Taking of the Lylek

[Asher Mossa]

Lylek was not happy.

The most intimate of encounters with Umai and William played once more. ”And what did you learn here? What did you watch? Do not think you can fool me child. Before you were I was. You learned nothing from this, you gave the one thing which gave you power over him as though it was something to be tossed aside. For what... things you don’t know about your past? Spells that anyone else could teach you?”

Asher sighed as the spirit questioned her. He had seen it all, and again as the spirit replayed the scene. His eyes turned away, not wanting to watch the scene. He didn’t need to see this. What happened in the bedroom between two consenting adults was notnhis business, yet Lylek was making it his business. Why? He bonded them, tied their fates together, why?

He sighed.

The story of his life has been unveiled for her. Asher only cried the one tear, but it had been the most he bore of his inner self to anyone since his wife passed. Umai has seen what made him vulnerable. What had she thought? They had both been exposed.

[member="Umai"] listened. She agreed to follow the spirit. Lylek grinned as the hand went to her arm, the same as Asher’s.

”I will mark you like him,” he said as another finger pointed to where Asher stood. If Umai had not seen him before, she would now. When the spirit took its hand off Umai there were back at the altar. Asher just stood and looked at Umai...

...

There was silence. He didn’t know what to say.

 

[Valgærd]

Lylek’s words stung.

I watched the scene again, standing shrouded in shame as it seemed to play stuck on repeat. I watched myself yielding to William, accepting his dominion. Did Lylek know what had been going on in my head? Had he seen inside me and decided I’d been lying to myself? Did he simply not care for my reasons? I bite my lip, tearing my eyes away as I bit back the harsh response on my tongue.

I flinched but forced myself to remain still as Lylek moved his hand to my arm, telling me he was going to mark me like Asher. I glanced to where he’d pointed, seeing finally the man standing nearby for the first time. I met his gaze, noticing the single tear on his cheek. Why was Lylek so intent on dredging up pain? On making us confront difficult moments? I kept his eye, looking back at him as he at me. There we stood, our most private moments borne for the other to see.

In a flash, the spirit’s hand left my shoulder, and the scene around melted away, leaving us at the altar.

I glanced around briefly, before looking back at Asher. I struggled to meet his gaze, keeping my own locked instead on the ground at his feet.

“I… didn’t ask for it.” I murmured, my voice trembling and weak.

I paused to swallow back the emotions that threatened to burst forth,

“I don’t care what Lylek said… I just… he took that.”

I turned from him, placing both my hands on the altar, leaning over it as long sigh left my lips. Why did I care what Asher thought?



[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

"We don't have to talk about it," he said in regards to [member="Umai"]'s version of what Asher had just seen. They were not romantically involved, nor had either of them made any indication that was the purpose of this outing. They had just met, and while they had seen things no stranger should ever have seen, it did not make them experts on each other either. Asher wanted to ignore it. His inclination was to move past it because it wasn't his place to speak to it, but there was something about the way the Umai said things that begged for a reply.

He sighed.

"I only have the perspective of what I saw. I am not the spirit, and I cannot speak for him. It would be best if I didn't say anything. You've also seen my curse. No matter what we think about what just happened, Lylek, our blood mixing as you were sent to the spirit realm... it has done something that I don't know the full implication of.

Asher was desperately trying to avoid the subject of what both had seen and learned about the other. He had not been that intimate with anyone else he had met so far. Yes, Katrine, the nightmother, she knew, but only because Lylek told her to prod. Asher had also had enough alcohol in him that he had been a bit more talkative than he wanted to be. His secrets were his to carry, but now Umai knew them, and he knew hers. Knowledge that should have been reserved for more intimate relationships was now open to them both. They simply had to adjust and deal with it. It was what Asher had been doing his entire life, so why was this any different.

At least that is what he kept telling himself. After the previous visions of how William had treated Umai, Asher did not want to believe that she could have let that happen, taken or not.

He turned to her, and joined her at the altar. A hand reached down and rested on top of one of hers.

"Your scars... the mark. We need to treat them. Lylek really did cut them into you. You will feel the pain soon," he spoke with a tone of experience. She had seen his, and would know through their bond he was being honest. They likely would not be able to lie to each other anymore. It was like a student and apprentice bond, but knowing Lylek... it was something deeper.

"William.. he... The man manipulated you, and you let him... why I don't know. He had something you wanted I guess. What he did... that's not our way, not how Mandragora are supposed to be. He treated you like a possession, and why the spirits allowed, if they will punish him for it, I do not know, but you are not a possession, and you cannot let anyone treat you like that. Not even William. If you go back to him... if you WANT to, I won't stop you or argue with you, but you must never let him treat you like a possession ever again."

"That is what Lylek was saying to you... it's what I'm saying to you."

 

[Valgærd]

I could feel it, the bond.

Asher’s words trickled into the silence that hung between us. He was right, of course, we didn’t have to. I didn’t have to justify anything to him… right? Pursing my lips, I turned to him as he sighed. It was then that I realised how selfish I had been. Seeing my moments up there, being confronted by them, I had completely forsaken the weight of the burden he carried. My eyes widened, the sensation of being in the spirit realm beginning to ebb and wane.

I sought to meet his eyes, to let him see, without words, that I understood.

He then mentioned the scars, telling me that I would soon feel them. Instinctively, my hand went to my opposite shoulder, where Lylek had touched me. It took only a few more moments, before I felt it.

The sting came like a train from the distance, barrelling through me subtly at first, before overtaking me. I hissed, my fingers retreating from my shoulder. I turned my head away from Asher as he continued to speak, saying that William shouldn’t have done what he did, that it was not right, that I couldn’t let it happen again. My cheeks burned, shame scrawling onto my face. I felt like a child, being scolded and berated by a parent for talking to a stranger.

Another hiss escaped me, the stinging on my arm becoming uncomfortable. I tilted my shoulder around, peeling away the sleeve of my shirt to reveal a scar pattern, still bloodied, just as Asher said there would be.

A scowl painted itself across my features. I didn’t like to be scolded. No doubt Asher could feel the rage boiling within me. Whether he could feel the way the pain clouded my mind or not, I didn’t know. But I couldn’t help it, I snapped.

“Shut up, Asher!” I snapped, flashing him a glare, “I don’t care what Lylek said! I don’t care what he thinks, what you… think I just… ugh!”

Slamming my fist on the alter, I cried out in anguish. Angrily I reached up and ripped off the sleeve of my shirt, using it to dab at the blood on my shoulder. I gritted my teeth, grunting from the pain. But it was easier than confronting the man in front of me.


[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

She was angry, and he could feel it well before her outburst, but was it with him, herself, or the entire situation.

He sighed as she tried to reprimand him, but fell short. The pain of her wound clouded her mind. It would burn for a few days, but the bleeding would stop shortly. There were roots and aloes Asher had which would help with the pain, and keep the tissue from becoming infected as it healed. It was permanent. The mark and the bond were both connected. She had been marked exactly as he had, the same pattern, and the same location.

”I’m sorry... you’re right I don’t understand, and it may not be what I think...”

In truth, they were both likely lying to themselves about what it was, and it would take time before they were honest about it. Would the bond allow for that time? Asher didn’t know, but he knew that she needed him to believe her. She needed his support.

Asher turned and began to walk back toward the camp. The crystal clear blade was left for [member="Umai"] to pick up. It was hers now, it only made sense for him to leave it for her. A smile grew on his lips at the thought of leaving a gift for her that was a token of this night. It had been significant. Together they had killed a Lylek, and Umai had joined his pact. She was Mandragora. She was Lylek.

When they arrived at his tent, Asher set a small stool down for her. The arm was already exposed because she’d ripped the sleeve off. A canteen of water and a cloth were the first things he reached for. The cool water would help soothe the pain as he mixed the roots and aloes.

”Here keep this on your arm. It will help sooth the burning sensation.”

Asher placed it on the wound. His touch was gentle, but confident. A small smile pulled at his lips as he helped her before getting up again to mix the ointment.

 

[Valgærd]

Asher apologised.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, letting a long built-up sigh uncoil from my chest. Rage still coursed through my veins. I was furious at William for putting me in this position. I was angry at Lylek for judging me so harshly for it. I was mad at Asher for his role in bringing me here. And yet, here he stood, ready to admit that there was more he might not know.

So, I waved a hand at him, indicating that I accepted his apology.

He turned and began back towards the camp. I paused for a moment longer. I could stay up here. I could tend the wound myself, I had learned a minor healing spell from mother’s tome. I could sit and wallow in the darkness, before returning to William like a good little pet and telling him… whatever I decided to tell him.

Or… I could go and follow Asher.

Tossing my hair behind me and wrapping my cloak around myself, I turned and hurried after him. Being careful to keep the fabric off my wound, I walked back along the path with him, my thoughts moving to the blade. He hadn’t taken it. The beautiful, crystal-clear weapon was surely rare, possibly even unique, and yet… I had sensed that he’d left it for me intentionally. It was in my other hand and I glanced at it before lowering myself into the seat he’d pulled out and laying it across my lap.

Moving the cloak out of the way, I watched as he reached for the water and cloth. The cool, damp fabric instantly soothed the burning wound. The relief was such a surprise that a soft moan of reprieve escaped my lips before I could stop it.

“Thank you, Asher… and um… I shouldn’t have snapped.”

As he stood to gather some other ingredients for something I moved my hand to hold the cloth in place. Because of our bond, he could probably sense my intention to return to William’s tower eventually, and the conflict as I struggled to decide what I’d tell him.

“Have you ever been…” I began, cutting myself off. It just didn’t seem right to say a slave… “coerced into something?”

That was better… if only marginally.


[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

”I...”

What was he going to say? The question was not one he could say yes to, not in the way she meant it. This new bond of theirs would not let them lie to each other. He knew what she meant, and she knew what he thought about it. At least Asher thought she did.

He stayed quiet as he mixed the aloe. The mortar and pestel was not an instrument Asher was good with most days, but he knew a few concoctions and natural remedies for things. His days as a hermit had served him well enough to survive. Asher had to answer her, so when the paste was finally ready, he turned and faced her again to utter the answer she already knew by now.

”No...”

It was a soft answer. He had never been someone’s pet, slave, plaything, whatever it was she wanted to use to describe what was going on with William. Asher knew he hated it, that a person could subject another person to that kind of life. It went against everything the Mandragora and the spirits stood for.

Asher began to apply the paste. Again his touch was gentle, yet confident. He didn’t need permission because he knew he had it. [member="Umai"] had followed him, and it had been all the permission he needed. He was safe, maybe a bit too safe, but safe nonetheless. Asher didn’t really know what else to say other than...

”You don’t have to go to him... you could...”

Stay... but Asher couldn’t make himself say it. He’d already sensed her intent.

 

[Valgærd]

My question seemed to catch Asher off-guard.

His words faltered, failing him for a moment. I watched his back as he collected what he needed, biting my lip. His hesitation made me regret asking. What did I expect? What would he say? If he had, was that truly something I wanted to see him relive before my eyes? Particularly now… as it seemed I was just as likely to relive it right alongside him, thanks in no small part to Lylek’s meddling.

These thoughts rattled around in my mind as he mixed the aloe, the pestle clinking against the mortar as he ground the herbs. I opened my mouth twice, before closing it again. There was little point trying now to tell him he didn’t have to answer. The question hung in the air like a bad smell, refusing to return to the ether.

His answer finally came when he turned back to me. No.

I sighed with relief, glad that he didn’t have more pain and tragedy to share. I glanced down as he began to apply the salve, my shoulder flinching as the cool balm was rubbed into my skin. His touch was gentle, but not timid. A soft sigh of relief erupted from my lips as the cool balm soothed the burn of the scars.

Once again, he spoke, his voice trailing off. Even though he didn’t finish the thought, I knew what he’d neglected to say. My head remained tilted down at his work on my shoulder, but my eyes flicked up to look at him through my lashes.

“No.”

The reply was quiet, but like his hands, sturdy and confident.

“William is not the sort of man you want to cross,” I considered the shapeshifter he’d kept in his court as I spoke, “you’ve done nothing to earn whatever wrath he might bring down upon you if he thinks I’ve run away because of you. Besides… he has answers. This wouldn’t be the most dangerous thing I’ve done to get them.”

I didn’t elaborate, somehow I didn’t think Asher would believe that I’d fought a rancor on a mountain on Dathomir.

[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

Asher just shook his head. He could not believe that her mind was that attached to what William could offer.

”Lylek can give you the same answers. Katrine could. The spirits of the dead commune with her I believe.”

In his mind he had already decided she was going to go back to William at some point. The resignation of it was in his voice. Still, she needed to let the wound heal before she left. He was afraid of what William would do if it could be used to inflict pain. It would just be one more thing he could use to try and break her down.

He sighed as he stood to put the aloe away. Asher swallows his pride. How was he going to let her go back? How was it he was thinking he had to let her? Asher certainly didn’t want to. He found himself caring for her, caring what happened to her, and... well Asher didn’t know. The mortar and pestle were set back on the small table in his tent. His back was to her long enough that she could have slipped away, but at this point he would have pursued her.

”Stay for the night then. It will be just long enough for the bleeding to stop and the aloe to start the scar. It should be free in the morning for you to take the bandage off. You could sleep on my furs, I can stay out by the fire.”

Asher wanted her stay just long enough to be okay. She had already been away from William when he had found her. She had a tent on Ryloth, or had that been a plant? Everything about this bothered Asher. He was too nice to demand that she free herself. No, he couldn’t do that. Instead he would be there, always, when she needed a small reprieve, enough of a connection to still feel human. Asher would be the one to get her through whatever it was she was trying to accomplish.

”Umai... please.”

Please was such a simple word

[member="Umai"]

 

[Valgærd]

I sighed as Asher spoke.

He was right. I knew it. Lylek was abrasive, crass, but… he was the patron of the pact for a reason. I hadn’t officially met Katrine yet, but from what I had heard from the other Mandragora, Asher was right. He stood, having finished tending and bandaging my wounds, to put the remaining aloe away.

I could feel that… he cared. He wasn’t just tending my scars out of some obligation, but there was genuine concern there. I watched as he put the mortar and pestle back on the shelf, his shoulders seemingly a little rounded, as if bearing a heavy weight of some kind. He spoke, offering for me to stay the night here. He offered up his furs, saying he would stay out by the fire.

That struck me, how willing he was to open up his home to a relative stranger. I shouldn’t. William was expecting me to return. Coming back wounded would be better than not coming back at all, right?

Then… he said my name, followed by the word please.

I opened my mouth to decline, to explain that I had to get back. But I stopped. He… had a point. I could stay. My wounds needed time to heal, and I couldn’t guarantee William would give me that time. I sighed heavily, waiting for him to turn so I could catch his eye,

“Alright,” I nodded quietly, “maybe you make a good point. If I’m not putting you out too much, I’ll stay.”


[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

Why had he put himself in this position. He knew that if he had her stay he was only delaying the inevitable.

[member="Umai"] was going back to William.

Asher was jealous, and she would feel it. His jealousy wasn’t because of what he had seen, the scene that played between them. Perhaps it was slightly. William behaved as if he could have any woman he wanted, took what he wanted, and Asher pushed people away. He had tried to push Katrine away from asking all her prodding questions. It hadn’t worked.

Eirene had intrigued him, maybe even to the point he wished he could feel again.

Umai... the bond... Asher wished so much that he was like William enough to tell her that she was a fool for what she had done, and that she needed to run from him, far away from the man who had manipulated her. Everything would be hers to see through this bond, and yet there was a resolve inside him to let her be free.

”I’ll get the furs ready, and a small fire perhaps? Do you need something to drink?”

At this point Asher was going to be a gracious ghost. He would sleep outside if she insisted she wanted to be alone. The man could not force anything on her. Perhaps he wanted to be more like those who took what they wanted, but Asher had never been that way.

That’s when Lylek spoke.

”Why do you care so much, as if a person’s fate is yours to control? Do you think you can help this one?”

”I don’t know,” he answered where Umai could not hear.

”Do you care for her?”

Asher nodded. ”I have to. You linked us, remember...”

He sighed as he tried to push Lylek out of his mind. Asher finished making the bed of furs up for Umai, then came back for her.

”This way...”

 

[Valgærd]

I could feel thoughts tumbling around in my mind; emotion, anguish, lament even. But… after a moment or two I realised that they weren’t actually mine. I glanced over at Asher, suddenly aware that they were his thoughts. I should have pulled back, this bond between us seemed to have caused our minds to be… connected somehow, and I should have retreated from him, and given him his privacy. But instead, I pried. There was jealousy, there, jealousy of what William had taken from me. In that moment I felt a flair of rage boil up from within my core. Jealous? Of that? But as quickly as I felt the rage, I buried it, casting it aside. He couldn’t control his feelings anymore than I could mine. After all, there was a longing in him as well, not only the longing to give me a right talking to, which I felt, but… something deeper. There was pain there, deep, gut-wrenching pain that I only knew because I’d felt it once as well; the death of a loved one.

My mother, his wife, perhaps that was something Lylek had seen in both of us, I don’t know.

His questions shook me from my thoughts, causing me to hastily retreat and withdraw into my own mind. It was selfish of me, and not fair, but I erected a defence around my thoughts as I did. Now that I knew that our thoughts were connected, I chose to guard mine. However, this bond was new to both of us, I could only hope I knew what I was doing enough to protect myself.

“Oh, uh, thank you, Asher… a small fire might be nice, keep this place warm,”

I glanced around the tent. It was humble, but plenty big enough for two.

“You don’t have to go outside, you know. I’m not about to kick you out of your own place. Also, if you’ve got anything alcoholic… I could use a drink.”

Drinking was not something I did often, and not something I did to solve problems. In fact, the last time I’d actually gotten drunk had been with my uncle before he died. But tonight, after all that had happened, I figured I’d give myself a pass.

My shoulder still hurt a little, and I glanced down at it as he went about preparing some furs. I thought I heard him mumble something but couldn’t make out any words. Recalling his conversations with whom I assumed to be Lylek from earlier, I figured the meddling spirit was back to check on its handiwork and focused away from him to give him a little privacy. After a few moments, the man sighed and made his way back over to me. I looked up into his face as he spoke,

“Thank you, Asher.” I replied quietly, “you don’t have to do this.”



[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

”Do what... care for you... treat you like a human being?” Asher asked as he looked to @Umai.

He couldn’t help it. Asher was exactly the opposite of William in that regard, and she certainly saw it. He knew she had been in his mind. Their bond gave it away somehow, just as it told him she had closed her mind off to him.

Asher nodded. Of course she had. He’d seen enough of her secrets for one night. It didn’t matter that he was completely exposed to her. His son, and wife, she had seen them, and now she knew the pain of believing it was his fault, and the caution he approached people with because of it.

The small fire was started, all while Asher retreated to his own mind. How did he talk to someone who could read every thought. Did she know that he found her attractive, and that there was part of him that still a man with longings, with needs and desires. Asher was used to a life of self denial. It was the life he’d forced himself to live since the last attack. He wasn’t jealous of William for taking something from the young witch. Asher was jealous that William didn’t care and took whatever he wanted.

The fire was ready, and Asher grabbed a glass bottle off his small table.

”I smuggled several bottles of the mead we found on Stewjon. It’s stronger than it tastes.”

He handed her the open bottle.

”I can no more keep from trying to help you than you can keep yourself from going back to a man that is going to use you until he is no longer ammused by you. I know your thoughts and you know mine. Whatever this bond is one thing is certain. We cannot lie to each other. We will know it right away.”

Asher fell onto the furs next to Umai and reached for the bottle after she’d taken a couple of gulps. He drank and gave it back to her.

”We are going to have to learn to live with this, but also... discover its advantages. For that, you are going to have to find ways to get free from William long enough for us to explore what this is.”

 

[Valgærd]

Asher’s words caught me off-guard.

I met his gaze as he looked at me. Treat me… like a human being? Is that what I meant? Becoming aware that my mouth was slightly agape at his answer, I closed it softly, turning from him and staring at my hands for a moment. I was the last person to throw myself a pity-party, I had made it this far just fine. But… in my rush to be the tough girl, to not need anything, had I really reached a point where being treated with basic human decency came as a surprise to me? Even having retreated from Asher’s mind, I could see by the look on his face that his thoughts were turning over and over. I bit my lip, resisting the urge to reach out again and look at what he was thinking. I’d ensured myself some privacy; he was owed the same.

I stretched out on the furs, propping myself up on my uninjured elbow as the fire began to warm the tent. I reached out gingerly to accept the offered bottle as Asher handed it to me, letting my hair pool on the furs. I tilted my head back, putting the glass to my lips and taking a long sip. It was warm and sweet, as mead should be. Instantly I felt soothed, the throbbing pain ebbing somewhat as my mind began to lighten. The alcohol would probably interfere with the mental block I’d put in place, but I was sore, tired, and just didn’t care anymore.

“Thanks,” I said quietly, handing it back to him.

I listened as he spoke, becoming aware of the grimace that had pulled itself onto my lips,

“You’re right.”

I let out a sigh as he continued, once again dictating what he thought I should do. Perhaps it was the alcohol, perhaps I was just tired, or maybe there was a part of me that genuinely wanted him to know. So, I dropped the remains of my mental blockade, allowing him to delve through our bond into my thoughts if he so wished as I spoke,

“We can’t lie to each other, so I’m not going to try. But here it is; I think my mother… I don’t know, she left me things to find. This ring is one, the cloak is another. I want to—no, I need to know why she left me these things, why she had the time to leave this trail but couldn’t protect herself or take me with her. If there is even a one percent chance that William is telling the truth, even the tiniest hint that he knows what happened to her, then I would walk into the void itself to get it.”

I let out a sigh, eyeing the bottle for when he would put it down so I could reach over and take another long sip,

“I want to explore this bond as well, Asher. I do, it could end up being infinitely useful, but my mother, and… my word comes first.”

I fell silent, listening to the crackling fire just beyond us. If he wanted to delve into my mind, he'd see it all, my desperate, almost childlike clinging to the memory of my mother and to the promise that William had dangled in front of me. He'd see the desire to adhere to the word I'd given the Underlord, even if I'd been coerced into it. He'd even see, if he delved far enough, how despite it all, I didn't hate the man as much as he might have expected I would, as much as I had expected I would.



[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

He looked into her mind. She had pried into his, though allowed, so now hetook the chance. It was the only way for them to understand each other, truly. Nothing seemed to surprise, save for the desire she felt for William despite the fact he had coerced her, enslaved her in a way. It made no sense. Asher would have never allowed anyone to do that to him, nor would he do that to anyone.

It was nice to have someone next to him, even if it was not going to be for the night. He couldn’t share the bed with her, it didn’t seem right. He WANTED to, but he couldn’t. For one being close to someone frightened him, second his mind was occupied by a certain blonde handmaiden. There was also something else... a need... a desire... to be close to someone. The bond Lylek had forced in them could provide that.

”And if he’s lying? Look you’ve been in my mind. You know I’m not thrilled he manipulated you, stole what was yours to give. My wife... I... we were each other’s first, and...”

Asher took another shot at the bottle.

”Look I just don’t want you to be manipulated. I get needing to know. I have my own demons, want answers to my own questions, but don’t sell your soul to get them... and if you already have... then... let me be that for you.”

Asher rolled his head over and looked at @Umai. Those eyes of hers were not fair, but even more so her lips. He looked back up at the top of his tent. The bond would only be harder if they got involved. Asher couldn’t. All he could do was help through. That’s why he sat up. Asher knew between the alcohol and being next to her in the bed, it was not a good combination.

 

[Valgærd]

And if he's lying?

I looked into Asher's gaze, pursing my lips. It takes energy to lie. No, anyone can lie. It takes energy to lie convincingly. Like now, I could have rolled my eyes, adopted a knowing smirk, I could have relaxed my shoulders and subtly adjusted my posture, then my lips could have spoken any words I liked. I could have told him that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the man wasn't lying. I could have told him I had proof.

But that all took energy.

The truth, the naked, undeniable truth, was that I didn't know if William was lying to me. What would be the point of lying to Asher about that? How would it serve me to let him think something I knew not to be true? Besides all of that, he had a complete doorway into my mind, my innermost thoughts. He would know within moments that it wasn't true. I watched as he paused to take a swig from the bottle, accepting it back to take another of my own as he continued speaking. By now my head had begun to spin. Whatever this was... it was good.

I lay down on my back, feeling the whole of Ryloth spinning around me as I stared up at the roof of his humble, cozy tent.

For a moment I felt him looking at me. I wanted to turn my head, to look back at him, but everything was spinning, it was easier just to stare up.

"Why, though?" I asked.

Asher sat up. I lifted my hands, fingers attempting to brush against his back. Not necessarily a request to stay, but at the very least an indication that I wasn't done talking yet. When I again opened my mouth, my words were a little slurred. Perhaps that last drink hadn't been a great idea after all.

"Why do you care about... who does what... with me?" My brow furrowed, the alcohol had seemed to fog up my mind, making articulating what I wanted to say difficult. I tried again, "couldn't you... use this bond... our bond.. to experiment? Find out how we each respond to the other's pain? Suffering? You c-could torture me, or have someone else... do it. Study the effects, find out if you feel it too, how it could be used against us... that's what I'd do..."

I yawned, finally finding the strength to roll onto my side. However, my wound from Lylek was still fresh, and with a whimper I rolled onto the other side, now facing the tent proper, and the man sitting on the side of the bed.


[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

Why did he care what anyone did to her? Certain things were just wrong, and manipulating a woman to give the one thing she had intimate control over was one of those things. If [member="Umai"] had wanted to, really wanted to, Asher would not have cared at all. However his mind had been in hers and while she had given it, she used the world stole, it filled her mind. She had not wanted to give herself away. Asher felt.... sorry.... for her.

He felt her hands on his back. It was a touch he had not felt since his wife’s death. A woman’s hand was much different in how it felt when a man clapped one’s back. There was enough alcohol in them both that it caused him to look down at her. The want he had been hiding, guarding himself from, it fought to break free.

How long had it been since his wife’s passing? How long since he had been with a woman, or felt her touch. His wife had been the only woman he had been with, and he knew he could wait for another again. His mind flashed to images of the blonde he had met on Relovian. The Queen’s handmaiden. Asher had wanted to touch her, to be with her. Any mental shields were long gone because of the alcohol.

”You would choose pain over pleasure to test it?”

What had her past been like that she would choose torture. There were other ways to test the boundaries of their bond. If sensation was not one of them... Life was going to be more difficult than either of them wanted.

”I would not choose pain. I’ve seen enough of it, caused enough of it. No... I wouldn’t do that to you... I would employ other methods...”

Asher shifted to face her, his arm coming over top of her. Looking down, a few strands of loose hair fell over the right side of his face. Yes there were other methods other than pain...

 

[Valgærd]

Ah, curse this alcohol. I shouldn’t have had any.

Well, perhaps not. But I’m glad I had. Well… I mean I was, it was good, and it had taken the edge of like I wanted it to, but it was making my head so damned fuzzy. Even with this bond, or perhaps because of it, I could barely feel whatever Asher was feeling. Pity? Sympathy? A desire for another drink? Oh wait, that was me.

His question in response to me gave me pause. Would I? I… supposed I would, at least, I had tonight it seemed. I let out a sigh and shrugged,

“Pain is stronger.” I mumbled absently.

That was… a copout of an answer. Even in my inebriated state I knew that much. It was easier to inflict pain than to inflict pleasure, especially at higher intensities, but in truth, neither was stronger than the other. Both caused people to do some crazy things. Shelving the thoughts as best I could, I turned my gaze up to Asher as he leaned over me. He spoke, his tone low, his eyes on mine. I gazed up at him as he placed an arm over me, those strands of hair falling over his face.

Clumsily I reached up a hand, seeking to tuck those strands behind his ear.

“Other… methods?” I placed a hand on my forehead, groaning at the spinning, “William… wouldn’t like that…”

I couldn’t help it. A giggle escaped my lips. Why? What was it about making the man who held my leash angry that was so… deliciously appealing? Clearly, I couldn’t handle my alcohol. I definitely needed to cool it. So, naturally, I reached clumsily for the bottle.

“William would hate that,” I droned, my words slurring a little, “he would hate you. He would make this face.”

… Pretty sure whatever I showed Asher wasn’t the vicious snarl I pictured in my head.



[member="Asher Mossa"]

 

[Asher Mossa]

Pain was stronger, easy to recognize, much more absolute. Pleasure... it was unpredictable, fickle, subjective. Perhaps she was right, that pain was what they should use. Asher feared in this state though neither of them would have any kind of control. Would they know when something had gone too far? Pain or pleasure, they would not be a good judge. Perhaps Asher did need to sleep outside.

He would have left already, but she said something.

”William… wouldn’t like that… William would hate that... William would hate you...”

Asher smiled, and he could not help but laugh. It stopped though as her touch, tucking the hair behind his ear wasn’t unnoticed. He wife had done that exact thing to see his face. The motion was usually followed with a kiss, but now he could not.

He fell onto his back once more.

”I don’t care if he hates me. If he hates that I could have the audacity to pleasure something he considers a toy...”

There was something there, something Asher came close to saying because the alcohol was pulling away at his filter. Asher would not allow him to say what he was thinking however, not as long as he was in some in some semblance of control. Everything was purely physical at the moment. Just because they had been in each other’s minds it did not mean they were intimate, or knew each other well enough to move beyond pure passion or lust.

”You have to admit... the fact he would hate it... makes you want that even more...”

[member="Umai"]

 

[Valgærd]

I smiled when Asher did. I’m not entirely sure why, perhaps it was the alcohol, perhaps the bond we shared, perhaps both. As he fell onto his back beside me and spoke, I shifted with a groan to look at him, propping myself up on my elbow, squinting at him,

“A toy? He said that?” I asked, my words a little slurred. I frowned, “wait… oh, right.”

I felt my cheeks grow red at the mistake I’d made. I hadn’t even had that much and already my mind was becoming giddy and unravelled. It took several moments to process what he’d said. Something he considers a toy. Was that… how William saw me? I’d been convinced that to the Crime Lord I was an asset, a coerced one perhaps, but under his thumb because he could use my skill. Had I been wrong? I could feel my heart beginning to race in my chest. Once again, I didn’t know if that was because my own emotions or Asher’s. Everything was so confusing.

I narrowed my eyes, my head leaning in my hand as I focused on him.

“Admit…” I began, slowly processing what he’d said. “I don’t know what I want. What he wants, what you want. Everyone’s wants just need to shut up.”

I squeezed my eyes shut and leaned forwards, burying my head into Asher’s chest. Everything was spinning. It was all so loud.

"Make them all shut up." I moaned, collapsing against his chest.



[member="Asher Mossa"]