Chapter 74 - Parley

They walked among the trees, passing through shafts of morning sunlight that reached the forest floor. Xiana leaned back slightly, turning her head toward Antrandis as he guided her with a hand on her shoulder.

“What will happen to the children?” she asked.

“The twins are under my protection, Xiana.” he said.

“They are not yours to claim, ‘Trandis.”

“Neither yours.”

She nodded, “I would think…”

“Do you wish to fight it out?” he asked in idle curiosity.

“I was not suggesting that. I am not ashamed to admit that you overpower me in every way. The best I can manage is to steal from you. I am respectful enough to avoid that as well. I remember the past and your unrelenting drive when you have caught a scent, it usually ends in death, or some type of horrible dismemberment or worse.”

She turned her head toward him, “Those children, they are not normal, ‘Trandis. Those powers! And at such a young age. My father, he…”

“Telios?” Antrandis said.

“He would be interested in them, how they came to be, how they got here.” she said, leaning closer, “I could take them off your hands, you would not need to concern yourself with them.”

He smiled, continuing to guide her, “I have had word that the Three have been in discussion with Telios since last night.”

She cocked her head, “You have?”

“I do not believe that Telios would still have an interest in the welfare of two children.” he said, “Can you still feel him, Xiana?”

Her lips drew into two sharp lines, her movements stiffening, she smiled aggressively, “Are you threatening me, ‘Trandis? Do you think you have some type of knowledge over me? I heard that you found another bride, I wish to give you my insincere congratulations.”

That smile grew to a savage grin, “How long will this one last before she is snuffed in the middle of the night? Two hundred, six hundred, a thousand years? The rumour is that she is from Knocht, a mage. Is she with you now? Or is she being kept safe back in Meliandra, guarded like a princess in a castle?”

A slight growl built in the back of Snowshadow’s throat, Antrandis held a hand out stopping her approach. Looking to Winter, he shook his head.

Xiana’s severe smile grew broad, “You are even avoiding your usual telepathic conversation with your pet, how did you learn that I could listen in? Was it the second or the third time I stuck my knives in her?”

She laughed as they stopped walking, “Good kitty, be a good pet and listen to your master, he and I have business.” she tilted her head toward Antrandis, “I am sure you agree, we have walked far enough.”

Xiana reached up with her bound hands and pulled the blindfold off, exposing her unseeing, blackened eyes. Blinking, she turned to the warmth of the sun through the trees. She shook her head, a grimace on her face.

“My eyes ‘Trandis? Are they the same colour?”

Antrandis leaned against a tree, flanked silently by both Snowshadow and Winter.

“No.” he said, watching her shake her head, “You have a way with words Xiana, barbing them in defence. But you wear your jealousy plain to see.” he said calmly.

She let out a chuckle, trying to squint at the sun, “What do you expect, wild one? Your bird said it bluntly last night, I covet what is not mine. You turned me down, I was vulnerable, I was ready to turn for you.”

“I did the right thing, and you know it, Xiana.” he replied, tapping a finger on his forearm as he stood with arms crossed.

“Maybe for you, but I could have been all yours, I was ready to betray father for you.”

“You don’t need to worry about betraying Telios now.” he said quietly.

Xiana shifted her position suddenly, tilting her head, “Could you repeat that? I think I didn’t hear you properly. Did you just say that you turned me down because you preferred rutting with that winged monstrosity that parades as a priestess of your beloved mother? You really need to put her back in her cage.”

She turned with a sharp smile, “Kali is not impressed with you either. Last I encountered her, she started stuttering when I mentioned you. She refused to talk. A succubus, startled into silence with just the mention of your name, what did you do to her, Trandis? Did you plough her until she lost her mind? Did you fuck her brains out? That stuttering of hers was not out of fear.”

Antrandis watched Xiana with an air of disappointment, “As I said, a way with words.”

“If you did so to me, so thoroughly that I would stutter just with the memory of it alone, even just once...” Xiana said with a bent smile.

Once again Snowshadow began to growl, Xiana turned slightly.

“You don’t agree with my sentiment, kitty? A shame. I have heard from reliable sources that he has some real skill, or at least he should after so many years. I am sure you could tell me, the things only your eyes have seen. Or should I ask the winged one? She could tell me from actual experience. Winter, could he make me lose my mind, screw me into submission, make me scream until I passed out?”

Antrandis sighed tiredly, “Xiana, surely you did not pay with your sight, just to have the opportunity to use your barbed tongue as a whip? If that is all you wanted to speak of then you have wasted my time and your own.”

Almost immediately, Xiana’s mood changed.

“I wish to trade. Information for a favour.”

“Somehow, I think it is much more than that, or you do not truthfully know.” Antrandis said.

Xiana tilted her head slightly, smiling, “Truthfully? I am not sure of the word.”

“You said you have information, what is the price?” he asked, a resigned tone evident in his tone.

Without warning, Xiana’s temperament shifted, realising that she had gone as far as she could, “I do not wish to be your enemy anymore, Antrandis. All I ask of you is a favour.”

“What favour?” he asked, meeting Snowshadow’s eyes.

“You will know the moment I tell you. Metara’Skarn, he is…”

Antrandis’s eyes narrowed, “No, firstly we speak of the favour. You are asking for protection, are you not?”

Xiana shifted her stance, her lips pursing, “Not exactly, allow me to speak of you as your ally, that is all.”

He nodded, “You want protection.”

She frowned, squinting and tilting her head, “All I ask is to use your name as protection. I do not expect you to come to my aid. Your name against him is threat enough to make him wary.”

“And what of Dekkersmann, the city? Are you wanting to use my name to protect it as well?” asked Antrandis.

She shook her head slowly, a quiet chuckle on her lips, “I do not have enough to trade to barter at such an expense. Your people would not sully themselves to come to the aid of a port of thieves and cutthroats.”

Xiana rubbed her eyes experimentally, “I know you have your people there, I don’t know who they are, but you have an eye on me. As does Knocht.”

“Dekkersmann is an important trade partner, Xiana. Do not undersell its importance.” he breathed deeply, resettling his arms.

“Yes, but to say it is protected by the might of Meliandra, half of the populace would run.” she said.

Antrandis raised an eyebrow, “The information? You mentioned Metara’Skarn.”

“He has resurrected. My spies that watch the mountain, they reported that he was seen on the trails. He was more wraith-like. He is still weak.”

Antrandis thought for a moment, “You may use my name as protection.”

She sighed with relief, “There is more, he knows I was involved.”

He glanced at Xiana, his eyes narrowing, “Just like I know you were indirectly involved with Reilena’s death. You have my name for that. As you said, that should be enough to dissuade him.”

Xiana turned, facing his general direction, the smirk leaving her face as her complexion paled, her hands fidgeting, “You knew?” she said in a small voice.

“And yet you live. Surely there is something else that you would come all the way here for. Something you have not mentioned yet, the true reason for seeking me out. Everything until this moment has been a farce that I have tolerated.” he said coldly.

She stood there, silent, her breathing shallow, “You knew.” she slowly unbuttoned her vest and withdrew a small pouch, holding it.

Xiana slowly sank to her knees, “Antrandis. Telios, father asked me, that if I were to come across you, by chance. To ask for your protection. He told me that he wishes to deal with you. He wants to give you a gift in goodwill, so that you will consider…”

Antrandis walked toward her, stopping in front of her, looking down, “What else does he ask for?”

She bowed her head, “If you view his gift favourably, he wants me to pledge allegiance to you and the Goddess Lumos.”

“That is your choice.” he said.

“My father’s message is that Metara’skarn killed Reilena. He also orchestrated the summoning of the demon king, he brought about the War of the Rift to spite you.”

As she finished her words, Snowshadow burst into motion, snarling, her hackles raised, teeth bared in anger. Xiana lowered her head further, Antrandis held out a hand, staring at Snowshadow as she paced around the space in the trees.

His eyes narrowed, “Those are bold claims, do you have proof?”

Xiana held out her bound hands, offering him the pouch. He took it and slowly opened it, shaking its contents out and into his hand. A small pendant and a cutting of blonde hair tumbled into his grasp. Winter walked over as she saw his face drop, she looked at the contents of his hand and then met his eyes.

“Antrandis, is that her, her hair?” Winter asked, visibly shaken, “Her pendant, it was missing. Antrandis? But that would mean. Please, Antrandis, no.”

His stormy blue eyes started to glow as he looked at the pendant and hair, scrutinising them.

Antrandis breathed deeply, “Telios knew what he was doing. But, all he has done is confirmed what I suspected all along. That bastard Metara’skarn takes trophies. Thank you for returning these to me.”

Xiana squinted, rubbing at her eyes, “Antrandis, I pledge my allegiance.”

He nodded, watching her before closing his eyes for a moment, “As of this moment, Xiana, your safety has been secured. You will return with us to Meliandra, at the request of the three. You will meet with your benefactor within the Temple of Lumos. Telios has secured your safety with the aid of another; he convinced the three that you are of worth.”

He leaned down, helping Xiana stand before taking her hands and untying her, “Is your vision returning?” he asked calmly.

Xiana gasped, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar strength flooding into her, her limbs lightening, her sight clearing. Her eyes widened as she looked at him then Winter, her eyes settled on the contents of Winter’s hand before looking back to him in mild confusion.

“Yes, yes, I can see. Antrandis?” she said in surprise, watching him finish untying her hands.

“My benefactor? Which of the three?” she asked as she rubbed her wrists, the bruising rapidly fading.

Antrandis met her eyes with a strange expression, “Can you not feel his presence, Xiana of Toth?”

She stood there for a moment, processing his words, whispering to herself in fear, “His presence? Xiana of Toth?”

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