Rune and Ruin

29 - The Game

391 B.C.E. Gates of the Tasuri Capital of Rune, Tasurian Peninsula, Spring, Month of Lunius

Tems

"Do not, under any circumstances, leave my side. You eat only from my hand and sleep in my arms. If you have to piss, you piss on my lap, female, understand?" I breathe into Thania's ear, one hand flat against her belly that grows our hatchling, the other loosely holding the reins of the steed pulling the wagon leading our bizarre parade of belators and brides.

"You've repeatedly reminded me," my darling whispers back sassily. Her bravado is just that. I can feel her tremble against me, and the bond quivers in trepidation as we near Rune.

"I hate riding like this," she says shakily as if the wagon is the true fear and not the city of Rune and her citizens.

I tug her closer. The two-seater wagon is as close to a chariot as I could find. We scrambled to provide a good showing for this farce. Thania's grandmother had this stored in one of their caves, loot from some battle. Most likely, Falx's army left the old-fashioned, too-small wagon behind when the axle broke.

It's been mended, but the wheels are slightly mismatched, and every time they make a full rotation, there's a slight hesitation before the wagon thumps back to earth. With each thud, Thania's breath hitches the slightest bit.

The odd wheels are disguised by the bright fabrics draped over the sides of the wagon and several amphorae crammed into the back. The three wagons we found are filled with treasures from Caere, lending credence to my story of taking my share of the city and fucking off.

"The High Lord, Tems Aquillus of House Runion," calls out my 'herald.' Valin has a slighter build than most of Falx's Tasuri warriors, with pale blond hair and light-colored eyes. His looks are deceptive. His demon is just as lethal as any other.

My demon sneers as the gates open without any other fanfare. The ease of our entry makes it feel like we are simultaneously the bait, the predator, and the prey. I suppose it all comes down to what we find inside the walls.

As we pass under the gateway, flanked on either side by guard towers, I grab Thania's chin in my hand, twist her head to me, and kiss her brutally.

Her grey eyes widen on my face, on the cruel mask of a pampered lordling and the harsh twist of my mouth. I do my best to reassure her through the bond, but from this moment, we are playing our parts in this lethal farce, and Lord Tems isn't in love or kind.

As we re-emerge into the dim, ash-strewn streets, I release my wife's chin, twist my hand in her hair, unbound and hanging down her back in loose waves, and 'yank.' Obediently, Thania collapses to my feet as the curious eyes of the Runion guards watch. Surreptitiously, she wraps her hands securely around my leg, holding herself steady as the wagon rocks.

No one stops us on our journey to the palace. The streets are nearly empty. Even the usual mass of beggars is gone.

Most houses have been damaged, although nothing near what Caere suffered from the wave. I see several roofs caved in under the weight of ash and some walls cracked and broken. It's easy to tell which buildings are occupied, as they're shuttered and boarded up tightly, while the abandoned ones lay like carcasses littering the ground after one of Falx's battles.

I feel my bonded wife's trembling as she takes in the city and her hesitant sympathy for the missing occupants. My eyes stray to the south, where, against the grey sky, a tendril of darker smoke curls higher than the tallest parapet of the city.

"What is it?" Thania asks. I can't be sure if her question is spoken out loud or if our bond allows me to hear her thoughts, but instantly, my demon and I turn our complete attention to our female.