Chapter Sixteen
Getting into Stormterror's Lair wasn't particularly easy. Sven nearly landed on his head while scrambling down the ruins into the valley, barely managing to right himself at the last second. Meanwhile, Kaeya was deeply grateful for the long length of chain between his wrists. If it had been any shorter, he might've faced serious problems. As it was, climbing down walls with only one hand was next to impossible, and he wound up simply leaping from ledge to ledge.
By the time he made the final jump into the thick grass, stumbling slightly as he landed, he was already feeling a bit of trepidation about their eventual departure from the lonely valley.
Diluc landed beside him with fluid feline grace and shot him a look that could only be described as that of an insufferably smug big brother. Fragments of a thought wisped through Kaeya's mind. Perks… cat, I suppose.
Kaeya sniffed. "Huh, I seem to recall that during the Knight's Exam, I managed to stick the Glider Landing portion even better than you did."
A cat's chortle rippled through his brother's lean body. You… wish.
Smirking, Kaeya retorted softly, "Look it up when we get home, then."
Diluc stuck his tongue out at him.
Pieter's hand caught his uninjured arm in a vise-like grip, and the Fatui murmured, "Keep it down."
Subsiding, Kaeya merely nodded and allowed himself to be pulled along.
Pieter's warning wasn't without merit. Kaeya caught Vlad eying him more than once, but he did his best to remain unconcerned about the sinister implications of the Fatui's interest in him. The quiet Pyroslinger had kept Diluc out of harm's way during Vlad's attempt at interrogation while they were on the boat, and Kaeya was more-or-less confident Pieter would do the same the next time he faced the Fatui Agent. As long as Diluc makes it out of this mess, I can handle anything they throw at me.
His brother trotted beside him, glancing up every so often. His tail flowed behind him, flicking back and forth whenever the Pyro user's train of thought turned dark… usually whenever his crimson eyes landed on Kaeya's manacles. Occasionally, his mental voice teased at the edges of Kaeya's mind, but the knight kept his silence and didn't respond to Diluc's musings.
It took them the better part of the day to even draw near their destination. Pieter worked smoothly to keep Vlad's attention off of Kaeya in the forcibly close quarters, and Sven did his best to help. Kaeya, in turn, made sure Diluc remained as far away from the Fatui Agent as possible. It didn't help when it rained several times on the way, contributing to the strained unease that permeated the group. Finally, as dusk began to fall, Vlad called a halt on the ruins of an ancient foundation.
"We're nearing our new posting, but we won't be able to make it there before nightfall. Hopefully the supplies have arrived, but we'll find out in the morning." His eyes were locked disconcertingly on Kaeya. "And in the meantime, I think it's high time we started collecting information from our captive."
Despite his resolve to stand firm, a chill ran down Kaeya's spine at the satisfaction in the Fatui Agent's voice. Pieter had better keep Diluc far away. He felt a sudden surge of heat by his ankles, and spoke quickly to cover his brother's anger. "Oh, I'm looking forward to this." The corners of his lips lifted in a taunting smirk.
The Fatui Agent struck him across the mouth. Kaeya tasted blood as Pieter hauled him back so fast he almost fell over. Dimly he heard Diluc snarl, but thankfully it was only in his head. You will pay…that!
"Understood, captain," Pieter said calmly. Ignoring the startled sound from near his boots, he continued, "Let's secure the prisoner for now and deal with him after dinner." His gloved hand tightened around Kaeya's arm, but he didn't look at the knight.
Vlad nodded. "No food for him tonight." He turned, calling to Sven, "Get over here and stop lagging so far behind! We're pitching camp here for the night!"
The Pyroslinger all but dragged Kaeya down from the ruined landing to a nearby tree, half sunk in a ruined arch. Kaeya's boots skidded across the damp grass as he resisted slightly. Through clenched teeth, Pieter hissed, "Trust me."
Narrowing his eye, Kaeya allowed himself to be chained to the tree. He flicked his tongue cautiously around his mouth to clean the blood from his teeth and verify that there was no major damage. Satisfied, he whispered to Pieter, "Make sure Diluc is either far away from here or unconscious when Vlad starts."
Pieter's hands stilled. "Diluc? That's his name?" He looked around sharply for the cat.
A furious Khaenri'an word slipped unbidden from Kaeya. I didn't mean to let him know Diluc's name!
Resuming his work after a long moment, Pieter hissed back, "I have a plan. Just trust me." He lengthened the chain and looped it once around Kaeya's waist and once around his upper arms, effectively pinning him to the slim tree.
Kaeya watched closely as the Pyroslinger stood straight and returned to the landing, where Vlad was waiting impatiently. Pieter glanced back at him once or twice, but the Cryo user was far enough away that he could barely hear the conversations as the Fatui team set about getting their camp up for the night. Pieter had started a fire and was just beginning to cobble together a meal from their remaining rations when Kaeya felt a soft warmth twining around his ankles. He nearly shot into the air before realizing who it was. He chuckled slightly as the surge of adrenaline faded.
"Easy there, Dawnbird. You'll cost me a few years off my life, sneaking around like that."
Diluc sat on Kaeya's boots, every fiber of his being focused on the tall Cavalry Captain. I'll… with my life… promise you… won't touch you… die first.
The disjointed message sent alarm spiraling through Kaeya. "Hey! Whatever you're thinking, stop it, Diluc. I'll be fine. I promise. This is nothing, I've faced worse before." Immediately he regretted his words when Diluc recoiled, hurt and guilt warring in his expressive eyes. "No, I didn't mean…" Trailing off and letting out a tired laugh, Kaeya leaned back against the tree and closed his eye. "I must be more worn out than I thought. I'm making all kinds of blunders tonight."
Will protect… won't abandon… I promise, Diluc thought stubbornly at him. Kaeya pretended he didn't hear it. To himself, he thought, I sure hope Pieter has something magnificent up that red sleeve of his. If not, I hope he's able to knock Diluc out faster than my brother reacts.
The Fatui were eating around the fire, and brief snippets of laughter and conversation drifted back from time to time. Kaeya shifted against the tree, wishing the Pyroslinger hadn't chained him quite so tightly. Diluc remained nearby, sitting on Kaeya's boots until the Cryo user moved, then curling up beside Kaeya with dark threats still lingering in his gaze and thoughts. Eventually, Kaeya fell into a light doze, trusting his brother to stay alert for him while he snagged a few minutes of sleep before the ordeal ahead.
oOo
When Diluc growled a low warning, Kaeya came to full consciousness in an instant, barely taking the time to blink before focusing on the tall Pyroslinger walking towards him. He leaned sideways to peer past Pieter, and found to his confusion that the camp was still and quiet. It looks like it's been well over an hour since I fell asleep...
Pieter's hands settled on Kaeya's chains, and he spoke quietly as he slotted the key into one of the locks. "After a full meal of his favorite food, it didn't take much to convince Vlad to deal with you tomorrow. Personally, I don't hold with Vlad's methods, and I doubt that interrogating you would result in much information, anyway. You're not the type to give up secrets easily." When Kaeya's first wrist slid free, Pieter added softly, "And I don't like breaking apart families. What happened with the Phoenix should've been a clear discouragement from this type of thing."
"The… Phoenix?" Kaeya managed to ask, still disoriented from the oddity of his unexpected rescue.
Nodding, Pieter stepped back as Kaeya's other wrist fell loose. "The Phoenix is a legend among the Fatui. He ripped through our forces ruthlessly and was never caught. Several of the Lord Harbingers had to come together to stop him. And rumors say it was because the Fatui were involved in a plot that killed someone close to him." He shrugged. "Even if I didn't believe that family is important, that story alone should make anyone think twice."
Kaeya blinked at him. "But how does that relate to me?"
Pieter's gaze dipped to the cat, braced tensely between the two of them with the barest hint of fire slinking through his fur. Thoughtfully the Fatui said, "I have a feeling that the killing spree we faced last time would be only a taste of what's to come should you die at our hands, Captain Kaeya."
Kaeya went very still. The fingers of his left hand slowly clenched, his mind racing with ways to overpower the armed Pyroslinger should the conversation turn ugly.
"It doesn't matter if this is the Phoenix or not, although I strongly suspect that your quietly refined brother, this cat, and the dreaded legend are all one and the same." Pieter fell silent for a moment as he eyed Diluc, then he continued, "Now then… it's nearly impossible for anyone to know of this, but I need to share a piece of closely guarded information with you. The Phoenix killed a few Fatui so gruesomely that they were never able to be conclusively identified… or so the story goes. In reality, any Fatui who swore to give up the cause was spared. The Phoenix faked their deaths, and in the ever-widening streak of terror that he left in his wake, no one even thought to question it."
"You mean…" Kaeya said slowly.
Pieter carefully knelt to address Diluc directly. "One of the Cicin Mages that you spared was my sister. I have now repaid my debt for my sister's life by freeing your brother and sparing his life, Phoenix." He waited until Diluc offered him a slow, solemn nod, then rose to his feet again and spoke to Kaeya. "Vlad will be furious when he discovers that you're gone, but Sven and I can ride out his fury. We'll survive much better than you would should you linger." He raised a gloved finger to trace a line along the rim of the valley. "I recommend you hug the western edge of the valley as you return, just in case Vlad decides to come after you. You'll be out of the direct path that we took to get here. Oh, and here's your sword and Vision." He handed the items to Kaeya. "Don't worry about Sven. I'll explain things to him later."
Kaeya pursed his lips, then gave Pieter a bow. "My friend, I cannot express my gratitude fully. But if you're ever in need, send us a message." He looked down at Diluc. "We'll find a way to help you. I swear it."
Pieter gave them a tight nod of farewell and strode back towards camp as the brothers melted into the night.