Invictus || Book 1

C.07 - Hestia

"Kiron."

"Kemna."

Hestia inclines her head so that it's easier for her ears to pick up on their movement and heaves a quiet sigh of relief when she realises Kemna is leading 'Kiron' away from her slumped form. 

She isn't sure why it matters to her whether he finds her, just that Kemna's friends hadn't seemed all that keen on being caught by him and now that she's dealing with an entirely different world and set of rules she doesn't trust, Hestia knows she has to be smart about who she can rely on.

"Business as usual Kiron? Or have you finally decided you want to spend time with your daughter?" Kemna asks, rather bitterly in Hestia's opinions but then she assumes it was meant to sound that way. Still, she can't seem to help herself when she whispers 'plot twist' under her breath.

If Hestia thought the silence before had been tense, it's nothing compared to the silence now. No, this silence is lethal and a little awkward for Hestia, who feels like she's not meant to be hearing what appears to be some long-standing family issue being aired out.

"I'm looking for a girl."

Kemna scoffs loudly. "Business, of course."

Hestia tries to peer around the shelf, mustering up the last bits of strength she still has left to crane her neck only to be met with the back of someone's boots. Hestia notes the boots are caked in mud -because it's the only thing she can see.

Of course, in trying to peer around the inconveniently placed person, Hestia leans too far forward and falls on the side of her face. "Crap," she mutters when the rest of her body makes a notable thump against the ground.

"General? There's a girl back here."

"Snitch," Hestia hisses harshly; a reaction that, in comparison to the gentle hands that reposition her into her previous sitting position, seems a little childish.

The only response she gets is a deep, infectious laugh that has her smiling despite her attempts at a disappointed glare -which, upon a closer inspection of the snitch's face, probably wouldn't have landed the blow Hestia wanted it to because he is...well he's rather beautiful. Perhaps not in any conventional way that Hestia is used to, which is probably half the appeal, but she still thinks her initial assessment stands.

Still a snitch though, Hestia reminds herself and it's enough of a deal breaker for her, even if the snitch is intent on staring into the depths of her soul at the moment.

She breaks eye contact under the intensity of his gaze.

"What's your name?" Snitch asks. 

Hestia glares at the tear in her beat-up Nike shoes and ignores the question if only to stand in quiet solidarity with Kemna's apparent disdain for her father.

"I'm Orlan." The snitch doesn't seem to be taking the hint and Hestia is too tired to exercise her usual level of caution when it comes to strangers, despite her earlier attempts.

"Hestia."

"Do you remember how you got here Hestia?" The General materialises at Hestia's side, crouching down so that he's at eye level with her as he waits for an answer. Hestia can't decide on whether or not she wants to answer him.

"Hestia?" The General prompts again.

"I-" Hestia prepares herself to lie, only to realise that she can't remember how she ended up in that ditch, "-I don't know. I can't remember anything after the beach." A creeping sense of anxiety begins to trickle back into her bloodstream and Hestia feels the room shrink in on her. "Are my sisters ok? And my brother?"

She hears the General hum. "They are waiting for your arrival with our Queen."

Hestia blinks. Queen?

"So, they're safe?" She doesn't acknowledge the General's quiet 'yes' and instead looks to Kemna who has crept closer during her father's rather tame attempt at an interrogation.

The deep green of Kemna's eyes pin Hestia in place and it's almost as if Hestia can see the gears turning in the girl's head. Then, with an almost imperceptible tilt of her head, Kemna silently gives her answer.

Before the two men can do anything, Hestia clears her throat, "Um, I've been paralysed. So I'll need help getting out of here."

General Kiron says he assumed as much, but the hint of concern in his eyes -eyes like Kemna's- doesn't sit well with Hestia. Her uneasiness is acknowledged when Kiron says, "You must have been hit with a large dose of the poison if you haven't recovered at least half of the function of your limbs."

Hestia gulps. "Will that be an issue?"

It's Orlan who reassures her that it won't be. "The Queen has some of the best healers in her court. They'll be able to flush the poison out completely." Hestia isn't convinced, and it must show on her face because Orlan continues, "I've been paralysed a few times myself and I'm completely normal, well mostly."

Hestia snorts, spurred on further when Orlan laughs with her.

"Ok. So how are we doing this? Have you got something you can carry me on?" Hestia tilts her neck towards Kiron.

Kiron shakes his head, "I had assumed you would have gained some semblance of control when we found you. To defend us if need be, Orlan will have to carry you. "

"Are you sure?" She doesn't mention that she's dead weight right now, although it's on the tip of her tongue to blurt out. 

Orlan ignores Hestia's obvious hesitancy in being carried and swipes her into his arms without indicating that he's struggling. He then fixes her with a chastising look after catching her incredulous expression. "People have weight to them, Hestia. It's not something one has to feel shame over."

Hestia bristles upon the realisation that Orlan can pick up on Hestia's insecurities so quickly, but she remains silent as he adjusts her in his arms.

Still, Orlan catches her eye a minute later and grins. "Besides, I've had to carry Kiron and he almost always has a full armour on. Imagine an injured old man being dropped seven times before I finally managed to drag him to a healer."

Hestia can imagine it and it's enough to force a smile onto her face.

"Right, we need to leave now if we plan on making it back before nightfall." Kiron begins, "Oh, and one last thing. I hope for your sake that none of your little friends happened to stop by today." Kiron mutters gruffly.

Kemna shoots Hestia a panicked wide-eyed glance before she settles her features into a bland, stoic expression, so similar to the one the General has had permanently etched into the lines of his face since he walked in that it's almost funny. Hestia isn't sure if the look is meant to communicate for her to keep her mouth shut, or for her to lie but she decides to make up for the inconvenience of her presence by doing the former.

"I don't have friends Kiron, you know that."

The General raises a thick eyebrow and then takes his leave. It's only when Orlan goes to follow that Kemna calls out to the soldier.

"Orlan, make sure you look out for my friend there." There is a warning somewhere in the request and Hestia feels something close to warmth for the girl as she mimes the word 'thank you' around Orlan's shoulder.

Orlan doesn't bother turning around, but he does nod. "A friend of Kemna's is a friend of mine. You know that."

The last Hestia sees of Kemna is a soft, melancholic smile and then the door is shut behind them.