very well." Even in her half-asleep state, Jian can detect an undercurrent of hurt in her voice. A moment later, a blanket drapes over her body and a pillow slides under her head. "Sleep well, sweetie."
"Thank you," Jian manages to mumble in response.
"Don't worry. It's my pl-"
Before she can finish her response, Jian is asleep.
The former Banshee lies on the couch in the pile of blankets and cushions as her slumber fills with visions of her past failures and regrets, the painful memories that she tries so hard to ignore.
On the other side of the clearing, the lhamean sister curls up on the bridge, dangling her fingers in the cool water of the stream until she too falls asleep under the sky, face pressed into the rough boards.
And high above them both, in his richly appointed suite, the archon sits at his desk, rest eluding him as he loses himself in the past.