Consorting with Enemies

[Jay Carpenter]

Jai

“And you say I’m stubborn?” He couldn’t help the half-grin that threatened to break the seriousness of the moment. He’d not put it past her, tailing him north. The only Borderland nation he knew was Kandor, but it was memorable enough to form a gateway. He would have made the effort count, though, and it would take time to find the best place to make the crossing. Nythadri would likely have sniffed him out by then and the whole thing moot. Not that he would mind being tied up if she was folding the knots, but the salt poured in fresh wounds would hurt.

He hadn’t intended to be strung with tension, but he expected it to be cold. Like healing or worse. Light knew he’d been through it plenty in the past, but Nythadri's touch on his face was as warm as what followed. But unlike the tight grip of control, it felt like losing control. Like floating on the water, but the more he fought the waves, the worse they washed over, but only trusting to them found peace in the rhythm; a peace that infused soul-deep. Like falling without caring she once described it; like bliss, joy… and strength. And he knew that must be saidar.  

And in that, it was like healing, but the freshest, strongest healing that washed away every ounce of exhaustion. He opened and closed his fists like he was reacquainting himself with his own skin. Then rolled surprisingly loose shoulders. As he looked around, he found his sight sharper. The fog filling his mind was gone, replaced with a quickness he couldn’t explain. And in its place was someone new. Jai wasn’t sure what to say.
“I uhm—“ he started, and scrubbed a hand through his hair as diversion from the fact he’d been rendered utterly speechless. When he looked back up, it was with a sheepish smile plastered on his idiot face.
“I feel great. You all should advertise this.” After a quick laugh, he studied her face to correlate the feeling in his head with what he saw. The dissonance of the two were striking, but he always suspected that Nythadri felt far more deeply than she let on. It was like being let in on a secret.

He took her hands, where the graceful cascade of her robe’s sleeves spilled over her wrists, grateful for their trust and endurance. His fingers grazed her arms, leaving a trail of sensation as they journeyed upwards, finally resting in a gentle rub on her shoulders. The cloth was softer than anything he’d ever felt before yet beneath the softness was a weight she shouldn’t have born. He’d not leave her to it again. As he helped her to her feet, his expression transformed from sheer amazement to a playful roguishness. And this time, when he pulled the tie on her robe, it was while laying a kiss to the side of her neck.

+++

Across the continent, thousands of miles away, Daryen walked the recently emptied corridors of the Domani palace. Fatigue drew his steps, but contentment was etched upon the angles of his sun-kissed face nonetheless. As he reached his quarters, he paused to consider the thread of worry etched deep within, a sensation he worked diligently to postpone acknowledging all these hours. It was only a moment, and he nodded his gratitude to the servant that held the door, but as he passed beneath it, a weightlessness washed over, and he collapsed.




[[Daryen written by me]].