Enmach sat across from Fenlauch. The gold-skinned being was clad in a loose tunic and breeches, his golden armor stowed neatly in the corner of the room. He stared at Enmach with a patient gaze, his hands folded over his lap. The room had a smell of rose petals and sandalwood from the incense that had long stopped burning. Enmach lowered her gaze, hoping Fenlauch would not immediately disapprove of her request.
Finally, he spoke, leaning forward as he did so. "Enmach, it needs be said that you have become too involved in Sanria's affairs."
"I am her advisor," she said quietly.
"I am aware," the baritone voice said, "but that does not mean she is permitted to call on us whenever the situation seems out of her hands."
"Fenlauch, a woman is in a very volatile relationship, it does have to do with balance."
Fenlauch gave a stare that caused Enmach to swallow and again lower her eyes. "It is personal, Enmach, and that is not why we are here."
"I know, but-"
"I am also aware of your involvement with Orn when he was seeking his mother some time ago." Enmach sank in her seat. "You deliberately circumvented our rules to aid him."
"Fenlauch, I merely-"
"Silence," Fenlauch said. The word was soft, but the power behind it was unmistakable. "You cannot keep pushing to aid them, Enmach. Your emotions have clouded your judgment. If you keep insisting on aiding them at every turn, rather than guiding them, I will have to send you home."
Enmach raised her head suddenly. "But Fenlauch, this woman is in dire need of help."
"Then guide Sanria to find help among the human beings and other assorted citizens of the realms. We are here to observe and push for overarching balance, not invest ourselves in minor affairs."
"Minor aff-"
"Enmach, you have your final warning. Advise, but disengage yourself from this matter. We have few of us as it is here, and there have been rumblings that things have been changing as far as the Gods are concerned. There are greater things we must be watchful over. Sanria will have to find help from another source. Do I make myself clear?"
Enmach stood and bowed her head in polite assent. "Yes, you have been perfectly clear."
"Good. I do not wish to hurt you, Enmach, but sometimes a keen reminder is needed to keep us on our paths."
"Yes, I understand."
"Is that all, then?"
"That is all." "Then be well, and please give Sanria my apologies when you
deliver the news."
Enmach turned and walked from Fenlauch's room. She held her head up, her expression neutral, as she walked down the halls of the castle. She shoved her emotions down as she walked to Sanria's office. It was for the greater good, she reminded herself, and with a still heavy heart, knocked lightly on the door.
Trussing Claire 2/2
He regretted it instantly when he saw the shock cross her features and the distrust flood her eyes. She closed her mouth, her jaw going tight, and tears rolled down her stoic face. It looked as though she was daring him to do it again, defiant.
Ruthivan held his breath for a moment then narrowed his eyes. "Get yourself together," he hissed, holding a finger in her face. "I knew you would do it," she whispered. "It was only a question of when." "Shut up," he spat. "You made me lash out, you and those humans, including the one that took our son." "Whatever we may have had, whatever might have been, it is gone. I will not rest until I have absolved myself of you." "Well," he said with a sneer, "you're going to have a long time to wait, Claire. You are bonded to me and belong with and to me. So straighten yourself up, or I'll straighten you myself."
He walked from the room, slamming the door behind him. He left the living room and paced in the woods beyond. He slammed his fist into a tree, crunching his bones and magically healing them. She made him so hateful and angry... it was her fault. In his mind, the realization that she would never love him filled his senses and drove him mad. He looked skyward and let out a howl of rage. It drifted through the woods to be absorbed by the trees that ruffled their leaves in repeated whispers to dissipate the pity and hate they were forced to absorb.
Ruthivan held his breath for a moment then narrowed his eyes. "Get yourself together," he hissed, holding a finger in her face. "I knew you would do it," she whispered. "It was only a question of when." "Shut up," he spat. "You made me lash out, you and those humans, including the one that took our son." "Whatever we may have had, whatever might have been, it is gone. I will not rest until I have absolved myself of you." "Well," he said with a sneer, "you're going to have a long time to wait, Claire. You are bonded to me and belong with and to me. So straighten yourself up, or I'll straighten you myself."
He walked from the room, slamming the door behind him. He left the living room and paced in the woods beyond. He slammed his fist into a tree, crunching his bones and magically healing them. She made him so hateful and angry... it was her fault. In his mind, the realization that she would never love him filled his senses and drove him mad. He looked skyward and let out a howl of rage. It drifted through the woods to be absorbed by the trees that ruffled their leaves in repeated whispers to dissipate the pity and hate they were forced to absorb.
Trussing Claire 1/2
Ruthivan walked into Celiara's room where all his children had gathered. Three faces looked back at him with an expression of worry. Celiara held Saren and Desmaren at her sides and Ruthivan gave a smile. These were his perfect gems, full blood Espers. He knelt down in front of them and put a hand on Celiara's knee. "I'm sorry you had to see that, children."
"Who were they, father?" Saren asked.
"Humans. They were here to cause trouble. You should always stay away from them."
"But Leanders hoomen," Desmaren said.
"Yes, and she caused trouble."
"But 'Skari loves, um, loves Leanders."
"Unfortunately. But they're gone now, so it's just the three of you until the new baby comes."
"Why is mother sad?" Saren asked quietly.
"Your mother is just... she's not sad."
"You maded her happy?" Desmaren smiled.
"I... will. I'll go do that right away."
Ruthivan stood up and left the children with a quick, "I love you." He walked into the bedroom to find Claire laying on the bed, sobbing. He set his jaw. "Claire, get up," he said, holding his voice in check. "You're making the children upset."
"How could you?" she sobbed as she sat up.
He walked to her side and snatched her to her feet, glaring into her face. He was tired of her self loathing and pity, tired of her never looking at him with any semblance of love, tired of her body with a complete lack of flames - no joy, tired of her moping about. She looked at him now with a glare of contempt, and he drew back and slapped her across the face.
"Who were they, father?" Saren asked.
"Humans. They were here to cause trouble. You should always stay away from them."
"But Leanders hoomen," Desmaren said.
"Yes, and she caused trouble."
"But 'Skari loves, um, loves Leanders."
"Unfortunately. But they're gone now, so it's just the three of you until the new baby comes."
"Why is mother sad?" Saren asked quietly.
"Your mother is just... she's not sad."
"You maded her happy?" Desmaren smiled.
"I... will. I'll go do that right away."
Ruthivan stood up and left the children with a quick, "I love you." He walked into the bedroom to find Claire laying on the bed, sobbing. He set his jaw. "Claire, get up," he said, holding his voice in check. "You're making the children upset."
"How could you?" she sobbed as she sat up.
He walked to her side and snatched her to her feet, glaring into her face. He was tired of her self loathing and pity, tired of her never looking at him with any semblance of love, tired of her body with a complete lack of flames - no joy, tired of her moping about. She looked at him now with a glare of contempt, and he drew back and slapped her across the face.
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