Book 4

Siha: Rise of Rakhana

Part II

Braith relaxes in the cooling springs, aside the hot ones in which some scandalous behavior occurred not more than ten minutes ago. Ylyssus passes her as she glances at his leave, gone to retrieve a towel. From another overhang of stalactites, Casnar emerges tying on the last of his sashes about the silk sleeves of a ba'tran, ready to go find his brother.

He winks at her as he comes over and stooping to kiss her brow, "…That was spectacular…I'm going to check on Tetonbaum, I'll meet you two at dinner…What's wrong?" His lips lift from her brow.

Braith has her arms folded under her chin, aligned along the smooth puddy-bump curves of the natural cave pool…and spring that pours from the ceiling's seam run directly across it, which continuously fills the basin by a sheet of water, making a near-perfect curtain of liquid crystals that reflect Casnar's silhouette and the cavern behind him…Her eyes are distant as she gazes away from him, lost in thought.

"I'm not leaving until you talk to me, Braith."

"I think we need to do something," she finally answers, "…something about Tetonbaum." She lifts her chin.

Casnar's tebris flattens and he ducks his head some to look at her with a skeptical angle, "…Why are you thinking of him?…I hope you weren't thinking of him while we were doing what we just did."

Braith pushes away from the lip of the basin and sinks to her neck in the water, her eyes on her reflection underneath her face, "…He's been alone since Kasumi passed away…What she did…for Jaspin and Jenner," she tilts her ear partially into the water, looking up at him, "…I think we need to do something for Tetonbaum. He's alone. He's…hurting still…"

"It was sixteen years ago," Casnar says testily.

"I realize," she replies.

Casnar sits down on the bumpy ledge, his figure reflected by the water when she doesn't make ripples, "…What do you wish to do, Braith…This can't be another one of your crazy ideas—like going back to Mohouni that time when I could have freed you?"

Braith gazes at his reflection on the water, contemplating the smoothness of his older visage and how handsome he still is after all these years, "…Not nearly as important, I suppose…Remember, I needed to go back for Ylyssus and Little Behe, among others…Casnar," her eyes jump to the actual emeralds in his actual face, "…Promise you won't become angry…"

The handsome visage gets that tension…

"No promises," Casnar says flatly, unwilling to compromise, "…I'm allowed to get angry…particularly when it comes to you and—"

"What's happened," Ylyssus returns to them, a towel partially opened between his hands as he readies it for Braith to be enveloped by, "…Someone do something bad?"

Casnar looks from Ylyssus to Braith and nods, "…She's leading into some question, or a proposal she hasn't quite the confidence in yet, Ylyssus," he pauses and stares at her other husband. "It's to do with Tetonbaum, if you hear her…"

Ylyssus looks expectantly at Braith, his tebris suddenly flattened to his neck much like Casnar's, "…Tetonbaum been sniffing around you, hasn't he…Just like Dolatrafas."

Braith rolls her eyes, "…Ylyssus, it is not—"

"Wait…" Casnar holds up a hand towards her, prompting her to keep that thought unspoken, "…I want to hear what he has to say," and he motions with the same hand, next, to Ylyssus.

Braith nibbles the corner of her lower lip…What do you know, Ylyssus?

Casnar's gaze holds to the other, "…What do you mean, '…he's been sniffing around…' I haven't noticed anything…"

"You won't, Sered," Ylyssus gestures to Braith with a hand still holding a corner of the towel, "…When she's alone, or with the twins even, Jenner and Jaspin have seen him looking at her…The looks are…" He rolls his shoulders, struggling with it a little, "…longer than they should be intended to a woman—married to three husbands…Gods rest Cemal's spirit," he says out of respect for Braith and the deceased, "…And since Kasumi died, Tetonbaum has behaved a certain way…Jenner and Jaspin have begun to notice their uncle not behaving that way, what in recent times…"

"And what way is that," Casnar, his voice soft and tense at the same moment.

Braith can hear his rising anger, like thunder with the storm miles off…but fast approaching…

"It's as Jenner says it," Ylyssus continues, sensing Casnar's impatience well as she, "…'He's looking for something'…Maybe memories, I can't know for certain…Braith's partly human and she looks like Kasumi—but for those lovely freckles, Braith," his smile withers, "…Did Tetonbaum do something—while you were away with him?…" The old ire and jealousy rears its two-prong-tongued asp's head, for Ylyssus remembers having the same feelings he'd had to endure whenever Braith went off with her Behedins…

…And Dolatrafas was there with her…He hated that, not being able to protect her from one who was supposed to…

Casnar stands abruptly. "He would never do anything like that..." Casnar glares at Ylyssus, "…After all these years, for you to say such a thing about my brother—"

Braith holds up her hands, stopping what argument may ensue. Casnar and Ylyssus could ruin something beautiful they've enjoyed with her for so many years, …All over a lie if I do not confess now. This moment, I must be ready, though I feel unprepared, "…Stop. Both of you. There will be no conflict between us…Yes," Casnar and Ylyssus turn their heads sharply to face her, Braith's torso rising from the water and dripping silverlike streams broadly over her skin as she comes up the rocks, out onto the ledge of the basin. "Something did happen, but it was a small thing, and it has helped me to understand what the next best step might be going forward…"

"No," Ylyssus beats Casnar to saying this, "…Tell us what he did to you, Braith…As your husbands, we deserve to know."

She takes the towel from him and Ylyssus parts from his hard posturing to help wrap it around her naked form, his brow scales tightened with apprehension as to what she may share…His hand tucks the towel between her breasts, and Braith looks up at him, "…You really don't have to know, you do realize…Do you really want to?"

Both of them nod…Of course, she thinks, …Can't spare them the self-inflicted torment, can I…

( …Braith… )

…There's Tetonbaum's voice again?…

( …I'm coming to them… )

She glances downward in confusion and alarm…Casnar and Ylyssus are waiting. She ignores it, the voice having ceased in any case...Braith holds the towel about her and looks at each of them.

"…Very well," she takes a breath, refocusing, "…Tetonbaum kissed me…On the ship."

"He did not!" Casnar almost yelps with a strained control—and a forced laugh, "…If he did it would have only been a thanks for saving him…" He continues to chuckle to help ease his mounting anxiety, "…That's why you wanted to do something…You felt…"

Braith stares at Casnar, then loops her arms around Ylyssus's neck to pull him into a kiss with her—long, slow, firmly as she cups his buttock with one hand and lifts him onto the balls of his feet (with help by her biotic power to do this).

Ylyssus parts from her, his jade-tiger eyes settling heatedly with a silent Casnar's own, "…That was quite the thank you kiss."

She passes between them. Casnar and Ylyssus watch her go over to a bureau that has a place among the caverns, and she opens the drawers, "…It wasn't a thank you…He's been having trouble coping with his loss of Kasumi…I remind him of her…I think when he touches me, he experiences stronger memories of their time together and he's beginning to need it more…"

"The twins and I were right," Ylyssus says sadly.

She starts to dress in her dinner clothes after toweling off, "…Next time could be worse…Therefore," she takes a breath, bracing, "…I am going to suggest we consider adding Tetonbaum into our rites of mitan'celae..."

"No," Casnar says firmly, "…Absolutely not!"

She glances at both of them with her gray eyes, "…It's not a request…I'm not asking…" She succinctly pulls on her silks and wraps her legs, Casnar and Ylyssus adjusting themselves to avoid engaging in any further sexual endeavors with their tempting wife, "…I'm going to make the offer tonight, and see what he says after dinner…The rites are open."

"As your first husband," Casnar growls into the step he takes, his fingers jabbing downwards emphatically, "…I forbid you to invite any new mates into the rites of mitan'celae…We have each other and that is enough!…And adding a blood-kin into this marriage—"

"Is going to have its complications, I foresee," Braith replies, ( …But as matriarch, ) she transitions into Rakhïken, cinching sashes about her shoulders, ( …I have given you both heirs…Ultimately as your mistress, I make the decisions…I choose to add Tetonbaum to our marriage—if he accepts. )

"I have to protest, Braith," Ylyssus joins Casnar in his stance against her choice, "…We have always had the understanding it was us—Cemal was a slight bother, but this…This is Tetonbaum, Casnar's half-brother…He—"

"Don't you understand we need him." Braith finishes tying the silk panels down over her breasts and to her waist, "…He gave up his own wife so we could be." She glares at them. "The twins were safe because of her sacrifice…Don't be so selfish, you two—You have had all of me…Now is the time to be generous—"

"Generous!" Casnar storms across, pulling up short of Braith as she straightens to his sudden loss of temper,"…I will not be fucking my wife after my half-brother has violated her for his own personal self-therapy!"

"He needs me to help him," she says crossly back, "…I'm the one who reminds him…"

"Is this a terrible time…" Tetonbaum comes quietly away from the stalagmite covering the view from the stairway leading down to the lower level from which he'd come.

Braith sucks in sharply, "…Tetonbaum…No…"

Casnar and Ylyssus have whipped their heads towards his presence in the caverns, both their expressions murderous…

Casnar pulls out a knife, prompting Ylyssus to do the same with his…

Tetonbaum, somewhat surprised by their vehemence, "…I will leave."

"Find me later, Tetonbaum—" Braith looks at her husbands' weapons.

"I have decided to leave," Tetonbaum clarifies adamantly, "…to leave permanently."

"Why…Why would you do that…" Braith's face turns back to him from Casnar and Ylyssus who have paused their advance to attack him...

Tetonbaum looks down at the floor of the cavern, "…I have violated my brother's trust. I dread things will become difficult for us to remain together, as we were. Before further mistakes might be made, I would like to depart...Go my own way, Sered…Braith…Ylyssus," he glances at each of them as he says their names.

Braith glares at Casnar and mouths, …Stop…She turns to Tetonbaum. "Don't leave…We were discussing a resolution—"

"We surely were not!" Casnar snaps out. Braith approaches Tetonbaum, faint blue-white tendrils rising from her form...Casnar and Ylyssus see Tetonbaum's sapphire eyes drop to the ground again…

"…We were discussing inviting you into our family," Braith goes on, her voice developing a deeper resonance, "…I'll even give you a son..."

Their eyes, but for Braith's, widen. "That," Tetonbaum stares at her, "…That won't be necessary…"

Braith puts her hands on his wrists, lifting his large palms to place on her breasts, "…I think it quite the opposite…" She slides his palms down over her nipples…down over her ribs…to her belly, pulling the silks smoothed over it, and Tetonbaum glances at his hands with hers controlling these, "…Unless you were hoping for something else, Tetonbaum Soterios…"

She leans forward and kisses him. His eyes move to the others…

Casnar and Ylyssus suddenly stride forward. "No," Casnar's menjaga rises, his face tight, "…Damn no!"

Braith parts from Tetonbaum and gazes up at his sapphires, "…Found who you were looking for, Tetonbaum?…Or were you expecting…"

"…I…"

Her eyes light up with blue-white flames.

"…Where are they…"

Tetonbaum leaps backwards, "…Time to come home—Casnar, Ylyssus!"

The Great Enmity lunges.

Tetonbaum's power—formed into a huge asthur—clashes with it...Blue-white magma is sent to the far reaches of the cavern, "…Casnar! Ylyssus!" Tetonbaum shouts for them to hear him in the shard's Path…The Great Enmity de-combines with Tetonbaum's power, the powerful asthur's head coiling back on a thick neck over great shoulders, and in the midst of its blue form stands Tetonbaum, watching now the emerged enemy that Cemal and the morthwyls last shared with Braith—to warn her of the terror that extinguished them in Bangal'roux.

The Enmity takes another step backwards, "…Musaphat's Child," the Enmity reverbs through the dimming chambers, fading into darkness. "…Give us the abominations…They are slander against his name…"

"What are you," Tetonbaum's voice echoes into the abyss.

Two silhouettes begin to appear beside him, called by the exchange.

One on his right, Casnar.

The other on his left, Ylyssus.

"I am his harbinger," the Enmity thunders, magma and fire pouring from its body, bipedal in nature with hulking shoulders, ravenous mouth of flames, "…I am his captain…These pair…" Its eyes seem to settle on Casnar and Ylyssus, standing protected within Tetonbaum's power, warily waiting for the Great Enmity to try and strike out at Tetonbaum again.

"…Know where they hide…"

"Who is He…Whom do you obey," Casnar demands, his voice very real.

"…I am the Great Enmity…I am his cleansing fires…The Voice of His Greatness shall find the abominations…"

"Who sent you!" Casnar screams.

"…When there is nothing, he fills the void…He has waited for his time to return—unopposed by the machines…" The Enmity recedes, holding out the bowl of its claws to them: to witness what gift the Enmity leaves for their sights.

"…I return with good news to him who will reward I for my cleverness and patience…" Braith and the twins form in the stage of the Great Enmity's dripping palms of blue-white flames. Ylyssus and Casnar cry out suddenly as if in pain and anguish…

"…He will send for them…Your cherished, Tetonbaum Soterios," the Enmity whispers, "…will die—unless you choose her life over withholding the abominations'…" The ephemeral form—without doubt, a model of Kasumi growing upwards in a spiral and reaching for Tetonbaum before throwing her hands up in self-defense of something come from above her—joins Braith and the twins, Jaspin and Jenner…The blue-white claws close over them, reabsorbing them.

Tetonaum gasps with the others, Casnar and Ylyssus.

"…Fight him," the Enmity warns, "…or aid him, and you will be rewarded with your heart's happiness…The Mechinist comes…Make your choices wisely…"