02-02-2019, 10:07 PM
Armande dismissed the boy as irrelevant. Certainly not someone to deign to give a response to. No. This, here and now, was the focal point, the center of it all. Valeriya and this....woman. Rowan.
And he felt uncertainty creeping closer, the slow movement of shadows across a courtyard as the sun falls.
The Chongg Ran gave his features glacial stillness. But inside, plans chased schemes that pursued purpose. He had been brought to Valeriya- and to a lesser extent, to the Khylsty- for a reason. The more that transpired, the more clear that became.
And yet this creature stood before her, one of the gods, soon to awaken to her naked ambition. Deadly potential before them, singing her siren's song to Valeriya. He very much longed to flip out his telescoping blade and take her head. He might be fast enough, as lulled as they all were. Except for the boy. He seemed very keyed up. Armande had no doubt those flames he played with would consume him and Valeriya in seconds the moment her head hit the floor.
It was so much easier when they were young. Cleaner.
Valeriya simply did not know. Plans behind plans. The woman could fail the ceremony. It was possible. Or balk at the requirements. Valeriya's flayed back. Illarion's burned face. Torn genitalia. Ripped out tongues.
This place betrayed her ease and comfort. The thought brought a sliver of peace. She'd not easily be the type to make such sacrifices. And Valeriya would kill her, budding sisterhood or no. A small smile formed, one of pride. Oh, she would.
But....if, somehow, she passed, things would become more complicated. She would have been inducted into the Khylsty, with all that implied. His hands, even as Rasputin reborn, would be tied.
Valeriya was the key, her naivete and inexperience the problem.
He spoke. "I will contact those sheltering our people. We can meet at the safe house." Whether he participated was another matter. He had things to prepare.
[[Sorry it took a while. Had trouble finding him. If'n yalls wanna end the thread here and begin at the safehouse, thats fine with me.]]
And he felt uncertainty creeping closer, the slow movement of shadows across a courtyard as the sun falls.
The Chongg Ran gave his features glacial stillness. But inside, plans chased schemes that pursued purpose. He had been brought to Valeriya- and to a lesser extent, to the Khylsty- for a reason. The more that transpired, the more clear that became.
And yet this creature stood before her, one of the gods, soon to awaken to her naked ambition. Deadly potential before them, singing her siren's song to Valeriya. He very much longed to flip out his telescoping blade and take her head. He might be fast enough, as lulled as they all were. Except for the boy. He seemed very keyed up. Armande had no doubt those flames he played with would consume him and Valeriya in seconds the moment her head hit the floor.
It was so much easier when they were young. Cleaner.
Valeriya simply did not know. Plans behind plans. The woman could fail the ceremony. It was possible. Or balk at the requirements. Valeriya's flayed back. Illarion's burned face. Torn genitalia. Ripped out tongues.
This place betrayed her ease and comfort. The thought brought a sliver of peace. She'd not easily be the type to make such sacrifices. And Valeriya would kill her, budding sisterhood or no. A small smile formed, one of pride. Oh, she would.
But....if, somehow, she passed, things would become more complicated. She would have been inducted into the Khylsty, with all that implied. His hands, even as Rasputin reborn, would be tied.
Valeriya was the key, her naivete and inexperience the problem.
He spoke. "I will contact those sheltering our people. We can meet at the safe house." Whether he participated was another matter. He had things to prepare.
[[Sorry it took a while. Had trouble finding him. If'n yalls wanna end the thread here and begin at the safehouse, thats fine with me.]]