Lords. She called you lords. And lords you are. Lords of death and destruction. Lords of evil. Do you remember Branderscar? The salt mines? Do you remember being held down and branded like animals? How far you have come and how long yet the journey before you. Tiadora is right. This is only your first steps along the way of the wicked.
Stepping through the tents flap, Nahia smiles at Sakkarot, a bottle in one hand and a pair of glasses in the other. ”Sorry to bother you, but I believe I am owed a story... May I have a seat?” Sitting down, Nahia open the bottle and pours herself a full glass of the strong, sweetly scented beverage, and offers to pour the bugbear one as well.
After taking a sip, Nahia looks up and says ”So, I pondered for a while what to ask you: whether I should ask about your past, try to figure out just who you are, or be fairly simple. But I think I have a better question, one that interests me far more. I want a story, one less about who you are and more about who you will be...”
Grinning, Nahia leans towards Sakkarot, and says [b]”Assuming that everything happens as we would like, that Talingarde is conquered, Mitra’s faith is reduced to ashes, and the Dark Prince reins… what will you do then? How would you spend the rest of your days?”[b/]
And so they talked. For a long time, Sakkarot answered and asked questions to Rose and Mysty, Hound and Nahia keeping quiet, observing and listening to it all.
At some point, Rose decided to go After Seren, to signal the end of the mission, taking with her Mysty and Hound, leaving Nahia and Sakkarot alone in the Lord council room.
Then at Nahia’s question he smiles sadly and answer ”You see, like you, I’m a betrayer of my own kind. I’m leading them to death, though they know it not.” he looks sideways into the lord bedroom direction and continues ”As for me, if I am lucky enough, I’ll be only dead.”
Nahia furrows her brow and says "So you expect to die by the end of this endeavor? That seems rather... bleak."
And you say that you expect them to die? Is that a lack of faith in your own cause... or something else in the plan that I am unaware of...
Quiet sits between the two for a moment before Nahia speaks up again "You once asked me how I could betray my own kin. As I said before, blood in and of itself means little to me. Instead, I choose who I call kin and find strength in that. Do you honestly find your own future so... worthless that you can think of nothing to live for beyond this campaign?"
That question brings a genuinely smile to his face. ”You got it a bit wrong there.” he says picking up his cup. ”It is not worthless. Think about it. The Island lies in ruins and despair, the Victor army failed, the king himself is dead. His daughter murdered. There’s nothing to stop the murderous bugbear horde to destroy Talingarde.”
He pauses for a moment, giving you time to understand the situation. ”It is then, when Talingarde is in its darkest hour, a lost scion of some great house arrives from the mainland, huge army at his back, guided by his faith in Asmodeus. He marches against the undefeated bugbear horde, and slay each and every of them. The monstrous leader included.”
”With the horde defeat, Talingarde has a new ruler, one that serves Asmodeus. The Mitran faith is banished, for it allowed their followers to die at the monsters hands. The Asmodeus faith is restored and their temple restaured.”
”Now, tell me Nahia, do you still consider it worthless?”
Nahia unwittingly lets her facade slip, her eyes widdening when the plan unrolls in her mind.
This is a ploy of the Cardnial to gain the good graces of the public... And he walks into this expecting to throw his life away... How... how can he accept that...
Nahia, realizing her lost countenance, manages to restore a tight lipped look of thought. Softly, she replies "And your death must be real? In a plan steeped in deception, that must be the one grain of truth? Surely none on those stupid people would know the real you, even after you become the object of their scorn..."
”That’s an interesting notion. It is however, too soon for any speculation about it. I know what must be done, and for Asmodeus, if that is what is required of me, I would have it in no other way.”
"And you? What are your plans after all of this is finished?"
I just might save him yet!
Giving a low chuckle, Nahia replies "Nothing nearly as grand or selfless. In fact, in face of everything we are doing, it seems fairly petty now. But I just want to be happy. To live a comfortable, pleasurable life set by my own rules."
Giving a sigh, she looks away and adds "Oh, there is some vengeance thrown in there, and I intend to see our Lord raised to his proper glory, of that have no doubt. But, ultimately, I'm a simple girl with simple, though abundant, wants."
Not wanting to let the previous topic lie, Nahia grins again, saying "And yes, true, it is too soon to know how this all will end. But the Dark Prince is very much about the literals of requirements. I may be new to his ways, but it seems to me that as long as his goal is accomplished, and none of his rules broken, that he would find it not only appropriate, but quite glorious if he losses were to a minimum."
Looking up at the banner of the now-dead Lord on the wall, she softly adds "And I would rather see more like you in the world, if I had any say so."
Believing that maybe she is pushing him too far, Nahia stands and prepares to leave. But before she does, she turns to him and says "Well, whatever the future holds, I'm proud to call you kin."
”There is truth in your words.” says the bugbear when you mention the Asmodean ways.
Sakkarot look at the banner, as if lost in deep thoughts as you continue, it’s only when you stands ready to leave he says ”Again, my manners must be of a savage.” looking around he says ”I brought you here because I thought you wanted a calm place to talk, away from the horde, the noise and the smell. But I must insist, you asked me two questions, and answered only one.”
”Last time, you told me the same thing, how you wanted to live. You say simple, though abundant, wants. And what is it that you want?”
Nahia giggles softly and says "Ah, yes, it was two, wasn't... ah, I'll not make that mistake again." With a grin, she continues "And no, you're manners are far from savage. Other than that, you assume correctly."
Leaning her back against a wall, Nahia lets her fingertips wander across the smooth, cold stone for a moment as she becomes lost in thought.
It's interesting just how many men have asked me that. It's actually more difficult not to deceive, as if the lie has become ingrained in muscle memory... But do I tell the lie, stay vague, or simple expose the truth? Do I even know the truth anymore?
Breaking out of her thoughts, Nahia says "Well, as always, the standard tropes: fancy clothes, a big house, a soft bed, delicious food, copious drink, and many servants. Of course, that list isn't exhaustive..."
Nahia almost lets the statement stop there, but after a pause adds "Of course, what would life be without good company? Friends and family... And love would be wonderful to find, through honestly it would come as a surprise."
Nahia's mind flashes back to Anahita, to the lessons she instilled in her on how to trick men into their own downfall, on how many times she's done that herself, on how deeply some of those men and women had fallen for her ruse.
Nahia looks away as she says "But ones in our position don't exactly seem destined for those kinds of comforts, are we?" Again, there is a moment of quiet before Nahia gives an uneasy laugh and adds "And that last question was rhetorical."
Sakkarot laughs with you, but not an uneasy one”It was a question, nonetheless.” he says finally.
”Great men, well in this case, great woman are forged in fire.” he stand from where he was sitting, walking over to Nahia and guiding her to sit again ”It is the privilege of lesser bugbears to light the flame.” he says pouring more drink in her cup. ”One should never have to pour their own drink.”
Nahia accepts Sakkarot’s guidance and takes her seat again, smiling at him as he pours her drink. When he is done Nahia gently takes the bottle and says ”If I’m to be getting drunk, I’ll not be doing it alone.”
While slowly pouring him a drink, Nahia glances up at Sakkarot from the tops of her eyes, before softly saying ”Funny that you speak of fire. Yes, fire can be used to cleanse, but it also tends to burn all, being indiscriminate in its hunger.”
With his glass full, she sits the bottle down and finds herself staring at a candle while she bites her lip, before adding ”And just because we crave it’s warmth and beauty, doesn’t mean it won’t consume us… flesh… bone… and soul.”
Are you afraid of the fire, Nahia? asks Sakkarot
In this case? More than you might expect...
Nahia takes a sip of her drink and smiles coyly at Sakkarot. "Afraid? No, not afraid... But anyone who's been burned... or done the burning... enough develops a certain... respect... a wariness for it's destructive potential."
A light giggle escapes her as she traces a finger along the rim of her glass and adds "And I believe that question makes us even. But allow me to place myself in your debt again. Do you play with fire? Or only use it in your work?"
”Fire is a tool. And as every other tool, should it be abused, there are always consequences.” he touches his breastplate, reminding you of his brand ”I’ve been burned enough to respect it.” Sakkarot breaks the eye contact as he admits ”I know I didn't answered your question. I’ve made fire a symbol.” he says indicating his flaming axe ”But to play? It’s seems it has been ages since I last sat down like this...”
"I agree. Our work so often gets in the way of us being able to enjoy ourselves. For now, nights like this are a rare treat, a refuge for a weary soul... But soon, maybe not as soon as we would like but still soon, we shall have our victory."
Nahia holds up her glass, watching the light play through the amber liquid. After a moment, she closes her eyes and takes in the scent of the drink. "And when we can put away the tools of war, we will retrieve our toys and learn to play again."
Nahia giggles, and between that and the redness in her cheeks it is obvious that the drink is starting to have a deeper effect on her. "The mistake people make, is in forever leaving their toys behind."
Opening her eyes, Nahia grins and softly laughs as she adds "So how does the mighty Sakkarot like to play?"
”Back in the tribe, the younger ones used to play hunt the human.” he says toying with his cup. ”One, and in my time it was always me, would be chosen to be the human, and the others would hunt him.” he smiles with nostalgia as he continues ”There were several approaches to this game. Usually one would impress the others displaying combat prowess, or hide until the others gave up to hunt him. It was a good training, except for the human, that ended up beaten, and sometimes dead.”
Nahia nods at Sakkarot and says "Quite a brutal game. But it does sound like good training for the human, should he survive. You still being here indicates that you played this game well."
Nahia takes another sip of her drink and adds "And I'm going to guess that you won neither through strength or cowardice. You strike me as one to win through cunning."
Closing her eyes, Nahia softly asks "Were you ever the hunter?"
”Only to what is worth hunting.” he says slightly changing the subject, you hear the noise of the chair being pulled back, clearly indicating that the bugbear is no more sitting.
You begin to wonder why he did that, and then you remember he once told you that he had been chased off his tribe, and you start to think that somehow, you were approaching what happened.
”But you are clearly a hunter.” he says and you is surprised on how close the voice sounds ”What are you hunting?”
Nahia giggles softly, and without opening her eyes she says "Me? A hunter? I guess in a fashion."
Though I often wonder if I am the cat or the mouse...
She leans back in the chair, stretching her neck and lightly biting her lip before saying "Clearly, I'm hunting you, oh mighty Sakkarot. The real you. Not the mighty leader, not the supplicant, not the chess piece. The burning flame buried deep within you when the walls and the masks are stripped away..."
But will that flame warm or burn? Or will it be too weak to survive?
With her eyes closed, Nahia was unable to see the bestial and savage smile in Sakkarot’s face.
Fire burned hot in Sakkarot eyes, and if Nahia had her eyes open, maybe she would think that offering her neck and flirting with Sakkarot was not the best of the choices. Behind all that facade of diplomacy and gentle talking, a ruthless and violent monster was hidden, and maybe, all she did was to bring him from his hidden place, the monster kept locked beneath the cordiality mask.
Therefore, maybe, until the night ended, without any restraint, she was at the mercy of the hidden monster.
On the other hand, maybe, that fire was not a hidden monster, but a secret lust that began to creep into the bugbear’s mind since he first met her. And the timing, just as Nahia knew it would, was perfect to bring it to surface, and until the night ended, she did not had to complain about a cold bed, or missing Elize.
Or maybe, the fire just died, and nothing happened at all.
I guess, the only one that will ever know that really happened, is Sakkarot and Nahia.