Chapter 15 - Cleanse

The gentle drip of water softly filled the room, the echo immediately smothered by its thick velvet walls. A deep breath quietly exhaled sent a series of ripples across the surface of the bath. Kitaraiya’s slow movements causing waves and turbulence as her arms broke the surface, their fur wet and clinging. A resigned sigh fell in the relative silence, though did not go unheard. She carefully ran her hands through the longer strands, watching as the coppery remnants of his blood dissolved and relinquished their grasp. Sweeping her hands up from her stomach and over her breasts she grimaced at the matted mess of clotted snowy fur.

“By the gods.” Kitaraiya whispered under her breath as she carefully massaged the rust from the underside of her downy coat, “I should have asked that beast before he left.” she remarked to herself.

“His name is Sessh.” came the quiet voice from the divider as Jesse passed into the room, her wings tightly tucked to her back, “After watching the both of you handling Silvast’s flames he has a newfound respect for you.”

“He is also aware that in a true fight against your other self would potentially end badly for him. That is why he did not engage in open combat.”

“Is that how they work?”

Jesse nodded, “It is a strong tactic of their kind. Not that there are many of them, eight in all.” she said, coming to the edge of the tub and sitting on a low stool, “To fight wisely and to waylay their opponent, tiring them before crushing them. Though…” Jesse frowned, “The way he was so easily taunted by Rhuthain is so unlike him. An issue remedied.”

Kitaraiya glanced at her, her sky-blue eyes searching the valkyrie’s face.

“The next you meet him, your opinion will be greatly changed.”

Kitaraiya’s glance shifted to a stare, drawing a light chuckle from Jesse.

“Come child, lean forward and let me help you. It is not the first time I have washed dried blood from fur, nor will it be my last.” Jesse remarked, touching the water with a fingertip and watching as the coppery taint cleared.

She smiled, “I can feel your question. No, not Sessh… Yet.” she said quietly, gesturing for Kitaraiya to move, “Another of their kind. I could not help but save one as accomplished in killing those that deserve it as herself. She is not as devastating as your mother. But she is so very good at what she does.”

“She? Are you speaking of their Empress?” Kitaraiya asked.

“Ja’Ekavira? No, though you will be meeting her soon. She is not a warrior of the blade or spear, she is a sorceress, a caster, she was made as one.” Jesse explained, running her hands through Kitariaya’s saturated fur, “I speak of Freya, one who abandoned her given name and took on a name worthy of an agent of death. I am sure she will be reunited with me before long. Especially now that I have claimed Sessh and he has accepted me.”

Kitaraiya turned and looked at her, “Reunited…Claimed him?”

Jesse nodded slowly, a sly smile on her lips, “Just like Freya, he is my type. I watched him many a time before the fall, he is not that pompous fool you met. He is elegant, proud and strong. I could not let this opportunity go to waste, now that we are free.”

“Winter – Mother allows this?” Kitaraiya whispered.

Jesse chuckled, “Why would she not? We Valkyrie are women too, we have desires and wants and we are allowed to pursue them. It is our Master’s will to be free of mind and spirit whilst still being what we were made to be.”

“I did not know.” Kitaraiya replied, frowning, “But...”

Jesse smiled, “Your guardian, Talessia. She has been in a relationship with one of the Night Watch for a several years now. He has proven to be trustworthy; while the current generation of elven men are not my preference, I do approve of his spirit and qualities.”

“Talessia?”

The valkyrie gave an affirming nod, “We are private about our relationships, being free outside of our immediate duty is a gift that we treasure immensely. I speak for every one of us.”

“Who is she…?”

Jesse smiled, closing her eyes momentarily and tilting her head slightly, “Arboran Tlagethaen.”

Kitaraiya stared at her, “The head of the…” her eyes narrowed, “The Captain?”

Jesse nodded, “Yes. He is a suitable specimen with qualities she finds alluring. He also understands and lives within the same bounds of duty as we do, his through choice and honour rather than purpose. There are a small number of the Night Watch, male and female alike who are involved with my kind on a casual or more… Intimate entanglement.”

“And you prefer Rakshasa?”

“Yes, Kit. As you know we are quite different, but just like any other creature, we have our vices. We see things differently when we use our sight, our eyes. We see essence, souls and spirits, the path of power and magic and its myriads of colours and shades. We see life and death and more beyond this drab scene that most see. You will find out soon enough why many of us would immediately find them highly compatible, especially the chance at claiming Sessh or the other male if they allowed it.” Jesse gave a small smile, rubbing a clot of blood free, “Unlike many of my sisters, I do not play in the fleeting arrangements of mortals. I play for eternity, only those with a lifespan as permanent as my own are of interest.”

“What of Rhy and I?”

“The Aletere? The remnants of the Aletere are also desirable, though few of your kind has reached the level we find…Interesting. But, you both are the children of Winter and our Lord, thus we all see you as our children. That we must protect, teach and nurture.” Jesse said with a twist to her smile, “Though, if the remnants of your kind were to find what they lost… Then our interest would be piqued yet again. The Aletere had a unique combination of traits, especially the Fyrlings.”

Jesse smiled almost hypnotically, massaging Kitaraiya’s fur in the water, “When I look at Rhyker, I can see one of their kind’s flame living in his veins.”

Kitaraiya nodded slowly, “The vial, he drank the flames of his…”

“No Kit, this is different. It flows in his veins, its traces course through them, mingled with his own. It matches the seal on his chest, that sigil of your kind when they have found their partner.”

Kitaraiya frowned, “Sialin gave her blood, but that was many years ago.”

“The sigil on his chest?”

“Lia of Haarlstarn, Eira’s daughter. This world’s Sialin.”

Jesse watched her with a smile in her eyes, “Lia is your world’s Sialin? That does make things interesting, does it not?”

Kitaraiya nodded as she brought her knees up and rested her chin on them, her eyes looking into the distance.

“You did not know it was her.” Jesse said softly, “How did you become aware of this… Development?”

“I – I can see his memories. Since I drank the copper dragon’s blood, every time I have fed off him, I can see more and more. It is not just seeing them, but experiencing them like they were my own... I have felt myself inside of her. And it… It was…” she quickly glanced at Jesse, “Bliss. I have felt her arms around me, her lips on mine, her voice in my ear saying my – his name.”

Kitaraiya was silent for a moment, “I fear the coming of sleep. I do not fear Lia. I fear his memories of my actions in the past.”

Jesse nodded slowly, concern on her face, “It is torture to be sitting on the knife’s edge, but do not neglect that which your body needs. To know the truth, no matter how terrible is better than guessing at the contents of shadows. Sometimes one must plunge into the depths to heal and accept. The fact that you fear tells me that you are ready to face the truth and have already considered the possibilities. Your fear is from the possibility of being proven correct, but it will give you both a place of mutual respect where you can strengthen your bonds.”

Jesse continued to run her hands through Kitaraiya’s wet coat, her fingers combing the longer strands, “That darkness may prove to you that those fears are unfounded, you might find more that you had not seen while your own actions of the time were inward.” she met Kitaraiya’s eyes, “It is not just in his veins that her blood mingles.”

Kitaraiya stared at her, “She…?”

“Yes Kit, I wonder how much she spent on you before you opened your eyes. How many tears fell on your face as she used her own blood and thread to force life back into one she loves and fears for. Maybe those answers you will gain by seeing them through his eyes. Do not fear the truth, fear the secrets.”

Kitaraiya frowned, looking down at the tainted water as Jesse cleansed it, the copper stain clarifying as she watched.

“He is aware of this issue, that you fear seeing through his eyes?”

Kitaraiya nodded.

Jesse watched her as her lupine ears flicked, “Is he concerned with what you will find?”

Jesse’s eyebrows rose as Kitaraiya shook her head, “That is encouraging, child. But I do understand that it does not make it any easier.” she pursed her lips while she continued to observe, “There is more to this. It is not just about his experiences.”

Kitaraiya glanced at her and moved to stand while noting the valkyrie’s smile, “There is, but it is something I must face.”

She noticed Jesse’s small nod in supplication and stood, stepping out of the bath. She shook her head at Jesse’s offered towel, the air immediately around her chilling, her own body warmth making steam form around her. A faint gleam came to her eyes as she condensed the moisture in the air, wicking it from her fur and watching it fall as small and sharp icicles. She stepped out of the small field of ice shards, her naked form proud and predatory, her tail swaying as she turned. The gleam of light in her eyes strengthened while she manipulated the ice on the floor and finally bending to pick it up and drop it back into the bath.

She frowned as she watched the ice melt, chuckling to herself, “Where does he end and I begin?”

Jesse stared at her with uncertainty, “Kit?”

Kitaraiya glanced at her, “Musing, that is all, these memories I am experiencing, it is difficult to recognise if they are his or mine, or if they were mine all along. Tell me, Jesse. You and your sisters, you can hear each other’s thoughts?”

Jesse’s eyes narrowed slightly and she gave a small nod.

“How do you define your identity?”

“We are all individuals, Kit. Think of it like we are all in a room, where we can only find out by asking, engaging in discussion. Except we can communicate with much more than the spoken word, we can open our thoughts, our minds even.”

“But if you were to force…”

Jesse shook her head, “Child, I know you are trying to understand what is happening to you. The changes that are taking place within you from imbibing the Copper Dragon’s blood. Do not fear these changes. More will be made clear once Ekavira has arrived and has taken her place.”

Kitaraiya frowned suddenly, her eyes snapping to Jesse, “Taken her place?”

Jesse nodded slowly, “Yes. I..” she halted, closing her eyes, her head tilting slightly, “…I can speak no more of this for now, Child.”

Kitaraiya’s eyes widened further in recognition, “Winter?! Mother?!”

Jesse looked at her, “Jesse was right to have me see through her eyes. I am in Dagnetheln, Child.”

“Mother… Please, it was… I could not control… Its Rhy, I didn’t mean to…” Kitaraiya stuttered.

Jesse shook her head slowly and approached, raising a hand and resting it on Kitaraiya’s shoulder. She frowned slightly with the inevitable flinch from Kitaraiya before she pulled her into an embrace.

“You and he have returned, that is what matters. You are both alive and recovering, Child.” Jesse said softly into Kitaraiya’s ear, “Kitaraiya, just like your brother, you need to rest.”

“But, Mother…”

“No Kitaraiya, I know what happened on the dunes. You must rest. Rhyker needs to recover, you must be careful for both of your sakes as he has nothing left to give.”

“Mother…”

Jesse gently ran her fingers through the fur atop Kitaraiya’s head, “Now is not the time. Rest, tend to him and yourself. Sleep alongside and draw comfort from your bond. Your father will come to discuss what happened after midday, but only once you have rested.”

“But, Mother… She…”

“Sian?” Jesse chuckled, “Sian is aware.”

Kitaraiya nodded, “But I…”

Jesse shook her head, “Do not search or look for excuses when there is no need to give one.” she gently ran her hand through Kitaraiya’s fur again, “We have faith in the both of you. But what you must do next, you must do with only your brother at your side.”

Kitariaya stared at her, “Yes, Mother.”

“Face what needs facing, Kitaraiya and come out stronger for it.” Jesse gave her one more lingering glance and a chuckle, “I must return, else Jesse does something I will grow to regret.” Jesse’s mouth said with a smile, “I have faith in you, Child.”

“You shall return tonight?” Kitaraiya asked.

“Yes, if all goes well, before sunrise tomorrow morn.” Jesse said and gave her a quick hug.

“Mama?” Kitaraiya asked softly, watching as Jesse’s head tilted slightly.

Jesse gave a sudden frown, “My apologies, Kit. But I felt it best that my mistress was directly involved, she had already been aware since you arrived back as you would have known.”

Kitaraiya nodded slowly, “How could Mother be here? In your body?”

“She was not, she was speaking through me. Seeing through my eyes at my insistence, it is not something that we would normally do. But as her spears, she can speak through us if absolutely necessary.” Jesse explained, averting her eyes.

“Jesse, thank you.”

“There is no need to thank me, all of us see you as our daughter. It is within our nature to protect, care and fear for those we are close to. We are fierce in our individuality, but unified in our weakness. I called upon our mistress because it is through her that we share our love for her children.” Jesse softly spoke, her eyes glowering in the dim light, “All of them, those precious that were lost to us and those that still stand.”

Kitaraiya nodded slowly, “It is not a weakness to care for those that are in need of it, Jesse. The weakness is attacking others when they offer and give aid, when you only see their actions as a threat…As I did.”