candybox | FOR TAISA - Reincarnation AU

FOR TAISA - Reincarnation AU

It had been two weeks since the attempt on the Regent of Khura'in's life. He had given a speech in the temple plaza, which coincided with the annual festival of Khura'in's founding and continued sovereignty. Now, it also became a festival to celebrate its freedom from tyranny once more, mirroring the acts of the Founder and of Lady Kee'ra all those centuries ago. The political nature of the celebration was important, but it also made it a perfect time for Ga'ran loyalists to strike. A sniper had narrowly missed a shot and had been apprehended at the scene, as had several other armed individuals, all shouting, 'Ur dihara Ga'ran!'. Since then, a search had been on to find the one who had coordinated the attackers.

Unease had spread throughout Khura'in, and with it, the rumours. A masked figure had been spotted, some said, stopping the sniper from taking a lethal shot. Others denied it, not wanting to pin their hopes on what could turn on to be a fraud like the rebel-hunting Lady Kee'ra.

As for Nahyuta, he had heeded Amara's advice, retreating from the public eye for the time being except to prosecute in court. The rest was televised statements or interviews of reassurance to the public that all was in hand, and that the revolution would not be quelled so easily. To the public, he embodied the perfect combination of the unwavering determination of his father, and the pragmatic caution of his mother.

Privately, however, was a different story. Fear hounded Nahyuta everywhere, because he knew if something happened to him, Khura'in would likely be ruined, Apollo would be in danger, and his mother and sister would be prisoners once again. Not only did he have a family to protect, now, but an entire kingdom, and once again he needed to be prepared to lay down his life for that.

So his nerves were frayed, he was becoming increasingly on edge which each day that turned up no new information or leads. Even meditation did not help. So when he went to sleep at night in the palace, it was a fitful sleep, wracked with dreams of spiders ensnaring him and the palace burning. Tonight, however, was different. Tonight, his dreams were interrupted as he was struck in the world of the waking -- hard -- across the head. Dazed, he could feel someone yanking him upright by his silvery hair, and the feeling of cold, sharp steel at his throat.

If he was half asleep before, he snapped awake in an instant. The assassin was a dark silhouette, their face covered, so it was impossible to discern their identity even with the pale strand of moonlight streaking across his bedchamber. Then they spoke in a low voice that identified his assailant as male.

"Before I kill you, tell me where the Founder's Orb is."

Nahyuta swallowed, trying neither to flinch or cringe away at the blade at his neck, but instead to lift his chin in defiance.

"You cannot threaten a dragon. I would sooner cut out my own tongue than tell you."

Despite his confidence, Nahyuta knew how dire the situation was. The guards outside were surely all incapacitated; no one would come to save him this time. All he could do was pray to the Holy Mother that if this was the end, his soul would be safely conveyed to the Twilight Realm.

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[Nahyuta will remain undisturbed while Dhurke was gone, and when he returns with a wild boar around his shoulders. He will not need the whole boar for what he was going to cook, but what he doesn't use could be a midnight snack when he is finished. Soon the fragrance of wild boar stew spreads throughout the shack and when he was done cooking, he will come to wake Nahyuta up, nudging him on the shoulder.]

Food is ready. [He was crouching over him, with a bowl of boar stew in his hands, a cup of hot tea sat on the nearby table. It looked...presentable at least, edible. He hasn't exactly needed to cooked much in this life.]

[Nahyuta stirs and opens his eyes, groggy at the interrupted sleep. The pangs of hunger gnawing at his stomach and the bowl of stew offered are more than enough to get him to wake up, though, pulling himself shakily up onto one elbow. Even if Dhurke's cooking wouldn't be that appetising ordinarily, in Nahyuta's current state, food is food.]

Thank you. [He sits up properly, trying to ignore his aching body, and takes the bowl. His voice is still hoarse and quiet, and his body aches all over, particularly in his legs from where he was forced to kneel for so long, but the dragon's presence gives him strength.] We were not followed?

[He shakes his head.] No one will find us here. [He moves away to pull up a chair in front of Nahyuta, and then picks up the tea, holding onto it in his hands until Nahyuta needed it.]

We will continue our journey in the morning. Tonight, you need to get your strength back. [At least enough to survive the rest of the trip.] Did they do anything else to you besides tying you up?

[Nahyuta eats slowly. Given how little he's eaten and the fact his stomach is still unsettled, he knows scarfing it all down at once would be a bad idea. A little of the ways through he sets the bowl down to take a break, taking the tea to drink instead. Despite how dishevelled he looks, he's trying to look as dignified as possible throughout the whole thing.]

They drugged me for a time, though I could not tell you with what. [If Ema were here he'd just need to reel off a list of symptoms and side-effects and she'd know in an instant. Although that reminds him, more importantly...] How is the kingdom?

[Did many people know he was missing yet? How were his sister and mother? He had many questions, all of them pressing, even if he lacked the energy to articulate them.]

[...Well besides looking dead on his feet, whatever they used was probably just to knock him out. So there was probably nothing to worry about there.]

Your family is under extra protection from the Defiant Dragons, and Amara is handling things while you're missing. I insisted to search for you myself, so that our defenses were not spread thin. They should know by now that I have found you. [He has told a trusted few that when the storms subsided, it was a sign that his mission had been a success.]

...I am sorry for getting you involved. [This probably could have been avoided had he not gotten so close to Nahyuta.]

Edited (tenses) 2017-01-02 02:32 (UTC)

[Nahyuta is relieved to hear they're safe. To Satyendra's apology, he shakes his head, still cupping his tea in his hands to keep warm.] You needn't apologise. I've been involved in all this for most of my life, something you are no more to blame for than my mother or father.

[If anyone is to blame, it's Ga'ran, and her supporters who just don't know when to give up.]

Truly... It has been a privilege to spend time with you. You have risked everything for me. [The unspoken question is why?, when surely Rayfa and Amara are more important than he is. Even now he still can't fathom the dragon's reasoning, but he's grateful nonetheless.]

[He lowers his head. His reassurance did barely anything for Dhurke. He doesn't believe Nahyuta should have to continue being persecuted like this for the faults of his father, even if it was Ga'ran's doing at the start. It was probably pointless to argue that point with Nahyuta though, and so he looks up to Nahyuta and nods.]

You're strong, just like they are, like your father was.

[He gets up from his seat and bows.] I simply want to safeguard what we are trying to achieve. You play an important role in restoring our Kingdom. Saving and advising you is just part of the deal. [He's trying his hardest to not make this sound so personal. Today's events has shown him how dangerous having such a connection was and he did not want to cause his son that kind of trouble.] Finish this and get some rest. I will be standing guard outside.

[To the remark of how strong he is, Nahyuta responds by setting his tea aside, and offering the claw-handed salute of the Dragons.]

A dragon never yields. That creed is the source of my strength.

[Which looks and sounds less impressive when he's hunched on a couch and looks terrible, but it gives him the strength to keep going, despite all that. That is what he wanted to convey. He lost sight of it once, but after Apollo awoke him from his living nightmare, never again.

As Dhurke leaves, he nods.]

I will. Thank you once more.

[Once he's gone, Nahyuta does his best to stomach as much as he can, but he can't finish the food or tea without feeling queasy. He's still tired enough that he feels dizzy, so soon enough he curls up and goes back to sleep.]

[It's hard, to avoid conveying the happiness he felt when he did the familiar salute he had taught him as a child. He could smile at least and return the same gesture to him before he takes his leave.

No trouble comes during the night and it would soon be morning. Dhurke had come in to check on Nahyuta at some point without disturbing him, and then leaving again to find food. He doesn't travel very far this time, just to the river flowing by the shack. He had taken on his dragon appearance once more and was sitting on the shoreline, dipping his head in and out of water. Every so often, he comes up with fish in his mouth. Most he ate himself, a few of the meatier ones he set aside for Nahyuta later. Once he had his fill, he will prepare them.]

[Nahyuta has a fitful sleep, sometimes feeling feverish when he wakes up, sometimes shivering, sometimes in pain. But he manages to sleep through most of the night without complaint, comforted at least by the fact he was being watched over.

When he awakes to find himself alone, Nahyuta offers his morning prayers to the Holy Mother. Then, in an attempt to look a little less dishevelled from his long imprisonment, combs his hair with his fingers and rebraids it. Then he hears splashing outside, and goes to the window, watching the dragon Satyendra catching fish. It makes him smile, as he's reminded fondly of all the times he and his father would go fishing.

Perhaps he would join him, and splash his face to freshen up before they departed for the palace. It takes some effort when his injured legs don't want to cooperate -- his knees almost buckle beneath him once or twice -- but eventually he makes it out and onto the banks of the river.]

Good morning. [He greets Satyendra as he approaches, shielding his eyes from the sun. Being kept in the dark for some time had suddenly made bright daylight almost blinding to him, so it will be a while before his eyes adjust.]

[His ears perked up when Nahyuta comes out and greets him. Although he means to smile, his animal-like features made him look like he was snarling with his teeth shown bare. It doesn't help how quickly he advances to Nahyuta, like some predator coming at prey. Any fears and concerns about his actions would soon be dispelled by how happy he responds to Nahyuta, with far too much enthusiasm.] Good morning!

[At least his mood seems better than it was last night. He takes a few steps around him, a wing shading him from the sun's rays.] Are you well this morning? [He lowers his head closer to him, to examine him better.]

[Nahyuta has no reason to think Satyendra would hurt him, but he still takes a few steps back in surprise when he advances so quickly, blinking at the dragon until he halts.]

Y-yes, I think I am recovering. The food and rest have helped. [As will the fresh air and exercise, he hopes. He moves over to the water's edge, crouching down slowly and trying not to wince at his body's complaints as he takes a drink of river water.] Have you any idea where we are? I do not recognise this river.

[Being on the run for so long, he has a surprisingly good grasp on the lay of the land. He has no idea where they are at the moment, though... assuming they're even in Khura'in.]

You were taken deep into the mountains. To the east of Khura'in, near Nepal. [So he was right to guess he was taken somewhere outside Khura'in borders.

As he watches Nahyuta carefully at the waters edge, he comes up with a mischievous idea. He comes forward while Nahyuta was preoccupied, lowering his head behind him. He then nudges him forward with his muzzle, right into the water. Thankfully they were on the shallow end of the river that he wouldn't be in any immediate danger, just very wet.]

Wha--? [Given Nahyuta doesn't have much strength, it doesn't take much to make him keel over onto the river, which he does with an unceremonious splash. He pushes himself back to the surface, coughing and spluttering.]

P-p-pohlkunka! What was that for?

[He shoots a wounded look at the dragon. This wasn't quite what he had in mind when he wanted to wash his face before they left.]

Hah hah hah! [His mouth was open, his dragon self heckling along with his more human laughter.]

I thought you could use a bath too! [Was he saying he stinks?!]

You-- you could have warned me! I do not have a change of clothes.

[He pulls himself out of the water, for all the world looking like a highly offended cat. The banter seems to come easily as he tries to wring the river water out of his clothes and long hair... and it's only after a few moments he realises why it's so familiar. After that realisation, he goes oddly quiet.]

Don't worry, the wind will dry you up once we take flight. [Now he wants him to freeze to death. He walks away from Nahyuta, going to collect the fish he had set aside for him. He'll return to his side once he has them, carrying them in his now human hands.]

We should get something in your stomach first. I hope sushi is fine with you. [Since they're short on time. He doesn't notice a change in his son, assuming he was just grumbling about his little prank to say anything else.]

The altitude will make me freeze, not dry!

[He's not just whining, either. This is the Himalayas, the highest mountain range on Earth, not just anywhere. Still, he lets Satyendra wander off without further complaint; he's realising even dragons can have their foolish moments.]

Yes... [He's taken aback by the likewise familiar suggestion, looking to the fish and then the masked man.] Yes, that would be fine. [So why does he look so distracted?]

[He nods] I'll make some hot tea for you too. Maybe there's something you can find in the shack you can use to warm yourself up for the time being.

[If he has nothing more to say, Dhurke will start to make his trek back to the shack so he can prep the fish. He's going to learn very quickly how difficult it is to make sushi when you have a dragon's strength.]

[Nahyuta suppresses a shiver and wraps his arms around himself, still dripping while he hurries after the other man. Partly to take his mind off how cold and wet he his alongside all his other bodily complaints, and partly because this will bother him unless he mentions it, he finally has to ask--]

--Satyendra. Did you know my father?

[He nearly takes a misstep when Nahyuta suddenly ask a particular question. He hasn't exactly been very subtle, and there were days he wanted to tell him the truth, but...]

Why do you ask? [He opens the door to the shack for the both of them once they were there.]

Much of your behaviour reminds me of him, and you seemed to act as though you know Mother.

[The fact he hasn't seen his human face once, his dragon-like form, his tendency to throw strategy to the wind and rush in heroically if someone he cared about was in danger, his terrible sense of humour. All those things and more were Dhurke through and through.]

... Forgive me if I presume too much in asking. [Because he still has the highest respect for him, no matter who or what he is.]

...It's all right. Your assumptions aren't unfounded. [This entire time he doesn't meet Nahyuta's gaze, lost in thought on what to do. Should he keep quiet and lie or tell him the truth? It's not like he's been trying to keep his act together, and it won't be made any easier as time continues to pass, considering his objective.]

We'll talk more after I've made breakfast.

[Nahyuta nods mutely, not sure of what else to say. What does that mean? The vague response only reminds him more of Dhurke. Nothing could ever be straightforward when it came to him and his secrets.

When they get back to the shack, Nahyuta hobbles inside, searching for something he can use while he dries off. In one of the cupboards he finds a blanket, which is moth-eaten with disuse, but it would do for his purposes.

That done, he swaddles himself in it and sits on the couch. He wishes he could do more to help with the food preparation, but he's tired enough just from that river misadventure that he knows he should take a break for a while.]

[Dhurke will work in silence until he has finished preparing breakfast. It's slow work, because sushi is such a delicate process that even when he was consciously withholding his immense strength, he'd still ruin the fish, cutting too thick or too deep. So when he presents the sushi to Nahyuta later, they're more like uneven chunks of cleaned fish on a plate. At least it'll taste fine.]

Sorry, that took longer than expected. Not my best work, I admit. [He says as he is about to sit in a chair, only to straighten back up when he remembers something.] Oh! Forgot to make the tea. [And he's up and gone again. Someone is clearly prolonging this to avoid the talk.]

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