Despite dressing down, they stood out like dogs balls as they walked through the slums. They were too clean – their skin, their clothes, their hair... The only people who tended to look this clean were the whores in the brothels and the clients who came from the other side of the city to 'visit' them.
Kalys hadn't objected to her desire to visit the place; she hadn't told him why, though. Her eyes roved the streets, taking everything and everyone in.
"Are you looking for anyone in particular?" He asked quietly.
"No," she replied.
She wasn't lying, but if she did see those kids from last time or anyone she used to know, she would like to stop and speak with them.
The place was bustling; it usually was, with people hawking their wares – often stolen – from makeshift stalls or even straight from their pockets or coats. Every now and again she spotted the odd familiar face but not anyone she was comfortable speaking with now.
"Sunny?"
Sun turned at the voice, smiling when she saw Elyra.
"El," she greeted, making her way to the other woman, where they quickly embraced.
Kalys was a step behind her, looming. Elyra eyed him, then Sun. Did she see the resemblance?
"Didn't think I'd see you again," Elyra said.
"Disappointed?"
"Perpetually."
Sun looked to Kalys. "Can I have a minute?"
There was a flash of disbelief that she would ask, or even suggest, he stand more than a foot away from her in this cesspool.
"Please?"
She saw the tightness in his jaw, but he acquiesced, backing up just a bit. Not enough for her. She grabbed Elyra by the arm and pulled her closer to the side of the street, out of his hearing.
"Who is that?" Elyra asked.
"Long-lost brother," she replied. "How have things been here?"
"Same as always."
"No change at all?"
Maybe it was too soon to have made much of a difference. She was getting ahead of herself.
"Rosh turned up dead; a lot of people have been happy about that."
"I'd've thought Gish would be on the warpath and making everyone miserable."
"Shit no, Gish died years ago."
"I imagine someone's going to try and step into his place."
"Yeah, but right now they're fighting each other. So what information are you fishing for here?"
"Nothing in particular, just getting the lay of the land," she shrugged.
"Thinking of moving back here? Bring that handsome brother of yours; I'll show him a good time."
Sun grinned, fighting down the irritation. "He'd never let me live here again. Nor would I want to. I have a bag of gold; do you want it?"
"What's the catch?"
"No catch. I just remember how shit it is to live here."
"I won't say no to free gold."
Sun reached into the pocket of her pants and deposited the coin purse into her waiting hand.
"I need to get going. Take care of yourself, El."
"I'd tell you to do the same, but it looks like your brother is pulling all the weight there."
She looked over to where Kalys was staring, not just at them, but at their surroundings, ensuring there were no threats.
Elyra wasn't wrong. He did take care of her. Despite whatever misgivings he might have had or the risk of being caught, he had stayed with her because she'd needed him. When she had woken a couple of times during the night, he had still been holding her hand. And in the dim light she had seen him completely relaxed as he slept. She couldn't pinpoint a time she had seen him relaxed at all. He appeared calm and unaffected, but not relaxed.
And when they had woken in the morning, he before her, he'd let her sleep and just stayed and held her hand. Of course, he'd slipped out the balcony as soon as she was awake. Couldn't risk the door. But he hadn't wanted to leave her to wake alone. He was full of little considerations like that.
He also continued to train her as well, another thing he did for her. Sometimes those sessions lead to frenzied kisses on the training hall floor, but not all the time, much to her disappointment.
She didn't have much to offer him, except her loyalty and faithfulness. She needed to figure out more, considering everything he did for her.
"Bye, El."
Sun left the other girl, rejoining Kalys.
"What was that about?" He asked.
"Girl talk."
"I don't like you keeping secrets from me, Sun. Why did you give her money?"
She was keeping a secret from him. It had seemed sort of harmless before, but now the omission was beginning to make her feel guilty.
"We really weren't talking about anything important; someone we knew just died, and he was a big fish around here. I was wondering how that had affected things. I gave her money because life here is hard, and that money could get food or medicine should she need it."
He seemed to relax, if only slightly.
"There is something I should tell you," she said, avoiding his eye.
That brought the tension back, which just looked like another level of stillness.
"I've been taking money from the Illusen accounts," she said, cringing. "A lot of it."
At least he seemed willing to hear her out before voicing any kind of rebuke. "Why?"
"I've been working on getting food and medicine and clothes to the people here. Buying the supplies and hiring the people to distribute it cost more than I had initially thought it would. I'm sorry for doing it behind your back, but please don't stop it."
He looked around at the people, as if trying to see the results of her work. If she couldn't, she doubted he would.
"I won't stop it. Part of your duties as Lady Illusen include charitable works."
"I know, but I'm keeping this one secret. I don't want it getting out. Since we're not claiming credit for it for our image, I wasn't sure if it would be allowed."
He rested a hand on her shoulder, drawing her gaze. "Do what you need to, however you feel you need to do it. Just don't drain the coffers dry."
She offered a tremulous smile then, relieved and grateful. When they continued walking, she itched to hold his hand. It was likely no one they knew would be here, but she was too scared to risk it.
They reached the gravesites without incident, Nick's flowers still there but drying out and wilting.
Kalys followed a step behind her as she gathered more flowers for them, even weaving chains to decorate the stones with.
It was a beautiful, peaceful day. And not for the first time – or last – she wished her family could be alive to enjoy it. It was hard not to imagine what life would be like if they were.
Would she have been accosted in the street and massacred a heap of people? Been dragged off to Perdition? She might never have met Kalys...
She paused in her weaving, looking across from her where he sat with the flowers gathered in his lap, holding them for her.
"What is it?" He asked.
"I'm glad we met," she uttered softly, her cheeks colouring at the earnest admission. "I'm sorry for the difficult time I gave you in the beginning."
He seemed momentarily surprised by her words, but a gentle smile played at the corner of his lips.
"I could have made it easier for you," he said. "I'm sorry I didn't. And I'm glad we met as well."
She shot him a warm smile before returning to her work.
They spent the entire first half of the day there; once she'd finished with her chains, they just basked in the sun until it got too hot, and then they shifted to the shade of the nearest tree. She lay in the grass with her head on his lap, enjoying the way he ran his fingers across her scalp and through her hair. It was easier to be at ease around him now that she wasn't in constant fear of him realising her deviant feelings. She could stay like this all day.
"I'm not keeping you from your work, am I?" She asked, gazing up at him.
He was leaning against the tree and had even allowed himself to close his eyes and enjoy the peace. She had no doubt if he sensed any kind of threat, he would be prepared to face it in an instant, but it was nice to see he was capable of this.
"Nothing that cannot wait," he replied. "But we will need to leave soon to prepare for tonight."
That put a damper on her mood. Though Kalys had given her the chance to stay home and give it a miss, she would feel bad about leaving him to make her excuses. The least she could do was her duty.
It had felt a bit like being in a bubble out here, not having to worry about being seen or anyone coming upon them.
They were going to be here for the week; maybe they could come out and do this again. There was a privacy even the estate at Kolver didn't have.
"I suppose we should make a move," she said, peeling herself off of him and the ground.
She offered her hand down to help him up, which seemed to surprise him for a moment, but he did take it.
He even kept hold of her as they headed back towards the city, the smile never leaving her face.