[FOF] Compensa per il crimine in forma chiamò la morte

The Sun

a waning ember in twilight's lament
Cascades into obsidian, where shadows are sent.

@ Sarya Elaris

The necromancer would’ve lied if he’d say he hadn’t been a tad nervous about entering the grand ballroom of the Ylindar castle. Just how many nobles who had seen him and his companion within the ring would be present? However, he hadn’t agreed to this journey to hide within his inn room all day and force his companion to do the same. Who knows if they’d ever be able to experience the northern kingdom and its festival ever again? They were fugitives above all, their lives were on the line whether they’d hide themselves underneath the surface of the sea forever or decided to use their given time wisely and see the rest of the world which so desperately wanted them dead.

But he did ask his companion to lay low as they entered Ylindar territory. Dressed in a dark outfit in attempt of blending into the shadows of the castle, he continiously scanned the environment. Even now, with a drink in hand and gazing upon the castle’s breathtaking garden with a beautiful woman by his side, he couldn’t help but to remain wary. It wasn’t just his life on the line, after all.

”Perhaps we shouldn’t stay for too long,” he spoke to the woman beside him, voicing his recurrent thoughts out loud as he protectively wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Though he didn't usually consider himself getting into trouble, his voice did betray his lingering concern. ”Wouldn’t our inn room be just as entertaining?” the necromancer continued teasingly in attempt to lighten his previous comment, a tiny smirk smeared across his face as he briefly pulled her in closer. Gazing upon the castle’s windows, he could notice how the inside became more crowded as they spoke. He hadn’t seen Ezekiel nor his wife yet, which was probably for the best in this situation. Perhaps, when “safely” back in Lythrania, he could finally introduce them properly.

Hairstyle | Outfit

Seven days a week

I must be favored to know ya
I'll take my hands and trace your lines

The former sun sister had been nervous since she learned about the Royal family of Xaila visiting the Frostcrown festival in Ravaryn, knowing they had to be careful about showing their faces. Both she and her companion were dressed in dark clothes, hoping to blend with the shadows, not drawing too much attention to themselves. Due to her upbringing with the Sun sisters, the shadows very much felt like home to her, and black was already her favorite color, along with red. Something that obvious as she rarely wore other colors. Though, sometimes, she did like to add some gold jewelry to bring some contrast to the darkness, showing her wealthy roots. But right now, she refrained from doing that as well. And alas, she was not that rich anymore.

Not once had she looked at Rhysand when they entered, as her eyes roamed over the people dressed in their best and most beautiful shining attires, almost making them look dull compared to the others. However, when he quietly said something, and she looked back at his face, the word ‘dull’ was not the first thing that came to mind, allowing her to show him a bit of a smirk. She could hear the hint of concern in his voice, which honestly surprised her a bit, given that he had mostly been the one who wanted to attend. And well… Maybe she still had a habit of underestimating his intelligence, not thinking he would be smart enough to consider the risks. But who knew, perhaps, he was learning from his past mistakes. Which made her a bit proud, even if she would not admit this to him.

”Look at you,” She said, giving him a subtle side-eye with a tempting smile, clearly amused. ”Finally learning to see some sense.” The woman continued, leaning into his embrace before letting her eyes go over the crown one more time. Not looking at him when he continued questioning whether their inn would be just as entertaining, even if the smile betrayed the fact that she had heard him. Her attention, however, was drawn to someone else walking into the garden, dressed in Xailan attire. So, when she felt Rhysand pull her closer, she responded quickly by leaning in further, turning her body towards him while hiding her face from the person walking into the garden. ”It would be.” She told him teasingly as she lured him away behind a bush, keeping a side-eye on the intruder until she disappeared out of sight. ”But need I remind you, I was not the one who wanted to attend this ball in the first place.” The woman continued, looking back into his eyes, cupping his face.

Outfit

The Sun

a waning ember in twilight's lament
Cascades into obsidian, where shadows are sent.

@ Sarya Elaris

Even though the pair perfectly managed to blend into the shadows, the necromancer made sure not to let his guard down. One suspicious glance or interaction and he’d be getting them out of here immediately. Yet he had to admit the ball to be a pleasant change of scenery, especially its less crowded but beautifully decorated garden. This grandiose castle and the Zinyra estate where he had grown up in couldn’t be more different.

A quiet chuckle rolled over his lips at the woman’s words. Perhaps she was right. As much as he would’ve loved staying true to his ignorant and reckless behavior, he hadn’t forgotten about the price they paid. Even if he’d never explicitly apologized to her, the thought of taking her beloved home away from her haunted him to this day.

“It’s about time I did,” he joked in return, not denying his presumably dumb decisions in the past. Every day since the events inside the arena could’ve been their last, and while he wouldn’t spend his remaining days hiding, he had become a little more cautious.

He was surprised to find her leaning into his embrace so suddenly, though the reason behind it soon revealed itself as an obviously Xailan individual – judging from their attire set foot into the garden. Turning his face away from the stranger and facing the woman in his arms, he let himself be led behind the bush as the culprit strolled past them and his tensed muscles loosened up again. ”I know,” he replied as a small smile tugged at his lips, the feeling of her hands feeling warm against his cheeks.”Chances are we might never visit the north again,” the necromancer continued. He was quite certain they wouldn’t. ”So we might as wel enjoy our time here, don’t we?” Sealing his words with a brief kiss pressed against the woman’s lips, his hands moved themselves towards her waist. The slow paced music from inside the ballroom faintly played within the distance, causing his dark eyes to light up in a cheeky demeanor as he pulled his companion in closer. ”May I have this dance, my darling?”

Hairstyle | Outfit

Seven days a week

I must be favored to know ya
I'll take my hands and trace your lines

Sarya often did not want to let Rhysand know how he made her feel, hiding the rush he gave her with those stoic looks. But she supposed he already knew he had some effect on her ever since that night in the desert. They both knew she was probably strong enough to leave him if she did not care about him anymore. So the fact she was still here, having traveled all the way to the most northern kingdom to stay at his side, was all the proof he needed to know she still cared about him. More than she dared to admit.

The dark-haired woman cheekily raised one corner of her mouth when he practically admitted to his own foolishness from the past, saying it was about time that he did. For a short moment, she wanted to respond to him, but then she decided to leave it as she did not want to keep rubbing it into his face when it seemed that he understood the damage he had done. Part of her still felt some pity for him, even if she was the one who had lost her entire family.

When she surprised him by leaning in so quickly, he eventually found the source of her eagerness as it was a distraction from being watched. But even so, the distraction was not entirely unwelcome since she did enjoy the closeness between them, luring him after her behind one of the bushes to get out of sight. And when it was just the two of them, she could feel his muscles relax while her hand brushed over his upper arm, down to his elbow. All while her other hand ended up cupping his face tenderly.

However, when he responded to her words, she frowned. Hmmm, alright, maybe this was the right moment to get more answers from him. ”What makes you say that?” She asked him after she accepted the brief kiss on her lips, responding lightly to it. ”The north could eventually be the best place for us when the festival is done, even if I do not particularly fancy the cold… It is, after all, the furthest away from our enemies.” She explained to him, knowing very well that there was something keeping him in Lemuria. That something had possibly lured him to Ravaryn as well. It was sneaky, she had to admit, but she had to know. Not that she would judge him if there was someone else, just as long as he would be honest about it. Back in their own kingdom, it was, after all, not strange to have multiple romantic relationships. Even if she could not deny that part of her that wished she could have him for herself.

The moment Rhysand decided to ask her for a dance, it became clear that she wanted to roll her eyes at him. Maybe some small part of her still felt shame for being with him, having given up her future for someone like him. What if someone saw them together. What if… Sarya still had not told him that she had seen Nymeria a couple days before the ball and that she would probably be here. ”Alright, fine. One dance.” She told him after contemplating a bit, simply because she could not refuse him. Perhaps she was right to feel shame for the weakness she felt for him. Her hand moved up, waiting for him to lead her away.

Outfit

The Sun

a waning ember in twilight's lament
Cascades into obsidian, where shadows are sent.

@ Sarya Elaris

The necromancer often caught himself thinking about how different things could have been if Ezekiel had simply followed him into the desert. Instead of being a fugitive on the run, he could’ve lived through his days peacefully, perhaps with both of his lovers by his side. He couldn’t help but wonder how Sarya and the summoner would get along, if they were to get along in the first place. All three of them couldn’t quite be considered easy in terms of their fiery and stubborn personalities. But maybe, that was were they’d find their common ground. The thought alone brought a small grin to his lips. Maybe someday, if the summoner finally found the courage to abandon his life of familial duty and dared to jump into the deep end for once.

While he had been quite hesitant to join Ezekiel on his journey to the north, he had to admit that the change of scenery was quite enticing. As long as he and Sarya would stay out of any Xailan’s sight and blend into the crowd, this night could become quite memorable.

The woman’s touch felt warm against his cheek. Contrary to the yearning touches between him and his Lemurian lover, those between him and the mage were often laced with a natural kind of tenderness. Even in the midst of their heated nights, he’d never once dared to dig his fingers into her sun-kissed skin too deep, or demandingly sink his teeth into her neck. Perhaps because underneath her undeniable strength and admirable survival skills, she remained to be a woman, just like he remained to be a Xailan man raised to put women like her on a pedestal.

Her follow words, however, managed to catch him off guard. Did she truly consider the north to be their best option? Well, her reasoning wasn’t irrational at all. ”Alright, ice princess,” he responded with a hint of faint sarcasm. ”I didn’t expect you to grow so fond of this kingdom in just a few days.” Pulling her in closer by the waist, his signature smirk lingered on his face. Of course he wasn’t planning on staying here, and he was quite sure she’d understand. All he had to do was to just explain it to her in a.. tactical manner.

So when she accepted his offer for one dance, he eagerly took the opportunity to convince her why the north certainly wouldn’t be their best option, the first step being by taking her raised hand and leading them into the type of noble-fitting dance he hadn’t been forced to engage in for ages. ”Look, I hear what you’re saying, darling. And if anything, you’re right,” he continued as they quietly swayed across their own, personal little dance floor behind the bush. ”But I know someone willing to provide for us in Lemuria.” He wasn’t quite sure how she’d react to knowing the exact relationship between him and his beloved summoner, so for the sake of his explanation, he decided to stick to the essential information for now. ”An old and dear friend of mine. A fellow sorcerer, from the Vylasar lineage.” he continued, choosing his words wisely. At least she’d know that the reason behind his plan to settle within Lemuria didn’t involve some other woman. ”We can trust him, and live out our remaining days comfortably under the rule of his family underneath the sea.” His. He made sure to emphasize that fact.

Leaning into her a little more, he briefly brushed his lips across her ear, their bodies pressed together as he continued to lead their slow-paced dance. ”Doesn’t that sound more appealing than the icy winds of the north?” he whispered into her ear, his thumb tenderly brushing against the fabric of her dark dress as he gently held her by the waist. Perhaps it was a little unfair to hide the full truth from her, but as he was willing to introduce them sooner or later, he didn’t really count it as a lie.

Hairstyle | Outfit

Seven days a week

I must be favored to know ya
I'll take my hands and trace your lines

One of the things that stung the most from what she told him was that she called her former family their enemies. Her own blood would have been forced to surrender her to the royal family should they find her again. She could never see them again… Her sisters, her mother… All the people who had taken care of her since the tribe was all about raising children together. The woman had sacrificed everything for him. And now they were here. Blending with the shadows in the coldest kingdom known to their continent, far away from the sweet embrace of the warm sun. Freezing.

Not that the cold was entirely unfamiliar to them, as the desert could grow rather cold during the night. Yet, this was a different kind of cold. It seeped into her bones, lingering. The only good way to keep herself warm was to sit by a fire, even if she preferred Rhysand’s arms. Like right now, because at least they still had each other. However, she could not help but wonder where he was when he was not with her because, if anything, she had rather good senses. She was not stupid. Something was keeping him in Lemuria, and that same thing had led him to this place. That was why she decided to test him.

His response, however, was able to make her smile against her own wishes. No matter how much she tried to hate his witty remarks, she could not help but secretly love that playful side of him. Then she still rolled her eyes at him, even if it would not get the message across as well as it usually did without the smile on her face. But this was not what she had meant, ofcourse. She did not want to stay in the north at all. ”I’m not… But who knows, maybe I could learn to love the dramatic landscapes.” She told him, not allowing the subject to be dropped, even if she was showing a hint of sarcasm. ”One day, in the summer, perhaps.” The dark mage added to make it clear that she certainly did not love the cold temperatures. After all, she still preferred the Xailain sun.

When he eventually asked her for a dance, calling her his darling, the dark-haired woman reluctantly accepted. Her brown eyes followed his movement like a snake stalking prey, dangerously tempting. Because she still wanted answers from him. And if she was not the only one hungry for his attention, she deserved to know. He took her raised hand and guided her into one of those decent dancing routines used mostly by higher nobles. Luckily, Sarya knew these kinds of dances as well, even if the sisters had a much different preferred type of dance.

Quietly, she began moving along with him, frowning again when he admitted to her being right, as she clearly had not expected that response from him. But then he continued talking about an old and dear friend of his who would be able to provide for them. A sorcerer from the Vylasar family. Well, truth be told, she found it a little hard to believe this would be solely a friendship-based relationship, knowing Rhysand. She made this very clear with the look in her eyes, even when he mentioned that this friend of his was a he. Having been raised in the Sun Sister tribe, the woman was not oblivious to the fact that a man could love another man, just like a woman could love another woman. And if Rhysand thought that he could hide who he was from her, he would be in for quite the surprise, because she already suspected such a thing from him.

”How generous of him to agree to harbor not one, but two highly wanted criminals inside his city.” She told him, baring her fangs a little bit, like a viper. Letting him know that she had her reservations about this plan of his. Maybe she needed a bit more convincing. Or simply the truth. Yet, when he leaned in a bit more, brushing his lips against her ear while he pressed his body closer to hers, she could not help but feel a pleasantly warm feeling going through her despite her annoyance. ”It does, but I would rather not find myself at the mercy of someone I hardly know.” The dark mage responded to him, and it was clear that her breath was already affected by the way he had whispered into her ear, which proved that she was, once again, unable to fully resist him.

While her breath was beginning to warm his neck, her hands slowly moved down over his arms, urging him to wrap his arms closer around her body. Within their own secluded little spot behind the bush, no one could possibly see them, after all. And these days, she had noticed a slight increase in her hunkering for him. It was almost driving her mad at times. Softly, she moved her lips to intimately kiss the places where her breath had already warmed his neck.

Outfit

The Sun

a waning ember in twilight's lament
Cascades into obsidian, where shadows are sent.

@ Sarya Elaris

The idea of staying behind in Ravaryn when the summoner would board the ship back to Lythrania more than repulsed him. Sure, the kingdom itself was a sight to behold, but he wouldn’t last a moon having to carry himself through the unforgiving temperatures each day. Lemuria’s temperatures, on the other hand, were a lot more pleasant. If living comfortably under the reign of his lover’s family meant being at risk for residing in Xaila’s neighboring kingdom, that was a risk he was more than willing to take.

Even so, the necromancer smiled at her words. ”Sunpeak only lasts for a mere three moons,” he playfully argued back. ”What about the remaining seasons? We’d grow bored of our inn room eventually.” No, they would not be staying in the north, that was certain. Even if he had to carry her back to that ship himself.

A low chuckle rolled over his lips at her words. Of course he could have known that his beloved desert rose wouldn’t blindly accept Ezekiel’s generous offer. No matter how much time he’d spent at her side ever since fleeing their homeland, he would always find ways to be stung by her thorns.

”I suppose that’s what friends do,” the necromancer replied, a hint of sarcasm lacing his voice, though he supposed that his statement to be true to some extend once the words were voiced aloud. ”We’ve all walked that fine line between loyalty and recklessness at some point.” In her case, it had been when she decided to save him back in the arena. In Ezekiel’s case it meant putting his marriage and reputation on the line in order to be with him. He would have done the same for both of them if the roles had been reversed, or so he liked to convince himself.

”I know, darling,” he simply replied after briefly pressing his lips below her ear. ”Just trust me.” Perhaps he wasn’t playing fair, planting his gentle kisses below her ear and down her neck as he tried to convince her, but staying within Lythrania was out of best interest for the both of them.

Apparently, two could play that game. A quiet groan escaped his lips as hers were pressed against his neck, reminding him that he wasn’t the only one able to weaponize his charm. His hands trailed down towards the curve of her hips, pulling her closer while shooting a brief glance at their surroundings. ”Perhaps we should’ve stayed inside our room,” he quietly teased her as his attention shifted back towards her, the sensation of her lips against his skin making him forget about the icy temperatures of the kingdom. ”Despite putting us at risk, I won’t be able to resist you.”

Hairstyle | Outfit

Seven days a week

I must be favored to know ya
I'll take my hands and trace your lines

The dark mage glared at him when he dared to argue back at her, giving her solid reasons for them not to stay in Ravaryn, even if she never intended to stay either. But he was right, ofcourse, something she truly hated to admit. So, in moments like these, she allowed her eyes to do the talking because she didn’t like how he cleverly dismantled the trap she laid out for him, which clearly showed. ”What is this? Rhys, I never thought I’d see the day you doubt your own capabilities to keep me entertained.” She told him with a little stab to his ego, mainly to protect her own. Distracting him from the subject while she called him out on being cocky? Yeah, well, maybe, an attempt at catching two flies with one clean strike.

”He must be a very good friend then, if he’s willing to risk a feud between his family and the royal Xailian family for you.” She told him, still trying to sting him with her words, even though she now realized how familiar this sounded. Deep down she wondered if her own family would have gotten in trouble for what she had done, and if they had to pay a price for her treachery. Something that silenced her when he eventually continued speaking, causing her to only glance at him when he tried to call her reckless. To her own eyes, however, she had never been disloyal to her own beliefs, or her people, and somehow, that softened her pain a little bit. This allowed her to shove this feeling of guilt away for a moment, trying to find her way back to the moment.

After all, the close proximity and the fact that his lips kept lingering dangerously close to the lobe of her ear made her feel … very warm inside. Which he made worse by purring the word ‘darling’ into her ear, pressing his lips down onto her skin and following up with the words ‘trust me’, instantly making her want to believe him. Quietly, she continued to move her hips along with the music coming from inside, letting his hands follow the movement as he trailed them down while he softly groaned to the touch of her lips against his neck. And as he pulled her closer, she so willingly leaned into him before his attention shifted to their surroundings. This did not prevent her from continuing to plant kisses, however, but when he spoke about the fact that they should have stayed inside their room, telling her that he would not be able to resist her, she could not help but let the corners of her mouth curl upwards into a teasing smile. ”Well, maybe, I don’t want you to.” She softly purred back into his ear, her voice a bit playful and challenging at the same time.

Outfit