Legend of Ransera

Kala's eyes didn't linger as he moved into the tub, but she didn't avert her eyes. She knew too many Avialae who would downplay damage to their person in some silly attempt to seem invulnerable and he might have to tell her to stop if he didn't want her to fall back into her role as his nurse.

She went to the door, passed the dirty laundry to a servant, made a request for probably fits from Aquilios' wardrobe, and then returned.

Then she settled onto a stool to assist.

"Let me know if you want the heat adjusted," she said. Having an elementalist as a bath attendant was handy like that. Borrowing a sponge, she scrubbed his back, between his shoulders, then dried her hands to see to his wings. There was a meditative quality to such things. She remembered when her mother had taught her how. There were vague memories of her father's feathers under her fingers before he died. Aquilios hadn't appreciated his little sister, but Kaus certainly had, especially when their mother's limited reserves of affection were saved mostly for her heir.

"I want to know it all," she said carefully after he spoke, "when and if you want to share. And if want... I could bring mind-healers. I don't know if your memories are retrievable, but they should be able to make sure you aren't... damaged somehow."

The Sentinels had their Assessors, master semblers and mesmers whose training focused on memory and mental health. Phocion could tell her no and she wouldn't press for favors, but it was a good place to begin if he needed the help.

The young woman listened without interruption. Occasionally, there was a soft noise of empathy for his pain, knowing what he recalled was likely only the tip of the iceberg. She didn't stop grooming him; the light, sure touch was a way to show that he was accepted. She didn't pull away, or overburden him with affection. Letting him take his time, she stirred a bit of Fire through the water to keep it from growing cold. The heat could continue to soothe and relax. She wove a bit of Water too, urging clean water to soak into his skin and into his flesh so the long bath didn't dehydrate him.

Perhaps she would hold off on the Solunarian Assessors. Better she offer him a safe haven where he felt welcome, wanted, and was given the space to process all that had happened. Kala, the polestar. Kala, the anti-primarch. Certainly, she caught some of the conflicting feelings for the man who had been his torturer but also his savior.

A soft hand caressed his neck where lately the collar had been. He was more naked without than than otherwise in his bare skin.

"Thank you, Baudric," she said quietly. "I will hold this for you." Hold space for him, bear witness to his trauma. What an infinity of suffering he had born, and he was only one of countless Kathar. No wonder Naori had needed a goddess whose jihad was for their freedom.

Kala lapsed back into silence, not expecting anything from him. His wings were mostly clean, if not pristine. They were a matter of maintenance more than anything. Being here, or even if he joined the Dawnmartyrs, there would be other competent people to help. There was a reason birds groomed each other.

Soaking without expectations could be a healing experience too, albeit minor. She would not rush him, but tend to him as she tended to the vines in her garden and the other Avialae in her small flock. When he was ready, they would dry him off and feed him. Later, he would meet Kaus again. Then, perhaps Ceran and Indric, more Synnekar to welcome him into the fold.

"Thank you," she said with one of her faint smiles. "I know you never seek my discomfort, but it helps me to know, I think. And it warms my heart to know that you are thinking in terms of your brothers, as well. Your journey is yours, but I think it is a good thing, a valorous thing, to want to look backward in order to offer a hand forward. They are always on my mind, as well."

That didn't mean Baudric wasn't special, of course, but Naori had given her a quest and it was close to her heart.

"You have sovereignty now, agency in your own life. I will always be happy to support that, whether by keeping a place for you here, listening when you need to speak, or anything within my power."

She accepted his hand up with murmured thanks. A part of her wanted to help towel dry him as if he were a pet or a child; she wasn't sure that was a good thought, but perhaps it was a trend that would only continue as she gradually grew into her divine power. Logically, she assumed that she would lose some humanity when her mother died, when her elder brother died, when his children died, her friends and acquaintances gradually grew old and died. Losing Kaus might actually break her, and so she was going to ask those moritasi she knew how she could sustain him, even if it meant a loss of power for her.

But she tried not to think of Baudric's inevitable end. With luck, that would not come for decades hence and he would die happy and fulfilled, healed and whole.

There was a polite knock at the door. After a pause, Kala called for them to enter. Baudric had a towel and a privacy screen if he wished to be hidden. The servants weren't the ogling type, anyway. She went to meet them, even as they came in. Accepting the fine robe, she moved aside so they could bring in a hearty stew and all that would entail. Baudric's room had a table to eat or work at, and so they set things up there with an extra bowl in case he invited her to dine and she decided to do so.

Kala went to Baudric with the robe. It was a thin, lightly brocaded silk, with slits at about wing distance, and voluminous amounts of fabric so it could be belted at the waist such that those vents didn't matter in terms of coverage. But in terms of coverage, Baudric was on the high end of the Avialae size spectrum. The robe would fit well enough where it mattered—Aquilios favored loose fits when at his leisure—but the sleeves wouldn't quite brush his wrists, nor the hem his ankles. Thankfully, he wouldn't suffer from cold with his Avialae constitution, but it ought to feel good against his skin.

She offered to help him into it.

Kala couldn't help but notice his reactions, even the smaller, subtler ones once she was paying closer attention. She did hope he grew more comfortable with people in general, but she would do what she could to make that transition from fear to comfort easier on him.

"Of course," she said. "All that I needed to do was done earlier today, so I am free to spend time with you. Although, if you need time and space to yourself, simply say the word." She understood a need for the occasional solitude herself. She thanked him as he helped her into her seat, wondering if such conscientious behavior was trained into Kathar or he was just sweet and thoughtful; or both.

She served herself quickly so he would hopefully just feel comfortable serving himself and feeling as if this were all informal and nothing was expected of him. The servants were there and gone quite quickly, efficiently setting things up, ensuring Kala and her guest were at their ease, and then leaving them to it.

While they ate, Kala filled him in on some of what had happened in Kalzasi while he was gone. A lot of it was minor, but there had been the year-long Eclipse that had been so hard on the world. Magic had mitigated things, allowing plants and animals to grow without sunlight, but that had taxed mages and she wasn't certain the artificially grown food had been quite as nutritious as the natural variety. As vice-minister of trade, she hadn't been able to do much about the supply chain in that time. Nobody was willing to sell their food when their own populations were at risk. She understood that. Still, it had been a long-term stressor.

She had managed to bring aid from Starfall to Zaichaer, however, and she told him about this, albeit not in any great detail. Kala didn't see them as enemies, and perhaps that was why members high in their government as well as the witches they had long marginalized didn't see her as an enemy. Then again, she hadn't met the emperor of Gelerand, nor any of the handlers who mishandled her Kathar cousins. Time would have to tell on that one.

Time did pass, however. Comfortably full, Kala was leaning back in her chair with a glass of wine. A couple of hours had passed, and there was a knock at the door. When she noted Baudric's reaction, she offered, "It is my brother Kaus and... he has your clean clothes. But this is your room, so you may bid him enter or ask him to leave the clothes and come back at another time."

"Welcome home, Baudric," he said with a smile as he let the other Avialae take his laundry delivery in hand. Though he was smaller than Baudric and this was rightfully his home, he moved carefully and quietly, keeping his voice and his normally ebullient nature contained. From his memories, too much too fast had not gone over well with the foreign soldier, almost like a wild animal or a dog who had been kicked by one too many boots.

"It is good to see you, too." His smile brightened; he could be a whirlwind, but he was calm for now. "Don't worry about me. We didn't spend a great deal of time together when you were recovering. Kala wanted you to have peace and quiet and I often have trouble being peaceful and quiet."

If Kala was the Fire, frequently a candle in the dark or, like today, a warm hearth fire, and occasionally a terrifying explosion, Kaus was the Air, always moving, always flowing, refreshing and invigorating most of the time, but sometimes a little too much to handle.

While Baudric was changing, Kaus perused the remains of their meal.

"An Avialae is always hungry," he said, "but I am not starving. Was your meal enough? Ought I to send for more? Do you like sweet things? Cook makes excellent desserts, too, and Kala won't be content until she has put a few extra pounds on you in case of future hunger."

She stuck her tongue out at him while she thought Baudric safely behind the screen and Kaus just grinned at her. He glanced over at Baudric when he emerged, dressed in all but his armor. Kaus smiled again, warm and bright; they tended to be infectious.

"Sent a runner to see which of the tailors we use can drop by earliest to fill out your wardrobe a bit. Wouldn't want you to have to sit around in Aquilios' things whenever they need washed. Whatever we can do to help one of our Kathar cousins find their free winds is an honor."

Kaus hadn't yet taken Baudric's seat. As their guest approached, he glanced aside and tugged a large, comfortable armchair across the room so Baudric could more comfortably lounge while Kaus took the smaller chair he had vacated at the table. He certainly didn't want to put Baudric out.

"Now you're physically recovered, though, I'm going to drag you out to spar! Well, not right now, but soon."