045 Steady
Character: Shadow Blade
Enre jolted awake as the door to the room opened. He was sitting at the window, having drifted off while waiting for his wife's return. She'd only gone out to get them a bite to eat, and it had taken her longer to return than he had expected. He grumbled, annoyed at how much time had been wasted. He froze when he saw her, and realized she was shaking and that there was blood splattered over her. Enre moved across the room and put a hand on her shoulder, trying to steady her.
He led her into the room, locking their door before he set to work. Enre stripped her clothing and moved into the bathroom. He filled a tub and put the clothing inside to soak them. He then grabbed a rag and a small bowl, filling it with water. With rag and bowl in hand, he moved back out to the main room. He set the bowl down on a table beside their bed. Enre moved over, taking his wife's hand and leading her over to sit down beside the table. He carefully dipped the rag in the water and started to dab away the blood on her face.
Enre had expected one day that his wife would be faced with violence, with death; but he hadn't expected her to react this way. "What happened?"
"I killed Vart," Ahwu answered. Enre stared up at her for a moment, looking her over. Ahwu was skilled with a blade, but he'd never expected her to be shaken by killing someone. Ahwu stared down at him, reaching out to grip his empty chair. "Enre, what will they do when they find out?"
His mandibles went a bit slack in his surprise; he should have known better. Enre chuckled lightly as he relaxed. "And here I thought you were upset about having killed someone."
Ahwu growled at him. "Of course I'm not upset about that. He attacked me, I had every right to kill him. He wouldn't be dead if he'd kept a better grip on his sword." The female Sangheili snapped her mandibles. "What will the Kaidon do if he finds out?"
Enre huffed at the question. "Vart was a Field Master. The Kaidon will never expect a female to have managed it. If he suspects me, than I shall make up some questioning of my honor that will be accepted."
Ahwu seemed to still be a bit uneasy. "But what will happen if he finds out?" She persisted. Enre could see a sort of fear in her eyes. She feared for their children, for him, and for their dreams. Yet there was no regret for her actions, or fear of what might become of her if their leaders found out.
Enre knelt down on the floor before her. "He will not find out. He is blind to your skill, and too stuck in the old ways to even consider the truth. Now, tell me what happened. You said Vart had a sword?"
Ahwu hesitated for a moment before she started to explain. "I went to get us some food, but when I got to the kitchens the Unggoy had let the fires get low and the food was all cold. I woke them up, scolded them, and decided to head back here as cold food seemed only a mood killer. On my way back, Vart confronted me. He said he knew I'd been practicing with a sword, and threatened to inform the Kaidon in order to get me exiled, and take away my mating rights." Ahwu clenched her hands. "I told him he had no proof, and that he was just boasting. I told him I couldn't be pushed around like he does with his wife, and that he was just jealous of how skilled our children are compared to his. That was when he attacked me." Ahwu clicked her mandibles in annoyance. "He has been out of the field too long. His swings were slow and his form worse than a child. I disarmed him and swung the sword, trying to get him to step back. He stepped forward instead. Just like that he was dead." Ahwu looked down to the ground. "I did not realize how easily he would die. In a fraction of a second and he was dead, lying in a pool of blood."
"We are strong of will and skill, but out bodies are only soft flesh." Blade's finger poked her side, making her jump a bit as he illustrated how soft her flesh was. "Our will and skill are what keep us alive, he let both soften, leaving him with no true armor." Enre leaned toward her. "You have made your first kill, Love. It was a good kill of a high ranked soldier." Enre rumbled deeply. "Am I the only one who is in the mood for some mating?" His hand moved up to her neck, gently touching her skin. "Come, Wife, the Keep is in need of more strong and intelligent offspring."
Ahwu leaned forward, resting her forehead against his. "I think that that is a wonderful idea."