Chapter 158: The Stars are Nice

“Warmer.” Seyari snuggled closer to me, her wings enveloping both of us.

I turned up the heat a little, and leaned back against the slowly-warming stone of the shallow, cliffside cave. Behind crimson feathers, the sun was just about to dip under the ridge across from us, and already the shadows of night were washing color from the world.

With the rise of night came unbidden all kinds of unwanted emotions: anxiety, concern, curiosity, and responsibility. That last one made it through my defenses just as the last sliver of gold dipped under and plunged the world into darkness.

Funny how “darkness” now is just a shade. I could make out individual needles on the branches where snow had loosened enough under the day’s sun for its weight to slide off. I felt no hunger, no drooping fatigue with the end of the day.

If anything, I was ready to go for round two, but that nagging sense of responsibility was calling me loudly away from being a hedonist. Glancing down at the crater we’d made below our current perch, I wondered how well, exactly, a normal bed would serve us. At the same time, with how fast we were through the air, a midnight excursion could be an easy twenty kilometers away.

Seyari mumbled something. All the fatigue that was denied a home in me apparently settled in her; she loosened and her breathing slowed.

“Hey,” I whispered, trying to get in a few more words before the night took her and my lonely vigil started.

“Hey,” she replied, eyes still closed, and her head tucked into the crook between my breast and where my two right arms met.

“We should go back—there’s a lot that needs to be done.”

“In the morning.”

“But—”

“Shhhh. It can wait. Everyone else can wait.”

“…Alright.”

I agreed in part because I doubted Mordwell would double back so soon. And if he did, chances were probably only a little worse than a coin flip that I could see his group coming from my perch. And he wouldn’t see me—just two glowing blue eyes in complete darkness, high up near where the snow turns to ice and rock subsumes dirt.

So decided, I felt Seyari drift off to sleep. Normally, when she fell all the way asleep against me, she’d pull closer subconsciously. This time? This time she was pulled so tight against me that she fell away a little as muscles loosened. Her wings, likewise, slackened, pulling away to give me a more commanding view of the nighttime forest.

Was this my domain now? Marriage had sunk its way into my consciousness ahead of marchioness. But the latter was catching up fast, riding that tide of awful responsibility. Not entirely awful—I wanted to talk with my daughter, my sister, and my friends.

But still, I had to wonder if the land below me was Astrye. What ridge did it stop at, what stream or ravine? Did it even matter? If no one lived or hunted out this way, then it wasn’t truly land under my concern.

Just wildland. As if to punctuate that thought, a deep howl arose from somewhere below me, further along in the valley. Eyes flicking to the sound, I watched for motion like an immense bird of prey. Not that I’d be diving down there any time soon. Not when the rock was just starting to get comfortably warm.

Besides, I wasn’t afraid of whatever made that howl. It was afraid of me—defiant in its plaintive whine if only for its ignorance.

I shifted, pulling Sey a little more upright and moving my tail over us a little higher. Absentmindedly, I brought the tip around to play with, my own fire long since having cleaned it. In an odd, almost childlike way, the soft, spaded tip was comforting as I rubbed a clawed finger in circles.

What am I going to do once we return?

My thoughts weren’t on the present; right away we’d hold some sort of meeting and make plans to integrate me as marchioness in a way that is best for Astrye. And we’d look into hunting down Mordwell… again while also preparing our defenses. But I meant after that. Once I am fully in my role as Marchioness Zarenna Miller, what am I going to do?

To compete with Envy, I need power. And that power’s got to come from recruiting and hunting wrath demons. At least, the physical power did. I’d also need to ingratiate myself within the Kingdom of Edath and hopefully stave off war with the Church of Dhias, the Empire of Ordia, or both.

Perhaps Envy’s upcoming “war” could serve as a way forward. Obviously, I’m going to do the right thing and fight them and Styrix, but would that be enough? And could I gain any power from it. That envy demon I killed near Linthel had given me power through an unusual challenge.

But how many more would be like her? I was almost certain she challenged my title out of envy, but wouldn’t others know their limitations? And if not, wouldn’t this whole war be very difficult for Envy to maintain? There was more going on, and finding out would also have to be a priority.

Yeah, add it to the list.

So, in rough, I needed to legitimize my position here in Astrye, then in Linthel, then in a wider sense. All the while I’d be fighting against Envy and Styrix and hunting Mordwell—the two of which were doubtlessly connected. And at the same time… I glanced down at Seyari sleeping peacefully.

At the same time, I was going to have to try to enjoy my marriage, be a good mom for Joisse, help Nelys out with their family, and make sure my sister was okay.

After thinking all that through, I stared up through the holes in the clouds at the stars. They glittered and shined up there without a care for mortal—or demonic—concerns. Even more so than the mountains, who could be forced in by major events, they were merely observers, beyond caring.

And for tonight only, I would be the same. Seyari was right to take tonight to think and rest. Another howl sounded, further away this time. It felt strange to keep watch without a campfire, and with how the predators of the night stayed well away from me. They could stay in their own little world below, with their own concerns.

***

Morning arrived slowly, as if dreading to peek its visage over the mountain ridge behind us. Seyari stirred awake as soon as there was enough light to reflect off the snow-covered forest below us. For a while, neither of us spoke, and the sun continued its march into the sky behind, flooding the valley with light even as our alcove lay in shade.

Already, I fought the urge to get up, summon my wings, and take off like a shooting star back toward the town of Astrye. We had time, still. The journey—for us—was a short one.

“Let’s let the air warm a little first,” Sey said, stifling a yawn. “I want to ride the thermals and glide back with the sun warming my feathers.” She clacked her teeth closed sharply. “I think I can see why you like your teeth so much—at least mine aren’t obscene.”

I flashed a smile. “Not everyone’s mouth is so well endowed.”

“Shame that your tongue’s your best feature then.”

I blushed. “I… feel like I have to vote for my teeth.”

“Then we’re hung,” Seyari replied with an easy smile. “Renna… I can’t thank you enough. Not just for somehow doing the impossible with a sort of assuredness that’ll drive me mad forever. But for helping me to enjoy what I’ve regained. The hand thing is still absolutely your fault though.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“But the wings are too, so I forgive you.”

My heart skipped a beat, looking into her golden eyes. The fierceness there, her inner fire, had grown—but there was now a warmth to that heat. “Sure,” was all I could muster.

Seyari stared up at me. “You’re beautiful, Renna.”

I froze.

“I know I don’t say it enough.”

“You’re beautiful too, Sey. And I’ll be vain and say especially your gorgeous, crimson wings. They complete you, and it’d be disingenuous to imply they’re unimportant. But your body is—”

Seyari pressed a finger to my lips, and when she withdrew, replaced the digit with her lips. The kiss was quick, but charged. “Just let me compliment you, okay?”

“But I really do—”

“I know. But I’m very, very far behind on complimenting you, and even if I have centuries to catch up, there’s no reason not to try right now. No reason not to live in the moment. So sit there and shut up.”

I nodded sheepishly.

“That’s better. You’re beautiful, Zarenna. You’ve got a body that defies imagination, with curves and muscle in proportion and definition that look like an illusion. Seriously, your tits are each almost as big as my damn head, and only part of that’s an issue of scale.

“And right under that—” she ran a hand up my shirt and along my abdominals. “—you’ve got rock-hard muscle under soft skin. Your legs and behind look like a statue made flesh, your face has a kind of symmetry that borders on uncanny, and you’ve somehow softened villainous features into a stern, almost motherly countenance.

“Am I focusing too much on your body? Maybe, but I think it needs to be said. Screw hiding the motion of your back muscles when all four arms are working on something, or the way your tail cuts side to side when you’re emotional. Fuck lowering yourself to human standards. Be proud and be above that, Renna,” Seyari finished her speech with a kiss.

I couldn’t even kiss back, and I had to try really hard not to sputter into her lips. Feeling confident, and getting polite hints were one thing, but that. Who says things like that? Who just puts all that out there?

It… I liked it actually. Coming from Sey and marked as a special occasion, I liked my body being studied, evaluated, and appreciated.

The kiss continued, until Seyari nudged me down. I let her push me over, and she straddled atop me, silver hair glowing at the edges from more than sunlight, and twin golden eyes bright against the crimson-tinged shadow cast around us by her wings.

“And you want to know the best part?”

I made a squeaking sound.

“Louder.”

“…Yes—I do.”

“The best part isn’t that I get to play with this body.” She leaned down and planted a tingling kiss on my symbol, the glow from which lit up her eyes even more. “It’s that I’m married to the woman whom it belongs to. Someone who, impossibly, deserves such a larger-than-life form.”

“Sey…”

“And she’s really cute when she’s flustered.”

“S-sey…”

“They won’t miss us if we return in the afternoon, Renna.”

I nodded eagerly.

***

“Where are they?” Kartania hissed under her breath as she paced back and forth, her steps heavy. All throughout the night, she’d worked to try to set things up for her sister and… sister-in-law. She’d had barely any sleep, and despite the urging of everyone she kept on it even now.

Mordwell was getting away. Sure, they’d catch him, but to do that, they needed Astrye to be a functioning march. Not even Marchioness for a day and Zarenna was already derelict in her duties.

A knock at the door startled Kartania.

“It’s Joisse,” a soft voice said on the other side. “Can I come in?”

Kartania sighed. Another distraction. “Sure. Mind the—”

The door fell down onto the floor with a loud thump, and behind it, hand near where the handle had been, stood a mortified-looking Joisse. The young, red-eyed girl looked like anything but a demon in disguise. And she’s also my niece.

“The door has no hinges.” Kartania said wryly. “Just come in and prop it back up, will you.”

Joisse nodded, and calmly lifted the heavy door with one hand as though it was made of air, placing it back with a disturbing preciseness of motion.

“Why are you here?” Kartania asked, then shook her head to clear away the darkening edges of her vision. “My apologies if that sounded accusatory—it’s been a rough night.”

Joisse nodded, and gestured at a seat covered in salvaged ledges. “May I move these?”

“Just set them on the floor next to the rest.” Kartania pointed at one of the piles of records, books, and trinkets. The small study was filled with them, and the only reason there was light at all was a single, broken shutter cutting into the room like a beam from a hooded lantern.

Her niece did so, and sat down with a relaxed posture that quicky tried and failed to prop itself up as formal. “Most people I’ve talked to have said it’s been a rough morning instead. You missed the party.”

My sister’s sense of humor is rubbing off on her, Kartania thought idly. “I had work to do. And I don’t understand how we could celebrate when food stores are low and we’ve two wars looming.”

“Because the town’s free. And it’s not like we’re not helping out—Nelys and Taava mostly. Taava’s been performing all morning through the hangover, and Nelys is with Brynna and someone named Doryn interviewing people. I’ve been helping to break down fire-damaged parts of buildings.” Joisse looked down at her hands, and Kartania noticed soot caked into the creases. “Did you even sleep?”

“Did you?”

Joisse nodded. “A little, and I don’t even need it. There’s an inn off the main square that offered all of us rooms.”

Kartania sighed. “But there’s just so much to do! We can’t afford to take a break!”

“Can we afford not to?”

The words gave Kartania pause. Something about Joisse’s tone was intense, and her red-eyed gaze bored into Kartania. “What do you mean?”

“Everyone needs a break sometimes. Mom Renna told me you work yourself too hard, and she worries you don’t know how to relax. She and Mom Sey are taking a day away from all this. You should too.”

Is she really just a kid? “This is awfully mature of you Joisse, and I thank you for your concern, but—”

“No buts. I know this from experience, from letting my wrath consume me. I’m not gonna let the same thing happen to you, Aunt Tania.”

Aunt Tania. The words hit Kartania like a hammer blow and her knees almost buckled. A family. I have a family again. But Mordwell… can wait. He can wait. He doesn’t have a hold over me anymore. Now that we’re chasing him, he’s already lost.

“Aunt Tania?” Joisse asked, getting up out of her chair.

Kartania looked down through blurry eyes and realized she’d dropped to her knees. Through sweat-soaked padding, her armor was digging into her joints, and she was chafing in places where the fit wasn’t perfect. “I’m okay, really. I—”

Small, warm arms wrapped around her, and pulled her up with surprising strength. “I’m here. And my moms will be back soon, okay? Why don’t you go change, eat something and take a nap.”

Kartania hiccupped first instead of answering, and when she did she sounded exhausted. “I might… just get down to my underpadding and take a nap first.”

“I can carry you to a bed.”

“No!” The thought of warm blankets and soft bedding, however, called to her and her eyelids drooped. “I don’t want to leave the castle. Be seen like this.”

“Okay. Can I at least help you out of your armor? I don’t know how though, so you might need to help me.”

Kartania tried to voice a reply, but she didn’t make it more than one word in before exhaustion took hold of her and she slipped away into the land of dreams.