Private Taken Like a Leaf in the Wind

[Lila Lacrimosa]

Lila Lacrimosa stared back at Magus Montefalcon's wrinkled face, laced with disdain and dismissal, as her question hung between them. She had asked a question that shouldn't have been asked, whether because it was too stupid to devote thought to or because it was a question outside of her rank to ask, no matter why, she shouldn't have asked it. Now she had put Magus Montefalcon in a sour mood, and once the Magus was soured, he'd remain that way until he was back inside the walls of the Brahman Magisterium. His upper lip twitched, not because he was about to speak but because he felt an itch inside his nose. Wiry white and gray hairs from his mustache didn't blow in the breeze that momentarily blew away their tension.

"Forgive me," Lila said quickly, though her eyes didn't match the words she loathed. Was she not a student? Did her parents not pay her to attend classes and other activities? Was she not worthy enough to get answers to her inquiries? Did Magus Montefalcon expect her to nod like her other bovine classmate, who could do nothing but nod his head as his preferred form of groveling? Her jaw felt tight, and Lila hadn't realized she had been grinding her teeth against one another. I refuse, she thought bitterly, I refuse to soften myself.

"I will not." His face didn't change, and somehow that enraged her even more. She could see her reflection in his bottomless black pupils, and she looked small, swallowed up by the void. He turned from her, lifting an arm beneath his heavy robe to rub at his nose in peace. "You'd do well to keep your nose out of things. Minus a quarter mark for the question and another quarter for the inability to look sorry." That was all he said as he continued down the path, which led to a fort many miles from Naya Vapna.

The trio, made up of two students and one instructor, had spent many days traveling by horse, and most likely would have continued their travels on horse if a group of dissenting weavers hadn't stolen their horses right under their noses. It was the idiot Scriloc who was at fault, having butchered a protective dome that would have given them enough time to fight back if the shadowy figures had tried undoing the weave. How Scriloc received better scores on his theory papers and was first in courses focused on advancing spells was beyond Lila, when he couldn't even execute an intermediate protection spell.

Now, they had to walk to Fort Surtr using their own two feet, and the two students traded the heavy pack of tomes and no proper supplies for themselves. Magus Montefalcon's back was too bent and round for such a task, but Scriloc wasn't much better suited. How it had fallen onto Lila to carry such heavy books was because she didn't complain, and because she wasn't one to complain, she couldn't stand the whine of Scriloc's voice or how loudly he breathed to show he was about to complain and ask for a break.

At least they had another mile, and they could be inside the fort's protective walls. Lila tried to ignore the fact that a part of the wall was currently being mended. It was better to rely on stone and wood than Scriloc's cheap shroudweaving.

 

[Santiago Malik]

Castellis Surtr imposed upon the land, casting long a shadow of featureless black stone dug from the quarries well east of their current resting place. Embellished with a standard of the 40th Legion, it demanded notice. Dared any to pass hapless through its toll unchecked. The fort, perched atop a hill that overlooked a mile of deforested countryside, served as a waystation between Naya Vapna and the western Imperial holdings. A gateway of trade, caravanserai for the weary. It brimmed with activity, a constant natter of drums and whistles that beat to the march of Legion practice, streams of merchants and wayfarers seeking passage or lodging.

At the foot of the hill, Santiago stood vigil. Skin kissed by the sun, reddened from exposure that threatened to leather his yet youthful facade, the gaunt-cheeked cleric affected a meditative distance from his retainers. A group of four Legionnaires flanked him, weapons sheathed and shieldstraps loose about them. Ringed in silence but for the soft whinnying of horses that stamped in what Santiago assumed to be unassuaged boredom, they waited. Minutes, then hours. A routine they had repeated for days now.

Indeed, with each passing dawn the number of Legionnaires that accompanied the cleric dwindled without accompanying fanfare. Originally an honor guard of twenty, it took few guesses to ascertain that the relative importance of their awaited guests had faded from the garrison's minds. Perhaps in another day only the cleric would remain to bid the barest of welcomes.

It was not meant to be. One of the Legionnaires had espied their guests in the distance and set about readying the fort for their arrival.

Santiago approached the party, swathed in silken robes bleached to match the brilliance of Ko, a mantle of gold set upon his shoulders that matched in hue the lacquer of his fingernails and the jeweled bands that shackled his wrists. His step came measured, back straight and head refusing to bob beneath the sway of motion. He offered them a glance at once placid and thin, contempt lining lips that failed to furl into a smile.

"Be welcomed to Castellis Sutr," he said, each word staccato and bereft of inflection. "Your entourage's arrival was expected, if belayed. Legate Hyuli forestalled your welcome, sending us to greet you in her stead. You will see to her."

A frown creased his brow as he deepened his appraisal to their personages, settling on the pack-laden woman.

"She will have inquiries. Come."

He swept around, looping rein to wrist as he guided his mount back up the packed dirt path to the fort. He affected little in the way of care whether they followed.

@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

Lila was thankful for the reprieve she received at the foot of the hill, greeted by legionnaires and a man whose white and gold uniform glowed all the brighter against the black walls of the fort behind him. She tried to catch her breath, forcing herself upright, the straps of the back slipping off her shoulder and falling into the crooks of her elbows. She stayed like that until they had started moving again, using only willpower to pull the burlap straps back onto her shoulders. It burned as she did so, as if the straps had left bruises. She'd check it out once she had privacy.

Lila Lacrimosa took a step, and another, face draining of color.

"Scriloc," she hissed. Her classmate turned his head only a little to her, four steps ahead of her already. He gave her only his ear, not his watery red gaze.

"We're practically there."

"I've carried this nearly all day, it's your turn." She spat the words at his shadow, beginning to hunch over. Looking up at Scriloc made everything feel heavier.

"Hush." The Magus whispered, more frightening than if he had shouted it at them. His silence was intimidating. All Lila could do was glare daggers into his shadow.

Climbing up the hill felt nearly impossible. Lila had taken on a posture that would have mocked Magus Montefalcon if she had done so without the pack. It had grown heavier, though Lila knew that to be impossible. The weight of it couldn't allow her to stand straight, even if she knew she should. Climbing up the hill had the Magus and Scriloc panting, sweaty beads slipping down their brows with more coalescing on their upper lip.

Lila felt the dampness beneath her armpits, the wet that stuck to her skin on her back. Though properly brushed and braided, her hair still stuck to the back of her tanned neck and behind her ears. Her feet hurt and felt too hot in her boots, her calves and thighs ached, and now she felt a strain along her clavicle, something she hadn't known ever to hurt her before now. She huffed with every step, slowly falling behind them, though their previous pace had also slowed considerably.

On the steepest part upwards, she nearly fell on her face and had to pause, knees bending towards one another. She thought about kneeling, could imagine the relief, but when she looked up, the Magus and Scriloc hadn't even turned back to look at her. So she continued, unsure if she was proving anything after all.

When she reached the top of the hill and stared into the open doors of the fort, Lila was tempted to fling the sack of books from her back and watch it roll down the hill. It would have been satisfying to watch, but incredibly stupid.

 

[Santiago Malik]

With nary a glance back, Santiago led the group up to the fort.

The pewter-plated columns of a massive gate awaited them, barring further passage. Rows of merchants and wayfarers stood before it, some gaping at the monstrous embellishment; eight twinned columns jutted from the earth, cradling wooden arches draped with the 40th Legion's standard, the billowing of cloth in the wind a constant reminder of station. Waist high piles of white and gray stone were set before the gate, attended to by men and women clothed in attire kin to Santiago's. These were treated with the care of monuments or effigies, as if to claim the structure in Ko's name.

There sat the walled monolith of Castellis Sutr. Watchtowers crested each of the fort's corners, manned with a pair of legionnaires outfitted with bows and a bevy of crystals that refracted the sun's harsh glare. A gentle hum resonated from these, a threat thinly veiled of Imperial weavers. At the foot of the structure, just visible beyond the gate, were a collection of guardhouses. Administrative outposts that clamored with all the activity of the fort.

On sight of Santiago and his party, a path was cleared. The rough rows of merchants and travelers parted, giving way to the beating drum of welcome. Legionnaires stood at attention, sandaled feet stuck fast and chins lifted. The gate opened.

Santiago, perhaps belatedly, crooked his neck to the Magus.

"Legate Hyuli will see you," he said. "Quarters were prepared at her request, east of Villa Sutr."

He spared a glance to the woman who ferried their luggage, and returned to his forward stroll with equal alacrity.

"Send for chamberlain En to collect their belongings," he said, addressing the legionnaire at his shoulder.


@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

Having grown up in the capital, both Lila and Scriloc continued to hold the same faces they had made since climbing the hill. Lila looked angry and tired, Scriloc looked tired and unaware of the world around him. The drums were a nice touch, something that only Magus Montefalcon could feel accustomed to. The drums pounded within Lila's chest until her heart changed it's individual tempo to match the heartbeat of the 40th Legion. With each beat of the dream, Magus Montefalcon's crooked back became straighter and straighter so that he stood upright when they walked through the grand gates.

Lila had never seen his back ramrod straight, his head held so high. He clasped his hands behind his back like a pulley to his slouched shoulders to keep them straight and even.

"I see." He said, tilting his chin towards the east of the fort town. Lila looked there as well, seeing an establishment larger than the rest. There were large flags flying along the wind, Empire colors trimmed with gold, so high that no matter where one was in the town, they could always use the flags to lead their way to Legate Hyuli.

Magus Montefalcon began to lead the way, clearly familiar to where he needed to be. A legionnaire took hold on a sweaty strap on Lila's shoulder. He didn't speak to her, just stared through her. After a second, Lila took off the heavy pack, though the legionnaire held it easily with one large hand that didn't fold or shook under its weight. It nearly made Lila question whether the pack was heavy at all in the first place, but the relief in her body told her the truth.

Those tomes and scrolls and carved stones were heavy to lug around, and despite what Magus Montefalcon and Scriloc might think, she wasn't some pack mule. With much lighter steps, Lila jogged to catch up with her companions, hands immediately going to wipe wet hair off her face. She even went as far as untying her braid, using fingers to comb through knotted strands of violet.

Her stomach dropped at the approaching meeting awaiting them, unsure if the Magus would permit his students to enter or send them away. The sense of dread took root in her gut, planting seeds of unfavorable possibilities. The group could move without much worry of getting stuck in crowds, if one road looked crowded, then Magus Montefalcon knew the best option to take, so that when they arrived at the series of steps leading to the building Legate Hyuli was waiting in, Lila had just barely braided her hair into something more presentable. However, she had to forgo getting rid of all the knots. She'd deal with it later, hopefully there would be a hairbrush in the quarters provided to them.

Suddenly, Magus Montefalcon spun on his heel, quick and nimble, clothes swaying behind him in the aftermath as if they would have appreciated the warning.

"Remain silent: do not speak unless spoken to and for Ko's sake, stop breathing so damn loud." The ascent to Legate Hyuli began, and the butterflies grew ever louder in Lila's gut.

 

[Santiago Malik]

Santiago maintained his peace along their ascent, allowing them to stew. Little care was spared to his space, and he climbed the villa's stairs with a measure of alacrity. As they approached the Legate's office, their legionnaire escorts swung open the doors.

Within, Legate Hyuli rose from her desk, ruffling a bundle of maps and documents that she attended to prior. In full regalia, she wore her hair in a short bob kept well free of her eyes and a set of armor painted with the 40th's standard: the talons of a hawk tipped red and gold on a matte purple background split in twain by a fat, white line.

She walked around the desk, hands clasped behind a back held stiff in mimicry of the columned gates of her fort, and flicked a glance to Santiago.

"Under Ko's light may I present to you Legate Hyuli," he said, "garrison commander of Castellis Sutr, Legate of the 40th Legion, honored hero of the reconquest of Imerisa Quera."

He paid due deference to her, sweeping a low bow with both hands crossing his chest. As he rose, he gestured to the Magus's party. Stripping inflection from his voice, and with it all respect, he introduced them:

"Legate Hyuli, before you stands Magus Montefalcon per appointment, who requests welcome and admission to Castellis Sutr."

The Legate nodded.

"You may stand at ease," she said, returning to her seat. "Explain yourself, Magus Montefalcon. I would know the reason as to your tardiness." Each word was delivered in a perfunctory manner, crisp as they rolled from her tongue. And she waited, gaze much like the hawk that crested her standard.


@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

Lila tucked her chin in. She didn't know why, but when she had pictured Legate Hyuli, on name alone, as the general image of a Legionnaire, big and strong, tall and wide. Imposing and dominating— which, Lila felt, rather than think, still matched the small stature of Legate Hyuli.

She didn't care much about the haircut, but maybe that was why she was only a student instead of a Legate of Hyuli's worth. If Lila lost her vanity

"My apologies, Legate Hyuli." Magus Montefalcon's tone differed from how he spoke to his students. There was respect that made the words less heavy, but more importantly, a lilt of shame. It was not matter-of-fact, it was mournful. Lila eyed the Magus, keeping a pristine posture despite being able to stand at ease. Why would it feel wrong to do so when she could see how straight Legate Hyuli's shoulders were even while sitting? Lila felt like her shoulders were pushed forward too much from years of bad posture in her classrooms, a thought that had only arrived to her now. She could do nothing to assuage the fear of disappointing her mother, despite her being miles away.

"We were attacked, my students defenseless. I chose to protect them over the horses stolen. With proper experience, they'll serve you much longer than legionnaire steeds." Lila's eye twitched, Scriloc made a movement that ruffled his sleeves. Magus Montefalcon continued on. "The fault is mine." She saw the dip of the bald head and looked away, towards the priest who had led them here, staring at him openly until violet gaze flicked back to Legate Hyuli.

@Santiago Malik

 

[Santiago Malik]

The legate's flat face contorted in a sneer.

"Excuses, Magus," she said. "Save them, and the glibness on your tongue, for the politicians. The lack of decisive action, the failure to protect Legion assets—these faults are known to me."

In the interim between words she flipped through the papers lining her desk, corners clipping crisp against her nails. Pausing to read the script headlining one, she offered it to the Magus, nodded to allow his approach.

"Read. Know that your tardiness cost you and your students the unique opportunity to partake of Praetorian Setra's company. Bless your fortune that he was not apprised of your expected arrival."


@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

Magus Montefalcon stepped forward, taking the papers. Lila hadn't seen a shift in him from getting scolded by Legate Hyuli, though the words from her lips caused gooseflesh to prickle her arms. Scriloc moved again, this time making noise as he did so. Coward. Weakling. Lila thought, making sure she stood taller.

"My, Praetorian Setra. He and I are alike in some ways." To emphasize this point, he rubbed a hand over his bald head. Lila couldn't remember if Praetorian Setra was bald, but perhaps he had lost hair in the last few years. She could put a face to the name, but was the face the correct one? She'd worry about it later than Magus Montefalcon looked over the papers. When flipped through one page, she could see uniform writing. Had it been Legate Hyuli who wrote it? Or someone who knew how to write to please her.

"I see you've already corrected the itinerary." He looked up from the papers. "But this has yet to be corrected." He held up fewer pages than those in his other hand which he had already read.

@Santiago Malik

 

[Santiago Malik]

"You will put respect on his name, Magus." Each syllable cracked, a whip from the legate's tongue. Her gaze was fixed on Montefalcon, body loose, uncoiled but for the glint in her eye. It promised violence. Swift, undisputed violence. The very reputation of the Kharmic Legion.

A slow breath rattled her shoulders, giving Santiago the breadth to move between them. He situated himself before the legate's desk, collecting the papers from Montefalcon's hand. Offered a curt bow.

He said, "I will see to any corrections. Legate Hyuli, might I request your leave to show the students to their rooms?"

The legate's nod provided his cue to begin moving to the door.

"Come. En will have situated your belongings."


@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

If Hyuli was a whip, Magus Montefalcon was the armor worn by legionnaires. He did not flinch, though his students did-- though Lila wouldn't ever admit to the spike of fear in her gut. He regarded Legate Hyuli coolly, unaffected by the threat. He didn't fear her, nor did he fear every man and woman inside this pewter-coated fort if turned against him.

His watery eyes did not beg her to try, did not bring about the notion to test the difference of their might. It was simply that he felt no need to prove himself or his beliefs-- they were more solid and far thicker than the walls of Castellis Surtr. There was a simple card game played by the lowly in the Empire.

King, Legionaire, Citizen, Slave. It was simple. King beat Legionaire, King and Legionaire beat Citizen, and King, Legionaire, and Citizen beat the Slave. Only one thing could beat the King: the Slave, for they had nothing left to lose. Lila felt she had witnessed such an exchange, but she couldn't decide who was the King and who was the Slave.

"One should differentiate self-indulgence from freedom, Legate Hyuli." That was all the Magus said. He made one small gesture to have his students follow after the priest, holding his tongue and his words for Legate Hyuli only. Scriloc scuttled right after the priest, but Lila merely took a step back, pausing as she watched Legate Hyuli, glancing at the back of Magus Montefalcon's head, before following after Scriloc.

"The books." Lila spoke up, once they were outside and the doors firmly closed behind them. "They were for Praetorian Setra. Is there a place for us to hold them until he returns again?"

@Santiago Malik

 

[Santiago Malik]

Santiago kept his back to the students, stealing a breath to smooth his features; the tension between the legate and magus cracked his composure, and some nascent pride refused to show such vulnerability to disciples. In doing so, he nearly floundered at the one student's question, was forced to contemplate it anew as he began to lead them down the steps.

"No," he said. "The Praetorian will not return to Castellis Sutr for some time, I think."

His feet shuffled down the carpeted steps, velum on velvet, and he let a hand glide along the winding rails.

"You may release them to my possession. I'll ensure they reach him duly."

Perhaps it was a whim, or his rustled composure, but he deigned to introduce himself then: "You may address me as Santiago," he said, "if in return I might have the... pleasure of your acquaintance?"


@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

In the shadow of the buildings, the trio was shielded from the blazing rays of the sun above them. Lila was glad for it, having gotten a bronze flush to her face which she was not used to. She was not used to touching her own skin and feeling warmth. She was always cold, despite the rapid beating of her heart.

As they descended, the heat crept back in, and the priest began to speak. Even now, he was formal. The line of her lips quirked up into a half smile.

"Yeah, I'm-- ow." Lila was prodded harshly in the ribs by one particularly bony elbow.

"Barnabus Wheatley Scriloc the Third," Scriloc spoke with a depth that Lila was not used to. She often found Scriloc's usual tone to be wimpy and nasally, as if he spoke with his nose rather than his mouth. Lila's hands turned into fists, keeping her from the overwhelming compulsion of pushing Scriloc down the rest of the stairs. She had to remind herself more than once that Magus Ragasa would be in a bad mood after his talk with Legate Hyuli, and a Scriloc with a broken arm would surely set him off.

"The pleasure is mine, of course, you may have heard of my brother, Cleric Crispin Scriloc, though my Mother could tell you more of his whereabouts. Actually, you may know of my mother, since she is so devoted to our Heavenly Father that she nearly had me join my brother as well. Of course, you see, my father had unique plans, since he had so many sons, there were too many of us to sit idle...." A nervous titter left Scriloc's thin lips, and he looked away with squinting eyes, back towards the shade

"Nobody cares about your stupid family, Scri-cock." Lila muttered, making sure to kick the back of his foot as he walked so he would stumble. Bold as ever, she picked up her pace, only a half-foot behind Santiago. "I'm Lila. And if I am to entrust these books to you, I need to tell you the order in which they must be read." She made a face, rolling her eyes in minor exasperation. "You know how it goes when it comes to history with Weaving. Different authors, different biases. There's even a book from Altalusia." Lila whispered, leaning her head just a bit closer to Santiago's ear.

She took a step back then.

"Sorry, I stink."

@Santiago Malik

 

[Santiago Malik]

The torrent of words rushed by Santiago and he continued on, affecting nonchalance; he made what effort he could to categorize the information coming from the young Scriloc, a brief note set aside for the names rattled off. Perhaps given sufficient thought he could recall a Crispin, but he as readily dismissed it. He could set aside the time later, or it would remain indistinct to him. No matter.

It was under such reverie that he felt the woman's breath on the nape of his neck. Measured startlement stiffened his spine. His jaw was taut, his eyes wide. To think he could be accosted so in Villa Sutr's own halls...

He collected pleasantries instead.

"Perish the thought," he said to her. "My nose is filled with the daily musk of legionnaires. You worry over nothing."

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he rounded the banister and led the pair past the open foyer.

"I'll take note of your biases, then," he said, "when you inform me on the order of reading."


@Lila Lacrimosa

 

[Lila Lacrimosa]

Another step back was taken, allowing Lila to hear the scoffing Scriloc behind her. Her cheeks felt warm as she tried to ignore the wind carrying fragments of a chuckle. Lila hardly felt at a loss for words, but there was little she could think of saying without alluding to the shame in her cheeks. Violet eyes drifted to the side, where the crowds had been.

“Is there is no public bathing house here?” The notion of smelling like a legionnaire wouldn’t leave her mind so soon. It had brought to her mind the need of a bath, and then settled into a horror of the possibility of zero bathing amenities. In the capital, Lila had walked past the large bath houses, though she never had need to go inside one. They had three private bathing quarters in their home, one for her parents, one for the children, and then one for guests.

“Is there not a private one at the villa?” Lila pressed further, thoughts beginning to linger towards staying at the Magisterium, the looks and whispers from the other women at the lockers, everyone curious if her hair on her head matched the hair on her body. It was why Lila liked to shave her arms, knowing that they wondered about something like that about her made it easier to stare them down.

“Of course there must be one,” Scriloc chided. “You can’t look at him and see that he’s clean? Too much dirt in your eyes?”

@Santiago Malik