Chapter 8 Haera
Haera
“How many Kindreth exactly are in the Aravae Empire, brother?” Haera asked Rhalyf even as Finley rushed across the room to help Declan away from the balcony where the Sun shone down brilliantly. “It’s beginning to feel a bit like Nhamashel around here.”
“Could you be helpful for once, Haera, and get those doors shut?” Rhalyf asked testily, not even attempting to lie that Declan wasn’t a Night Elf, as he pulled out a chair for Declan to practically collapse in.
“He needs more than the doors shut from the look of him,” she frowned, but with a wave of her hand, the balcony doors all closed and the curtains shut, too.
These testy exchanges between brother and sister were hardly the first. They’d started from the moment Haera had shown up on the mage tower’s doorstep, interrupting what could have been…
Finley’s stomach did a somersault in his chest. He’d not been lying to Rhalyf that he thought sex was overrated before this.
But he’d been wrong. Incredibly, utterly wrong. At least when it came to Rhalyf.
“Are you going to get that?” Finley had asked breathlessly as the pounding grew louder.
Their foreheads were pressed together. Rhalyf’s lips–those glorious lips!
--were just inches from his own. He was wound around the Kindreth like a vine.
That had surprised him in how eager and how easy it had been.
It must have been the endorphins that stopped him from wondering about Rhalyf having a sister who was there.
He was simply not that fussed about it. He couldn’t be fussed about anything right at that moment.
Rhalyf answered rather breathlessly, too. “If you’re hearing her, too, then it’s not a hallucination.”
Finley frowned. “You were hoping–”
“That it wasn’t real? Oh yes, because compared to my actual sister pounding on my secret mage tower when I have you in my arms, a hallucination would be far better,” Rhalyf answered.
“Brother, I know you can hear me!” Rhalyf’s sister's voice rose up. “It’s very cold out here. And something in the lake has been tracking me for quite some time. I assure you the sounds of my battling it will be far less pleasant than the pounding.”
Rhalyf’s head fell back.
“You can’t leave her out there,” Finley said.
“Yes, I can,” Rhalyf gritted. More pounding. “And I can cast a spell that will silence that and her screeching–”
“She’s your sister,” Finley protested though even as he said it he knew he was the last person to be advising others about family.
How many people had told him that his parents loved him and he loved them back deep, deep down?
But he could sense that while Rhalyf might have complicated feelings about her, he doubted that the Kindreth would want her to freeze outside his door or be dragged into the lake as something’s meal…
“You say that like it’s a good thing when it should leave you sweat-soaked and panicking. Except you made friends with Vex so… maybe you’ll get along like a house on fire,” Rhalyf sighed.
“Actually, I’m more interested about why she’s here,” Finley said, even as his cock ached in his pants. “It cannot be a coincidence that your sister shows up at your secret tower just after we met Vex.”
Rhalyf’s lips skinned back from his teeth. It was then that Finley noticed that like his uncle, Rhalyf, too, had sharper and longer canines than the Aravae. They truly were a little vampiristic. “You’re right. This is not a coincidence. Vex must have sent her.”
“Most likely. But the question is why,” Finley said.
“The most obvious reason! To keep me in line! So I don’t confess who and what I am to Aquilan!” Rhalyf growled.
“We really should go over exactly what he said to you,” Finley protested.
“The books say that he often engaged in word play. His adversaries wouldn’t listen carefully or remember his exact words and they would fall into a trap because of it.
I noticed a bit of that in what he said to me about the Temple of the Necrilem. ”
Rhalyf’s eyebrows bunched. “You are likely right. But my memory is a little spotty as I was overcome with terror. Yet we can remedy by visiting my mind palace–”
More pounding. “Oh, my something is slithering through your garden. It has several eye clusters and smells of rot–”
“Coming, Haera!” Rhalyf called over his shoulder.
“Ah, he lives! How nice!” Haera’s voice broke into laughter. It was surprisingly nice laughter. She sounded fun…
Rhalyf tenderly set Finley down on the ground. “My sister is… how shall I explain this? How about ever since we were children she’s tried to kill me.”
“What?!” Finley’s eyes widened and he reached towards the book and dagger. She was definitely not fun.
“Please do keep those secret from her. I’m sure I hardly need to tell you that, but yes, yes, hide them. And do not engage her with magic, Finley,” he cautioned as Finley slid the book into the interior pocket of his robes and the dagger slid into the sheath at his back.
“But if she’s going to try and kill you–”
“I can handle that. I don’t want her to see you as a threat and you have not yet studied your magic enough to go up against her. Trust me on this,” Rhalyf said and placed a kiss on his forehead, which Finley found himself enjoying probably way too much.
“I know I was the one to encourage you to let her in, but maybe we should let whatever’s stalking her chase her away,” Finley suggested with a wry smile..
“Because she won’t go away. She really will make more of a fuss. And I think you’re right. This has to do with Vex. Better to find out what he’s up to,” Rhalyf muttered.
With a final kiss to Finley’s forehead, Rhalyf headed down the winding staircase. Finley smoothed down his clothes and fixed his hair. How had he managed to get so mussed with just a few kisses?
Sexual desire and all that comes through it is very distracting, the professor remarked dryly.
He had–thankfully–gone silent when Finley and Rhalyf had started to talk about a friends with benefits relationship.
But it was nice to have him back now, especially if Haera was a threat to Rhalyf.
But I will give Rhalyf credit that he understands the necessity of secrecy of the book and dagger, Finley.
And he is also right that you should not engage her in a magical battle.
I realize I am nowhere near ready for that. But if Rhalyf is in danger–
He is a Vex. And there is plenty of good with that along with the bad, the professor said. Especially in terms of magical ability and Rhalyf… is gifted.
Finley frowned. What do you know about the Vexes, Professor? They couldn’t have exactly been in your history books.
One of the many benefits of death is how much more knowledge is available, the professor chuckled dryly. What I am trying to inartfully say about Rhalyf is that he can–
Take care of himself? Yes, I know. I just look forward to the day when I can take care of him, Finley answered.
And that day will come, Finley, I promise you that.
Finley crossed his wrists at his back as the sound of footsteps and Haera and Rhalyf’s voices came up to him.
“This is quite the distance from Nhamashel. You must have traveled far to get here, Haera. I would have noticed a gate opening within twenty square miles,” Rhalyf spoke in English so that Finley could understand him.
It was then Finley realized that so had Haera when she’d announced herself.
So she knew Finley was there, that he was human and that he spoke English. He lifted an eyebrow.
“Oh, I rode a naki for part of it, but the blasted creature abandoned me after a rather intense battle with some draigs. Damned blood dogs were after my rations. When they realized those rations were attached to me, they became far more interested,” she sniffed.
“Then I switched to a delightful little skiff with crimson sails! But then a storm wrecked that so I had to swim among your charming thruxx infested waters! That’s where that creature picked up my scent.
My boots are still squishing despite magically drying them. ”
“What an adventure! And what a strange decision to risk it considering I have not been here in–”
“Over a decade? Yes, yes, I know, but I had a feeling that you might be back,” she answered.
It was at that moment that brother and sister appeared at the top of the steps.
Finley’s eyes immediately went to Haera.
She was the same height as Rhalyf and was powerfully muscled.
She wore little as was Kindreth custom and it appeared to be all leather.
She had on a sleeveless, leather, form-fitting shirt that was cut-off at her midriff and had a cut-out just over her breasts.
A pair of matching leather pants–also form-fitting, which showed off her ample curves–were tucked into knee-high boots.
She, evidently, didn’t go barefoot like her uncle through the Under Dark.
Her long silvery, starlight colored hair was pulled into a high ponytail, which was braided.
Even so, it fell down to her lower back.
She had no weapons on her, because, of course, all of them were in their Blood Tattoo form.
She did not have anywhere as many as Vex, but she had an impressive amount that could be seen on her bare arms, shoulders, stomach and lower back.
There was what looked like an overly large throwing star, which circled her belly button.
Two twin daggers with wickedly curved blades were inked into each shoulder and came down to her elbows.
Elaborate swirling designed vambraces covered her forearms and half the backs of her hands.
He noticed that she bit her fingernails and, somehow, this nervous habit made Finley almost like her.
She’s tried to kill Rhalyf so she’s an enemy, he reminded himself.