* * *
Calyx
* * *
My predecessor has certainly made things difficult for me, but that was his role, wasn't it? Make things difficult for those that opposed his and the Lady Thelea's agendas. In the end, I was lucky to get so close to him... and a bit chagrined to not be his undoing. I find it appropriate, though. I never had to commit an act of outright treason to come into power. I find that's another degree of separation between my predecessor and I - he had to kill his brother to become the sole Kommissar.
I just had to step back and watch.
I've actively considered taking on a partner, restoring the position to its former glories, having an equal at my side. The original Kommissars kept each other in check, never letting one gain more power than the other, and therefore ensuring that one would never rise up above his proper rank and attain the power of rulership. Perhaps it's an idea for the future. Apprenticing, if you will. But for now, I'm still weeding out those among my soldiers that had loyalty for Xen and not for the Kommissar per se. My forces are now a bit thin.
It's interesting, then, that apparently in Crux Radia they number at least one.
I'd be the last one to expect one of Xen's old undercover agents to contact me, especially not Xen's son. I'm fairly impressed that the boy hasn't been found out by now, but then, Xen did have a lot of cleverness to him. He must have passed along at least some of it. I'd fear the boy was loyal to his father and not to Audiva Rocale, but I knew Xen too well to even begin to believe that his son had any love for him.
Still. Someone loyal to the Kommissar. In Crux Radia. Undercover. I do think that person could be very, very useful indeed. To learn the agent's recruiting in Crux Radia, though...
Well, it's very good news. Audiva Rocale stands weak against Crux Radia now, functioning just short of a puppet state. I've seen the missives from Jhe o'Radia regarding the Treaty, claiming that they're restoring order and protecting Jhe o'Audiva Rocale in his recovery. I believe him, of course. Jhe o'Radia is not the most trustworthy person, but I think his motives are pure in this case. But I know how it goes - after a temporary state of control is set up, how does one guarantee it doesn't stay in place? It pains me to help them keep it up for now.
But what they're doing is marginally less vile than what the Lady Thelea would do to Audiva Rocale. Perhaps even more than marginally less, although when I consider that phrase closely I'm not sure what that really means. What I mean to say is, it's difficult for me to trust the Radians, and I know they shouldn't trust me, but I'll put up with their little puppet ruler for now. I grow concerned, though.
They're keeping Jhe o'Audiva Rocale, after all. My King. I see no reason why he should recover there as opposed to here. Jhe h'Akribastes may claim their security is better, that they have more agents than I do, that Crux Radia is farther away from Lady Thelea's influence. But, well, I have an agent in Crux Radia, so who's to say Thelea doesn't?
How long will I let them keep Jhe o'Audiva Rocale? The Empire is getting restless. That poser they put on the Throne can certainly act like my King, and the look is flawless, but he can't make the changes necessary to restore order and counter Lady Thelea's influence. He's an idiot, for one... and for two, I won't let his influence reach that far.
I need our real King. I wish I could speak to him. It's rather amusing that he knows so little of me, though - he kept Xen and his agents as far away from his Palace as possible.
Well, my agent is in Crux Radia, in its capitol of Beleth, where my King is being held, or protected, depending on who you listen to. If all else fails, I can take my own measures to castle him.
"Jhe Kommissar?" The voice jerks a bit over my title. I don't blame the speaker, but I still have to make myself not smirk at his hesitancy. Meanwhile, I break from my reverie. I'm watching over the King in his study... or at least I am making the appearance of such. It's a bit odd, watching the person who helped topple your own monarch as he does the work that might damage the Empire even more.
I nod at the countenance of Jhe o'Audiva Rocale. "My King?"
The face is my ruler's, that is certain. But the way his expression twists in embarrassment is... well, unbecoming. It's always strange to see the Judge's agent act out of character for my King - a little disturbing, but also a bit amusing. "You know, that's a little weird when there's no one to watch it."
I raise an eyebrow. "How can you be so sure no one is watching?"
He shrugs, his face easing into a confident smile that's just far too open and relaxed for any Xaillyndesse. "Been in this line of work for awhile now. I know you've got that lady in the corner back there hidden away, and there's of course others lurking around I could point out... but I won't, seems kind of impolite, and not really my business. I know how to not get assassinated unless it's on purpose, is the important thing. Only your agents are in here... and maybe some of mine."
I take that calmly, then make a note that perhaps Prida needs to brush up on her subtlety, but I won't reprimand her for being noticed when it's obvious she wasn't alone in that. It isn't necessarily bad that our doppleganger is skilled in noticing his security, and I'm sure he considers it in his best interests to know of any potential backstabbers in his midst. All in all, I've been impressed by his calm and ease in these situations. I've met other Armed that are a bit more... on edge in my presence. Letitcia was even jumpier than her younger sister, after all. "Duly noted. I hope they're not disturbing your work."
"Nah. I tend to like the company." Jhe Duhaine lounges back in the King's chair, gesturing to the desk and its many papers. "I thought you'd like to have a look. We consider you in charge of the security here, and well... well, it's certainly an issue." He presses his palm to his face, taking care not to smudge his makeup or muss his hair. I would imagine it's all a lot of upkeep without the King's many servants to assist him, but then, I think his shifting powers might not require all those attendants. At least he knows to keep the King's mannerisms close at hand.
I lean over the desk and pick up the missive he gestures to. Something from Jhe o'Radia's desk. A bit of a warning and a plea at once.
I raise my eyebrows. "Well, I should be glad to see the King's daughter again. It's good to hear she's well."
Jhe Duhaine groans in response. I suppose those two get on well, then. "She shouldn't come, right? Too dangerous?" His voice is less asking than it is pleading. I have to suppress a chuckle in response, and shake my head.
"Not at all. You're the real target of anyone's sabotage, and keeping you safe implies that anyone else staying in your vicinity should be just fine. The only imposition will be making sure that she stays near you during her visit. Really, I think it should be a turn of luck for you - you'll have some company while playing your role, and her presence will lend the weight of believability to our whole operation." I do so enjoy watching his scowl grow, even if he does look like my King right now. "Should I send along a response myself?"
He waves his hand. "Go ahead. You can figure out how the heck she's gonna get here without getting killed. Or without killing anyone else, for that matter."
I sketch a bow, then, as I would to the actual Jhe o'Audiva Rocale. It just creeps Jhe Duhaine out, which was my motivation in doing it. "As you say."
Having an actual member of the royal family in the Palace again? How delightful. I admit that the prospect gives me more of a sense of purpose in being here than making sure our puppet ruler isn't killed where he stands.
* * *
Rahellene
* * *
Father leans back from his work, then raises his arms over his head and stretches. The creaks and pops that result seem more like they'd be made by old ancestral furniture than by a person. He lets out a happy sigh afterward, so it seems like he enjoyed it. He just sits in his chair for a moment, sort of draped, like a person who hasn't relaxed in a long time.
Looking around his office and all the papers piled up in it, I suppose that must be the case. Come to think of it, he tends to be working every time I visit him - I didn't think too much about it before now. He's always happy to see me whenever I come by, and tends to put whatever he's doing aside. Now that I have a chance to see what it all is... "Wow."
He raises his eyebrows, clear blue eyes looking up to meet mine. "What? The slouch?"
I giggle. "No, silly. I guess I'm just impressed by how much you do. I don't remember all this being here when I first came here." Has it only been a couple of months?
"Ah, well. Work seems to find me." His tone gets a grayish cast to it. "Let's not talk about that. It's boring."
I raise my eyebrows. "It's always interesting when you talk about running a country, Daddy."
He waves a hand, rising from his chair. "This isn't part of running a country. This is real work, that kind that's actually a pain." He lets his gaze linger on the quill on his desk for just a moment, then scans over the papers once more. He grimaces, the expression showing off lines in his face that usually aren't there. He's got a handsome face too, sort of young but still old. His blonde hair's so playful, especially the way his bangs fall around the points of his crown. It's strange looking at him, knowing he's the source of half of me, after only being around Father and his Xaillyndessen features for so long. "We need food. That's more important, right? It's very likely you won't be staying here for much longer. That request I just wrote goes directly to Jhe o'Audiva Rocale's desk, so it's likely they've already read it. So let's have dinner together, hm?"
I grin. "Sure." I never mind being around Daddy for longer.
"Great." He sounds so relieved. I guess I've been an excuse for him to pull himself away from his work. I feel a little guilty, then - he's enjoyed having me around, but now I'm going to leave him after all he's done for me.
I have to get home, though. Home. It feels a little weird to think of Aurocale's Palace as home, considering it was my prison. But kept birds have nothing else to call home but their birdcages, do they? I at least want to go back and make it my own. And well... Father's not managing anything there anymore, he's just letting himself rot in his room in the Poet Hall. I watch Daddy run his Empire here and I think of how the only ruler Audiva Rocale has right now is Iaen. It disgusts me.
Daddy breaks me out of my contemplation with a quick hug. "Let's go. Maybe we can find your sister too!"
...Oh Daddy, even you find a way to ruin things for me sometimes.
* * *
Katherine
* * *
What does a week without 'Sy do? I thought it'd be cleansing - I'd drop the usual habits I pick up around him, and things wouldn't smell like him anymore. I could be my own person again, a single person, instead of the one mixed up in a half-partnership half-relationship that I swear he sometimes thinks is an ownership. It should be a relief to be free of that. But with him gone, all I can really think about is how I'm stuck here in Beleth now, and that nothing can change that. Being by his side is a kind of freedom I don't have now.
Eistinn gives me a side-hug laced with a shoulder squeeze. "Hey. Snap out of it." Combined with that grin of his, I can't help but comply. The twinkling eyes and the black locks ending in tight little curls remind me of my brothers, especially that enthusiasm Jax seems to retain even now.
We're still sort of figuring out what's up with Eistinn and Valtoryeh, and I suppose they're doing the same... but in the meantime, Eistinn's a pretty cool guy. He puts up with Val's moods so well. It's sort of weird looking at another Xaillyndesse just traipsing around as if nothing's odd about his... well, traipsing around here, and I suppose it's even more weird that he smiles so much and means it, but these aren't things anyone particularly minds. It certainly helps counter the amount of gloom that Valtoryeh manages to output.
"So, you traveled everywhere with him before?" Eistinn passes me my cup of tea. I let the steam fold over my nose and tickle it until it stops feeling warm and starts feeling damp. Then I take a tiny sip. Still too hot, but I don't mind waiting.
"'Sy and I? Yeah." I sigh, folding my arms over the balcony of the Palace, looking over the city of Beleth and the black swath of land beyond. It doesn't take long for that land to become desert, if you follow the same trail 'Sy and his boys took. "It's so much fun to travel with a partner like that, when you can anticipate each other's movements and thoughts. When you've been on the trail with someone that long, even hearing the way they breathe becomes a part of your routine. Just another one of those little things you expect to have in your life, and then it's gone before you know it, and you're wondering what it is you miss so much." I frown, then stare at my cup instead, examining the way my knuckles wrap around the delicate handle.
"Hmm." Eistinn mulls that over, sips his own tea, then hisses when it burns his lips. I laugh at the way he puckers in recoil, then wait for him to compose himself again. "Yeah. I understand exactly what you mean." He looks so sad when he tells me that - way more than I expected from him.
I nudge him. Sadness doesn't sit on Eistinn's face well.
He shakes his head, not to brush my concern off but to get himself back to awareness. "Sorry. Kinda lost in the past there for a second." He skirts a glance over to me, his face so unsure. I just raise my eyebrows, waiting for him to speak. "I..." He sighs, then looks down into his tea. "This might take awhile. Do you have some time?"
I nod. 'Sy's gone, I have nothing to do except wait for him to send word, and I want to pretend that's not the case or at least ignore that it is.
"Then I guess we should sit down, because I might be at it for awhile."
We take a couple of patio chairs and shift them so that the city's in view. We're at the Palace's central balcony, so... it is a pretty impressive overlook. Once we're both settled, Eistinn tests his tea again and finds that it's cooled down enough for his mouth to put up with. After a long drink, he decides to start talking.
"So... I guess I haven't said too much about the past yet. I've answered enough questions to satisfy the Judge's grilling, which was actually not too harsh, though I kinda admit that might've been because you were there. Once everyone was pretty sure I wasn't some spy or assassin or whatever, they decided not to ask too many uncomfortable questions, and I've been pretty grateful. I guess I'm the same as Ebrelle - it takes a while to heal from what we've been through. Him longer than me, but well... I escaped Mother. I took the chicken route successfully. He didn't." His eyebrows draw together in this heartbroken expression. I bite my lip. I hate seeing him so sad. "I tried so hard to free him, and in the end, I guess it was the wrong thing to do."
"But you're here now," I tell him.
A grin encroaches into his grimace. "Yeah." He smiles, then takes a moment to compose himself again. "So... Val's way older than me, but he and I have been together since I was born. Well, he and I have been me since I was born. I don't look back and think 'that was me at that moment, and that other moment was Val up front.' It's all me... but not me, at the same time. It's like... these memories that are mine, but I was a different person when I had them. By the time I managed to kill myself, I was pretty fucked up - Mother had warped me pretty badly. I'd started to sense Val as a separate person than myself, and he'd started remembering that he hadn't always been me. Up until then, I always thought I was born when I was born, and my life was the short, pointless thing it had always been. But once Mother decided to give me to our King-- to the Jherent Nul, I guess... well, I went a little crazy. I stopped being me, and I started being Val and I. We began to remember Thelea taking the person that was Val before, capturing him and molding him into a new person out of all sorts of creepy parts, making him into her child in--" He chokes for a moment, turning green. "I don't want to think about it. It's not even really clear for me. Val's said his memories are a lot worse, because he's older, and they happened to him - whereas I just began to exist because of what happened. So, I remember being made, or born, or whatever you call a shitty beginning like that. I started remembering it when our King the Jherent Nul started to unmake me as part of the process of making me his. It was splitting me apart into... us. Val was the one that made the decision, and told me how best to kill ourselves, how to save ourselves from becoming something even worse. He was so afraid, but he always was the brains between us."
Eistinn's covering his face, his hand shaking as he does so. It's as if he's afraid of anyone looking at him. I reach forward, grab his wrist gently, and ease his hand down. As I do so, he starts to calm. It takes another minute before he's ready to speak again, but I don't stop him. In a way, I'm urging him forward. This is more than he's ever told any of us about how he came to be here.
"I... well, we just haunted Mother after that, still stuck together, stuck with each other... and in a way, unwilling to let go of each other. Val was angry at what had become of him, but still very protective of me, and I was scared of going anywhere without him. We watched over Ebrelle when we could, but we couldn't venture far beyond Mother's labs, so opportunities were few. I guess ghosts have their limits. It was nice to bother Mother every once in a while - she didn't know how we were still there, and she could never catch us fast enough to get rid of us or use us the way she does so many souls. I think it might be Val that managed it, but Val's said something about how it was me who made it harder for her to deal with us than she thought it would be. I don't know. All I know is, once I finally saw my little brother there, ending up the same way Val and I almost did, becoming just a tool... well, I acted before Val could. I decided we needed to free Ebrelle the same way we freed ourselves, and to free our little brother Alestere too. So I helped him stab Alestere. I kinda had to force it - Ebrelle couldn't move the knife on his own, because he was supposed to do it in a way that would sacrifice Alestere to our King. His whole body had become that of a puppet."
Eistinn's face twists to the side.
"Then, well... I guess I don't know how to explain it, but I was one person again."
I look at him. He looks so embarrassed. I let out a laugh - I can't stop it. He looks so funny!
He grins, probably because he knows it too. "Ales was a fun guy to be. We got used to it real fast. I could sorta tell the lines that divided us, after awhile... but not very much. It's... muddy. When I was Eistinn the first time around... alive back then, with Val, I always felt like one person. In Elessandre, it sort of... sloshed a little, because I can remember being him, but also I can remember being a little bit more me, and sometimes I can remember Val just sorta staying in the back of the brain, quiet and happy to watch everything pan out. Ales... man, he went on for years and years. He kinda went on forever. The Cap'n sailed to places that time didn't touch. It was like a vacation, I guess. As close to an afterlife as we could have had. It's why I don't feel too bitter, having a new life again. I guess I've been reborn, but I still know who I used to be in those previous lives." He lets out a heavy sigh. "It's different for Val, I know. He had a life before mine. He lost things... people. He lost family, whereas I got all my important family back, even if they're a little bit different now."
I'm about to reply, then I cock my head. "Hey, where is he, anyway?"
Eistinn blinks. "I... huh. I didn't think about it, but him being away from me for a bit is why I decided to go ahead and tell you all that. S'kind of a touchy subject with him. I uh... I'm actually kind of glad he's off for a bit. I think it's a good sign, his not having to be right next to me all the time."
Even when he says that, Eistinn looks a little sad. I remember what I said about getting used to how another person breathes. It must be so much worse for him and Valtoryeh - they breathed as one, not too long ago.
"Yeah, I think I'll leave him to himself, for now. I think sometimes we need a break from each other, you know?"
I think of 'Sy and can only halfway agree. It's good to be apart for awhile... but harrowing to not have a choice about it. Once again I find myself wishing I was out riding at his side--
"Ah, there you are, Katherine." The grin in the voice is hard to ignore. I'm glad to hear Daddy that happy. I turn to look at him-- and then I see Rahellene, and can't help but roll my eyes.
She returns the sentiment.
"Oh! Hi, Jhe o'Radia." Eistinn dips in a weird bow from his chair, fumbling as he does so. Daddy just laughs.
"Well then, two more dinner guests is even better than an addition of one. Are you two hungry?"
I guess Eistinn's proof enough that you can't exactly pick your family, but sometimes it's worth putting up with them anyway. At least, I try to tell myself that as we walk inside. I was getting along just fine before without having a sister - why the world's decided to give me one all of a sudden, I'll never know.
