Eternally Bound: Part 3
----- Conjuration -----
The sun yawned and peeked its head over the horizon. It liked this time: the silent stillness of the morning, before any other thing expected its return. It shot beams onto the ripples of the lake near the Dejarin Estate, gleefully enjoying the reflectivity and refraction it caused. Paige shared in the enjoyment.
Each new day brought along with it the affairs and political woes of the estate, yet in the moment - just as daylight began - she had a few minutes to herself. The woman glided onto the balcony, watching the shoreline and waters below, then finally sighed. It was a sight that took her back to when she was a girl, waking up before anyone knew, sneaking into her father's study to look out the window to watch the spectacle of a new dawn. The excitement of her youth at witnessing it had been replaced by serenity as the woman grew into her role, and she relished in the time - however fleeting - that she could find it.
Ember cleared her throat, having been silent for longer than the woman thought she could have been. Paige turned around, warmly greeted her new captain. The day had begun, and the morning report signaled the beginning of it.
"Good morning, my dear, and ahai to you, Lady Paige Dejarin." the woman wiped her eyes, continued yawning and stretching as she approached.
Ember's cheeks were red at her lover's appearance. "Are you… uh… going to change?" she asked as politely as she knew how.
Where some would consider her rude at times, Demitra found Ember's forthrightness and honesty refreshing. She simply smiled large ruby lips and winked at her partner. A hand was waved over her attire which rippled and completely vanished for a moment, leaving her completely exposed. A split second thereafter, small fuchsia distortions formed around her curvaceous body which solidified, forming her armor and adventuring attire.
Ember had seen the magical wardrobe change before, but it hadn't occurred to her until that moment that it involved a bit of nudity (it was usually only done in the privacy of their bedchambers). She hoped Paige hadn't caught it, but, a quick glance to Paige's wide-eyed and shocked expression literally made Ember's hair catch fire from embarrassment.
Paige swallowed the knot in her throat and employed her diplomatic skills to ignore it, even though she was clearly flustered. "A-and, how did the… night find you? Are you well rested?" she managed to ask.
"Indeed it found me quite well. We rested quite soundly after we..." Demitra noted Ember's fiery head. "Well, I would simply say we slept very well, indeed."
Ember rubbed the back of her neck and decided to change the subject. "Did you eat?" Ember asked. Since her lover's return, Demitra had eaten very little. At the coronation she had seemed almost disgusted at the prospect, and while Ember was no anthropologist, she knew enough to understand that most living beings ate.
"Sebastian set out a wide variety of foods; hopefully you found something to your liking?" Paige offered graciously.
"I appreciate the gesture, but it seems I no longer require such to sustain me," Demitra stated casually
Paige shifted awkwardly. She hadn't expected the statement, and no matter how much diplomatic experience someone had under their belt, conversing with a Djinn wasn't something one often practiced. This fact, combined with Demitra's stature, her accent, articulation, and - Paige had to admit - the woman's exotic physique, certainly could be intimidating.
Ember raised an eyebrow, was about to interject, when another approached. It was Ariadne, a member of Ember's newfound cavalry. She was a tall woman, and since Ember was shorter than most, she had to crane her neck just to see her face. But, despite her imposing stature, Ari had become someone Ember respected for her insight and assessment. She approached her captain, the lady of the house and Demitra carefully, as not to interrupt any state of affairs in progress. When all turned to her, the woman placed her hand over her heart, in a greeting salute.
"Greetings Ari," Paige said as she bowed her head and Ember saluted her subordinate.
"May I have Ember's ear for a moment, Lady Paige?"
"Of course," Paige said, gesturing a dismissal to Ember. "We may continue the morning report afterwards."
Ember and the woman excused themselves momentarily, while Paige noticed a figure standing silently in the balcony's entranceway. The frame was of a young woman, petite in size, wearing a short dress with a small top, separated by an exposed midriff. The entire outfit was of blacks accented by mustard yellows, complete with a top-hat she often wore - even when the situation didn't warrant it. Paige considered the young woman a very dear friend of hers, and while her sorted past would make anyone a bitter person, Six, as she was called, always seemed to wear a smile. However, she now stood in the arch of flowers with a slightly furrowed brow and a subtly grave expression.
"Six? Come. Is something the matter," Paige called out, concerned.
Six came to the balcony, walked by Demitra with a slight nod of her head, then brought Paige to stand upon the overlook to the beach. She gestured below and kept her tones low, for only the Lady's ears. "Sorry for interrupting, but there is something I found that I think you should know before Ember finds out."
Paige nodded, as if ready with a shielding spell to prepare herself for the news. "What's wrong? You've never been this… serious."
"Well," the young woman seemed to consider the words carefully; she had always struggled with certain social cues, and wondered if there were varying degrees of seriousness lost to her. She shook herself back to the moment. "I found something on the beech…"
Demitra felt a flood of worry and heartache come from Paige; the most she had felt from the woman's normally methodical analytical mind. She took a step toward the woman, to offer support, when a wave of panic came from Ember's corner of the balcony. Demitra was torn, felt at odds with herself. Ember's urgency was intense, but Paige's new was unsettling and heartbreaking.
Ember came quickly to stand beside Demitra, as Ari leaned against the banister and looked distantly, thinking of their objective.
"What is amiss?" Demitra asked, her emerald eyes glowing with concern.
"Seems I'll be working today; looks like we'll see how far the raptor's training has come." She put her arm around Demitra, attempting to ease concern. "It's all part of the duty of Captain of the Guard, you know," she said with a smirk, then signaled to Paige, who tried to keep a brave face.
"Is all well?" Demitra quickly slid the question in before Ember could speak.
Paige looked almost in tears, but kept her head poised. "It's fine. I'll just… I'll handle this. I just…" her gaze was locked on Ember, who figured it was only to indicate her turn.
"Lady Paige, Ari has informed me there are pirates to the north in a cave which seem to be gathering. It appears your theory about the target painted on our backs is warranted," Ember said.
"What target?" Six asked, joining the circle.
Paige explained her theory to Six. "We are becoming a bit well known, it seems. Since the festival in Amnoon, our wine has started circulating, and I'll admit, even I have been surprised by the increase in demand. But, with that comes those who would steal our prosperity. Thus, a 'target on our backs,' and it sounds like these bandits or pirates or whatever are amassing to do just that. What do you propose, Captain Ember?"
"We ride out and snuff them out before they even begin to march for us," she said. With a nod from Paige, she gave a salute, then turned to Demitra to kiss her love a quick goodbye. "I'll be back soon; just going to make ready the raptors and guard are ready to move out." Her words were bordering giddy, and she seemed to almost skip away.
"Oh… Oh gods," Paige whispered in an exhale.
"I am sorry to add more to your already full skate (or is it plate?). I hate sayings…" Six muttered.
"It's fine, Six. Thank you for bringing me the news discretely; it's a delicate matter," Paige said.
Six nodded, went to join Ari, with a sidelong glance to Demitra. Having seen the Djinn's powers on the beech during the coronation, Six remained skeptical of the woman, but -as was her way- remained silent and vigilant.
Demitra's concern was for Paige, however. The woman's worried attention had brought her to the veranda that overlooked the beach. She was leaning against the railing holding the wood tightly. Lost in thought, she hadn't realized the Elonian came to stand beside her, until Demitra spoke.
Paige averted her eyes. "It's nothing of concern," she said, but her mannerisms spoke volumes, even to Demitra who hadn't known her that long.
"Do you recall our adventure to its fullest?" she said, also leaning against the railing.
"I do; as if it were yesterday, in fact."
"Then you recall, no doubt, that I can sense the feelings in others, yes? It is an ability I have had since I was a teenager, and one that I have come to count on. I feel you are deeply troubled; please allow me to assist… That is, if you can place your trust in me," Demitra smiled warmly, sympathetically.
Paige sighed. "I had forgotten you had that gift for a moment. Six came to give me some news, and I fear that Ember will discover it before I can learn more about what happened. I just… I don't know how to tell her…" Paige's voice inadvertently cracked.
Demitra placed her hand over the woman's, trying to console her. She hadn't counted on the tingling sensation her touch was prone to, and seeing Paige's wide-eyes and the audible gasp that came from the woman made Demitra's face turn red. She withdrew her hand, stared at her own azure sparkling fingertips. "Apologies; I just wanted to… Well, I simply need you to know, Lady Paige Dejarin, daughter of the Dejarin line, that I have come to know of you over these past months."
Liquid hazel eyes turn to Demitra's emeralds. "W-what do you see?"
Warm thick lips reassured the noble woman. "I know you to be a caring individual. You have such a big heart, it is welcoming and exudes love. You are a strong, confident woman; a Lady of an up and coming house. But, you feel all the weight is yours alone. You should know that it is not. There are those around you which shall help with that burden; you simply have to trust them to help you." Demitra winked.
Paige sighed. "Sometimes I take too much after my father, and I'm always cautious about that. You know, I saw the stress and strain on a man too used to live alone. After my mother had gone, Father had gotten used to relying on only himself, and I think it drove others away. And, I… I don't want to live like that, so I surround myself with great people."
"You do not give yourself enough accolades, Lady Paige Dejarin; the very fact you objectively reflect on such is truly a trait most admiring."
"Do I not?" Paige seemed to rummage through her memories for a moment, until she saw Ember below, approaching the house, a small herd of raptors and drakes behind her. "Ember needs to know that we won't stop until we've discovered the truth behind this tragedy," she said eyeing her captain as she made her way into the manor.
"And we shall be here for you to help shoulder the responsibility, as well as console Ember, in her time of need."
"Demitra… I…"
"Everything is ready!" Ember exclaimed loudly. She had full battle armor on, and already donned her helm. "Who is coming? I have a few of the riders coming along, but any that aren't needed elsewhere would be welcomed to accompany us."
Ari and Six paused their conversation and seemed to look at each other with the same excited expression. "We're in," they both said in unison.
A quick wardrobe change into their armor later and the group gathered on the grounds. Demitra stood within the group of raptors looking, proudly, at the accomplishment her partner had become captain to. Ember rode to the front of the line upon Cinder, who had enjoyed a pounce upon Demitra when first seeing her again.
"This is one of the first large operations the cavalry has embarked on," Ember said, rallying the troops. "I know some of you are new to this, but if you remember your training, you will be victorious. We're going to stop some looters, before they loot; so we'll have the drop on them. The drakes have gone ahead in the waters and will stop anyone trying to escape. Stick with the group; don't be a hero, and we'll all be coming home to a barrel of wine."
For one who unequivocally avoids speeches, Ember's speech was brilliant, Demitra thought. She stepped forward, waved a hand to use her magics to conjure a crystalline raptor, as she had done so many times before. This time, however, what manifested was… different. From her conjuration was a raptor construct made completely out of ice...
[To Be Continued...]
