T A L O N
3rd of Frost 124
Though his eyes were closed, Talon could feel the early morning rays of sunlight cresting over the Astralar Mountains. Dawn had come to Kalzasi and as had become his custom, he was outside to greet it. From within the quiet peace of the gardens of the palace, he sat in a chair, breathing evenly as he watched in his mind's eye as the first rays of morning touched the land.
“Your Highness?” The voice that stirred him from his meditative state was gentle. He opened his eyes to see the face of the healer-necromancer who had been assigned to his care throughout the night. A human of middling years, hand selected by his mother to tend to him. He was holding out a cup of tea.
“Thank you.” Talon accepted the steaming cup of chai tea mixed with vanilla spices and herbs modified by the necromancer to assist in his healing. It was a little more extravagant than what he normally drank. Today however, he was due for something that was going to lift his spirits a bit more. He blew on the tea lightly before taking a sip with a satisfied hum. He moved to set the cup of tea on the small table next to him. As he moved his arm he felt a sharp spasm of pain in his shoulder that made him flinch. His fingers loosened on the cup but before it could fall to the ground, a pair of steady hands caught his own. Talon looked into the concerned eyes of his husband.
Aoren gently guided the cup to the small table next to him. His beloved dragon said nothing but he did not need to. Talon was still recovering from the events of the horde that had marched upon Light's Reach and Kalzasi. Between the appearance of Alah'Fin, the horde, and the challenges that had been brought by the mists, Talon had stretched himself to his limits. He had been injured. Terribly. Since awakening after his ordeal, he had been under the care of several necromancers, his mother among them, and the Dawnmartyrs had dispatched an entourage to act as his personal guards on top of his normal attendants.
Between his House Guard, the Dawnmartyrs and their squires, and of course his ever present partner, Talon had no less than a dozen people hovering in his vicinity at all times these days. While he found it a bit exhausting, he knew that they were there to support him as much as his presence supported them.
Talon had been raised with the expectation that his life was one to be lived in service to his people. As the Shinsei to his father and now the Shinsei to Karam, his every waking moment had been one instructed on the importance of his duty to Kalzasi, to the Synnekar, to the fragile alliance of Free Cities that depended on the strength of their sovereignty. When he was a boy he had been rebellious. As he had matured he had come to understand the gravity of such a role. He had thrown himself into defending against the horrors of the Warrens, protecting against the despotic nature of Zaichaer, and eventually wading through the fallout of his father's death.
In that time, Talon had only ever seen himself as carrying out his duty. The Dawnmartyrs had come to him and he had built them a sanctuary. The Twin Gods of Solunarium had helped him find freedom from the Imperium's shackles and in turn, he had helped them protect their realm. His divine brother Shaeoth had come to him in search of Hope, Talon as Arcas had given it to him and through that, Shaeoth had found his own freedom after millennia in bondage.
With every act, Talon had only ever seen himself through the lens of protecting himself, those he loved, and what he believed in, as the duty he was to uphold with the powers he had been given. It had not occurred to him that along the way, he would become a beloved figure. As a warrior he had always expected to make enemies and rivals. It never crossed his mind that along the way, he would be revered. When he had ascended to demigodhood he had grown to become aware of the prayers sent to him. Again, his acceptance of those prayers had been viewed as simply another duty to uphold. His duty was to be the guardian of Justice, Light and Hope. Again, he knew that the acceptance of that mantle would make enemies. The idea that he would be worshipped was always an afterthought.
As he watched the changing of the guard however, he could see how serious the warriors took their charge. Not only them but the necromancer from House Novalys who was switching out with the overnight caretaker who had kept watch over him throughout the night. His eyes slowly roamed over each of the House Guard taking up their posts as they relieved the night watchmen who had stood guard. He did not miss the glances cast his direction, how the guards stood taller, straighter, and nodded with fierce determination. He did not miss the necromancer’s gentle whispers of how to mix herbs to alleviate his pain, what tools to have most immediately on-hand, nor the physical exams that would need to be done that day. Casting his senses a bit wider, Talon was dimly aware of the happenings going on throughout the entirety of the Palace of the First Wind. Every noble, servant, guard, and visitor was beginning their day with the whispers of a single solitary duty: the Lord of House Novalys needed rest and time to recover and they would make it so.
Did it honestly never occur to you?
Aoren came to kneel in front of him, warm hands coming to rest on his thighs.
I do only what I must, love. I did not expect—
To be loved in return?
Talon threaded the fingers of one hand through Aoren's hair. Aoren rest his head gently in his lap.
It is never easy realizing you are loved.
Aoren's words were wrapped in the memory of old hurts, haunted by a lifetime of much pain. Talon pulled his husband mentally and physically closer. He pressed a kiss to Aoren's brow.
No. It is not.
He lingered there for a while, basking in the warmth of that moment.
“Your Highness?” The voice that spoke was not one he immediately recognized. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as Aoren's thoughts came to him.
Duty calls.
He released his husband and Aoren rose to his feet, stepping just to the side and coming to stand immediately behind him. The dragon rest his hands gently upon Talon's shoulders as he looked over to the butler patient waiting for his attention.
“The Shokaze has sent word that he will be coming to visit you this morning. He would like to discuss matters of security of the realm. He did clarify that this meeting should only take place if you are feeling in good health. Additionally, the Dawnmartyrs are requesting your assessment of prospective aspirants.” Talon was about to speak when the necromancer-healer assigned to him spoke first.
“His Highness has physical wing therapy this morning. If His Highness is feeling up to the task after that, matters of the Court and his estate will be considered.” The healer was a younger woman with stern features and intelligent brown eyes. She wore the colors of House Novalys but he saw one of his mother's personal pendants on the young woman's collar. He could only smile and shake his head fondly. The butler looked first to the healer and then to Talon who nodded. The butler bowed and took his leave then, knowing word would be sent to pass along. Talon knew better than to argue with his mother, even if it was one of her proxies speaking. He looked to the healer.
“Shall we begin?” The young woman smiled, her eyes softening.
“Tea and breakfast first, Your Highness. You will need the nourishment for today's exercises.” As if summoned by her words, a team of servants with breakfast made their way around the corner of the garden. The young woman stepped forward with a curtsey. “I do not mean to be intrusive, Your Highness. The Queen-Dowager was clear however that your duty right now is to heal. For all of us.”
“Indeed.” He nodded his head to the servants waiting for his permission to proceed with assembling breakfast. Aoren gently squeezed his shoulders.
Though his eyes were closed, Talon could feel the early morning rays of sunlight cresting over the Astralar Mountains. Dawn had come to Kalzasi and as had become his custom, he was outside to greet it. From within the quiet peace of the gardens of the palace, he sat in a chair, breathing evenly as he watched in his mind's eye as the first rays of morning touched the land.
“Your Highness?” The voice that stirred him from his meditative state was gentle. He opened his eyes to see the face of the healer-necromancer who had been assigned to his care throughout the night. A human of middling years, hand selected by his mother to tend to him. He was holding out a cup of tea.
“Thank you.” Talon accepted the steaming cup of chai tea mixed with vanilla spices and herbs modified by the necromancer to assist in his healing. It was a little more extravagant than what he normally drank. Today however, he was due for something that was going to lift his spirits a bit more. He blew on the tea lightly before taking a sip with a satisfied hum. He moved to set the cup of tea on the small table next to him. As he moved his arm he felt a sharp spasm of pain in his shoulder that made him flinch. His fingers loosened on the cup but before it could fall to the ground, a pair of steady hands caught his own. Talon looked into the concerned eyes of his husband.
Aoren gently guided the cup to the small table next to him. His beloved dragon said nothing but he did not need to. Talon was still recovering from the events of the horde that had marched upon Light's Reach and Kalzasi. Between the appearance of Alah'Fin, the horde, and the challenges that had been brought by the mists, Talon had stretched himself to his limits. He had been injured. Terribly. Since awakening after his ordeal, he had been under the care of several necromancers, his mother among them, and the Dawnmartyrs had dispatched an entourage to act as his personal guards on top of his normal attendants.
Between his House Guard, the Dawnmartyrs and their squires, and of course his ever present partner, Talon had no less than a dozen people hovering in his vicinity at all times these days. While he found it a bit exhausting, he knew that they were there to support him as much as his presence supported them.
Talon had been raised with the expectation that his life was one to be lived in service to his people. As the Shinsei to his father and now the Shinsei to Karam, his every waking moment had been one instructed on the importance of his duty to Kalzasi, to the Synnekar, to the fragile alliance of Free Cities that depended on the strength of their sovereignty. When he was a boy he had been rebellious. As he had matured he had come to understand the gravity of such a role. He had thrown himself into defending against the horrors of the Warrens, protecting against the despotic nature of Zaichaer, and eventually wading through the fallout of his father's death.
In that time, Talon had only ever seen himself as carrying out his duty. The Dawnmartyrs had come to him and he had built them a sanctuary. The Twin Gods of Solunarium had helped him find freedom from the Imperium's shackles and in turn, he had helped them protect their realm. His divine brother Shaeoth had come to him in search of Hope, Talon as Arcas had given it to him and through that, Shaeoth had found his own freedom after millennia in bondage.
With every act, Talon had only ever seen himself through the lens of protecting himself, those he loved, and what he believed in, as the duty he was to uphold with the powers he had been given. It had not occurred to him that along the way, he would become a beloved figure. As a warrior he had always expected to make enemies and rivals. It never crossed his mind that along the way, he would be revered. When he had ascended to demigodhood he had grown to become aware of the prayers sent to him. Again, his acceptance of those prayers had been viewed as simply another duty to uphold. His duty was to be the guardian of Justice, Light and Hope. Again, he knew that the acceptance of that mantle would make enemies. The idea that he would be worshipped was always an afterthought.
As he watched the changing of the guard however, he could see how serious the warriors took their charge. Not only them but the necromancer from House Novalys who was switching out with the overnight caretaker who had kept watch over him throughout the night. His eyes slowly roamed over each of the House Guard taking up their posts as they relieved the night watchmen who had stood guard. He did not miss the glances cast his direction, how the guards stood taller, straighter, and nodded with fierce determination. He did not miss the necromancer’s gentle whispers of how to mix herbs to alleviate his pain, what tools to have most immediately on-hand, nor the physical exams that would need to be done that day. Casting his senses a bit wider, Talon was dimly aware of the happenings going on throughout the entirety of the Palace of the First Wind. Every noble, servant, guard, and visitor was beginning their day with the whispers of a single solitary duty: the Lord of House Novalys needed rest and time to recover and they would make it so.
Did it honestly never occur to you?
Aoren came to kneel in front of him, warm hands coming to rest on his thighs.
I do only what I must, love. I did not expect—
To be loved in return?
Talon threaded the fingers of one hand through Aoren's hair. Aoren rest his head gently in his lap.
It is never easy realizing you are loved.
Aoren's words were wrapped in the memory of old hurts, haunted by a lifetime of much pain. Talon pulled his husband mentally and physically closer. He pressed a kiss to Aoren's brow.
No. It is not.
He lingered there for a while, basking in the warmth of that moment.
“Your Highness?” The voice that spoke was not one he immediately recognized. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as Aoren's thoughts came to him.
Duty calls.
He released his husband and Aoren rose to his feet, stepping just to the side and coming to stand immediately behind him. The dragon rest his hands gently upon Talon's shoulders as he looked over to the butler patient waiting for his attention.
“The Shokaze has sent word that he will be coming to visit you this morning. He would like to discuss matters of security of the realm. He did clarify that this meeting should only take place if you are feeling in good health. Additionally, the Dawnmartyrs are requesting your assessment of prospective aspirants.” Talon was about to speak when the necromancer-healer assigned to him spoke first.
“His Highness has physical wing therapy this morning. If His Highness is feeling up to the task after that, matters of the Court and his estate will be considered.” The healer was a younger woman with stern features and intelligent brown eyes. She wore the colors of House Novalys but he saw one of his mother's personal pendants on the young woman's collar. He could only smile and shake his head fondly. The butler looked first to the healer and then to Talon who nodded. The butler bowed and took his leave then, knowing word would be sent to pass along. Talon knew better than to argue with his mother, even if it was one of her proxies speaking. He looked to the healer.
“Shall we begin?” The young woman smiled, her eyes softening.
“Tea and breakfast first, Your Highness. You will need the nourishment for today's exercises.” As if summoned by her words, a team of servants with breakfast made their way around the corner of the garden. The young woman stepped forward with a curtsey. “I do not mean to be intrusive, Your Highness. The Queen-Dowager was clear however that your duty right now is to heal. For all of us.”
“Indeed.” He nodded his head to the servants waiting for his permission to proceed with assembling breakfast. Aoren gently squeezed his shoulders.
