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"Braith was romantically involved with you?"
"Were a family even…Little Behe…was born, and her addition made us one, although…all raised her—more or less…She drowned."
"Little Behe—Konis Traus's daughter."
"…Mia'tonia Termon-Diascha, too, the blood mother. She healed Braith after her caton whipping…"
"A caton?"
"Five-clawed whip." He lifts up his silk sleeve about his waist—scars line across his belly. He lowers the silk, "…It can be lethal if one is too vigorous with the application of the lashes…Mia'tonia, she did not want the child. Warned us Little Behe would die. She wanted to spare herself pain, believing she would love Little Behe…The father does not know Little Behe ever existed."
"Or so you believe."
"You…and Braith…took the child on when she was born."
"Braith's idea…Raise the child, educate her and train her to hunt like Behedins, then one day go find the father, kill Konis as vengeance…That was what Braith wanted."
"…Braith trained the child in hope of unleashing her against a violent father…Which could have been fatal for the young one…Braith must have changed."
"He raped two drellahnas and ordered the murder of Braith's father."
"Braith's father?"
"Was here on Rakhana…Mia'tonia's husband. Braith was also assaulted by one of Konis's Drells—a dead drell by the name Shala…He does not realize that he is dead yet…Whatever she wanted to teach Little Behe would only be the drellahna's right to know the truth of her origin. Little Behe would inevitably want to find him, confront the father…What would be? Well…Does it matter? The child is with our gods."
"Was Braith ever…assaulted by Konis."
"She did not speak about her time with him to me, but it is known he forced a Fumiaksa in her…Her body passed it…with my help…Anyway, she was seen with him by a friend to she and I…He said she was afraid of him…"
"Braith has faced Reapers."
"Reapers?"
"You don't know what Reapers are…"
"Bypassed." I gesture to the di'leans.
"Skeptical still…Regardless of current state of technological stasis…Braith's fearless…What's a drell got to make her afraid of him."
He taps the side of his mug. "She was vulnerable…"
"Tyrannus venom addiction was also a problem for her…"
"Was Braith capable of coping?"
"Not well in the start. She tried to kill herself by caton, remember I told you this, Nefen Lawson."
"You said her father was here…How long was he here?"
"Here, of all things…Married to a drellahna no less…"
"Never the chance to meet…Konis fed the man to wyrrtuns—a canyon on the way to Mohouni, that's where it happened…Never made it to Aspah's city, now owned by Casnar since he razed through the city with his barra, killed Aspah in retribution, rescued me…and took what knowledge I had of Braith to his own heart and mind."
"Are you sure it was the father…"
"…You never saw him."
"There was verification between the two of them…Mia'tonia was healing Braith when I learned of the traumatic incident…She informed me it was Braith's father who died, but did not say it was her husband…Braith told me that part later when she was recovering…Braith barely had time to know who he was before he was murdered…I don't think she ever really accepted it either, to be frank."
"How did he know Mia'tonia, who was she…There weren't parents alive that we knew of…To be sure—before Lazarus committed to her reconstruction—we found no records of the parents…Right, so let's believe Braith met her father before he died, here, on Rakhana…Who else hurt her."
"Aspah used me…It was to keep her obedient when she was away from him, hunting with the Behedins and among the morthwyls who listened to her…He was afraid, as I have said."
"How did he use you…Prisoner…It's obvious there were benefits you enjoyed with her…Were you abusive to her?"
"We were friends and lovers…Among Sereptas, Tyrannus in the city, Morthwyls, and especially Behedin…Aspah threatened to torture me or send me to the mines if she rebelled or neglected her responsibilities to his Behedins…She let things happen to her that shouldn't have happened…All to protect me."
"Casnar wiped-out Mohouni…Everyone but the enslaved?"
"Aspah," he smiles, "…had Braith sleep with him to earn his release of her—She wanted to find Mia'tonia, to inform her Little Behe had died…Casnar came to find me so he could learn where Braith had disappeared to, and I took the opportunity to inform him of what the papir'aia had done to her…Casnar killed Aspah with his own cutlery, and the barra razed the city, killed every burrell who did not lay down their weapons, freed the slaves and took ownership of Mohouni…It did not bring us Braith back, but to see Aspah's blood," he wipes his eyes of tears, "…It was Tetonbaum who found me and cut me down from the wires they hooked me onto, flaying my front at their last living direction by their master…Now those who tortured me must find new orders from the Dead…It did not bring Braith back, but it was a savage, wonderful vengeance…I will forever serve the house of the true Sousan and Soterios bloodlines for it."
"What Casnar…did…actually legal?"
"The first insult originated from Bentara. I am a removed-th'ane, dropped to Serepta tierrea, and I may never harm Aspah though I wished to…Tyrannus to Tyrannus may attack in kind. Casnar is also descended from the forefather of the tierreas…Sousan sons and daughters and their progeny have almost omnipotent power to rule as they will…Merce'des has ways of countering this though…The Sousan rule this continent, though they say they share the power with all membership in the Craig of Umay."
"…Actions cannot be without their consequences, legal or otherwise."
"Casnar's house faces no scrutiny." He hands Miranda an empty mug, "…Thank you for the tea…His allies in the Craig make the majority."
"Opinions can change."
"Injunctions and calls of betrayal have been proposed and shouted by those against the House of Sousan-Soterios."
"Injunctions? Injunctions of what kind…and betrayal of who?"
"Years back, Casnar made a trade deal with those on the other side of the ocean—We call them the Suighan, and they are importing Casnar's durril and Blue Durriya for resources from their lands…Opposition to Casnar seeks to stop his export of product from Nualavera and direct the trade imports from Suiaghana through Umay…"
"So they can get their hands on it?"
"…Covet thy neighbor, and his fortunes."
"…You are a th'ane of Merce'des…What of betrayals?…Tied in with trade to the Suighan instead of thy neighbor?"
"Point," he confirms.
"It will do little to harm him, Casnar and his family."
"Yes, but they will go to extreme to trouble him…Konis and his Al'Kin are helping his enemies by distracting Casnar from what he needs to do…Death, kidnapping, they will use everything to tax him as much as they can, and then downright try to kill him when they are bold enough…"
"Konis Traus is already so bold."
"What happens when—if the Kerhasi accomplishes either tactic."
"The house falls into isolation from the Birutise'aha Drell clans. It would only allow them to act without oversight by the Craig, however. The Kerhasi do what they will…Long gone the wisdom—replaced by self-interest and ego. We share this planet, Casnar and his house knows this. The house-clan is supported by very ancient alliances that hold true to this day, and Casnar seeks more strength in his new alliance with the Suighan…They will protect each other if the need is great enough. Those who seek to attack the house-clan of Pilar shall only find their efforts ineffective, weak—particularly if they insult the other races."
"Casnar seems better-off than was to be believed, not hearing what Ylyssus has told us."
The cavern is cool, but their area is warm, what with the fire. Thane's eyes open from sleep. Moving his head, he looks at the others nearby.
They are huddled around the fire, heat added by the presence of Ki'ana and Tegal—the di'leans awake and churring softly. Their gold eyes fix on him, seeing he is the first to stir from slumber. Thane sits up, looks down upon the outline of hips and shoulder beside him, in her gray suit.
As she wakes and her eyes open, the biotic barrier that has been carefully umbrella'ed around them on the ground fades and so does the light emitting from her eyes—to return to their cool blue irises and whites of sclerae. "It's time to leave, Thane…"
"I am awake," he says as she rolls halfway and lowers her arm to her side. He places a kiss on her brow. "You will stay here and wait." Aside them Grunt issues a bubbling snore from his sleep. Garrus makes a sigh and starts to sit up. Miranda's eyes follow Thane up as he rises to his legs and checks the cavern for everyone. "Where is Ylyssus?" he asks suddenly as he turns his head to scan the section of cavern they occupy. Fire lightens the shadows faintly among the nooks and crags in the walls.
"Check the mouth, Thane." Garrus provides an answer, "…He couldn't sleep and told me before I hit the ground for a few winks he'd be waiting to see you out."
He is where Garrus says Thane should find him—among the wagon materials at the east mouth of caverns. As he flips a wooden ring and catches it one last time, Ylyssus holds it hidden in his palm as he faces Thane coming towards him. "Up are you," he considers the other drell in the outfit Casnar wanted Thane to don, "…The Al'Kin won't notice you if it weren't for the fact you'll be crossing the desert and seen by their sentries first…Maybe if they weren't paying any attention," he chuckles.
"That would be wishful thinking…Have you seen his Al'Kin, Ylyssus?"
Turning the ring on his finger, Ylyssus straightens from the rocks he has used to watch the desert against, "…Frequently…" he answers, "…Konis sold many slaves to Aspah…I would go with you…" Looking up from the ring, he sees Thane's eyes have noticed the item on his finger he continues to turn out of habit, "…Casnar has instructed me to stay with the others and not hinder you."
"I am capable of finding my way, better on my own in all cases." Thane comes to a stop before him. "Go back to sleep. Garrus or Miranda may keep watch."
"I don't sleep well," Ylyssus confesses. "I think about Braith. At night especially. Where she is. Who she's with." His gaze drops to the ring, Thane's does too. "Surprised to know that Casnar is kept awake by her as well…We usually talk about her together."
"Her absence troubles both of you…It did me for a time."
Ylyssus nods and considers, "…I noticed Nefen Lawson has a familiarity with you. Are you two…"
"Yes." No hesitation in Thane's answer.
The other nods once, looks down and away to the desert. "Mind the sand, Sered. Berens pass through the underground this night. Sand pacts will be unstable…Beware the sands that move underfoot…They will appear flat and firm to the eyes, but swallow you the moment you set your full weight upon a grain."
"I will tread lightly…Thank you for the warning."
"Why did you come for Braith," Ylyssus asks, "…Who is she to you."
"Our leader. She was a personal friend of mine, I her failed lover, someone…who didn't deserve because I gave up on her…That is why I am here."
He takes a deep breath. "I apparently am late to join the admirers' club," he sees Thane smile a little at this observation, "…Perhaps will not be the last." He looks south from the mouth, "…Tread southeast until daybreak, Sered…Chiata Sanctuary awaits," they shake hands, "…Best of fate to you then."
"Thank you…Take care of them until I return." Without another glance down the throat of the caverns, Thane sets his feet to the Mier and begins his walk south and east, on towards the sanctuary-fortress of the Al'Kin.
Eyes opening slowly, he rolls to stretch long and wide apart from his center before his powerful body relaxes to his center again. She is close to him, drifting in and out of his aura…He senses her calling him. Fingers probe at his neck. "Tetonbaum," he remembers her first whisper at his entrance into her body…So long have they waited…He responds immediately to her touches…Each fingertip sends a symphony of pleasure to his loins. Grabbing his crests, she pulls him to her. Tetonbaum goes without further encouragement.
He aches to be in her again, "…Kasumi…Stop," he whispers, counter to his desire…His teachings by his masters speak through him, urging him to end it before it's too late…It is too late, he bemoans. Winding against each other, they make love…Kasumi's irises are thin rings about her pupils, her lashes concealing almost what remains of these. They scream for each other…then lash onto each other's limbs…Hotter yet, slower in the stir to find each other, then urgent, wild and reckless as they rejoin. Tetonbaum sees her on fire under him…They rest only for short spells now the marathon is on, the monster awakened…He returns to her heat and she clasps him, forever…He is enslaved by their rapture, their need.
"Teton," she can't resist him as he buries his nose into her musk, and his tongue does the most delicious, unspeakable acts…He fills her tight glove of heat and wet home to him…Turns her and raises her leg to slide in deep with his release…He continues…Kasumi has not felt like this for years.
Being in captivity together for weeks, they have been kept…well…Food, drink, plush, warm quarters…It confused them as to why for such treatment at Chiata Sanctuary…They expected torture, torments, pain…They received only comforts.
It dawned on Tetonbaum Konis's plan…The incense, the candles, lacings of aphrodisiac in the food and drink…The plushness, comfort of each other…It was a dream and not…
Konis was trying to get Tetonbaum to sleep with her. He wanted a weapon, no, a wedge between Tetonbaum's loyalty, unwavering loyalty to both Terje Tierrea and Sousan hiriwa…Casnar. And so Tetonbaum realized and kept a distance from the woman he loved. At first, he gave her the cold shoulder, distancing himself in one of the connected rooms, isolating himself and praying for strength and control…Tetonbaum could sense himself weakening whenever he looked at her, laying on the pillows, looking at him all odd and alone in his separate area…How he wanted to go to her, tell her it was all right, he loved her, be with her, sleep next to her, lay inside her. He said things to offend her and keep her away…Regretted, hated it, hated Konis for what he was doing…When she would touch his hand, Tetonbaum would hide it in his cape or cowl tunic…
Then they took their clothes from them…Tetonbaum put up a curtain of blankets between their rooms—officially marking off borders she was prohibited from crossing. Dismayed, bored, Kasumi sat alone in her room while Tetonbaum rocked back and forth on a cold stone floor he had shorn free of its rug and pillows…Thinking of all the torturous days of his training and conditioning, the testing and rituals on Merce'des to center himself and pull his desires away from the woman he loved in the other room…He cursed Konis in his head for days, naked and kept among aphrodisia and beddings fit for haira'lars…He broke one day, pleading at the walls and candles, trying to get out of himself, his head, the woman he missed…Curtain or not, Kasumi came to him, worried and concerned about her love…This Drell that was hiding from her for days. Her sudden touch on his bare skin, her grip of his back with her body and breasts touching his flesh, Tetonbaum nearly screamed, "…No, Kasumi! Please! It's what he wants…" And he turned into her, looked at her pleading up at him with her own almond eyes, eyes that he fell in love with the first time he saw her and couldn't imagine or understand why, "…It's what I want," he whispered hoarsely with defeat before his arms held her, finally, pressed her tight against his chest…and kissed her…
Kasumi kissed him back as fervently.
His behavior for the past two weeks surprised Kasumi…It went against the grain of what she knew of him and his typical behavior…But she had the same desires coming into her thoughts, the longer they lay locked away together in isolation…and when she threw down the damn blankets and found him blubbering into his fists, Kasumi was not going to go back to her room and listen to that!—She grabbed him and hugged him, pressing her cheek against his upper shoulder and whispering, "…Why are they—" before he suddenly screamed and turned to her…Looking into his wincing sapphires, seeing his mouth form the words, she remained silent as he voiced to her finally…what she wanted. They made love for the first time after that kiss. Under lock and key.
"What are you doing," she asked him while they made love—fantastic on the stone floor even, with candles wiggling along their shadows on the ceiling, walls, "…Why were you…avoiding me…" Tetonbaum stills her lips with a kiss, she speaks no more while they enjoy each other…aware of what is around them, not caring. Under the gaze of erotic stone Drells and Drellahnas making love, slate and cream silks, plush bedding or pillow, fur blankets, rich foods laced with succulent aphrodisiacs, medicine, Kasumi and Tetonbaum lend themselves to the illusion…This is no prison of Chiata Sanctuary, but of her Heaven—or Tetonbaum's Hayalah'ah. To think he tried to be without her—protecting his oath to the Terje Tierrea, to his family of half-bloods, what few there were…No worry to Tetonbaum, now he is with her, fulfilling her, fulfilling him. If Konis had wanted to break Tetonbaum's fidelity to his loyalties, he need not wait any longer…Tetonbaum was gone of his bonds within seconds of being in her arms.
Giving in, he tastes of her flesh. Compromised?…Completely. Not since his graduation out of Merce'des' rigorous program did he have carnal knowledge of another…For truth, it was the test itself he had to pass to move on through the final level to achieve High Th'ane as he was…Not since his oath, that the Terje Tierrea was now his mistress to see after, their lovechild his duty to serve the Menjaga he was sworn to kill, had he taken to such an act with another…Love was not a luxury for th'anes.
Laying with her, eyes high into his own, Tetonbaum's crossed the line.
Line crossed, the act is done…There is no turning back…not that he wants to. A breath of sweet air purrs up at him…Every molecule that hits the glands in his nose and mouth he relishes…Exquisite…Moving her hair aside with his nose, dreams of her braiding it answer his memory's recall. Hips move slowly together, jarringly faster until the blankets furrow either side of them, bringing both to the edge of orgasm…Tetonbaum slows, mindful of her breaths, neither wanting it to end. Drinking the water laced with aphrodisiacs, brought and served to them by the Al'Kin drellahnas, Tetonbaum's golden tebral valleys are smooth, full, his spines up, barbs out as he trickles water into her mouth, onto her chin and sweating neck, between her breasts as she pants from his venom…down the canal of wet skin, onward below the belly button to between her slim thighs—where he moves to lick until she claws his crests, begs him not to stop, and he keeps going. Casnar, Terje Tierrea, Merce'des, Konis Traus…Tetonbaum forgets everything. Under him, up above him, eyes hidden behind her lashes…Her world is his, his inside hers.
Gliding his hand down one of her thighs, "…My love," he kisses the hair between her legs, "…Kasumi," he rises.
Gliding in, this time his member between her heat, he draws her breath out her lungs with a deep sigh. She rises, arching off the floor to join his kiss. As their lips rubs hotly over one and other, his red hand supports her behind the shoulder, fingers gripping her neck and head, hair tangled between his knuckles. Her hands rub over his patak, up passed his temples and smooth diamond browscales, to the waves of his red, blue and purple crests…She parts from his mouth. Tetonbaum sets his other arm around her middle back to support and lift her chest…His nose butts against hers as they kiss briefly before he slides his nose through the sweatbeads of her neck, down over her clavicle to her left breast…He encircles the nipple with his lips and pulls gently.
"Kasumi," he looks in her eyes with his sapphires, the breast forgotten but pressed against him as he pushes in and takes another blissful sigh from her lips. His grip slides down to her knee, to carefully bend it with his fingers and thumb, hike it higher as she gazes up at his eyes…Tetonbaum straightens her leg out, a higher angle behind him, and his hand moves to squeeze her calf. As he kisses the underside of her jaw, her chin tilted up and back, he thrusts inwards, holds deep, slides long and slowly out before his hips extend again.
His next rock shakes her, "Teton," she whispers…
"Lover," his eyes over hers, the pupils wide and shining with his reflection among them. His thrusts come steady on, building in firmness and power as she watches his eyes…Tetonbaum's lips part as his sigh trembles out the same time hers does…Their climax together. Wrapping her legs around his red and blue waist, he holds her tightly against him and quickly rolls so he is on his back, and Kasumi exhilaratingly is now astraddle him, their bodies still one. Tetonbaum moves her feet between his lats and triceps, her knees bent, his hands then go to her taut waist. "I love you," he whispers, large red palms smoothing up and down her waist, traveling down and back her thighs to her knees where his fingers rest on the nubs of her bare kneecaps…She bends to kiss his mouth as he lifts his shoulders and back off the floor and blankets. How clever this torture…so clever. A simple threat against her, Konis may now bend Tetonbaum towards whatever trajectory he wants…He will do anything he asks…or so is thought.
He hears the approaching footfalls of those coming towards their door and wraps Kasumi in a blanket as he stands…The door unlocks, opens—letting in Konis and some of his Al'Kin. ( "She must be hard to resist," ) Konis speaks softly in his smooth voice. He steps down into the first of the rooms, others to follow behind, ( "…I hate to interrupt," ) his eyes appraise the nudity of the th'ane Tetonbaum Soterios as he gathers more blankets around his lover, her face flushed and eyes dark as he hides her behind the blankets and his legs, standing guard of her before Konis and his Drells, ( "…I had the feeling it was time to let you out." )
Her pupils are still black little moons, gazing up along his thigh into his sapphires…She will be high on aphrodisiacs and venom—his own—for a time…She licks her lips and he nearly smiles at her aloofness. Tetonbaum raises his gaze—the sapphires shrink from view, what with the slide of red eyelids together as he now directs focus to Konis. "What do you want, Traus."
( "There is work ahead of you, Tetonbaum. Playtime with your plaything is over," ) Konis turns some to look at another Drell, then back to Kasumi on the floor, ( "…If you feel unreasonable…Shala," ) the Al'Kin steps forward, ( "…introduce yourself." )
Tetonbaum sees Shala looking at Kasumi, a wyrrtun in a cove of kits, ( "…I'll look after her," ) Shala says and glances at Tetonbaum with a grin.
He motions towards Kasumi, ( "…You want her unharmed," ) Konis looks at Tetonbaum, ( "…you will need to fulfill a certain mission I have in mind for you…Disappoint," ) he looks to Shala meaningfully, and back to Tetonbaum, ( "…I will have him practicing how to play husband with her." )
Shala's smile spreads.
( "You will not lay even a breath upon her skin." ) Blue and red skin veining across cords of muscle, Tetonbaum undauntedly steps towards them.
With a small shake of his head, ( "…You need not worry about her, Tetonbaum," ) Konis assures, ( "…Provided you do as I expect of you." )
From his memory, the clang of chains and manacles on metal floors snaps to flesh against wrists, ( "…What do you expect of me, Konis," ) Tetonbaum remains between Kasumi and the drells.
( "Casnar will return to Nualavera. I request that you enact Menjaga. Execute him. Fail at that," ) his hand lifts towards Shala, ( "…Shala will acquaint himself with her…unsupervised." )
A glance to Kasumi, then Shala, ( "…You would not dare if you wish to go on living." )
Shala's smile fades. He threatens, ( "…Tetonbaum, you should be careful about threats," ) his gaze moves to Kasumi to indicate his intentions, ( "…She will have to suffer for your mistake…How should I express to you the extent of what she will feel in my grip." )
( "You will not have to show me anything," ) Tetonbaum's eyes snake out steaming light, ( "…if you are dead." ) Konis's amused smile disappears as Shala is lifted off his feet and thrown into the Al'Kin that were standing a second ago behind them. Tetonbaum's aura starts to show in violet smokey unnatural energy, permeating around his naked figure as he advances towards Konis.