• Mature • Summons

[Elyna]

107th Ashan

Dressed nicely, the young woman sat straight-backed on the solar. She’d had a similar conversation with her father the year before. If she’d been thinking about the future, the Skyrider wouldn’t have expected to be a colonel or to have two children. She would have hoped that by now she would have felt more mature. As though life was slotting together in some kind of organised plan. It wasn’t. If anything, things felt more out of control than ever, spiralling and twisting out of reach. It was still raining, floods rising around the duchy’s. The drops fell heavy on the glass roof and slid down the sides in ribbons of water. In her neat green dress and corset, she waited among the foliage. Pavoo would see her when he was ready, she knew better than to try and prise him from his study.
Eventually the man entered, carrying a tea-tray and she smiled, standing to take it from him and set it down. The smile had come, despite her best efforts to remain frustrated with her Father. Above all things, she did believe the judge to be a fair man. Unlike her Mother, who at times seemed strangely vindictive.
“I’m afraid Luke is asleep,” Elyna admitted, gesturing to the basket where the baby was tucked up in his blanket. Pavoo bent over the sleeping child, and stroke a hand down the babies cheek.
“I know what you’ve come to ask,” he father retreated and poured the black tea into two cups. Elyna added the honey and stirred. Pavoo wasn’t allowed sugar in his tea, but she would always sneak it in for him.
“You can read the future now, Father?” She teased him, but sank back onto the wicker chair. A great vine with green leaves and pink flowers was climbing the wall behind her, spreading out it’s tendrils across a white-painted trellis.
“You don’t want to go to Burhan,” he lifted a brow and sat down opposite his daughter.
“I don’t want to go to Burhan,” she agreed and curled her hands around the tea-cup, “Luke is so young,” she tried to use his heart strings, but his expression failed to change.
“My parents aren’t getting any younger,” he mimicked the way that she sat, unyielding “they want to meet Elsie, and Luke. They want to meet their great-grandchildren. You know they cannot come here.”
“Papa-”
“Do you hate your family so much Elyna? That you’ll deny them the chance to meet the children?”
“No,” she was horrified, “of course not.” For all her impulsive ways and tendencies, she loved her grandparents.
“Your Grandfather has caught the sicknesses in the last three seasons, Elyna. He wants to meet your children.”
“I’m not saying no,” she tried to keep her voice calm, reasonable, “but I am not fully recovered.” It was hard for the skyrider to admit. Used to relying on her physical strength, she felt vulnerable and wobbly. Dizzy at times, but at least she was now able to leave the house on short excursions.
“Yes,” Pavoo took a sip of his tea, “and from what I hear, having to sit still on a boat for a few days travel won’t do you any harm.”
Elyna found herself chewing her lip. He was good at this, it was as though he had rehearsed his part in the play and she was left floundering, trying to out manoeuvre him on a political flanking. “It won’t be restful, caring for the children,” she added softly, though she could already anticipate his answer.
“Anna is free to accompany you. I will be paying for her passage.”
Elyna let out a slow sigh, the rain continued to hammer down from the grey skies, with no sign of letting up. She didn’t to leave Malcolm behind, not for so long. It felt as though they barely had any time together and already they were due to part. How would he feel about her taking the children away for the end of the season?
“Your friend, Vakhanor, I believe he intends to travel to Burhan as well, does he not?”
Elyna nodded and took a sip of her tea. She enjoyed the mixture of bitterness and honey on her tongue. The room smelt like flowers, it always smelt like flowers and fresh growth. A scent she would always associate with her Father. A man without much time, but who loved his garden.

The skyrider returned in the early evening. The clouds were swollen and dark, as though they’d been painted with ink. She was lucky that Luke sleeping once more, wrapped up tight and close to her chest as she rode through the city streets on the back of a passenger wagon. It rumbled over the cobblestones and she sunk deeper into her cloak and hood. With her arms wrapped tight around her son, shielding him from the rain and make a quick way back to their home on the edge of the district. Ducking under the eaves and through the door, she peeled away her heavy cloak and shook it off. Who would have known it was Ashan? Was there any chance that the spring showers would ever let up?
Elyna hung up her cloak and the water fall in drips on the floor. The wool saturated with the incessant rain. The house felt warm and it smelt amazing. Little Elsie was already asleep, her leg stretched out beneath the blankets. Elyna couldn’t resist tucking her in and pressing a kiss to her forehead before following the corridor to the room she shared with Malcolm. She laid the baby in his cradle before starting the task of undressing. The corsetry unknotted and peeled away, hung up to dry. Her shirt clung where it had gotten wet, hot and sticky down the back of her neck. She pulled on a fresh pair of breaches and a long-sleeved tunic. Finally, she unfastened the braid in her hair and shook out the long strands, trying to tease out the worst of the water. It was then, that she went in search of her lover. There was no further argument to be had with her family, she was going to Burhan. Whether either of them liked it or not.

[Malcolm]

Elsie had been a handful, demanding Elyna return from wherever she had gotten to, not quickly forgotten by the girl, who spent most of her time with the woman. Malcolm had tried to entertain her while marking papers, and finally given up, choosing to read to her instead. Elsie seemed to love the sound of his voice, more fascinated by the depth of his tone, and the excitement he injected into each word, than the story itself. He would gasp and lift his brow for suspense, and Elsie would mimic the move, staring up at him brow perked and mouth ajar.
Sure she was down, and more importantly, sleep, Malcolm had chosen to have a quick bath and wash the day away. A quick bath had turned into a long soak, the door left open in order to listen for Elsie waking, or Elyna coming home. After almost falling asleep, twice, Malcolm had dried himself, combed his hair, and dressed for the evening. Wrapped up in a pair of longs, a bed shirt, and a tick pair of socks, he had sat down in the living room in front of the fire, the light too dim to do any reading, and drifted off, completely missing Elyna’s return. It wasn't until she had ventured downstairs in search of him, having put Luke down for the night, that he jolted awake and set his open book aside, straightening up on the chair.
“Hey,” he had greeted Elyna with a warm smile, and summoned her to his arms with a wave, his own outstretched.
Malcolm pulled the woman onto his lap and closed his eyes, content to have her so near, wrapped in his arms where she belonged. “How did your visit go? How is your family?” he inquired, voice still hoarse. “Have you eaten? Do you want me to draw a bath for you?” Elyna spent her day caring for little ones, and Malcolm was more than happy to spend his evening seeing that she was cared for in return.
He was exhausted, two jobs, a new baby, and Elsie to chase of an evening was really starting to wear the man down, but he never failed to wear a smile for Elyna.

[Elyna]

Elyna was glad to sink down against him, her arm wrapped around his neck. She closed her eyes and was content. Listening to the crackled of the logs on the fire and the distant sounds beyond the window. The city was never truly asleep, but with the sound of gentle rain on the window panes it felt cosy, curled up on the chair with the man she loved. It was tempting to pull a blanket over them both, and drift off. He followed the silence with questions and she kissed his cheek in reply.
“Shhh,” her lips grazed his jaw and the young woman nuzzled her lover, “I’m alright, you look tired.” Perhaps it was time for her to care more for the man instead. Some of her strength had returned, he’d been running around for trials to look after her and the children. The open study revealed a stack of papers. Their jobs kept them both busy and not for the first time, Elyna wondered if working so hard was really necessary. It meant they had a comfortable home and yet…was time more important? “Elsie kept you busy?” Little monster.
The skyrider stroked her hand through the dark strands of his temple, watching as they lay against her fingers. A rogue strand of grey here and there, it had been a trying year. She let the quiet build and curled up against him, kicking her legs over the other side of the chair. Comfortable in his arms she closed her eyes and paused. Beneath his shirt, she could feel his heart beating and lifted her fingers to press against his chest.
“I’ve got to go to Burhan,” she admitted quietly. She didn’t want to go. “My grandparents have made a formal request to meet with me -” and here came the hardest part, “and the children.” The young woman swallowed, unable to meet his gaze, “I’m to set off on the 110th, Anna will help.” She let out a slow sigh, “I want to be back in the early trials of Ymiden,” what she didn’t discuss, was her other travel companion. Not yet.

[Malcolm]

A warm hand found the smell of her back as she curled against him and got comfortable, pressing a kiss to his cheek. Elyna had hushed him, not wanting the man to fuss, and the kiss had been returned, this one to her soft mouth. How easy it was to lose all sense of self and time when their lips met.
Malcolm made a content sound, followed by a sigh. He had seen the summons for her to join her grandparents in Burhan, at dinner with Rei, but thought nothing more of it, thinking they would have more time, especially since Luke was so young. Would Elyna be okay to travel, to watch Elsie and care for the newborn on a boat for a few days? There came some relief at knowing Anna would be there to support her, but Anna also had her own babe to contend with.
“Mm,” Malcolm hummed when Elyna's lip drew too far from his own, and indulged in another brief kiss. Whenever their lips touched, his heart swelled and his skin was extra sensitive, every hair standing on end. “I will allow it,” he teased, as if he had any say in the matter, “but only because you aren't travelling alone.”
He had already promised Vaughn that he would travel with him to Warrick nearer the end of Ashan, which could put them out of town for part of Ymiden. “When can I expect you home?” Malcolm asked, “when can I kiss you again?” he smiled, and did just that. “I don't know how long Vaughn and I will be in Warrick, but I plan to kill two birds with one stone and carry out an investigation on behalf of the Iron Hand.” They hadn't really talked about his last mission and already he was signed up for another. “No later than the tenth, surely.”

[Elyna]

It started as a tingling in her extremities, fingers and toes and scalp. It was followed by warmth, and a delicious wave of desire that pooled in her belly as he returned her caress. Her fingers curled in his hair and she sat up a little, indulging the motions of his hand and mouth. There was something addictive about the man and his touch. The rest of the world seemed to slip away and fade into the background, indistinct and vague. He smelt clean, her nose rubbed against his neck as he teased her. The young woman rolled her eyes but held her tongue, unwilling to debate whether he had the power to ‘allow’ anything. There was already a storm gathering on the horizon of their tender moments. The skyrider was reluctant to add fuel to a fire.
“As soon as I can return,” she promised, grinning as he kissed her once more. The noble lent back though, her fingers still curled around the nape of his neck, She frowned, hearing that Malcolm was also going away again, “another mission?” The question rose before she could stop herself. Uncertain of how Malcolm would react to her news the young woman used her arms against the table and pushed herself up, standing. The noble stretched and bent to fuss Vara beside the fireplace, the sleepy puppy rolled onto her back, exposing a soft belly.
“Did the mission go well, to Endor?” Elyna glanced at him, the fire behind her. “…Vakhanor is travelling to Burhan as well,” she explained, “I think he intends to visit the spot that his brother passed.” The pool of warmth had changed, burning and bubbling and no longer comfortable. It felt acidic, anxious as it crept along her limbs and left her feeling heavy. “I…I think that I need to stay with him until the first…and then we can come home.”

[Malcolm]

Vakhanor, why wasn't he surprised. Was she really going to do that to herself, to him? Elyna had abandoned the warmth of his embrace, she knew, he thought, that he would not find this news pleasing. It was his turn to look away, his mounting frustration evident. Malcolm put his fingers through his hair, the damp strands unruly where Elyna’s fingers had gone before. He was in need of a trim, the usual waves turned to full curls that touched the back of his neck.
“You're right,” Malcolm said, hoping to avoid a fight, “I am tired.”
Malcolm remained seated, hand balled into a fist to set his jaw against, his elbow pressed into the leather arm of the chair. He watched the fireplace for a time, and let his anger melt away.
“Come here,” he said, bidding the woman return to him. “The mission went well, but there were a few hiccups,” he admitted. “I suppose the most important thing is that everyone made it home safe.”
He didn't say anything about Vakhanor, too often they had fought about the man, and Elyna had assured him there was nothing to worry about there. “I'm going to miss you and the children while you are in Burhan. I'm not pleased that your family would encourage you to travel with Luke, being that he is so new to the world. Should I call off my arrangements with Vaughn to come with you?”
Malcolm did not like the idea of the children on that boat ride, anything could happen. He thought now, if he stayed behind, he would do little more than worry, and Elyna was not very fond of writing, how would he know that they were all right?

[Elyna]

His voice was a command and one she could not refuse. Her body responded before she thought about the request. Did he understand the power that he held over her? He could summon her with a look, or a single word. Hesitant the young woman returned. Malcolm was angry, it came off him in waves and it made her heart skip beats. He taunted her with such brief information about the mission. What hiccups? Had they caught up with the person freeing the slaves?
Still, he had called her back and she was glad to go. The young woman bent to press a kiss to his forehead and returned to her seat on his lap. Her legs fitting neatly down the side of the chair as she sat astride him, arms resting gently on his shoulders as she studied his expression. She was nervous to return to Burhan, worried to travel with Vakhanor. Malcolm made his offer, and her heart jumped.
“I would like that,” she admitted without thinking, “I would like you to come with us.” The skyrider didn’t want to take this particular trip on her own. It would be hard to look after the children even with Anna. Not the least of her concerns, was the thought of standing beside Vakhanor to mourn his little brother. Tears were quick to sting the back of her eyes. How could she face that? When it had been her responsibility.
Instead the woman smoothed her hands around Malcolm’s neck and leant forward, kissing his temple, his cheek, his jaw and his neck, before she bowed her head against his shoulder. “I don’t…I don’t want you to call off your trip with Vaughn…he needs you. I-I can manage and he…when will you have another chance to travel with him?”

[Malcolm]

Guilt had flooded the man’s senses at the thought of telling Vaughn the trip would be off. His son had been upset at dinner some nights ago, and with his birthday coming up, Malcolm had suggested they travel together to Warrick in early Ymiden. He looked thoughtful for a time, Vaughn wasn't the kind of man who admitted his weaknesses or wants. Elyna would have Anna and Vakhanor for the road, and her destination was home, an old home, the place she had grown up, the region in which Malcolm had raised his own children.
“I'm torn,” he admitted, “but I think you're right, I think my son needs me… I think I need him too.” Malcolm touched Elyna’s side and ran his hand over her form in a soothing gesture.
He looked up into her eyes and smiled. It was a sad smile, a guilty smile. “We must plan something,” he said, “for the two of us, and the children. Something to look forward to.”
The fireplace cracked, flames demolishing what little unburnt wood remained, it would soon be time to head up stairs and rest, but there was something else Malcolm wanted to talk about, something that would be dangerous to leave unsaid. Get gave pause and let Elyna speak before bringing it up.
“Elyna,” he didn't really know how to say this, “I don't expect trouble, but know that the potential for it is very real. I did something very out of line during my time on mission. There was an incident,” he didn't really want to talk about it, “and if charges are laid I could.” he swallowed, Malcolm might lose everything.
“Violet,” he said, “she did something innocent enough,” he shook his head, brow furrowed. “I lost my temper and I hurt her. I…” he didn't need to say it, Elyna herself was a noble, she knew the punishment that could befall a commoner for threatening the life of a noble. “I don't think she will say anything, but if she does,” he looked at her again, closed his eyes and just gave a slow shake of his head.
Ronald wouldn't say anything, he knew, but what of Kathryn? How much had she seen? Just the kiss he hoped.

[Elyna]

Elyna nodded, head bent against his shoulder as he spoke. Vaughn did need Malcolm, and Malcolm needed that time with his son. As much as wanted his support and wished he could accompanying her, the young woman knew that this was a dark day she would face herself. Something to look forward to. The noble woman nodded again, eyes closed. Sleepy and worn out her arms were limp around his neck. She breathed against his neck. A holiday?
“Let’s start with a day on the beach,” she smiled, it was a running joke. Her desire and wish to do something as a family, was something they’d not managed in the poor weather of Ashan. Perhaps the new season would bring new hope.
He spoke again, just as she relaxed. All the hairs lifted on the back of her neck and arms at the sound of her name. A foreboding fell over her, like a wash of ice cold water. Violet Warrick, why was she not surprised? Elyna moved then, lifting herself from his lap to stare at him. She felt cold, droplets sliding down the back of her neck. The air in the room was thin and her breathing uneasy.
Something innocent, that was what he said. A cart rumbled past in the distance and Vara whined from her bed.
“What did she do?” the noblewoman asked. She crossed the room to stand beside the kitchen counter, putting it between herself and her lover. “W-what…what did she do?”

[Malcolm]

Elyna had divided them again, moving to stand out of reach. Malcolm looked at the flames. “I think your concern should be my actions, it won't just be a simple loss of title,” he told her. “Elyna I will be hung for strangling that girl.” he went numb, had he just said what he thought he said? Malcolm bowed his head against open palm. “I almost killed her.”
His stomach felt empty all of the sudden, and he rested his free hand against the cramping muscles. “She… has some kind of puppy desire for me, I ignored it for a long time hoping it would pass, I thought when she met your friend at dinner,” he lifted his head to look at her, and pulled himself out of the chair. “Vakhanor, they looked rather cosy?” Had he dreamed what he had seen?
Malcolm went to the kitchen but stayed on his side of the bench, an obstacle Elyna had decided to put between them. “Ronald knows,” he signed, “so does Kathryn…” Ronald wouldn't say anything, he reminded himself. “Will you talk to Kathryn, will you make sure she doesn't breathe a word of it?” Elyna had a better relationship with the woman, maybe she could make sure it went no further.