* * *
Erynn
* * *
Gerude's eyes lock with mine as the dawn comes creeping up on the horizon. He's glaring, but I'm not afraid. He's angry, yes, but he's not using his Aim, and I trust Caerig and Kennit enough to keep him in line enough not to shoot me. They like me for some reason, after all.
"He overpowered you." My partner's eyebrow hooks upward in an expression much like his father tends to make, except that Gerude looks more exasperated than inquisitive.
"Yeah," I say, "He's pretty clever. He got the drop on me."
Gerude turns his back on me with an exasperated sigh, then walks to the campfire.
I inwardly curse the nature of reality, much good as it will do me now. Lyric inflected his parting words into Poetry, which meant that I had no choice but to use the excuse for his escape that I did. Otherwise, as he said, Gerude wouldn't have believed me. I wonder if Lyric even meant to do it. He probably did. He's a fast learner, that boy.
Well, Gerude believes me, which is the most important part. It makes sense, at least. Technically, what I said was the truth. That means he doesn't consider anything amiss. That means we can have some peace tonight. Well, this morning. Daytime is still our night.
Gerude gets comfortable in his bedroll. I hear snores almost immediately. Sometimes I think that boy sleeps better on the ground than he does in a real bed. I walk towards the opening in the circle of rock cliffs Lyric and I found, then spot the Judge. He's leaning against a rock wall that faces out towards the fading night, but is still sheltered from sight. He has first watch. As I walk up to him, he nods to me. There's a cigarette in his fingers, smoke drifting up from it as the morning air goes still. His face is neutral and composed, but when I lean against the wall next to him, it takes on a note of surprise.
I scan over the desert for a moment. No sign of Lyric, of course. He's a smart boy. Too smart sometimes, but considering how he just bested me, I'd naturally have that opinion of him. I focus my thoughts back on the campground for a moment, on Gerude's snores, and on the fact that he's going to have a very, very deep sleep right now. "Lyric uh... sent his love. I'm sorry I let him get away like that, but it was for the best."
"Really." The Judge's voice gives away nothing, and in fact invites me to go on about just what I might be hiding. Typical of him. I don't even have anything to hide, and yet I'm slightly nervous.
"Yes." I take in a deep breath. "I know what side Lyric's on. I figured it out through no fault of his. I understand why you let Gerude and I go on believing he was a spy. I haven't told Gerude anything. I imagine you'll want my help in convincing him to divert from Lyric's trail and eventually move on to Robinstead."
Jhe h'Akribastes's face is as stony as his voice was. He gives no other response, so I go on.
"It's easily done. We'll be back in Granny's neck of the woods in no time. Lyric can go back to saving the world his own way." After that, I hear an unexpected sound and I jump in response.
It's Jhe h'Akribastes's laughter. Maybe it's a bitter laugh, I can't tell. But it's certainly a relief to hear. "It sounds as if you have it all well in hand, Poet."
I shrug. "Glad I was able to help." I snort. "Though you've got one hell of a son in Lyric, sire."
He doesn't reply, but the grin the Judge makes says everything he has to say on the matter.
* * *
Alestere
* * *
I really didn’t expect to go to bed with a beautiful woman beside me, so when I awake staring at one, for a moment I wonder where I am and, in fact, who I am. Maybe I’m one of my future selves and I just forgot? No, if there’s one thing I have grasp of, it’s my place in time. I know when I am.
It’s just so strange to see how peaceful Katherine looks while she’s asleep. I reach over to brush a strand of hair away from her cheek, but then of course Stevane speaks into my head.
Oh thank goodness you’re awake, Jhe h’leste, it turns out that whoa! Oh I’m sorry for interrupting, I didn’t realize you had a thing going, sire!
I blink. Did she see...? Jhe Stevane, the apology should be mine, I should know to control my privacy better and leave a warning in the wards.
It’s fine, I’m sure whoever she is she’s very happy. Let me know when you’re ready to discuss the matters of the day! And then, blessed silence.
I look at Katherine, and meet her eyes. She scowls. She must have sensed a conversation on some level, and awoken from it. I pat her head. “My pardon. It will be a busy day. You stay there as long as you waAA--”
Katherine pulls me to her mouth by the hair, then cuts off any more verbal protests with her lips and tongue. I relent from attempting speech - I daresay I couldn’t cobble words together right now anyway.
When she’s through with me, she lets go. “Okay, we can get up now.” She sits up, stretches with her arms over her head, and I enjoy the view while trying to remind myself just what it is that I’m doing this morning.
Ah. That’s right. My brother shall have tea with Jhe o’Radia again, and proposals shall be made and explanations given, with all hope. “Would you like to have breakfast with your fathers today?”
Her eyes widen and she double-takes at me. “Is that a joke?”
* * *
Katherine
* * *
I don't really hear much of what Alestere says to me on our way to breakfast. I know he talks - Alestere always talks. But whatever he says slides into the ether that's fogged up all my thoughts. Daddy and Father? Having breakfast together? And not because the Law required them to have a custody discussion? That in itself is enough to floor me, but... well, all the times my parents have met, it's been without me, because they were discussing me. That's a big part of the reason 'Sy's raised me for so much of my life - for whatever reason, Daddy and Father could never find it in themselves to get along. I'd visit Audiva Rocale every now and then to be with Father, but those visits were so few, and caused so many arguments...
And, well, it's been hard on Daddy, all these years. He's had me within reach for so long, always there for a hug or a chat, but it's meant that when I had a problem with them two and how they couldn't get along, well... Father was never around to get angry at. Daddy had to deal with the bulk of it, and usually that meant 'Sy did, because Daddy wasn't allowed to answer questions about the custody. And talking with 'Sy about the Law is its own intense frustration which I don't often like to indulge in.
I don't think I've been with both of my parents at once since I was a baby, and I can't remember those days. For me, this is the first time.
Alestere taps my shoulder. We're here, but he holds up his hand as a signal for me to wait before going in. He's listening to someone else. He nods, listening, then smiles. He focuses back on me after a couple of moments. His voice is low, almost a whisper, so that we're not overheard inside the suite. "Stevane says the table setting is all ready for us. Jhe o'Radia has yet to arrive. She'd been trying to make sure everything was timed so that I arrived before he did. Apparently their last meeting was tense, and Ebrelle's been a bit of a handful this morning, as she expected." He blinks, then laughs softly. "I didn't mean to mention that last part, but apparently her aggravation's seeped over a bit this morning. Ah, it seems that it's less aggravation and more excitement over what she and Ebrelle are proposing to Jhe o'Radia."
I blink. "Wait, what exactly is going on? You just said this was going to be breakfast."
He winks at me, revelling in his secrecy in a way that makes me want to pinch him. Then he opens the door and waves me in with no further explanation.
Father has his back to me, looking in a full-length mirror to check over his appearance. From Stevane's expression, it must be his tenth time in a row. "I told you, I can fix your hair just perfect if you'll just... stoop or something."
He frowns into the mirror, checking over his makeup. Stevane sighs, drags up a chair, and then stands on top of it to attempt to reach the top of Father's head. She adjusts a flower that's been tucked into one of the elaborate buns Father fancies. "There." She sighs, hands on her hips, and then looks him over from her new-found height. "If you redo your makeup again, I'm going to set your eyebrows on fire."
Father snorts, completely unthreatened, and continues examining his makeup. "I'll just repaint them, dear."
Stevane scowls, but seems satisfied that Father isn't going to mess any of her work up, so she climbs down from her chair and drags it back to the breakfast table. She then walks up to us, gives us a curtsy, and makes an obscene gesture at Father. "He'll be about thirty more minutes. This is around the time that he starts talking to his reflection."
"We're just having a moment alone, with intelligent company." Father's tone is so haughty and aloof that I'm not entirely sure if he's joking. "Dear brother, I was wondering if there was some sort of kit that comes with Poets that you forgot to furnish me with? After some evaluation of what it is that I'm dealing with, I have concluded that you should equip their keepers with tranquilizers."
"He's mostly angry that he lost an argument with a pot of flowers yesterday evening." Stevane nods to me. "Jhe Katherine, are you well? I haven't bumped into you in awhile." A genuine smile peeks out of the aggravation on Stevane's face.
Father freezes in his mirror-glued deliberations, then edges to the side so that his reflection isn't blocking mine. He turns in one smooth motion, robes swirling around his feet and hair swishing behind him. His green irises seem so much larger with his hair white and his eyes wide. They lock with mine, emotion peeking out of them, and then they flick up to Alestere's, a question in them.
"Jhe Katherine decided to join us for breakfast. I thought it seemed appropriate, especially considering your proposal for today." Alestere puts his hand on my shoulder, possibly as a comfort to me. Do I need comforting right now? Am I nervous? I could very well be. Two parents in the same room, and me between? What the heck could bring them together?
Father glides forward after a moment of hesitation, then looks down at me. He's keeping his distance. He's tended to do that, after his cleansing. But then, apparently he's been doing that with everyone. I think Stevane's only been able to get so close because he knows she'll set him on fire if he backs away. Still, I'm tired of being edged away from. I reach forward and take his wrist, then tug on it a bit. Father steps closer. I smile up at him.
He curls one arm around my shoulder, then slides his fingers through my hair. "You get more beautiful every day, you know." He sighs. "It's good to see you here. Shall we settle down and wait for your other father?"
* * *
Lyric
* * *
I am not altogether sure of where I am going, but right now I'm feeling alright about things for the first time since I met up with Myles and started this whole desert trek. Maybe it was all a bad idea to start, but at least it's over with. I helped Myles find out more information, at least, and that'll help out everyone back in Radia.
Where to next, though? I'm going to have to check in with my Lady sometime to report to her. I've been out here long enough that I think I can just get on with that. Maybe after this she'll give me an idea of what she and Nul are planning, and I can pass that along and wrap all of this mess up. I hope so, at least. I don't want this dragging out forever. For one, I don't want to be on the opposite side from my family and friends for much longer. This is getting harrowing.
Surely there is a reprieve here and there? Elric's thoughts alight in between my own, unexpected but very, very welcome. I reply with a rush of relief and enthusiasm. Oof! I hear him laugh. You almost knocked me off of my bed, you know.
I don't relent. It feels like it's been years since our minds last touched. Have you been okay? I haven't heard from you in so long!
There's the sensation of a sad smile. I'm well enough. I couldn't speak to you much recently because I would have interrupted how events played out. You needed to go where you went, see what you saw, and lead others where you led them. I would have gotten in the way, apparently. He doesn't let that last part weigh down his spirits. It should be you and I from here on out. Go to the southwest. Look for a spring. Things will go faster that way.
I raise an eyebrow. More surprises, dear Elric?
Life's full of them. There's almost the sensation of a head-pat. And otherwise it's no fun, as I'm sure you've taught many people by now.
I try not to curse him for being a Poet. I'm not exactly innocent myself, on that count.
* * *
