Mutual Sorrow

Biara sighed as she kicked off her shoes and slid onto the silken divan, her body stretching out against the luxurious softness of the furniture. For a moment she simply lay there, her arms extended above her head, one crossed and covering her eyes to block out the sunlight streaming in through the windows of her study. She sighed a second time, tension leaving her as she let go of her worries for a brief moment and just tried to exist in the silence that surrounded her.

Her respite from her duties lasted a mere fraction of a second as she heard the door to her study open and close quietly. For a moment, she remained still, the white and gold fabric of her sleeve covering her face as she savored every last second that she could before a male voice grunted softly to get her attention. Resigned now to the fact that her sanctuary from her duties had been penetrated, she sighed again and moved her arm just enough to peek from beneath the fabric.

Braeth’el nodded at her, looking as weary as she felt, and she let her arm fall from her face as she studied his, “There’s more trouble isn’t there?”

He nodded, obviously not relishing the thought of breaking the news to her, and why would he? For the past two weeks they’d had nothing but trouble with the other noble houses and various Magi within the city. It seemed half the Kingdom was offended that she was being allowed to lead the project to recalibrate the wards around Faetheril, while the other half were offended that she’d stepped out of place amongst the other Magi and seemingly earned some small favor from the King.

When Braeth’el spoke, it was with a heavy voice, “I fear that I’ve uncovered a potential plot by House Summerwind to sabotage the project. I can only get scant details due to the fact that it is a Summerwind Magi behind the plan, but I am concerned that whatever they are plotting will happen very quickly.”

Biara grunted, shifting on the divan so she was at least partially upright and not speaking to her Master at Arms from a dejected slouch. She felt worn to the bone with all the work they’d been doing in preparing the first test ward, and dealing with various plots and intrigue had not been part of her original plan. She sighed again, shaking her head, “It doesn’t matter, the project must go on. I appreciate you taking the time to look into this though and I’ll have defenses prepared by this evening to handle anything they decide to try against our test wardstone.”

Braeth’el sighed himself and nodded, “You know I won’t abandon House Sunfire or my duties. No offense though, but I would not wish to be in this position all of the time. It’s all I can do to keep up with guard rotations, logistics, visitors from the court, and running the various parts of this estate. How you were doing this and attempting to practice magic is beyond me, and I am starting to see why you took a step back.”

“It was that and many other factors,” Biara admitted. “It was time for me to put my hand to something more productive. My politics did little to help my cause and much to hurt our House and my sister, when she is here, serves in that role much better than I did. I am sorry that she seemingly has abandoned her station though. Have you heard word from her?”

Braeth’el shook his head, “I haven’t. The last I’d heard she left to go back to the garrisons in Althera for whatever reason. Her explanation was rather terse and she’d been acting strangely from what I gather. I haven’t had time to think about it with the mounds of work piled on me over the past week and a half.”

Biara bit her lip and looked away, shaking her head and picking at a thread on her dress, “I am sorry Braeth’el. I think you deserve at least a day or two of rest. She shouldn’t have left you in such a position, shouldn’t have done what she did…” Biara’s voice trailed off for a moment before she murmured again, “Is there anything else?”

Braeth’el’s head tilted as he studied the noble Magi sitting before him. He attempted to make eye contact with her, but she steadfastly continued to pick at a thread that had long since been removed, “Biara, I’ve known you for your entire life. I’ve seen you get caught stealing spellbooks from your mother’s quarters, seen you attempt to slyly command spies, and seen you try to coax lords into taking up your cause. Just tell me, whatever it is.”

Biara turned beet red for a moment and shook her head, “I’m sure I don’t know what you are talking about, Braeth’el. I should probably get to my duties before more disasters befall us.”

Braeth’el grunted, frowning and turning away, “I thought that we’d gone beyond what came between us. I have at least, even though our differences almost turned lethal in the past. I suppose though that you either still don’t trust me, or perhaps believe there is no value in a lasting friendship between us.”

He began to walk away, and Biara’s eyes widened as she rushed from the divan, her hand reaching out to catch him by the shoulder, “Braeth’el…wait…”

He paused, turning to look at her, gazing at her intently, “Just tell me. If it’s another problem we will deal with it.”

Biara shook her head, looking down, “It’s Kyli… It… will be hard to hear.”

Braeth’el nodded, his tone softening, “What happened to Kyli?”

“It’s not what happened to her, it’s what she’s done,” Biara began hesitantly. “When last she and I spoke, we fought. I suspect that it is one of the reasons she rushed off to the distant garrisons.”

Braeth’el spoke softly, understanding there was more behind the words, “What did you fight about, Biara?”

Biara stared at the floor as she spoke, as if she didn’t want to look him in the eye, “Braeth’el, Kyliska…slept with Rayleth. I-it was at one of the garrisons in Althera. I had been traveling there to speak with several of the apprentices assigned to the outposts and to pick up reports. I-I saw her heading towards his barracks. She was walking as if she’d been drinking, and then she disappeared inside. I…snuck up to the doorway and listened. I heard them talking. I heard them…”

Braeth’el was silent as Biara’s voice trailed off. The pain in her tone and the way she trembled gave a weight to the words that nothing else could. He felt like he’d been struck in the chest with an arrow, and for a moment all he could do was stand in place as emotions raged through him. All this time he’d thought that Kyliska had changed, that she had seen something in their relationship that meant something special to her. He’d thought he had finally found the end of his path, the place where his retirement from being a spy would start and a new life would begin. All of it was crushed in a moment by Biara’s words.

He gave a strangled grunt of anger, shaking as he moved to the divan Biara had just vacated and sank down on it, his head cradled in his hands. Although he managed to keep his tears in check, the pain coursed through him all the same and he found himself speechless for a long time. He heard the rustle of Biara’s skirts as she moved, and felt her hands upon his knees. Hesitantly he managed to bring his hands from his face, and found her kneeling on the floor before him, tears in her eyes as she looked up at him.

“Braeth’el, I am so very sorry,” she said, her tone soft and consoling. “It felt the same way for me. Rayleth...he and I had something together, something special. My sister has taken this from both of us, and then when I spoke to her of it, she ran off, unable to hear the truth of the matter. I didn’t want to tell you, I was afraid you would not believe me, afraid that you would leave when I needed you most. I was selfish to keep it from you, and I can only beg you to forgive me.”

Braeth’el blinked, the clashing emotions in him warring with his astonishment at seeing the Lady Dayfire kneeling before him, begging him to forgive her for something that had been far behind her control. The hurt on her face mirrored what he felt in his heart, and he found himself reaching out and taking her small hands in his, squeezing them as he spoke, “It was not you who did this to me, nor was it your place to tell me. I’m your spymaster; if I cannot see my own lover cheating on me then what good am I to you and to this House? It is I who’ve failed here. I should have seen through it all, seen what was always there.”

“None of us could have known that she would do such a thing,” Biara replied. “I trusted her as I always do, and she let me down once again. She is my sister still though, and I love her enough to forgive her eventually and have her come back, but I will not lose you in the process, at least not your friendship. If you wish to leave the service of this House before Kyliska returns here, I will understand and will consider that you have honored all of the oaths you swore to my father long ago.”

Braeth’el shook his head, sucking in a deep breath and forcing his emotions down deep. He was a professional spy and he’d sworn oaths as Biara had said. It hurt worse than the blackest poison he’d ever felt, but he’d be damned if it was going to break him. He squeezed Biara’s hands again and nearly growled, “Tel’athar’s blood runs through your veins, and as long as you live I will serve this House. I will do what I swore to your father I’d do.”

Biara looked almost relieved, giving him a half smile, “You can’t know what that means to me. I need you here now more than ever. You know how important my work is, what we can accomplish. Our realm could be safe for thousands of years if we can complete the spells. I just need a little more time, a little more-“

Biara’s words cut off in mid-sentence, and Braeth’el’s mind immediately snapped into action as he watched her eyes roll up into her head. For a moment she didn’t move or even breathe, but the magical wards on her right cheek and running down the left side of her body began to spark and glow with bright blue magical power. The energy was so strong that he could clearly see the light from the spells glowing through the fabric of her dress. He rose and then knelt beside her, his hands coming up to her shoulders as he shouted, “Biara! What’s the matter?! Can you hear me?”

Biara’s eyes snapped back into focus, bright blue energy leaking from them and vaporizing in the air near her face as tremendous amounts of magic surged through her. She shivered once, her voice coming out in a jerking stutter, “S-someone’s…breaching wards. C-can’t hold them b-back for long…e-estate under attack!”

The energy within the Magi surged even brighter, and Braeth’el looked away as he felt power coursing through the rather fragile Faeril elf in his arms. In a distant part of the estate he heard a thundering boom as something, some power, broke through House Sunfire’s defensive wards. The sound was followed by what sounded like secondary explosions and the patter of many somethings falling atop the roof of the structure or perhaps in the courtyard outside. The entire building rocked as a second boom echoed through the very floor, screams rising up in the corridors beyond.

And then, in a moment, it was over. Biara seemed to sigh, slumping forward as the energy in the wards on her body began to twinkle out slowly, leaving fitful traces of glowing blue sigils across her right cheek. Her eyes closed and Braeth’el found himself holding her upright as she shuddered once. He spoke into the silence, his tone low, “Biara? Are you alright? What happened?”

For a moment she didn’t respond, and he feared she had passed out. After a long pause she stirred slowly, looking up at him through half-lidded eyes, clearly drained from whatever had just happened. When she first spoke, a strange glowing vapor escaping from between her lips, the last of her power fading, “We were attacked by saboteurs.  There were enough of them working together to partially breach my wards. They were going for the wardstone we’re preparing. I-I…I couldn’t hold them back. The stone is destroyed and I can no longer feel the spells or presence of two of my apprentices.”

Braeth’el frowned, shaking his head and still holding her in his arms, “It’ll be alright. We’ll clean it up and start over. Dammit! This is my fault; I should have found out about the plot sooner. They must have been planning to move close to the estate to launch the attack.”

Biara didn’t respond, tears beginning to spill down her face. When she began to cry openly, Braeth’el found himself in a strange place stuck between warring emotions within himself, “I’m sorry. I know this is hard. I wish I could have warned you sooner.”

“It’s not that,” Biara said, choking back her tears. “I’ve failed again. I thought that maybe, maybe just once I could do something a different way. That I could make a positive change or try to help in a way that my magic would not harm anyone. I thought if I took a step back, if I let Kyliska run the House that I could avoid all of this and that no one else would have to suffer because of my mistakes. And now it has cost the lives of two more of my apprentices and Aura knows how many of our guards and servants. I’ve failed Faetheril, failed this House, and failed my father’s memory.”

Braeth’el snarled, grabbing Biara by the shoulders and nearly shaking her, looking directly into her eyes, “Snap out of it! This is not the Biara I know. Yes our enemies have gotten one step ahead of us and served us a defeat, but when have you ever let that stop you? When have you ever laid down to die? This House exists because of your energy and drive, because of your unfaltering will. How many of our enemies have you struck down?”

Biara didn’t answer, her mouth opening and closing in surprise at Braeth’el’s sudden harshness. It was if all of the anger and pain within him had solidified into a driving fire that was hot enough to burn her in its flames. When she took too long to answer, he actually did shake her once, almost shouting in her face, “Are you going to let them destroy this Kingdom because they don’t like you? Or are you going to do something about it?!”

“I-I….I’m going to stop them,” Biara said. Braeth’el’s anger was a palpable thing in the air and it was infectious. She could almost feel his rage creeping across her skin from where his fingers dug into her arms, and it enflamed the outrage at what had been done to her plans, to the King’s project, within her own house. When she spoke a second time, she nearly quivered with anger, “I’m going to make them pay for this. No one is going to destroy this kingdom while I draw breath. I’ve bled for this realm. I’ve lost loved ones and all I once possessed for it. I’ve seen myself nearly brought to ruin. I will not let some…some charlatans who think they know what true magic is attack my home!”

Braeth’el released Biara, his voice cold now, his tone commanding. He rose, looking down at her, “Then get up. I’ll get the horses saddled and we’ll ride immediately.”

Biara stared up at him, actually enjoying his decisiveness in the moment of disaster. It was what her father had seen in him all those years ago shining through in his eyes; he’d do his duty and let his enemies be damned if they tried to stop him. In that moment, she would have cut through the wall of her study with her magic if he’d suggested it would get them to their destination faster. She rose, one last question on her lips as she followed him out into the corridor beyond, ignoring the cries of the servants and guards who had been nearly killed during the attack, “Where are we going?”

Braeth’el didn’t look back, shoving a hurrying guard out of his way as he continued onward. When he responded over his shoulder, he said only one sentence, but Biara felt hope soar within her as he spoke, “We’re going to see my friend Kestriel and we’re going to do something about this.”

As they rushed towards the stables in the courtyard far below, Biara prepared her combat spells in her mind, already beginning to weave wards of protection around herself and Braeth’el. If their enemies had prepared an ambush in the forests beyond Sunfire Estate, they were about to learn a very harsh lesson about Biara’s mercy when it came to the enemies of Faetheril.