Frost and Flame, Foes in the Dark (book 2)

Chapter 9, Attilus

Year 783 Octavus, day 16 of the seventh month of Domorus

Grimacing, as the pain hit his lower part, Sidastir flinched in the kline. Akana pandered to his every need, which currently was plenty since Sidastir pretended to be dying after a very wild night. Both Calda and Ardeo were staring at him but Sidastir cared not, he had just spent the entire night on his four. He has earned being spoiled for taking it like a champion.

"See? You just had to wait for him. Though I never said you would do so with your ass in the air," chuckled Magnus, taking joy in the ridiculousness of his friend's situation.

"I never do anything halfway," Sidastir grunted and contently let Akana fed him.

"Well, Sen is glad. I think he might come out more often," Akana muttered and Sidastir almost choked on the drape, having to rush drinking juice while panting for air.

"At least let me heal up first!" Sidastir thought in full panic but hid it well. At least he thought so before he saw Magnus cocked eyebrow telling him that his friend knew what he was thinking.

"Though I have told him to stay away since you need your strength," Akana assured him. Sidastir just narrowed his eyes, confused.

"The trine tournament begins today," Sidastir looked like he was struck by lightning at Akana's words, and Akana chuckled, "Don't worry, it's mostly an introduction. Some formal speeches and the like."

"And you can stand there and smile while bending over in pain and crying for the ceremony to end," chuckled Magnus.

"Don't worry, you will have Magnus to keep you company," said Akana and patted Sidastir's head as he grimaced when considering his immediate future.

"What will you do?" Sidastir asked, not eager for Akana to leave.

"Inspect the guards you have chosen. I planned to do that yesterday, but Sen delayed my schedule so I will have to do it today."

"But didn't you want me to enter for all the connections?"

"Sure, and there will be plenty of time for that later, but our safety comes first. You will be my representative today. Remember to greet the Mayin for me-" Akana gave Sidastir a long look," and try to be polite. I would rather not spend my entire stay here clearing up diplomatic messes."

"You are the one who ran around the town making a mess!" pointed Sidastir out gloomily, but still leaned in to be fed by Akana who replied by slapping his aching ass. "Hey!"

"Sorry, Sen wanted to come out and play," said Akana with a neutral expression. Narrowing his eyes, Sidastir glared at Akana, wondering if he was lying to him. Is he using his brother to get away with being mischievous...

*****

Akana walked down the Arsi Eteri, trying not to snap at people. His head was aching from yesterday's adventure, and the street had not fully been cleaned up so it was still red as a sunset. Each bright spot reminded Akana of the scene that had occurred the day and he was far from in a bright mood.

Unlike Ceva who was humming cheerily, seemingly unaffected by yesterdays drinking and without a doubt relishing in Akana's pain. An act of quiet revenge from her for not telling her about Sen. Akana couldn't blame her. He should have told her, but it just slipped his mind. It sounded ridiculous when he considered it but it was the truth. He considered it inconsequential so he just pushed it out of his mind, leading to both Sen and Ceva being disgruntled with him.

Akana's eyes fell on a man, sitting by the side of the building. He was pale, even for a Domoran. His giant body slouched, his long and dirty hair fell over his unshaven face covering his eyes. Despite the dirt, Akana could still see the blond color of the hair underneath it. He had a torn tunic on and the back was covered in blood, showing the slash wounds underneath the fabric but what really made Akana halted was a fresh burn mark, in the shape of a torch seemingly carrying a bright sun, on his neck.

Ceva went up beside him, leaning over following the path of his gaze. "It's the Emblem of Light, the sign of a survivor of Path of Redemption."

"Path of Redemption?" asked Akana quietly.

"The festival you saw yesterday. Iter Depretiorisat, Path of Redemption. One of Releviums... more nasty celebrations. If you can call it so. They gather up prisoners and force them to pull the statue of Lucis up the Arsi Iteri. If they survive the trip they get branded with the Emblem of Light and freed to honor Lucis."

Such cruelty, neither logical nor moral. "What's he doing here if he is freed?"

"Freed is a generous term for what he is. They put the brand in a conspicuous spot so everyone can see it. Who would ever hire someone who has been branded a criminal? He is stuck here until he starves to death."

Something moved deep in Akana's soul. Guilt, or was it pity. Neither was constructive feelings so he did something that could help. He walked over to the man, kneeling in front of the man who peered up. Two green eyes met his.

"Do you want to get hired?"

The man's eyes went wide for a second, before narrowing. "Why would you hire me?"

"Yes, I would also like to know why and for what do you want to hire this man," muttered Ceva.

"To be my bodyguard. He is a soldier-" Akana's eyes fell on the man's body. There were scars from swords, his hands were hard from holding one as well. Despite him obviously being in the prison for a while, his body still had the muscles of a warrior,"-or a mercenary as he is a Domoran in Parcis."

Ceva frowned at the man," I'm more worried about what he had done to get himself imprisoned."

"I was hired by the wrong man," the man said, his voice gruff with thirst. "A prefect who decided to kill his rival and blame me and my band for the murder. All the others died in the prison. I stayed alive." His eyes fell to the pale hands. "Barely."

"He could be lying," Ceva warned.

"Doesn't matter. I need a bodyguard not loyal to Relevium and their nobles. An outsider. None of the guards Sidastir hired have no connection to the Relevis, which means that all of them have at least one reason to betray me and my husband. He-" Akana frowned at the man that obliged him.

"Attilus."

"Attilus, has no loyalty to the government that threw him into prison and forced him to do that... interesting tradition, making him the perfect choice."

"A risky one."

Akana ignored her. "I can offer to take you back to your homeland after the trine tournament ends, or if you want I can offer you a position in the Eitirian army. Not that many want to live in Eitir."

Attilus head dashed up, his eyes going wide again. His entire body growing rigid.

"That is a violent reaction to Eitir," Ceva said, herself going rigid as she readied herself to defend Akana if need be.

"Eitir? That is not possible. There is no one left in Eitir except-"

"My husband, the Rial of Eitir. Along with a couple of thousand trolls, ice dragons, and fairies," Akana said casually, watching Attilus expression with interest. "You know my husband."

"I have seen him," Attilus seemed to be deep in thought before meeting Akana's eyes head-on, determination filled his eyes. "I must warn you, your husband might not appreciate my presence when he sees me."

Trying to figure out Attilus age, Akana bit his lip. He is too young to have fought in the war between Domor and Eitir, so what is the connection? "He never appreciates any man close to me, but his appreciation isn't needed in this case. Will you hurt my husband?"

"If he hurts you."

Attilus words were firm, a clear threat laying underneath them. Why would Sidastir hurt him? Akana couldn't comprehend it, but Attilus and Sidastir must have met each other under far from normal circumstances. Maybe at Virtus Scolaris.

"If he hurts me, I will hurt him." Akana rose and offered Attilus his hand. Attilus rose without it but grabbed Akana's hand afterward, shaking it under Akana's flabbergasted stare. Why did he shake it? Shrugging, Akana just ignored it and they walked back to the mansion, hoping for the rising worry to be misguided.