The Princess and the Blade

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi stood in the hall for several minutes, contemplating options. When he finally turned to get back to Tenara, he nearly crashed head-first into Vladimir Dracul.

Havi skipped back in time to avoid a collision, staring at Vlad with more wariness than he'd needed around the man in some time. "You are up early," he said.

Vlad waved a hand lazily. "I'm up late." He cocked an eyebrow at the alien. "I thought I fired you."

Havi only stared at him.

"Most people bow when they piss me off."

"...I see."

The Kingsoul of Hajara appraised his daughter's strange guardian. "I can't tell if you're brave or just awkward."

Havi watched him. "I-"

"Don't say 'I see'," Vlad sighed, holding up a hand. "My daughter still plans to meet that lord at noon?"

"She does."

"I dismissed you last night. You are not to be with her."

Havi thought about the words, and nodded slowly. "I will not be seen."

"Good. Get out of the hallway. Guests will start wandering around soon."

A few minutes later, Havi returned to his quarters. He shut the door silently to avoid disrupting the curved form sleeping in his bed and locked it behidn him. Quiet footsteps brought him to the bedside, and he watched her to see if she was still asleep.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara was still, curled on her side beneath Havi's covers, wrapped in the robe he'd given her. She appeared to be peacefully sleeping, but as he approached the bed she blinked an eye open. She winced a little at the ache still burning behind her eyes. "Is everything okay?" she murmured.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes," Havi said. He pressed cool fingertips to her forehead as he sat down next to her. "Did you rest well?"

[Emora Deen]

She nodded, closing her eyes against his soft touch. She settled her cheek back on the pillow. She debated on keeping the lingering ache in her skull from him, but keeping anything from Havitharon felt... wrong. She'd managed to do her best to hide the effects from him since they began by ignoring them, but ignoring them and lying about them were two different things.

"My head is still a little angry at me," she said. "Maybe another hour of sleep will do the trick. Did you have trouble sleeping?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi shook his head. "I was talking with your Aunt. And Vladimir."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara's eyes opened. She shifted, moving to sit up. "So something is wrong?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi's mouth set in a firm line. "The sword is harming you."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara stiffened. "Its... I just need to get stronger. Train my magic. It's not permanent, I promise. Don't worry, Havi. I'm okay. We're okay..." She stopped then. "Did you tell my father?" She was certain he'd take the sword from her if he knew it was hurting her. Her father would be willing to risk her anger if it meant keeping her safe.

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi's eyes softened at her words. She was blaming herself, and pushing herself. Sorrow tugged through him. "No. He only instructed me to stay out of sight."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara looked away. It was true. Her father had supposedly sent Havitharon to the dungeons. If people saw him wandering the palace that would think her parents had no control over him, or that he was that insubordinate. It could also lead to worse relations with the dignitaries from Arken, and the last thing she needed was Elias finding more reasons to try and worm his way closer to the sword. But..

Staying out of sight meant she would have to meet Larious and his employer alone, unless... Unless Havi became incorporeal again. Then, she could take him with her and he wouldn't be seen. Perhaps he could even find a way to speak to the other Ivis that way. Of course, that would also mean making him corporeal again later, so soon after last night. She wasn't sure what would happen performing it so soon afterwards...

Tenara nodded. "It makes sense. He's right. It could lead to Elias getting more leverage over us if he can twist Papa's advisors into thinking he's taken offense at your freedom... You could go... but you would need to go as... well, the ghostly version of yourself."

[Soran Nightblade]

"At least as a ghost, I can be a second set of eyes and ears for you. And, I will still be there, on your hip." He paused as a thought occurred to him. "If you bring it. Revealing the sword could carry risks, but it could be a bargaining chip as well."

[Emora Deen]

"I want you with me," she said, "I'm bringing it." Her gaze flicked to the sword, she winced a little as her brain protested the sudden shift in gaze—as if all the nerves in the back of her eyes protested. "Laurius... He's going to take one look at that thing and know, isn't he? He'll know you're not some guard my family hired to keep me safe... He probably already knows. He's not a dumb man." Tenara looked back at Havi. "The Ivis with him knows you. He might have already told his master about you."

[Soran Nightblade]

"He may have," Havi acknowledged. "Laurius definitely recognized what I am, and he seemed surprised that I was corporeal. I think he can see that Ivis, but only as a ghost. We need him to share what he knows about the swords."

[Emora Deen]

Tenara nodded. "I'm sure I can get him talking... He wasn't shy about his dagger, and he seemed to know that I could... see his Ivis..." Tenara glanced at Havi's horns. The other Ivis had gold horns, and Havi's were black... all except the new gold ring. Tenara reached up without thinking and brushed her hand over his head, and to the part of his horns that glinted in the dark. "His horns were gold... Like this. Does that mean he has a Yurivis too?" She traced the gold band lightly.

[Soran Nightblade]

Havi tilted his head into her touch without thinking about it. "Yes. He is bonded. I don't know how long he's been in this world, but if he truly can't take form, it must be fairly recent. He hasn't burnt out yet."