[Varali POV]
The eradication of the Sundkindred’s forces was swift, brutal, and eye-opening. The leviathan, monstrosity that it was, tore through everything on the other side of the river. Varali could still see its massive maw stretched wide as the tentacles from the bottom of its body wrapped around and grabbed everything still living on the enemies’ side of the water. It didn’t matter if it was stone, wood, or living creatures, all were dumped into its mouth, and the crunching of its jagged teeth sent shivers down Varali’s spine. Though the beasts were enemies and subhuman, it was still uncomfortable to watch them scream as their bodies were crushed in its tentacles and dropped into its toothy maw.
Varali also realized that the sight of “Than” made her shake in terror. The creature stretched so far, its body alone at least 500 feet long, and its tentacles stretching at least twice that. Its face was covered with armored plate of so sort, and its maw was as wide as its head, enough for at least seven people to fit in lengthwise at the sa ti. The two “arms” it had, curling, bladelike appendages made to kill and hold things as large as it was, held it rooted in the riverbed beside the fortress. Fortunately, the river had long been sculpted and shaped to better accommodate the passage of seaworthy vessels, so most of Than’s body could be subrged in the 40 foot-deep water. Even though the beast fit, it served as a blockage and the water continued to rise around it.
Though she’d tried to avoid him, Varali was called to the High Lord’s office on his second day at the fort. The first, he’d slaughtered hundreds of Sunkindred, though it didn’t seem like he’d himself done much. Regardless, Doluk had seed impressive before, but now, he seed like the massive tortoise could only barely serve as a snack to the leviathan. How High Lord Alniyh had managed to subjugate it and keep it fed was an absolute mystery, but Varali supposed he was a High Lord in his own right, capable of twisting reality to suit him.
Capable of twisting a mind to suit him.
She couldn’t be sure, but Varali felt nearly positive that, more than instruction and advice, the High Lord, or Leiyalt, as she fought to think of him as, had Soulspoken her. Months away from him had left her mind much more her own, and she had only truly suspected that he was the culprit when he’d returned, as the final cut was taken from a slat of wood to let it settle into the final product. Varali only barely was able to consider her mind her own again, and now the bastard who’d taken it away from her was back in the fort. With his power and standing, she could only try to avoid him and his attention, but when a windword ca to her and demanded in his voice that she co to see him, she didn’t have any other choice. And, maybe, she was entirely mistaken?
Varali dragged her heels as she walked through the fort. She helped Klara the cook with a crate of vegetables, then there was Salman the scout who needed an extra pair of socks. When she walked towards the ss hall to see if there was anyone else she could help instead of following the summons, another windword blasted into existence in her ear.
“Now, child.”
Though it was only two words, Varali stiffened and nearly cried. There was no escaping this, though she desperately wanted to. Hot tears burned at the corner of her eyes as she walked into the High Colonel’s building. The solid headquarters had always stood as a bastion of comfort and strength to Varali until now, but now, it looked like a prison. Solid stone walls, immaculately pulled from the earth with Stonespeaking and ford into a fortress the Sunkindred’s magic and weapons couldn’t cut through. Now, a serpent waited in the belly of her new ho, and Varali had no choice but to enter it.
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So lost in thought was she that when Varali found herself in front of the largest guest rooms in the fortress, she was surprised to find herself there already. She took a deep breath, steadying what little she knew about protecting her mind from Soulspeaking. Calm thoughts, focused, aware of what she was feeling. Even so, she couldn’t spend too much ti outside of the door or the High Lord would get angrier. Her hands shaking, she knocked on the door three tis. No sooner than the third knock finished echoing in the stone hall did a voice reply.
“Enter.”
With the single word, much of Varali’s ntal defences and preparation lted away. It was a kind, gentle voice, one she trusted. After all, the High Lord had treated her so well before, why would she question his good intentions now? As that thought crossed her mind, Varali was confused as to why a small girl in the corner of her mind collapsed into sobs. No reason to care, though. The High Lord had all the answers.
Varali pushed the door open, and there he was. An imposing figure, handso, regal. Dark smoldering eyes under thick furrowed brows, his black hair artfully styled as the High Lord Leiyalt Alniyh looked at her. For so reason, her breath caught in her throat, and Varali smiled in embarrassnt.
“Thank you for coming.” He purred. “I must ask, what kept you?”
“I was just distracted. Nothing important enough to pull away from you. I’m sorry.”
His smile spread wider and Varali felt a shiver run down her back in response to his approval. Yes, this was what she was missing. It made her deliriously happy, the thought of the powerful, wonderful High Lord approving of her and her efforts. Why did she delay coming here in the first place? Just being near him was a blessing, a boon, and she shouldn’t have avoided coming here in the first place.
“Very well. I wished to check on how you were progressing here in the hinterlands, but imagine my disappointnt when I didn’t see your Bound with you. Are you not following my commands?”
A wave of sha overca her and Varali’s stomach dropped to her feet. Why hadn’t she brought that deer out to see the High Lord when he arrived? Why hadn’t she displayed Fen’s… Fen’s…
Fen’s broken mind. Her weeping heart. Her inability to express herself. The Soulspeaking that the High Dungheap himself pushed her towards. Varali bristled but tried to keep herself from succumbing to his Soulspeaking again. As she stiffened, though, Leiyalt picked up on it.
“Oh, you resist? Pity. I thought we had a good thing going.” As he leered at her, Varali’s impression of the seedy noble changed. No longer was he handso with dark brows, but greasy and strangely fragile. Instead of gentle, he was wheedling, and instead of regal, he was conniving. Everything about him was a lie, an act. A facade put over the unimpressive bastard that stood before her–
No. He was magnificent, powerful, and impressive. Varali wanted to fall at his feet and beg for forgiveness. How could she stand in the presence of one so magnificent as the High Lord? She fell to her knees and bowed down. Before she could speak, though, the door behind her exploded off its hinges.
“You pissant. I’ll have you strung up for this.” High Colonel Mualtir di’Thnufir stord into the room, her Windspeaking booming in the enclosed space.
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