Golden Rook Ch. 47-54

"No, I'm annoyed with my sister for using me as a distraction when I had hoped to help. All my life I've wanted to work with her and she drops me into a cell," Kwes glanced up at the goddess apologetically, "a nice one but still a cell, at the first opportunity without giving me the chance to show her what I can do."

"When she spoke to me..." Cyran frowned, "She said that she had been locked in a hole. If she completes the tasks set for her she will be free to come and go."

"It isn't only her grandmother's freedom at stake." Eludora sighed and leaned back. "I wouldn't risk anyone else's interference either. If she spent decades making careful plans... would you bring someone new who hadn't been privy to those plans, no matter how warmly you felt about them, and risk-"

Kwes stood abruptly and went to look out of the window. He wouldn't. He knew he wouldn't. It still felt as if he'd been tossed aside and cheated out of something. The moment she came back he was going to give her an earful and then head home to Withia. Let her come to him if she wanted to have a brother. She wasn't who he'd always imagined and he was done following that imagined woman around.

*Fifty-three*

Syr woke to dwarvish cursing in the hall and Kaduil muttering under his breath, his face still pressed to the center of her chest.

"I think they're wondering where I am."

"Father?" Kyrilla pushed open the door and blinked at them.

"She wasn't supposed to go wandering, I'll have that Rook's head on a-"

"I didn't go far, Orefinder, and I've stayed with my hosts as I was told," Syr called into the hall.

Oduil, Orefinder, and Sirruil all came to stick their heads in the door incredulously.

"Why didn't Sirruil just put the circlet on and look for me?"

"I can do that?" The dwarf pulled it out of his pocket and ran his fingers over the gem.

"You can all get out of my bedroom." Kaduil sighed and reluctantly pulled away.

"Why is Rook in your bed?" Orefinder narrowed his eyes as he looked at them.

"Rook and I had a long discussion and I needed the company."

"I'm fully dressed, Orefinder, I may have imprints of some of my tools in places but..."

"Why are you wearing your tools?" He gave her a hard look.

Kaduil started to laugh, "She isn't dressed without them. Even my Syr kept a little pouch tucked away under her dress when she was home."

"You're naked without your tools." She grimaced as she relayed Hammersworn's firm assertion and Kaduil laughed harder.

"I told her..." He wiped his eyes and took a breath with a smile, "I told her, her tools were her beard. If you saw her you could bet she had tools on her somewhere or within reach if she was naked. It took a lot of 'skillful dwarvish hammering' as she used to call it to persuade her she didn't need the boot knife in reach at night, she had me."

"Father!" Kyrilla blushed and glanced at Orefinder.

"That brings back memories... We heard about a man once who supposedly kept a few small things tucked under his skin and we thought it was a magnificent idea. But when we tried it, our leg swole up," Syr gestured with her hands the size of a good ham, a little more generously than it really had been, "We thought our ears were bleeding by the time the old man had finished his fussing."

"You're lying." Orefinder snorted. "No one would be that-"

He stopped as she stood and dropped her pants, Kaduil broke into peals of laughter as did Sirruil. The scar was still there, barely, a few faint white lines on her thigh that served as a reminder of the supremely foolish idea.

"We're half elf, Orefinder, not to mention a daughter of Odos. We get occasional bouts of spectacular stupidity."

He started to laugh and stumbled out of the room as she pulled her pants back up. Hammersworn's children were all grinning at her, except for Kyrilla who looked both amused and exasperated.

"Bhirren is coming for breakfast, Kyri. I forgot to mention it last night."

"I should have enough, Father, I'll set an extra place."

Kaduil made a shooing gesture and they were left alone in the room shortly. "Thank you, Syreilla."

"We're friends, Kaduil. Not the way we used to be, but friends all the same."

"You're family, Syreilla." He gave her a sad smile, "The same as if my Syr'd had a sister. I'll get dressed and meet you for breakfast."

"I'll see you at the table." She gave him a warm smile and headed down, nearly running into Orefinder at the foot of the stairs.

"Be careful you don't confuse him, Rook."

"He isn't confused. We talked and he needed to be close to her. She wouldn't let me sleep last night until he was home in his bed."

Orefinder gave her a flat look. "Ignore her."

"Imagine having me inside of you, where you couldn't get away and where I could relentlessly-"

He held up his hand, "You could have-"

"You don't ignore Syreilla Hammersworn, Orefinder. She'll make your ears ring. If I couldn't win an argument with her on the matter no one could. Hammersworn may be missing a few memories but she's lost none of her fire."

The dwarf snorted. "Remind her you're not supposed to be causing trouble."

"Will we be going inside the treasure rooms today?" Sirruil interrupted from the far doorway.

"We will if Orefinder is still up for it."

"We'll do a walk around in the first few rooms and have a look at your mother's suggestions." He glanced back at her, "I may set them to work on securing the air vents and a few ways into the mine. Concerns have been raised."

"That's not a bad idea." Syr gave him an impish smile, "And if you can find the time to show me that ward you laid, Orefinder, I'll show you a few I know to help secure the mine."

"I'll make the time." He returned her smile and pointed toward the dining room, "After you, Rook."

*Fifty-four*

Cyran sat very still as the goddess rested her head in his lap and gazed up at him.

"No one has ever done this with you, have they?"

"No, Di-"

"Eludora, please, little one, we're alone." Her smile was impish. "Was there never anyone you wanted to be close to? No one you wanted to have lie in your lap while you stroked their hair?"

He flushed, realizing his hand had come to rest on the top of her head. "Not that I can think of. I was never interested..." Thinking for a moment he discovered that wasn't entirely true. "The only woman I ever... who ever made me think of..."

Glancing down, he realized Eludora was grinning at him and he frowned at her. She broke into laughter.

"Little one! There is no shame in it. Who is this woman who makes you feel loving and confused?"

"Syreilla."

Eludora's brows rose. "I thought she was with Vezar Edra?"

"She is. To see them together... something feels wrong, like watching a bird nest with a snake. She's beautiful and at times so gentle and charming... patient. And he's..."

"Does she fill you with desire?" The goddess in his lap studied his face.

"I... I want to be near her. The sound of her laugh..."

"Little one, you care for her. Is she family or is she something else to you?"

"I..." Cyran shook his head, "I don't know. I've never considered," he paused, "desire. As a child, I only wanted to be a priest. At first, I wanted to be like Brother Somi who raised me, to stay in the monastery in Caoria and live a quiet life. He encouraged me to become more, and I became a White Hand. The best of the White Hands, I led them. There was nothing more I could aspire to except to serve well."

"Syreilla gave you more." Eludora reached up and touched his face. "She began to show you how to do things on your own, how to draw power, and how to use it. Her understanding is not complete, she is young and has a great deal to learn herself, but she's opened a new world for you.

"Has she given you any reason to believe she has feelings of desire for you?"

He took a moment to consider their discussions, "No. She can be playful and teasing but she's never made me think that. And she's been clear that her affection for the King Undying is unwavering. I..."

She caressed his cheek and he looked down to find her smiling warmly, "You want unwavering affection for yourself. A beautiful, gentle, and charming woman, a woman of patience to love and adore you."

An entirely unfamiliar feeling shot through him like lightning and she broke into peels of laughter, sitting up and wrapping her arms around him.

"Oh, little one. That was desire." Eludora kissed his cheek. "I'll help you find the right one. Your uncle and father aren't the only ones who choose to make the occasional half-mortal child. Though your uncle is the only one who hides them as completely as he can and conceals himself from them."

"My..." Having been commanded not to call Imos 'Father' he struggled to do it. "He concealed from me that I was..."

"Yes. Most of us do that. Our children are gifted and often become our highest priests. We speak to them and show ourselves without deception, but they rarely know the truth. Odos conceals from his children that he is a god." As if anticipating his next question she added, "It is exceptionally rare that our children become... more. But it does happen. I can introduce you to my daughter and some of the others if you wish. Most linger in their parent's shadows. Syreilla the Rook..."

"I can't imagine her lingering in anyone's shadow." He couldn't help but smile. "When you meet her, you'll understand."

"This is why your father is so furious." Eludora smiled, shaking her head, "You adore your cousin, despite the fact that she's punishing him."

"Vengeance isn't just but she admires justice administered well and fairly. My cousin-"

The goddess pulled away and held up her hand for a moment. "Your cousin has stolen Silfeya's stone. Three in three days would have been difficult even for Odos... He's been lending his daughter his luck and his aid." She sighed and pressed her delicate fingers to her temples, "Be grateful she left you here with me. Silfeya may be the goddess of the harvest and home but she's got a temper. She wants to put you to death to draw Syreilla out."

Cyran swallowed and tried to think of what to say.

"You'll be safe here, little one." Eludora gave him a rueful smile. "I'll have Riellion summon your uncle. He can attempt to soothe her temper."