CW:
Pretty... clean? Mhm? I think so! Let us know if there are things thaaaat need CWing!!! Because we approach the end of Arc 3 of Sun Spoken Turn!!!
I do stand when the Matron of the house of Rell arrives, greeting her with a firm expression. Nothing hostile, just… refusing to be anything but steady and calm in my talks. “Matron Veletross, thank you for coming.”
She’s already shed the coat she must have worn for her walk here, because now she wears a shimmering azure evening gown that twists all about her charcoal skin, long hair allowed to drape perfectly over the same shoulder while her crimson gemstone right arm and hand remain uncovered.
No duenna or Murtaziq. Which I was told would be the case from Delphian. The Matron of Rell is not one anyone has tried violence against for many decades… except at the Obelisks with Emarial.
She nods, eyes swirling from jade to a smoky scarlet as she peers about the room. “Of course, The House of Rell delights in the company of the High Duenna and her… companions.”
Zigdara moving to stand at my back, Yrelia and Tasii at either side of me, Delphian and Ophrit to the right from there, Emarial in her big chair, and Redrogal to my left.
“Please, have a seat.” I motion to the head of the table on the opposite side.
Veletross smiles crookedly and moves to her place on the far side of the table. Slipping into it with her unbelievable grace. Reminding me so much of the time we spotted a Cretilla moving through the treetops along the Paths. “I’ve heard quite a few rumors that I’m to relinquish my role as Keeper to the Academy’s Arudian males.”
Just… diving right into the swells? Fine. The less time needing to let her twist words at us the better.
“Yes, I send messages multiple times, actually.” I reply, but do not sit.
“Oh, my apologies, the letters must have gotten lost in the blizzard.” She leans chin on flesh palm and regards me. “But now that I’m here and we can avoid confusions and mistranslations, find a path through the storm.”
“Sure. Let’s.” I’m so proud of myself for avoiding snapping at her as I speak. “So, I’m doing exactly what Aceso and I demanded that first day we spoke with the Doyans. The Arudian males at the Academy will be set free. We’ve prepared spaces and even communities to gather around and keep them safe.”
Curse nibbles, but almost… quietly. Happily. Letting Aceso’s words from that night after our declaration at the Obelisks buzzing through in contradiction to my words. How without the oppressive care of the Academy or otherwise these monsters will be free to live as they will. Possibly and most likely with less stringent routines and diets that could lead to a short life. Also, less women being exposed to them overall.
“Ah.” She motions to Redrogal. “Utilizing the Azure Compact’s sympathetic kinship to their nature, no doubt.”
They smile curtly back, “Yes. How observant of you, Matron.”
But before a little bubbling spat of words can tangle us, I speak up firmly. “The first days will be traveling away from this place to the city of Hopletiial. From there they will stay for a few months, at least. Taking time to decide the future they’d like to discover. I’m sure many of them might want to remain close to each other, and we don’t want to dissuade them from that. But nor do we want them to feel unsafe with others.”
“Of course, from what I’ve been told and witnessed the group is quite… entwined.” Veletross nods, eyes gliding over to consider Emarial as I speak. The big Sun Spoken meets her gaze with such an odd one of her own. Not firm or angry or… or even blank. Just… I dunno. Tired? But also urging? There’s so much history between these two that I’m not sure I could even begin to understand what is being conveyed as sparkling violet blazes in Veletross’ eyes as she stares at the big stupid Sun Spoken. “And… as for the future of Arudia? I understand you’re looking to understand how our birth rates can be continued without their services?”
“I am, but those alive now matter more.”
Gaze darts back to me. “Of course. And with more than one well-connected sort I’m sure we can find solutions.”
We? I… yeah. Fuck. Makes sense she’d want to help with this. Be the first to harvest the rewards.
“Which reminds me…” I tip-tap the table. “I asked your Envoy for information on the Odlock Gemstone. How it works. Did you bring the relevant tomes at least?”
“No, but It’s simple enough to explain, and… honestly I’m surprised you’ve not fit the shattered facts together about it already, especially after your talk with Emarial.” Veletross shrugs. “Cultivation of Fleshshaping should make any Arudian male who wants to be fertile, but… it doesn’t.”
“I… Why?” Ice prickles down my spine as I consider that, and I know my face conveys a growing worried understanding. Why the Zeridii struggled to tell me more. How… how it’s been trying to help since the earliest days it landed here. Felt the dying of the people and has worked tirelessly to keep safe.
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“The Odlock Gemstone is a thing of spirits and dreams.” Veletross muses like this is a simple odd flavor in the little bit of food she’s picked up between glimmering red fingers. “Harvested from the most chaotic and dangerous of clusters. Things that often infect and twist the women or otherwise who find them. The Odlock was a stable thing though, enough that Glyphs could be woven upon it to wrap those chosen in things of protection from the curse that our vengeful Goddess wove about this world.”
I carefully turn and try not to spit my words at Emarial. “You knew.”
Not a question.
She nods. “Yes.”
Stupid cunt. Still just… too blind and tied to her old beliefs to trust me with all the information. Even thought it just… fucks us all over now for her not to share!
I almost spit really venomous words at her, but instead turn my attention back to Veletross. “What does the curse actually do to them? If they’re not protected?”
A little worried that the Zeridii’s removal of their fertility will cause them to get h–
Curse bites at that. Me being worried for some parasites and monsters. Have to think past it and just… focus on her words…
The Matron shrugs. “Nothing, at least not to Arudian males.”
That… calms me a bit. Makes me worry less that us and the Zeridii made a mistake sealing away their fertility. Curse growls and nips and hisses but… settles soon enough.
“Okay. Good to know.” I reply simply. “But… Wait, then what about the ones back in Lyttoral? Shouldn’t the Curse do something to them?”
No bite at that. Just like how it remained quiet about the Nightmare. The Temple hated Cultivation things. Doesn’t like to let pretty much any Arudian women with obvious Cultivation changes near the males there. So… not Arudian Males. Not Monsters. And not Parasites. Won’t think too hard about how stupid that hole in the Curse is though. The contradictions.
But just… focus on the now… Ask Aceso about that later when it feels safe.
“My guess?” Veletross does the graceful version of a shrug. “It already did, or they slipped through the cracks. But your elder would be the woman to ask about your city by the sea.”
I turn to regard Emarial as she sits up straighter, looking at me while raising a placating hand. “I’ve sworn oaths to not divulge Temple secrets, but I will say that all of the ones there are safe. And… I’ll speak with the Temple’s Sangoma when I return and urge her to share more.”
“Good.” I huff and look back to Veletross. “So, I take it you don’t mean to try and stop this?”
“Hmm? And why would I do that?” She seems to purr, “Resistance and violence now would only beget more of the same, and… quite honestly, High Duenna, I see your life as far more valuable to Arudia than that gaggle of men at this point. A blaze growing while blizzards bury all other flames.”
I narrow my eyes at her and nearly let my Hetaera mask crack to growl the next words. “Oh? Then why be so… uncooperative up until now? Ignoring my demands and sending Boletii to try and convince the Conclave to push back?”
Expect her to throw my change back into my face now. Some last motion of petty–
“Because you’d not gathered up the proper resources yet. Had no location to immediately and safely keep them. But at present you do, and the sorts that were prepared to take advantage of a struggle between us have lost their chance to pounce. And now, quite publicly to those listening, you have bested not just all the other Matrons, your Shard within’s ancient spite, all the Doyans, but…” She grins. “Also me. Despite your age and nativity and limited… education. You gather allies unending and set old ways to rest while scorching new paths ahead.”
I just… stare. Keep my mask steady but… probably not my eyes. Which drips with confusion and worry at this really weird flattery. Because Emarial said she was really mad. Is this just… her trying to lure me into a trap?
Delphian sighs, then speaks quietly for the first time. “Grandmother…”
“What?” Veletross very nearly coos while only flickering eyes to her.
“Stop and just… make your offers.” She replies, refusing to meet the Matron’s gaze. “Please?”
I look between them and see… such an odd look cross our host’s face. Enough that Lady Ophrit seems to take up her hand under the table.
“Fine, fine. I’ll keep this plain since the young tend to take all manner of political motions as personal spite.” Veletross chuckles, “I only wish to ensure that our High Duenna has no intent to publicly renounce her title before leaving Arudia. Keeps her claim and will return with all the authority it bears.”
What?
“I… hadn’t made any plans, honestly.” I say carefully, trying to hide my shock. “Didn’t really think I’d need to. Why do you want me to keep it?”
“It was between five other Matrons and our Doyans that Arudia was kept stable. And I am but a single Matriarch. If things get complicated there is only so much even I can do.” She explains, “Besides that… I personally want to see how you, our Chosen of the Weaver, will blossom or wither in the years to come.”
I let an eyebrow be all that I show of my befuddlement at her words.
She grins, “Young Sun Spoken, one of the things I’ve seen quite… pointedly in these past centuries is how clearly our lands are dying. And how there is nothing to be gained unless something sparks the cooling ashes to blaze anew. Any… distractions from that could cause us to lose this chance. So… You have more than my support, you have my interest. Which very few can claim.”
“That… Well, the first part was something I thought I’d have to push you into accepting. So… Fine. Wonderful. Let’s see if you mean that. We’d like to see those in your care’s freedom be orchestrated as soon as possible.”
The Matron’s eyes glimmer into a deep emerald hue with little sparks of crimson as she nods and looks about the room. “Of course, the men you seek have been kept in a wing of my Manor. Safe and undisturbed except by their Keepers and the few duenna and such about the grounds. All the records on their care are being collected and sorted. Ready for your and others perusal at your leisure.”
I look to Redrogal, who glances back and nods. “The Azure Compact is ready whenever you give the word, Lady Sun Spoken.”
Fuck. Okay then.
“Alright. Then we’d like to move them out of your Manor. Now. Tonight.”
She stands and even gives me a small, but polite, bow. “As you say, High Duenna.”
We’d considered this. Charted out the pros and cons to how we’d want to handle this but… If this is a trap we’d all rather ensure no seconds are wasted on songs I can weave now.
So I rise, and call my fifth lover into the Waking world. Even… Adjusting the tune. Recharting new melodies in the seconds before they’d normally leave my lips. Turn hard mournful sorrows into things of hope and love and healing. Add Her name to the words I feel the means to, but could never explain in detail.
Then we are together, and the larger spirit quickly considers the memories as the song fades and nothing but tittering echoes remain.
“We’ll need to organize some things, Matron Veletross.” We command with a steady voice and focus as we turn our eyes back up to her. “Feel free to wait here and enjoy the meal our lover’s prepared.”