Chapter: 668 – Meeting with Pillar Sanguis

Tala woke slowly, lazily stretching and arching as she pulled her mind from the all too oft neglected land of sleep.

While she no longer needed sleep—at least not nearly as much of it since her Refining, and even less now that she’d Reforged—she still enjoyed how refreshed it made her feel, as well as the other benefits.

Beside her, Rane slept hard.

She doubted she could wake him without a concerted effort, though she was momentarily tempted.

No, he needs his rest. He had a frustrating day yesterday.

-Though, I think it will be to his benefit.-

Indeed. Honestly, I think that this is the worst part about my advancing ahead of him.

-Exactly, yeah. He basically has no need to be on the front line, and anything that we can’t take, he can’t either.-

Tala smiled over at her sleeping husband, running her hand across him, the touch causing him to shift and reposition unconsciously. Her smile became wry.

-Tala… let him sleep.-

I will… Still, she considered him as he lay there beneath her hand.

This man was a creature of the crucible, the chiseled stone, he had most often found his greatest improvement under stress and while enacting violence.

Yet, he was caring and nurturing to their daughter, and supportive of her. He was a pillar of their family, even if he didn’t bear that arcane title. He longed to be a place of calm, the eye of a storm, but that neglected the fact that he was that storm. That which sheltered with him was safe and calm, but anything that tried to approach unbidden? Beware.

She loved him so.

She longed to keep him safe, and because she was in charge of her own destiny, because she’d seized so much power, she could. She was her own director, both authority and execution, but… She couldn’t render him down to such a dependent state. Boxing him away from danger would make him but a statue along their Path of Remembrance.

He needed danger to thrive, to grow, and so she needed to allow him to encounter it. She could be there to support him, but she couldn’t coddle her husband. That would end with worse than his death. He would wither away until the man she loved was gone forever.

Unfortunately, that same sentiment applied to Lea, even if to a lesser extent. As the girl’s parents, Tala and Rane should protect her to some extent, at least for a time.

I still have to allow others their own autonomy, otherwise I am the dictator.

-Sorry to interrupt your carnal musings, but—-

Excuse me, I was considering how much I love him, and Lea.

-…Yeah… Sure… I heard you. I know your thoughts. You were thinking about his anatomy.-

Tala rolled her eyes. Autonomy, Alat. Purposeful misunderstanding isn’t helpful.

-Fine. Anywho. The House of Blood delegation has departed Croi, bound for Howlton, and Master Xeel and Mistress Jenna—along with others—are already on their way as well, scheduled to arrive before any of the arcane delegations.-

So, it’s really happening. Gated and Major Houses gathering for a united purpose.

-Indeed.-

I’m surprised that Master Xeel and Mistress Jenna were able to be spared.

Alat sent the impression of a wide grin. -They were the closest and most available Protectors, with Master Jevin unwilling to head south. Apparently, Mistress Holly is still on ‘border defense’ duty, so these two were free. It was decided that a show of strength would help keep things on track.-

Tala was nodding, thinking more on the idea. Not to mention that we promised that Gated Humanity would help safeguard the citizenry of Howlton.

-True enough.-

Tala stood, glancing toward the tub to one side before deciding on a more ‘wakeful’ morning ablution. With a flex of her will, she was moved, already diving into the circular river surrounding the center of the sanctum.

It was frigid, but she gloried in the feeling of the cool, crisp water rushing across her bare skin.

After a full submersion, Tala spun under water, quickly getting clean before willing herself back to her room.

Once there, she glanced back toward where Rane slept, sighed, and grew her clothes across her body, enjoying the feeling of the snug fit, the sensation almost like she was giving herself a hug.

With one last smile toward her husband, she willed herself away, stepping out onto the superficial right outside the House of Blood’s Platoiri hold. She dismissed the bit of iron she’d used as an anchor for the sanctum while she was within even as she greeted the guards, striding through the open entrance without having to wait.

It was early morning, but still, some citizens were around to have noticed her sudden appearance seemingly from nowhere, and her subsequent entrance into the hold.

It did seem like those who were out and about were unusually frantic and chatty, if her brief glimpse was anything to go by.

Tala didn’t mind being seen or even talked about. Not anymore. She knew that the House of Blood had been seeding the rumor mill about her return—and with information about the Black Legion—to give them greater bargaining power, and lessen the blow to the average person when the truth came out.

-When it did indeed. The official announcement was late yesterday. Did you not remember?-

Ahh, I didn’t really connect the dates. Is that why there was a bit more buzz out there than usual?

-Could be, yeah.-

Tala was greeted by a senior servant within the Hold of the House of Blood, as fit her station. “Eskau, welcome back. We were expecting you last night.”

Tala smiled. “Other things came up.”

“Oh? Do we need to be aware of any of your activities? Should we expect demands of recompense, or to receive formal apologies?”

Tala glanced at the man as he bowed, catching a twinkle of humor in his eyes with her perception. She huffed a laugh. “Things aren’t that crazy around me, are they?”

“Of course not, Eskau. I just wish for us to be prepared, on the chance that you had an… eventful evening.”

“Understood. No. I did not fight. My husband had his duel, which the House should have been well aware of?”

“We were, and we have been informed of the results. You are to be congratulated for your choice in a husband. Few Eskau are able to find partners worthy of their skill in battle. We are all gratified to know that—even if he cannot be expected to match a Revered—he is a warrior in truth.”

Tala didn’t really know how to take that. “Thank you, I suppose?”

“You are most welcome.” The man straightened. “Pillar Sanguis has requested your presence at your earliest convenience. Shall I lead you there, now, or is there another demand on your time or need that I can assist with before we go?”

Tala gave a half smile, deciding to play with the servant in return for his earlier humor. “Not letting me out of your sight until I attend the Revered Pillar?”

“No, Eskau.” And he left it at that.

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Her smile grew. “I appreciate the honesty.” She frowned in feigned thought for a moment. “You know, I have not taken advantage of the House masseuse since my return…”

The man paled slightly, an odd thing for the red hue-man, his skin going from a near-cherry red to the dark pink of a rose across his cheeks. “If you request it… I… I believe that I can arrange for a quick session before we go.”

“Hmm?” Tala glanced his way. “Oh, no. If you could arrange for a long session, I would be grateful.”

She waited as the man visibly fought with himself, until, finally, he nodded. “As the Eskau wishes.”

Tala huffed a laugh. “After my meeting with Pillar Sanguis, of course.”

The man almost visibly sagged in relief. “Very good, Eskau.” He then looked at her askance. “I am not sure I can take such humor in the future, Eskau.”

Tala shrugged. “I did not mean to stress you. I was simply curious what orders Pillar Sanguis had left in regards to me.”

“You could have asked.” The servant’s tone was carefully not reproachful.

She nodded solemly. “And you would have told me exactly what he wanted you to say.”

The man tilted his head to the side in thought before nodding. “As the Eskau says… Shall we?”

“After you.”

The man led Tala through the hold, and Tala allowed her perception to play over the details. The place—and everything about it—was stunningly beautiful, showing just how the House had prospered in her absence.

She’d seen this before, every time she’d come through here over the last week or so, but it still struck her each time.

When she’d left, this hold had been a war-zone, charred, destroyed, and in ruins. Now, it was built back better and more impressively than ever.

The House of Blood had been a power for uncounted years, and it was on the rise, now. Who knew what heights it would attain. Other Major Houses were looking to them for guidance around the Black Legion threat, and the non-House powers were beginning to take note as well. Those didn’t jockey for power, instead having it by their very nature. The Packs, the Pride, the Guilds, and the independent craftsmen. There were more besides, but that wasn’t the point of Tala’s musings.

The House of Blood wasn’t the only beneficiary of the changes around the imminent return of the Black Legion.

Tala had been keeping up with those in the Cycling Cities, and a startling number of arcane powers—Houses and others—had been reaching out to gated humanity. It was even more than had been doing so before, even after only barely more than a week’s time.