‘Janaxia! You need to come with me.’ Stathis didn’t give Janaxia a chance to object or resist, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her off her throne, the pitch-black surface melting away as soon as Janaxia was moved off it.

As soon as she touched the ground, she stumbled, the shoes that Stathis caught a glimpse of from beneath the long skirts attractive, but entirely impractical for anything other than being sat down and commanding, without any of the requirements of actually “moving”. She kept pulling, her grip secure on Janaxia’s wrist.

This seems rather hasty! Especially as we do, in a quite literal sense, have an army now, and so there should be…

She cut off as Stathis pulled her in close and activated her wings, leaping up into the sky, her arms now tight around Janaxia’s waist. She could feel some sort of corset or cincher around the other woman’s waist, giving a convenient point to wrap her arms around and grip, although there was still a distinctly unladylike grunt from her as her stomach was squeezed, air pressing out of her.

Janaxia at least didn’t struggle, although that might have been because of their height – dropping from up here would not end well! She hunched her shoulders and tried to push herself against Stathis.

I think I rather much prefer being carried in your arms! That’s certainly my comfortable. And does something to help preserve my hair.

‘I know that you can just reshape it with magic. And the same for your clothing, so it’s not really a problem if they get a little mussed. You don’t have to look perfect all the time, you know.’

Perhaps not, but I certainly prefer to, at least as an aim.

They were up above the army now, the neat units and groups clear to see, even on the march, at least for the central body – the outlying groups were rather more ad-hoc. Janaxia’s arms wriggled around, awkwardly grabbing hold of Stathis.

This is not the most reassuring of positions!

‘Don’t worry, I won’t get you go.’

Hmph! I don’t see what the cause for alarm is. She turned her head from side to side, hair brushing against Stathis’ chin, sweetly scented. There seems to have been rather less elemental incursions the last few days. Or your soldiers are getting better at dealing with them without assistance.

‘They’re not really my soldiers…’ She couldn’t see it, but Stathis was sure that Janaxia was rolling her eyes, as she started to drop down, heading for an open hillside, above a meadow filled with flowers and bushes. The sky here was overcast but not set into perpetual night, with the curse or whatever it was still growing, but slower than they could march, and it had been a relief to get out from the expanding pall. Although it could be seen on the horizon, a darkness like heavy storm clouds, somewhere behind them.

Hmmm. Well, is there some ancient ruin that needs investigating?

Stathis beat her wings to brake her fall as she dropped, skimming just above the flowers, petals streaming up behind her, before rising up onto the hill, covered with grass and a few old and weathered trees, angling herself to a stop and lowering herself onto the ground. Janaxia wriggled free, her clothing shifting into something more practical, at least by her standards.

‘It is strange to see you not in armour. Although not unwelcome. And I am glad to see you not putting on airs of privation. You should have come to me for some advice though – that shirt is nice enough, but something with a little more flash is needed, surely? Although the trousers are quite flattering. Now, what are we here for? It must be an emergency, for you to come unarmoured.’

‘Well, it’s… it’s not really an emergency.’ She looked around, until she spotted what she was looking for, half-tucked behind a tree, and walked towards it. ‘But things have been crazy lately, and I know there’s a lot going on.’ She leaned over and picked up a bottle of wine, holding it up so that Janaxia could see. ‘So there’s still stuff we need to talk about.’

Janaxia stiffened, her hair almost bristling, hair-lash darkening.

‘No need to get defensive! It’s at least partially on me, there’s some things I need to talk to you about.’

Oh? More secrets?

‘Please use your actual voice! And not secrets, just… things I didn’t think matter, but they do. Especially to you. So that’s at least part of the reason. And out here it’s a bit harder for you to get away, as you can’t blink long distances, even if you’re willing to risk it. So you’re going to have to at least listen to me.’

‘This does seem rather like entrapment!’

‘Nothing that bad. Anyway, have some wine.’ Shadowy energy appeared around the bottle, almost wrenching it from Stathis’ hand. A wineglass flew through the air, Janaxia snatching it. There was a pop as the cork slid out of the bottle, and then she poured herself a glass. Then she strode across the grass, conjuring up her throne again and settling into it – this raised her up above Stathis, and the throne looked even spikier than normal.

‘It’s nothing to get excited about, but I thought you’d appreciate it. And that’s good wine, and there’s some food as well.’ Stathis took a deep breath. ‘Anyway, to start with, you know that Pajaran is just my friend, right? Just my friend, and nothing else.’

‘Oh? The two of you do seem very close.’

‘I don’t lie. And we came through the Academy together, so no shit we’re close! Spent the best part of two years in training together, and then we were going to go adventuring together. And then she got stuck in the Everfrost, so that didn’t quite work out, but, yes, we’re close. But not more than friends. I’m pretty sure she’s not really into women, either.’

Hmph, that seems rather limiting of one’s options.

‘Real voice! So yeah, she’s thankful to you for saving her, and we’ve never gone out or anything, nor would we. So you don’t need to worry about her as competition or anything.’ As she spoke, she went to the picnic hamper and took a glass for herself, along with a box of food. Then she slowly approached Janaxia, taking small and steady steps, as though Janaxia were a skittish cat that might bolt if approached with too much speed. ‘Mind pouring me some?’

Janaxia took a sip. This is rather superior! I suppose there are some perks to being in charge.

‘It was from a wine merchant we saved. He was very thankful to see us.’ Stathis held her glass up, Janaxia making the bottle hover through the air and pour itself, rather neatly, into the glass. She took a sip – Janaxia was right, the flavour was sweet but not overpowering.

‘So I just wanted to get that out there – I’m not with Pajaran, we’re just friends. So there’s no need to make anything big out of that. I did have some good times with Brina, but that wasn’t anything lengthy. So she’s just a friend now. Although, uh, she does think you’re quite attractive yourself. She has a thing for upper-class women.’

Janaxia crossed her arms across her chest and stiffened her back, glaring down at Stathis, who had to resist the urge to take off, just to look back down at Janaxia.

‘You are of higher rank.’

‘It’s more the look, I think? She likes all the expensive dresses and that side of things. Not stuff I really do myself, but she really likes dresses cut to the thigh and so forth.’

‘And yet she dallied with you? Yes, that is something of a marked contrast.’

‘That was more because we met and some shit kicked off, and it was nice to relax together afterwards. Although she certainly didn’t mind coming along to some of the official functions as well! I think it’s pretty similar Cormantara, reading between the lines. Which I suppose is one way to make diplomacy easier. Dorothia probably approves, I guess? At least she’s not going to be leaving bastard children behind.’

‘Yes, I suppose that is one benefit of such liaisons.’ Janaxia took another sip of wine, her greens still boring into Statis’.

‘So what I’m trying to say is that I’m not seeing her.’

‘Ah, so I could?’

‘I mean, I guess, if you want to. Although maybe wait until after all this stuff is done.’

‘Oh? Are you worried that she would be tired out.’

‘I’d be more worried she’d tire you out to be honest – she’s very, uh… enthusiastic. You’re more the languorous type, aren’t you?’ Stathis stepped up onto the throne, now looking down on Janaxia. ‘Although I’d rather talk about us. Just in case something happens, it would be better to deal with this stuff first!’

Janaxia was still staring at her, although seemed slightly more relaxed.

‘I thought you would be… offended, maybe?’

‘What, if you went with Brina? That’s up to you. At least she’s not a vampire or anything though. She’s fun to be around.’ Stathis tried to focus and not let herself get distracted, not wanting to get further off-topic. ‘And knows a lot of good places to go, if you’re in a city. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.’

The platform was awkwardly-sized, with the throne taking up most of it, Stathis having to stand on the edge, leaning forward to keep her balance as she drank a little more of the wine herself.

‘So, the last time we kissed it sort of went badly.’ She kept talking, words getting faster, hoping that Janaxia wouldn’t interrupt telepathically. ‘And I’m not entirely sure that wouldn’t happen if we tried again. Which is unfortunate, as I would quite like to. Try again, that is.’

Janaxia went rigid and froze in her throne, lips slightly open, her hands tense on the arm-rests.

‘So, once all of this is done, then we can look into whatever that was, and try and get it sorted. Because I would quite like to kiss you again. Without dying, preferably!’

Janaxia made an odd, strangled sound, although the look in her eyes wasn’t as hard as before. Stathis could hear a vague telepathic burble, not quite words, more a general grumble-whine before Janaxia was able to manage actual words.

Skipping to the end is cheating! There is meant to be rather more pursuit! Despite her words, there was a slight pinking to her cheeks and lips.

‘Doesn’t really seem worth the trouble! And we’ve been sort of doing pursuing for ages – I don’t really find it much fun though. You’re clearly interested, so am I, so it doesn’t really seem worth faffing about. You seem to enjoy it a lot, so I’ll try and do it sometimes I guess? Although it would be nice if you made it a little clearer when you’re being stiff and distant in a flirty way, rather than because you’re pissed off.’

Another string of random burble – it might be some ancient language, but it seemed more likely that Janaxia was unsure how to react, or reacting poorly. Stathis reached out and scritched a horn, running her nail along the bony ridges.

‘This thing really isn’t the best for this kind of conversation – the arm rest isn’t really big enough to sit on.’

It blinked out of existence, the both of them suddenly falling. Stathis managed to grab Janaxia, bending at the knees as she landed. She turned her head as Janaxia’s face was suddenly close to hers, lips pursed.

‘None of that! I don’t want to die.’ She tightened her grip on Janaxia, using her own head to push Janaxia’s aside, having to be careful not to skewer an eye on a horn, medallions brushing against her face. She kissed Janaxia on the neck, wincing in anticipation, but there was no flare of pain and she didn’t die. Janaxia made a happy sound and wriggled against her, arms wrapped around her shoulders with surprising strength.

‘It would have been a lot easier if you had simply admitted your attraction thus a long time ago.’

‘You could be nice as well, this shouldn’t be a one-sided thing! You’re not really used to longer-term relationships, are you?’

It is only natural that one of my pedigree would be ardently pursued.

‘I think that’s more you than your family – do any of them get as much interest? Given what’s going on, you might want to go easy on mentioning your name though. At least until we’ve got this sorted out and your siblings have all been dealt with, then maybe it might draw less negative attention.’

Mmrrrr

Stathis had to be careful not to get her throat poked by a horn, as Janaxia wriggled against her. ‘And I know you’re still broken up about Skotadi – maybe we can make her a memorial or something?’

Janaxia held herself close against Stathis. Yes. Please. She deserves to be remembered. Perhaps something in black marble? And gold? She was a princess, after all.

Visions of some vast and dark monolith flashed into Stathis’ head – something that looked like the resting place of a powerful and fell necromancer, probably warded by soul-rending magic.

‘Nothing too excessive!’ Even if that was probably what Skotadi would have wanted. ‘Maybe a small marker and some flowers? Was there anywhere important to her?’

‘I think… somewhere important. She would want to be seen. And it should demand attention and respect!’

‘Well, we can look into that.’ Stathis patted the top of Janaxia’s head, careful not to disturb the chains and medallions woven through the soft strands. ‘Although it might have to wait, until things are sorted out.’

Hmph. War is certainly inconvenient when it comes to such things. And it would be pleasant to enjoy more… time… with you. She burrowed herself closer against Stathis.

‘You going to bother standing anytime soon?’

Janaxia wriggled around, making herself comfortable, managing to sip her wine with surprising elegance. ‘I think this is rather pleasant. Although your wings are a little distracting – from this angle they are rather bright and glaring.’

‘Well, if I get rid of them, then I can’t bring them back until I rest, so we’re stuck here.’

‘There appears to be food and drink. And I’m sure someone will be in charge should anything occur. Do you solders not have a rule that you should relax when possible because no-one knows when the next time to relax may occur?’ She spoke a brief spell, raising a hand as a neatly-packed bag of food was pulled towards her. ‘Nice and hot still, very good! I’m flattered you went to the effort. More of this, I think.’

‘Not to ruin the mood or anything, but this shouldn’t be one sided.’

Janaxia made a psychic grumble as she pulled out a steamed bun and took a delicate nibble. Hmph. I suppose you are right – this is rather vexatious! But will hopefully be mutually pleasurable. At least once all… barriers… have been dealt with. She swallowed, moving her face towards Stathis’.

Stathis let go, dropping Janaxia, who fell to the floor, before her platform appeared, raising her back up. She glared at Stathis, who patted her on the head then scritched a horn. ‘Please don’t try and kill me! I know you’re not used to it, but let’s take things slow.’

Janaxia sighed. ‘Very well. I suppose accommodations must be made. And there is a certain romance in a forced delay. Now, my glass appears most empty – that, surely is something you can deal with?’

Stathis rolled her eyes, but found the bottle and topped off Janaxia’s glass, before refilling her own, sitting down on the platform, pushing herself tightly against Janaxia and wrapping an arm around her.