RADIA
* * *
'Sy
* * *
I've just about finished puzzling through this mess of reports and field journals when I hear the shifting of heavy fabric and a murmured, very polite request for Katherine to stop hovering so much. "I'm perfectly fine, dear. Just another of my episodes. Hardly anything worth mentioning." That's when he looks up and notices that I'm watching him. Oh no! Caught fibbing by a grownup! I've seen the same facial expression on my five-year-olds. "Ah, not that I am anything less than grateful for the assistance. If someone could but summon Jhe Stevane, I think she'll make for fine assistance back to my quarters."
I raise an eyebrow at him as I step forward. "Stevane has gone off on a shopping expedition with my son Lyric."
His eyebrows shoot up, and then there's this pause where he cocks his head and listens to something it seems only he can hear. "...Ah. Yes, I see that. They're going to have an interesting journey, you know."
"Of course," I nod. "Much more interesting than your uneventual retirement to your quarters for some much-needed rest." I swear. That pout he gives me. I just want to slap him across the face. ...Hm. That's more something to do in private, when there's less clothing between us. "For lack of Stevane, I suppose another Akribastes would do just as well for you? Katherine can even accompany me."
"But--" He lets out a heavy sigh. Amazing. He realized that arguing with me is futile. He must be even more tired than I thought. "...Well, I suppose." He tilts his chin up. "If you insist."
Katherine has been very quiet through all of this. Just I'm about to ask her something, she looks up sharply. Right as she does so, I feel a ripple across the back of my mind. Incoming. Someone else has hopped over from Audiva Rocale.
I blink. "Jhe Briarseal?" Of course there can be no mistake, but if there was any doubt as to who had just arrived, Katherine's scowl says everything I need to know.
She and the Peacekeeper always did coexist on special terms with one another.
I notice, then, that Elete is studying my face far too closely, and there's just too much of a twinkle in his eyes for my own comfort. "...You did this." He jumps, then tries to school his face into shock, as if he could even lie to me.
"Why, Jhe h'Akribastes, I believe it is by your request that later in the afternoon I will send the orders promptly enough that Jhe Briarseal and company will arrive this early in the day." He does have the sense to look sheepish under my glare. I hear a sigh behind me. Jheida. I turn and face my brother.
Luciprochoros tugs me by the elbow until I'm out of earshot, then leans over to whisper to me. "It would be best to keep Gerald occupied. He's been feeling a bit useless, I think. And, well...you really ought to talk to him, once you've handled the mess. Until then, he's one of the ones that might benefit from some prolonged exposure to Elete." I raise an eyebrow at him. There's something my brother is hiding. "Ah. Yes. Your son Lyric? Perhaps he should be pointed towards the Poet Hall soon? Nothing keeps Elete busy like a new trainee. Consider the benefits of a new student, even - he'll stay out of the most dangerous foolishness with someone who's just initiated." My brother looks so proud of himself. I...mull it over.
It feels strange, giving over another of my children to Elete, especially when he's ill like this. Or...perhaps I'm simply being protective of the boy. And then there's Gerald. He's been acting all funny lately - keeping watch on Elete will certainly keep him out of harm's way.
Brother grins.
"...It seems we have yet to be at a loss for an Akribastes to attend you, Jhe h'Logos. Such lucky days for you lately. Gerald, would you be so kind as to show the Poet King to his suites and ensure he's properly rested? Stevane and Lyric will be steered your way when they're through gutting the clothiers's racks." Gerald gives me a curt nod, his eyes showing he understands what I need and will carry it out immediately. My. He seems worse now than he was before. Perhaps he could benefit from Elete's presence. As much as the Poet King likes to wear himself out, he tends to lend peace to those around him.
With that, I've a new mess to attend to in my office, and undoubtedly a crankier Katherine to handle during it all, as if having to fix a broken Elete wasn't causing that already.
* * *
Lyric
* * *
"Brother? Hun? If you don't stop cringing, your posture's going to suffer for it."
I try to stop ducking from people's glances. It's an automatic reaction. I'm very nervous about being looked at right now, which is totally not the norm, but...well...
I really, really don't want anyone to recognize me from the Trial. Or worse, from ten years ago. I'm still getting used to being back in Radia and reuniting with old 'friends' isn't really my cup of tea right now. The really bad thing is I think a few people do recognize me, because there's the occasional sneer at me. Word spreads fast, I guess.
"And if you don't ease up, your shoulders are gonna freeze up, and the cut of your clothing will be all wrong when we get it."
I nod. Stevane is right. I need to loosen up. Hey, at least I'm not traipsing around in Aurocan servant robes anymore. She leant me some clothes. This skirt is just darling.
Hey, the looks aren't because of that. I look fabulous in this outfit. I rock the crossdressing scene. If anything they must be looking at me because I am just so fabulous. And with that, I set my shoulders straight, hold my head up high, and relish the attention.
"Yeah, so, I guess it's good you like, wax your legs? Since you couldn't just settle for a pair of trousers." My sister sounds a little grumpy, now that I take time to pay attention to that sort of thing. Whyever might that be?
"How could I wear trousers when you had this cute little skirt?" I do a twirl in it. Okay, that's that - definitely a few looks in my direction from that little move. I've been paranoid when it turns out people are just that impressed with my taste in fashion!
Stevane sighs. "I hadn't even worn it yet. Now everyone's going to think I borrowed it from you!"
I grin. "Well, if that's the case, it would be best if you just gave it to me outright." Ooh, what a glare! I remind myself that she usually looks like that right before flames start sprouting from people's eyebrows. "Look, why don't we find something cute for you today, too, and I'll just buy it with the money I got? Since I'll have this skirt it pretty much comes out even." I think I've got her, now. "I'll get you some barrettes to match!"
"Well, oka--" And then she jumps me, right in the middle of the street. I squawk a protest and flail, but neither saves me from hitting the cobblestones. Shit, now I'm all dirty, and I've got Stevane straddled on top of me, holding up a large hunting knife--
Hey, where'd she get that? And why's there a smoking hole in the wall right behind where I was just standing?
"Fuck." She springs to a hunched-over standing position, still curled over me in an odd manner, like she's blocking something. She tugs me up from the crook of my elbow. "Stay down. We've got to get you out of here."
"I've got you two covered, sis." I don't even see Lute, but he's somewhere in the shadows. "Over here. Keep shielding. You're doing just fine."
I realize with a start that the knife my sister has pulled out of nowhere isn't...normal. Is it...I cock my head. I almost hear the whisper of its voice...
"Go on, you dolt!" She hisses into my ear, shoving me towards the alley, into the shadows. "Don't you have a lick of sense? You almost got assassinated just now! Fucking boys."
There's a chuckle in the darkness, and then the shadows fold around me like a pair of arms. "Now now, sister. Don't hold one idiot against us all. A coupla' us have the sense to leave a crime scene while it's still hot." She ducks in beside me, and fool me, I'm still staring at her...Arm? Or is it a regular knife? Did Stevane go Armed? She sure didn't mention it! Then Lute draws up the shadows around her too, and we all three wink out of there, as if we'd never been there in the first place.
Huh. Assassinated. It's just so inconceivable to me that I can't feel shaken up about it. I just want a nice pair of shoes, and where we're going I don't think we'll get that.
* * *
Okay, I was wrong. But hey, people can be wrong sometimes. Look at the entire duration of my stay in Audiva Rocale for details.
Stevane's hugging my head when we appear in a den that's decorated with impeccable taste and with attention paid to every recent trend in fashion. I recognize it immediately as Muriel's house, which is kind of funny considering it looks completely different than when I was last here over a decade ago. You really can't miss anything having to do with Muriel, though. Trust me, he makes sure of it.
Oh yeah. Stevane's still wrapped over my head like a very large red hat. A stylish hat, I'm sure, but not really an accessory I care to keep wearing. I try to squirm away and she almost wrenches my neck off my shoulders.
"Hey, sis? You can let him go now. We're in a safehouse." Lute comes to my rescue, just like in the old days. I'm de-hatted, but not before a light buff to the noggin. I take it like a man.
"Geez, he even squeals as loud as back in the day." Stevane sounds pretty miffed. Man, what did I do? "You almost got yourself killed! If Lute hadn't been there for our getaway, how much longer do you think we would have lasted? And stop thinking so loud!"
"I don't know, Stevane. You were handling it pretty well on your own. I think you two would have been just fine." Lute sounds perfectly calm, even a little proud, as he pats our sister on the head. She just glares up at him, and he beams down at her in reply. "I think you're letting this get to you too much. You knew it was going to happen, same as I did, right?" She gives a begrudging nod.
"Hey..." I raise a protest, "just how come both of you knew someone was going to take a shot at me? And just why did someone want to kill me? And...hey, Lute, how'd you manage to show up so quick?"
Stevane rolls her eyes and snorts. "You didn't even notice him following us as we left, did you?" She sighs and pinches her brow, the motion so characteristically like my Father that I double-take. "...Just how did you make it back to Radia alive in the first place?"
I scowl at her. I really don't have a good retort, though. I've asked the same question in my mind.
"Boys, boys. Such a ruckus! And you haven't even told your Auntie Muriel hello! Such manners they're teaching the kids these days." Muriel pouts as he poses in the doorway. I double-take. Your first look at Muriel always requires a double-take. There's only so much fashion and fabulousness that one person can gaze upon and actually take in, and Muriel has at least twice that much. I'm not sure if anybody can even measure it. And describing it...
I've heard Muriel's broken a few Poets just by requesting a short description of his more casual outfits, so I'm just going to try to sum this up real quick. He's not the parade float that the Peacock King is, but that's because Muriel doesn't need to show off to that degree. He could dress in anything, in fact, and make it look like that season's top fashion. It's the way he carries himself...heck, more than that, things seem to sparkle when he's around them. He's got blonde hair so light that it's near-white, cut short to frame his refined features. His eyes are a blue that's a little lighter than mine, and a little...dreamier. He looks a lot like Lute and I, actually, and the resemblance was even stronger when the two of us were younger and more twin-like.
Muriel's a lot older than us, though, even though he's another of Father's kids. He's from an earlier generation. My Father's pretty old, and we tend to be long-lived, coming from his bloodline. I guess I don't think about it much...it's kind of weird to really think too hard about. Maybe I just don't want to. But that's why we call him Auntie even though he's technically our brother. He just...sort of acts like an aunt anyway. And um...well, nobody can think of him as an uncle, I guess.
Anyway, I heard after Muriel was born, Father dressed really stark for a period of time afterwards, just to recover from passing on so much fabulousness to Muriel. That's the legend, anyway. Looking at Muriel now, I can kind of believe it. He's wearing an embroidered jacket and pants that are crisply pressed, with a half-cape riding his shoulders. There's matching white shoes and a handbag to match, and of course earrings and makeup. If I go on any further about him, I'll be writing all night, so that'll just have to do. Besides, I can't really observe too much more about him since the next thing he does is asphyxiate me with affection.
"Lyric!! I'm so glad you're in town again! I think about you every time I go out shopping and I find shoes in your size, you know! Oh look at you you've grown so...not at all! Oh goody I've bought you a couple things here and there that were cute I couldn't pass them up and it's all a bit out of season but I'm sure you'll know how to make that work, yes? So come over here and I'll get you a cup of tea and you can tell Auntie Muriel all about your travels. I hear Sul has the most esquisitely patterned fabrics, did you bring anything back from your trip? Oh, and isn't that skirt so darling on you! I bought it for Stevane, you know, but you two have the same butt."
* * *
Stevane
* * *
Auntie Muriel whisks Lyric away to his wardrobe rooms, which I figure is for the better, especially when Lute lays his hands on my shoulders.
"Easy, girl."
I realize I'm cutting little crescents into my palms with my fingernails. I unclench my fists and try to relax my shoulders. Lute cranes his head down and looks over me.
"First mission accomplished, huh?" It's meant to be comforting, but...
I wilt. "Sure. Someone took a pot shot at my brother and I knocked him out of the way. No one will ever attack him again and my work is done for good."
He snorts. "You expect a lot of yourself, Stevane." His fingertip grazes my upper arm. I hiss. He holds it in front of my face. "You protected your target, but you didn't even notice you got hit? And you bully Lyric for not taking it seriously..." he tsks.
I lift my hand, hold it over my arm, and close my eyes. I can ignore the teasing. Well, at least from Lute. For some reason nothing ever seems particularly malicious when he says it to me. It's just everybody else that raises my ire, even Jhe h'Lete sometimes.
"So, what can you tell from the wound?" His voice is soft, though I doubt Muriel and Lyric will overhear us while they have clothes to distract him.
"It was fired by a woman. Arrowshot. No, dart. Self-destructed on impact, explains the crater in the wall. Would have made a pretty big hole in Lyric--"
"Easy. Focus on the facts. You're emotional enough to kill him yourself, and that won't do no one no good."
"Leaves no trace, if it hits. Pretty easy to feel out by accidental contact, though. My Arms--well, I'm hearing some things from the girls, such as they are."
"You're an overcooked egg. You really should see about going in and getting that taken care of, you know. It doesn't take long, never did for any of us, won't for you." He squeezes my shoulder. "And we've been waitin', ya know."
I try not to feel down about it. "...Maybe when everything calms down. For now...she's a young one, freelance assassin, kind of inexperienced though alert enough. Didn't realize anybody was watching, but then, she should have known better. It's the effin' capital. Got paid a quarter of the hit's worth already, so she loses a lot if she doesn't finish it, but she's not on a good enough contract to keep her really loyal. She might move on. Doesn't know who hired her." I swallow. "Things are moving too fast for there to already be an assassin, Lute."
He narrows his eyes. "Yeah, you'd think that, but I've seen...well, after long enough in my division, Stevane, you're a little less surprised by that sort of thing." He shrugs. "Anything else, sis?"
I close my eyes again, and I hear half a voice (that ought to be Arms, if I'd ever get my act together) tell me I shouldn't need to do that to focus, and I ought to have both of 'em open especially at a time like this. I open my eyes and try to do it right. "She did sloppy work. I could track her from this."
He pats my shoulder. "If you can, others can from your blood. Stay here, kay? I'm gonna see what we can do, and check in with Dad. You're both safe here. Well, you kinda ensure that. But Aunt Muriel's place...well, no one will look for him here. It's the best safehouse right now. Too much stuff is happening near the Palace for my liking-oof!"
I give my brother a hug while I have a chance. He has a habit of disappearing before I can say a proper goodbye to him. He grins, ruffles my hair, and then he's gone.
I sigh. I can still hear the girls halfway, in the back of my mind, and holding off from going to the Armed Hall right now and finishing things up just makes me ache. For now, I bind up my arm before joining my brothers and focusing on fashion. From here, that's not a very difficult task.
