A/N: Just a few more snippets that I wanted to write. Two from the present, and one from the past. :)
Pacing back and forth in Zach's room, Grace still hesitated to speak.
It seemed like she was inwardly debating something, and Zach sighed. "Grace. Just tell me."
Finally, she came to a stop, turning to face him. "Diplomacy didn't work, and we both know that no one will help us now. But as I hinted at, there is one more option for us to pursue," she started, carefully. "And I hope you know that I wouldn't ask this of you, if there was any other way."
Listening, Zach gestured for her to continue. "Like I said, I am willing to help in any way I can. Kellan is important to me, too."
"I managed to get ahold of a page of the Book of Raziel," she started, and Zach inhaled at the name, having heard it was a distorted version of the Gray Book. "I found a Rune that will connect you to Kellan. It will only work on former parabatai, so I can't use it myself. It won't be the same as being parabatai – and when he's in the Faerie, the connection will be weak - but when he is in the mundane world, you will be able to sense where he is. If we're able to get to him when he's in the Towns, then… We can take action."
Looking over at her, Zach nodded, trying to piece it together. "That's a smart idea. I didn't know such a Rune existed, otherwise I would have tried it earlier."
"There's a catch though," Grace said, a little hesitantly. "It's really not like a parabatai Rune at all, but the opposite in some ways. It will hurt both of you, when you draw it. And when you are apart, it will drain your energy, slowly. It has a sort of dependence mechanism. It hasn't been used much, so its effects are a little unknown. But it is likely that… if one of you died, the other would, too."
Zach couldn't say he was surprised, when it had come out of such a distorted and forbidden book. It sobered him, just a little, but not enough to pull out. Kellan needed him, so he would sacrifice what was needed. He just hoped it would not go too badly for Kellan. "So it is weaker when he is in the Faerie, right?" he clarified, considering.
"Yes," she nodded, watching him. "It is likely it will not affect you both quite as much. But as soon as he is in the mundane world, you will feel it."
The thought of being reunited with his parabatai and brother was one he had tried to not become too hopeful about, not wanting to be disappointed. But with this Rune, perhaps there would be a chance. "I'll do it," he nodded.
"Are you sure?" Grace asked, cautiously. "I know you have a new life, and you've moved on. I don't mean to drag you back into this."
"I'm sure," he replied, firmly. "I have not forgotten my brother, and if this is the way to save him, then so be it."
Grace made a sound of agreement, looking relieved. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a drawing and held it out to him. "This is the Rune. You have to draw it over your old parabatai Rune. That is where it will appear on Kellan, as well."
Tracing the lines with his eyes, Zach tried to commit it to memory. He then set it down on his desk, in case he might need to refer to it, before drawing his stele from his pocket. Lifting his shirt, he pressed the tip of his stele against his side, over the faded scar of his parabatai Rune. Glancing at the drawing one last time, he then set to work, drawing the first line. As the lines connected and the Rune started to form, it seared his skin, and he cried out at the pain.
"Zach?" Grace said quickly, watching him with a worried look.
He ignored her, knowing he had to finish the Rune. As it burned his skin, he wondered whether it was what Kellan felt, when Zach had drawn the parabatai Rune on him all those years ago. With each stroke, the pain grew worse, and he wondered whether he'd be able to stay conscious to finish it. Leaning against the desk, he managed to finish it off, letting his stele clatter to the desk when he was done. Looking down at the new Rune, he inhaled sharply at the colour. It was a deep blood red, and it reminded him of the Endarkened, who bore red runes.
Breathing hard, he clutched at the desk for a moment longer, before he could eventually straighten.
"Are you okay?" Grace asked again, walking over closer to him, and her gaze flickered between the Rune and his gaze.
"I'm alright," he replied, with a brief nod. "It's done. That's the main thing."
"Can you… feel anything?" she asked, a little too hopefully, and he shook his head.
"Not yet. But we both knew he'd be in the Faerie, at the moment," Zach pointed out, trying to remain calm. They both needed that, and he didn't want Grace worrying more than she already was. "Give it time."
Grace bit her lip, before nodding, quickly. Then, she reached out to him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. He released his shirt, letting it fall back down, before returning the gesture. "Thank you," she whispered. "I can't help but think that this could be our last chance."
Walking through a field, Caspian paused when he saw Tiana, waiting there expectantly for him. He narrowed his eyes, staring at her for a moment. There had been no message that they were to meet that day, so he decided to ignore her, continuing onwards. However, she was persistent, walking to meet him and to block his path.
"What do you want?" he asked, raising his chin. "I'm not in the mood to talk."
"Oh?" she replied slowly, drawing out the word. "That's alright, then. I'm not in the mood to talk, either."
Not quite sure what to make of her words, he watched as she turned away slightly, as if to leave. However, instead, she whisked out a throwing knife, hurling it at him. Not expecting it, he couldn't move fast enough to avoid it entirely, although he managed to turn so that it cut his arm, rather than someplace else. It remained stuck in his arm, and he hissed in pain as he grabbed the handle, wrenching it out. He was lucky that it hadn't hit a vein, so he was not bleeding too heavily. "What the hell?" he muttered, although he didn't have time to think on it much, as she drew a khopesh from the sheath on her back, advancing towards him.
Before he'd quite recovered, she grasped the handle of the khopesh with two hands, swinging it at him. Bringing the knife up, he managed to block her, before forcing his injured arm to move his staff with a quick swipe directed straight at her hand. She managed to keep ahold of her weapon, although she did draw it back at his move, and he took the opportunity to take a few steps backwards, gaining some space between them. "Have I got your attention, now?" she asked, a glint in her eyes. "You did say if I wanted your respect, that I'd have to fight you."
He didn't respond to her words, knowing they were true. Besides, he refused to give her the satisfaction of an answer. In any case, his senses were now caught up in the battle, and he wouldn't allow himself to become distracted. He smiled, slowly, the ache in his arm growing a little more distant. He had been craving a good battle.
Narrowing his eyes on her, he pulled back his hand with his knife, as if to throw it at her, although he was simply feigning it. In response, she came at him with the khopesh. Instead of throwing the knife, he let it fall to the ground, closing both hands around the staff and he drove it towards her breastplate. She bent over a little as it struck her, halting her attack. Spinning it around quickly, he then extended his staff and hit the back of her legs. Losing her balance, she fell to the ground, and he swiftly placed the blunt end of his staff against her chest to keep her down and he stepped on her hand to keep her from moving her blade, even as she tried to kick out at him. He doubted it would be very comfortable having so much pressure on her wings.
Breathing heavily, he stared down at her. "Do you concede?" It was unlike him to let someone off without further injury, but he knew his parents would be furious if he hurt her too much.
Finally stopping her struggling, she released her khopesh, shifting her gaze up to him. "I see what my parents see in you." She raised her chin, as best she could in such a position. "You're a fine fighter. Do I have your respect, yet?"
He was impressed that she hadn't flinched, staring him down instead. Making her wait a moment longer, he then withdrew his staff, taking a couple of steps away. His arm ached, and he'd have to bandage it, later. Sitting up slowly, she dusted some grass off her cloak, before standing up and tucking some hair behind her ear. "I will take your silence as a yes," she said, when he didn't respond.
Resisting the urge to grit his teeth, he gripped his staff a little tighter. "It doesn't matter. Regardless of what I think of you, I don't want to do it. I don't want children."
It struck him for the first time that his words were selfish. His family had made many sacrifices, and they had all managed to continue the family line, and here he was, complaining. If he didn't do something, the family line would likely die with him. But the thought of making himself vulnerable in such a way made him feel sick, and the thought of children was not much better. Maybe he was selfish.
"You don't have to stay with me or whatever, afterwards. You can go off with whoever you want," she sighed, looking frustrated. "You simply have to fulfil your duty to your family."
"I know what's expected of me," he said, sharply, his silver eyes growing cold. "I don't need a reminder of that, from you."
"Then let me know when you're ready," she said, as she turned away. "Or if you need me to prove something else, then you'd better let me know. I might not wait forever."
Watching her leave, he then started away, slowly. While he was annoyed by her words – knowing they were true - he couldn't help but feel a little satisfaction at the fact that he'd beaten her.
Sitting on his bed in the grotto as he waited, Kellan couldn't help but replay the moment at the festivities over in his mind. His thoughts were still tinged with shock whenever he pondered it. While he had wanted many times to kiss Ethos, he'd been sure that Ethos did not feel the same way. After all, when Kellan had admitted his feelings for him, Ethos had seemed flattered, but he had not said any in return. Then again, Kellan knew he did not speak plainly like he did himself.
Raising a hand to his lips to hide a smile, he decided not to question it too much. It had been nice to see Ethos flushed, and his hair not quite as perfect as usual, but ruffled, instead. He did not think he would have changed anything, about the moment. He'd been nervous, of course, but that was natural, and it was nice to think it was the first time that either of them had kissed someone. That it was the time they'd remember.
Really, he'd never imagined that someone would ever be interested in him enough to even want to kiss him. He had half resigned himself to the fact that it was unlikely someone would like him in such a way, and had focused on his work instead. But for someone he really liked to have initiated it…
He lowered his hand in defeat when his smile grew, and he merely stared at the wall at the other side of the grotto. How did he get so lucky?
After a moment, his thoughts grew worried as they went to the Hunt, again. In a couple of days' time, they would be setting out for it. He was distracted, it was true, and he had to admit that there was a part of him that was reluctant to leave. That part of him made him feel guilty, not liking the idea that he'd betrayed the Hunt. He certainly hadn't meant to.
He supposed he had the answer to Ethos' question, about whether he was good at resisting temptation. The answer did not appear to be a favourable one, for he had failed. He should have resisted the urge to kiss Ethos back – or pushed him away, even. That was what any loyal Hunt member would do. But it seemed that he could not resist such temptation. Not when he cared much too much.
But he couldn't berate himself enough just yet, for it hadn't yet sunk in fully, and he was still much too happy about it.