Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad sat down on a chair behind Tenara, developing the telltale headache that said he'd spent too much quality time with Knight. "I didn't plan on that part," he groaned softly. "I intended to prepare him before leaving. I left you in danger." He wasn't sure how much to explain about Knight, or about why Talon was so out of control.

"I'll say one thing," he told the young woman quietly. He looked at her with straightforward red eyes. "If you were seeking to care for Talon as a human man, you were mistaken and are right to go no further.

"If, however, your intention was to care for a monster, I believe you might benefit from a heart to heart with my wife when she returns.

[Emora Deen]

Espha looked down again. She thought about his words. "I do not know what I was seeking," she said to him. "I care for Talon, but... He does not seem interested in my concern and to be honest... He scared me. I saw murder in his eyes."

[Soran Nightblade]

"If you were freeing a wolf from a trap, I suspect you would receive the same look, and I doubt you would think to consider it personal. It is only because you see the man in him that you forget he is untamed. And it's only because he wants to be tamed that he presents himself to you as a man."

[Emora Deen]

Espha met Vlad's eyes. "Those are wise words," she replied. Looking thoughtful, the young woman set down the book and turned her gaze to the bedroom Talon occupied. "I will speak to your wife."

Tenara hopped up from where she sat, tilting her ear like she heard something. Then, she went to the window and stared out thoughtfully.

"She's done that several times today, but won't say what she hears," Espha said. "She says it is a secret."

* * *

Tenele made all the proper arrangements for Sho. She had the maids prepare a room for the young lizard-child and her friend, some place close to the kitchens and the warmth. She also ordered riders to get the horses, and that would be two days before they saw them back. She hoped they weren't necessary for the ceremony. Tenele then made her apologies to the court when a noble stopped her in the hall to inquire about the king. She told him that they were all feeling a bit under the weather and wanted to rest before the wedding.

When Tenele finally made it back to the wing where they stayed she was near collapsing from exhaustion.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stood up and followed along to Tenara's side, following her gaze. "What's up, snack?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenara looked up at him and smiled at her father. "Espha says lots of people will be here soon," she told him. "I don't know how to..." Tenara frowned. "Someone like me is coming."

Espha smiled. "That's more than I got out of her."

The door to the sitting room opened and Tenele stepped in looking pale and sleepy. She closed it behind her, shifted her cloak off her shoulders, and turned to go into the room where she heard the voices.

"Mommy's home!" Tenara chirped, fluttering from the room in a silver blur.

Tenele fell down on her knees when she tried to kneel, and curled her arms around her daughter, burrowing her face into her soft hair.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was about to ask Tenara more, when the scent of his wife tugged his attention to the door. "Tenele!" He was at her side in an instant. "When did you get back? How are you?" his senses were already searching her over for injuries. Knight had been summoned, and he wasn't sure what that meant. "Atul?"

[Emora Deen]

"He's in his bed. He's resting. He was injured by their holy arrows. I did what I could for him but I think he's fallen into one of his recovery comas," Tenele said. "Sinead healed me." She struggled to get to her feet. "Sho is in a warm room, asking to see Talon. I have asked the maids to move Khi there so that they can be together and be warm. There were no survivors in the village, and the ones that did have fled and the sand storm covered their tracks."

About that time the maids came and entered with elaborate bows. They collected Khi and moved her from Tenara's room out into the hall. Tenele thanked them quietly and assured Khi that Talon would be along to see them soon.

"Did Talon make it home?" Tenele finally asked when the girl was gone. She had no knowledge whether he had, and lied to the young lizard-children to keep their minds at ease.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes. He will be fine," Vlad said, thinking of his protege in the next room. "Not quite himself yet." He reached out for her as the strain seemed to show in her movements. "Can I force you to rest now?" he asked, unable to restrain the question any longer.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded. "Let me check on him, and then you can force me to rest as much as you like," Tenele whispered, placing a kiss on his lips before turning to their room.

Talon was sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, and he knew the moment his sister entered. She didn't seem as bright as normal, and maybe that was because she was near four days without a bath, or because she was that tired.

"Are you okay?" Tenele asked him placing a hand on his shoulder.

Talon nodded. "I'm okay. I hurt Espha, I'm more hurt over that now."

Tenele winced, squeezing his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Would... would you... Just so she isn't in pain," Talon's eyes grew misty.

Tenele's brow furrowed and she thought about it. "I.... Sinead.... Sure," she smiled softly. "It will be my last good deed for the day. Please rest here, I'll stay in Atul's room." Tenele placed a light kiss on his head and turned back into the room.

She took Espha's hand without saying a word and wrapped a firm grip over the wound. Within a second a cool light, and not as bright as normal, flashed under her touch. Tenele smiled kindly at Espha and turned her eyes on her husband. "Rest?" she asked him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stepped forward and offered his arm, eager to see his other lover and Tenele both at rest after so much time not knowing how they were. He met Espha's eyes across the room and was grateful for her confirming nod. He wanted to know more about what was going on with Tenara, but for tonight, he hoped Espha would be enough for the girl.

[Emora Deen]

They found Atul sleeping the sleep of the dead, or what he often did to recover his energy. Depending on how long he slept, he could awake with just the right amount of energy, or with an insatiable amount. Tenele was hoping that whichever amount he awoke to, that he was free of pain.

Tenele started kicking off clothes as soon as the door closed behind them, feeling too dirty to sleep in them. Standing naked next to Atul's bed, she brushed the hair from her lover's face.

"I hope we are all functioning adults tomorrow..." It wasn't even mid-day yet, but it felt like midnight.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smirked. "I hope our groom wakes up in time for the wedding." He leaned over the edge of the bed and studied the man, grazing his fingers just over the skin and fabric of his clothes. He could feel the sharp rise in heat where the wounds lay just under the cotton. "We'll have to thank Queeny," he muttered. Thanking Sinead was not among his favorite things to do.

He looked up at Tenele, the protective glow now fully possessive in his eyes. "You don't smell enough," he accused seriously.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele did an innocent twirl, her silver hair kicking up. "I'm fine. I didn't lose very much blood at all," she told him, backing naked towards Atul's massive bathroom. "I may have done a bit too much in the realm of healing, but that's it and it was all for a good cause. I won't be healing anyone, and I won't need healing by anyone, so everything is fine. Don't worry. Instead.... shower?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad prowled after her. "Bath," he murmured, officially in overprotective mode. He teleported smoothly past her shape in the doorframe and started water into the marble tub. He added some salts, never as much as humans seemed to like. Then again, he was more sensitive to smells.