Best Served Cold

[Finn]

The Prædium Sorokys, Luxium
2nd of Glade, 124 Annus Ferro

when the wrestler’s sinews
grew long like metal strings,
he felt them under his fingers
like chords of deep music.

The wrestlers grunted, straining against one another for advantage. Sweat-slick and gleaming in the noontide sunlight, man and winged elf strove to master the other without weapon, without magic, without any tricks but those of muscle and bone, momentum and leverage. Neither was frightened of injury, nor of injuring the other. They were both strong, hardy, and had some of the best healers on call should anything go awry.

Finn was the larger of the two, but Raithen had the strength granted him by his wings. That was, perhaps, a magical advantage, but not one to quibble over.

Several artists sat in the shade, watching, sketching furiously with keen and critical gazes. A dux and the consort of a prince were, he supposed, the sort of subjects sculptors and painters might seek, the better to flatter their betters. Finn himself had dedicated music to the highest of Kalzasi while attempting to make his way by song and string.

Ciarán too had paused, mostly to gape for a moment at the barely clad men going at it, but he had quickly closed his mouth and walked on. Solunarium was strange to him still, and his brother had risen so high that sometimes he wasn't sure he knew him at all for all the things Finn remembered from their unlucky hamlet on the shores of Lake Udori.

"Fucker," Finn spat as he twisted out of a grapple, though the escape hurt.

His shoulder took Raithen in the gut, knocking the wind out of him but, more importantly, wiping the smirk off of his face.

They continued like this, both reveling in the competition. Finn had never really been competitive. This had been a detriment to his career in some ways, though he had eventually found his path, and now he had a new one at Arvælyn's side and under Aværys' gaze.

Finn miscalculated, and Raithen took advantage of the over-extension, hooking his hand behind Finn's knee and pulling him off balance, then down, and then he was pinned under the winged menace. His own breath whooshed out of his lungs when his back hit the marble flagstones. There was a flare of anger, but it passed. He calmed himself, relaxing so his body could recover his breath sooner rather than later. Once he had breath, he managed to laugh shakily along with the victor, who offered him a hand up.

Once up, they stretched, causing a new flurry of activity from the watching artists. But Finn paid them no mind. Servi ran up, offering cool water and hand towels to blot their brows.

It was only a day after New Year, so they were recovering from all the pageantry with something grounded in blood and dirt. They had intimated earlier that they would discuss their blood feuds—his with Thalya, Raithen's with Æros. Given the time to investigate the matter and observe the dead dancer make a mockery of Luxian politics, he was inclined to give his full support and help to Raithen in his endeavors. He felt a flicker of Khyan's hunger across their soul-bond; he sent soothing thoughts. Soon. It were best they didn't discuss in front of their audience. The servi could be trusted, and none but they would be present if...

"Bath?" he inquired.

Whoever was beaten by this Angel
(who often simply declined the fight)
went away proud and strengthened
and great from that harsh hand,
that kneaded him as if to change his shape.
Winning does not tempt that man.
This is how he grows: by being defeated, decisively,
by constantly greater beings.—rilke

[Raithen]

There was something to struggling, flesh to flesh, no weapons, no magic, with another man that was both unique and which a part of Raithen seemed to crave. Wrestling was not the most useful of training but it felt right inside him, as though, in another life, he might have been perfectly happy as an arena slave.

Since he had left his mercenary connections behind to serve Avaerys and his own family more intently he hadn't found anyone willing. At least, not anyone who was both willing and of high enough rank and skill to really challenge him. Now that Finn was married to his newest brother they were brothers, as far as he was concerned, which also felt right in the unexplainable puzzle-pieces-fitting way that existed beyond Raithen's conscious understanding.

He only had the vaguest memories of what had happened between them during his Traversion initiation but it didn't trouble him. The connection it had created between himself and the human was enough.

None of these thoughts were inside the young Avialae as his body strained, sweat threatening to destroy his grip. Nor did he contain any recognition of the quiet sounds of charcoal on paper around them. The Dux was so used to eyes on him that it was often strange to realize when he was truly alone.

Finn twisted out of his grasp after a prolonged struggle during which neither of them had moved more than the panting of their breath. When the human swore at him he said, quietly enough that it was only for their ears, even though it was entirely a joke,

"Only if you ask nicel..." The last word was cut off as his own clever quip distracted him enough that he took the thrown shoulder squarely to his gut. For a long moment he couldn't breath, let alone tease. It was perfect.

The afternoon hour rolled away between them, physicality that didn't even need the thought of sex took Raithen away from himself, rendered him down to just his body and the one across from it.

At the end, when his body was reacting faster than thought would have allowed he flipped Finn over, arms coming down to ensure it was the last time even as one wing snapped down to ensure his brother-in-law's head didn't crack against the flagstones. There was a moment of quiet as adrenaline in the form of anger and triumph burned between their locked eyes, then the moment passed and they were themselves again.

He lifted them both from the ground once Finn could breath again. They stretched out their long-tensed bodies in silence as Raithen was not yet ready to let words back into himself. When he took a towel from a servi it came away from his face bloody. He must have caught a blow and not even realized it had slipped his vitae.

He nodded enthusiastically to the suggestion even as more servi ran ahead to prepare. Dropping the towel and pushing out of the smallclothes that had protected him during the fight he walked naked through the courtyard and down to where the springs fed the baths, both hot and cold. He did dip into a steaming pool to get the dirt and blood off and open his pours to rinse away the sweat but it was a cursory cleansing only. The cold water pool that he wanted more was waiting for him after, as was Finn. Sliding down into the soothing chill across from his sparing partner he signed. After long moments of continued comfortable silence he said,

"You know, I think, of my complaint, its cause and object. Tell me of yours?"

[Finn]

Finn would want to linger in the heated water later, and the servi would anoint their skin in oil and massage the tension and strain out of their muscles. But, for now, the chill of the pool was bracing, refreshing, and would keep his mind sharp. He was mildly surprised at how quickly Raithen got down to business, but he was generally so gregarious it was easy to forget that Raithen was still a prince of Arvælyn's family. If he didn't have draconic blood, he still had divine blood.

His erstwhile opponent offered a small smile.

"I know your complaint and, as time has passed, I have come to align with it. Our friend shall have his vengeance. As for my own, well, you were at the masquerade. I have sworn to bring justice to Thalya for her attempt upon my husband's life. I have waited to ensure my vengeance, not certain of my place on the Pyramid. Her imperium has been revoked and even Aværys has not protested my desire.

"I will attempt to bring her to the courts, but barring that possibility, I will kill her. I think that I will face no consequences. If my Power outstrips hers, then... well, it would be my right to seek redress."

He paused.

"As soon as I am able, I will travel to Auris to seek leads as to her whereabouts." He sighed. "I'm not sure if Phocion is trying to delay me for some reason or whether there needs to be a proper diplomatic reason why I would be the Vigil to go. I'm considering just... traveling as a private citizen rather than as a diplomat, if only to speed up the process."

After a moment of thought, he shook his head.

"But what of you...? What are your next steps and how can I help?"

[Raithen]

The truth of the matter was, Raithen knew he needed something not to become too comfortable, even in a brotherly fashion, with his brother-in-law. The instincts and affection that had come into him whole cloth during his Traversion initiation pulled him towards a deeply comfortable familiarity with Finn that Arvælyn found entirely unacceptable. The dragon prince had not been raised with Solunarian sensibilities concerning relationships (or anything else) which might have given grace to his position had Finn, also raised as an outsider, not seemed to hold the same ideas. Perhaps they had been raised in different cultures, it wasn't something Raithen knew. In truth, he knew very little about either man, even if the part of him that had stepped into the Aetherium believed he knew Finn wholly and would not be persuaded otherwise.

Had he not been on his guard he would have thrown his arm around the human as they walked to the baths, would have washed his back and likely more, would have kissed him close-mouthed as a brother whenever they met, taken him to brothels to sate them both and then fallen asleep sprawled out over him in complete comfort. But he had been warned by his god and his mother and there was no ignoring such commands. Even had the warnings come from those he was willing to disobey it would have still meant his life in all likelihood. It made no sense to him, but many, many things made little or no sense to him and that did not make them less real.

The smile that met Finn's small one was wider and disarming but there was a hint of sharpness to it, it said 'come, brother, let us commit vengeance together'.

He nodded along with the explanation, looking thoughtful, an uncommon expression on his sunny face.

"His Divine Radiance has blessed my intention as well. I have similar intentions, but, as the saying goes, cur non utrumque?"

He hummed at the idea of retribution directed towards Finn. There was no chance of it in his case for the creature he wished to destroy was far below him by any reckoning.

"Even should she try to counter your status with her own you can claim to be acting in Arvælyn's name. After what Zalkyrion decreed I doubt even Thalya would attempt to call herself his equal. Facing your vengeance as opposed to facing Zalkyrion's, I know which I'd choose."

His continued smile, sharpness now gone, softened any insult that might be implied even though Raithen knew Finn was smarter than to imagine his revenge could equal that of the dragon.

"I had a plan, but it was dashed at the masquerade as well, or, because of it?" He seemed to have confused himself briefly but brushed it away with a hand moving through the wonderfully cool water. It might have been freezing for all he knew but to him, it was only pleasant after the heat of the wrestling yard. Hopefully, Finn would leave when he was finished with the cold and they could move on to the oiling.

"Anyway, I have been waiting for the political sand to settle so I know where to go next. The family has few friends and none of them are powerful. I don't really see much impediment once I figure out who has jurisdiction over them. I'll have to get a little leverage over whoever it is and then make my request."

That he could have swooped in and killed most members of the family and then likely only had to pay a fine to whoever held rights over them for breaking the law had not occurred to him. The structure of the law had been created by the Divine Twins and so ingrained in him that breaking it was not within his scope of planning or even thought, concerning his own actions.

"I can go with you. Your rank is greater than mine now but I am better known, like on records and stuff, in foreign countries. You could go as my human servus and be able to seek information more easily than if you went as yourself."

In Raithen's experience, it was always easier to move through a city, to meet and interact with normal people, when he didn't declare himself.

[Finn]

"Ut dicis," he allowed with a laugh. But his smile turned thoughtful at what Raithen said. It was true, his vengeance would be cleaner, more humane than Zalkyrion's. He wanted her dead, which was a new feeling for him, but he wanted her quickly and cleanly dead—knowing the fruits of her betrayals were death, perhaps, but not drawn out in torture or more creative punishments. He wanted to eliminate the threat to Arvælyn. Mists, he would grab the Luxian throne if he could, if only to unite the thrones via his marriage.

Sometimes he wondered if such intrusive thoughts were his or Aværys'.

When they were on the massage tables, blinking blearily at each other as tension was worked out of them, he managed, "Arkænyn was his most strategic ally, but his power has waned, too."

Finn didn't ask after plans whose opportunities had passed. That would be a waste of time and mental function.

"Poetic justice, I think, would be seizing their assets and gifting them to gens Nykara after granting them manumission. Of course, Khyan wants Æros' soul shredded in the bargain, too. And I would give him that."

The prince's consort would also consider transferring those assets to his own family—not for himself, as both he and Raithen were never likely to want for anything, but for those relatives people called Viatori here, giving them a name due to their association with him. Mists, if they owned gens Nykara, they would surely grant manumission as soon as possible, not wanting to keep servi, but rather, wanting to pay servants wages and treat them like people.

"We should ask Phocion's opinion, I think, whether we should go as diplomats or with me playing the role of your slave." He laughed, thinking Arvælyn, at least, would not approve that circumstance. Phocion, of course, was more pragmatic.

[Raithen]

The servi in the palace knew Raithen's preferences in all things and it was nice, sometimes, to not have to instruct at all and let the men and women who served drift into the background.

He was turned so that he could see his brother-in-law on the table across from him, watch his expressions as they spoke. A grimace lingered on the dux at the mention of the waning of the Luxian prince. There had been so much potential there for mutual enjoyment, but that was gone. The most that might be hoped for was that Arkænyn might fall so far as to be sold for the crimes of his family. Raithen didn't intend to buy him, were that to be the case, simply to pay whoever did own him for a few hours of his time so he could sate the lingering urge to know what the prince's insides felt like. Raithen did not own any slaves in his own right, as he had no need for any and no desire to be burdened with their upkeep.

Eyebrows darker than the blond hair on Raithen's head rose at the suggestion. It was an interesting one, not one that would have been imagined by a native. Khyan and his family had been sentenced for their crimes in a court of law, what had come after did not change that. Trying to reverse that judgment on the rest of the family simply because one of their number had been killed, not illegally, by the one who had bought him didn't make much sense. He did not say all of those, Finn was getting lessons in the law and ways of Solunarium and Raithen didn't want to call out his ignorance. Nodding instead to the final point he confirmed,

"I will find a way to trap Æros' soul somewhere that Khyan has access to do to it as he pleases." Eternal torment felt just, and, outside of any moral judgment, good, to him.

He had considered keeping the property of Æros' family himself, as recompense for his trouble and using it to house any guests or concubines he might want. There was an off chance he might be offered in marriage for the advantage of his family and having a place to house a spouse and potential children also seemed useful. If Finn had asked for any of these assets he would have given them easily but he did not yet know that the human had any need or desire.

"Mmm," He murmured, part because of the hands working his muscles but more in response to the suggestion that his eldest brother be consulted. He could hardly imagine an undertaking of any significance in which he did not seek Phocion's advice and consent. "We should. We can go together, if you like, but you may encounter him sooner than I and there is a greater urgency to your vengeance than to mine, so let us concentrate on that."

[Finn]

Finn had read the laws pertaining to the fall of gens Nykara, but would still lay claim to them should the assets of Aeros' family ever fall to him. He would, at least, assure that they were well treated and, if there was any way for any of them to earn back their freedom legally, he would aid them in that. Of course, he could always travel with them and then "lose" them somewhere, setting them up away from the slaving culture of Solunarium. Or perhaps he would just give them the best they could hope for; he didn't rightly know whether Khyan's father was guilty of the crimes he paid for. Still and all, it didn't seem right the entire family should suffer.

Ah, well...

"Ahhh." Finn had begun to truly feel as though he were entitled to being treated as he was treated in Solunarium, which occasionally gave him pause, but rarely made him feel guilty. He enjoyed his physical pursuits all the more knowing that there would always be waters available at the correct temperature, hands ready to soothe or pummel the tension out his muscles.

"It's too bad Phocion never wants to spar and relax afterward," he noted idly. They seemed to be of the same mind as to how they ought to proceed.

*~*~*

Finn did see more of Phocion than Raithen did, but as they both wanted their moonborn brother's opinion on their vengeance and because they had agreed to help each other, it seemed only right to come to him together. In any case, Phocion was so regularly busy that Finn felt compelled to set up an appointment for this rather than leverage his marriage to Phocion's brother for attention on his terms.

Once they were both seated in Phocion's office, however, he cut to the chase.

"As you know, I have sworn vengeance upon Thalya, and Raithen on Aeros. We think the time to act is approaching. We also need your help as you are better informed than we are."

They had considered going to Cithæra, but thought that, if Phocion said they should go to her, he would also have ideas how they might best get her full cooperation. She had a penchant for surprising them, after all.

[Pharaoh]

"Ah yes." Phocion replied, still facing the window with his back to the pair as a pitcher levitated to pour water into silver goblets for each of them.

"I was wondering when you'd both get round to this..." He turned slightly, to look over his shoulder at the pair. "And you're making it a package deal? How industrious." He turned, now, to face them outright.

"Let's start with the easy one, shall we? Gens Sælyan is eking out their existence by keeping their heads down, at the moment. Whatever capricious purpose the Platinum Prince had for elevating them is little understood by the Regium Consilium and the ghostly senator notion was never popular in the Luxian Curia. I suspect it would take little more than a motion in the Luxian Senatus Major to question their legitimacy to bring calamitous ruin upon the Sælyans. They actively sought to prop an undead entity up as their senate representative. The implications are myriad. Once their status is further diminished, we can charge them with a crime that took place during their Umbrian allegiance. Anything, really. I see no reason why the Luxians would deny us our justice, and once they're under our jurisdiction? Do what you will." He sighed,

"As for Thalya... Her greatest advantage is that she has taken on a form of magic that is not actively practised in contemporary Solunarium. You can go North and try to figure out where in Auris she's hiding, but then there's the matter of the when and the which version... She's gone transdimensional, which complicates your task. The best chance I think you'd have of reaching her is to fight chronomancy with chronomancy." He took a few paces closer to his desk and placed his hands on the back of the chair.

"And the timing, pardon the pun, is right that we may be able to procure you an ally to that end..."

[Raithen]

Raithen was not at all discomfited by the appearance of the girl child, no more than he was by any of the servi who moved about the chamber where his bare form lay prone. Who she was had not been told to him so he knew only that she had appeared under Finn's guardianship a little time back. She might be his child, and there was nothing wrong with that. That there were oddities to her was without question but she had been allowed to both enter and remain the domain of the Divine Twins. The Dux knew how much scrutiny that would have required and was satisfied that her continued presence was thus sanctioned.

Whatever her origin, she seemed to have a reasonable understanding of logic, in this case.

~~~

Several days later he was seated in Phocion's office, watching as lines of Kinetic aether poured water for himself and Finn. Once the pour was finished he reached out through the rune the two blood brothers, and soon the other, shared, taking hold of the goblets and bringing them to himself and the human.

He nodded, listening intently to the suggestions as to the execution of his own suit. While the law was familiar, Raithen was no politician but there were senators who were pledged to their house that he could make use of, if Phocion did not simply take care of it himself. The legal transaction was important, as was the trial that would declare the family criminal, but the Avialae himself did not feel any urge to be present for either. When the bodies were taken, alive or having committed suicide in shame, from their home, that he would attend, and more than. Serving the judgement on them personally was his desire, one he intended to see fulfilled.

No word passed his lips concerning any of that, as he had nothing useful to add. If Phocion did not make the moves to begin it himself in a little time Raithen would apply to his mother as to who best to approach to begin it himself. Saying so would have been redundant and a waste of his brother's valuable time.

His interest was significantly more piqued by the discussion of Finn's revenge, as it would certainly be one that required more of the sort of action that Raithen was keen to participate in. Yet still, he did not speak, for it would have only delayed the revelation of the information.

[Finn]

Finn smiled faintly. He supposed they were being industrious as there was some overlap between their goals and they worked well together. Raithen was like one of his pact weapons, always there when he needed it. That, he felt, was invaluable.

Phocion, the born and bred political animal, had his undivided attention, though he did glance at Raithen to see how he felt about the Sælyan downfall. There could still be stabbing, he would assure him later, but ruining the gens would require steps such as these and it seemed they would have the political backing of the family, which would make it possible. He wondered how Aværys would respond when it was all said and done. Executing Thalya and trampling the Sælyans underfoot might not push them any higher upon the Pyramid, and yet... well, it would be a show of Power, for certes. And it might put Khyan's soul to rest or, if he was to remain a spirit of vengeance, at least his own would have been accomplished.

Finn couldn't help but perk up when Phocion turned to his own particular person of interest. He didn't know how he felt about this burning desire to kill a person, but when his conscience made him doubt, he had but to remember that burning spike of fear that had pierced his heart when he thought she was about to take Arvælyn away from him and then the fire came back, either a smolder or a conflagration. Neither boded well for the tricksome and false crown-broken queen.

Between his first and his last statements, Finn's mind was already racing toward possible avenues for his vengeance. He could already leap to the Aetherium, to divine realms—at least, to those he had been granted access—and could possibly track her through other dimensions. Of course, he might need to ask Deus Aværys and Varvara Domina for more tools, unless the Custodes Deorum had others he might utilize.

He blinked once.

"An ally?" he asked. "Go on."

This was fortunate indeed. He had been prepared to risk life and limb going to Sol'Valen to seek chronomancy. After all, it was said their king held command of men's dreams. What was time next to dreams...?