Magna'est lay back against the pillows in the alcove, and indirect sunlight filled the room with a warm glow. A soft breeze flowed through the window over him, traveling out the open door to complete the tranquil atmosphere. In front of him, Zarnithia danced.
She was his favorite of all now, a saved-one with the most amenable spirit. Zarnithia needed nothing but him to be in the vicinity, and room to dance. Her movements were graceful and blessedly silent. It was all innate talent since dancing was discouraged outside of the Brethren's temples. Song and dance built comradery, and the commoners would make ill use of that.
Zarnithia spun on a single foot, her other parallel to the floor straight with toes pointed. Magna'est smiled as her eyes found him, and she rolled her arms upward like floating clouds. She was not the most beautiful he had saved, if one considered only the face. Her hair was a dirty brown, thin and stringy. Eyes narrow and not the large pools he usually preferred. There was a gauntness to her cheeks that he thought would disappear once her diet improved. They did not, though still, she was the most lovely. Magna'est had tired of neediness. Zarnithia was easy to love - the best of a long line of daughters.
Brother Vav'ian entered without warning. Magna'est lost his smile as Zarnithia stopped dancing and moved toward his desk. She was wary of others viewing her dance, preferring to perform only when the room was empty of all save Magna'est.
"Your Eminence," Vav'ian said, bowing low. "Forgive my intrusion." His words were spoken in haste, foretelling bad news to come. At least the man recognized the disagreeableness, which was more than he could say for some. Most would barge in thinking their words more relevant than coordality.
"Quick as you can, Vav'ian," Magna'est said. He looked at Zarnithia and smiled, letting her know she was the most important person in the room. It was essential to keep her focused.
"Brother Sy has returned from the south," Vav'ian said. "He was tasked to seek out that young teller, the one who has continued to tell the tale of the Answer."
"Ahh, the bold lad who does not value his life," Magna'est whispered, so as not to bother Zarnithia with his troubles. "Brothers Tranic, Unvey'la, and....who was the third that traveled with him?"
"Pa'que, your Eminence," Vav'ian said. He lowered his voice to match Magna'est's. "Though only Brother Sy has returned." The way Vav'ian said it, the way his eyes almost shook at the words, made the hair rise on the back of Magna'est's neck. Vav'ian leaned closer, his voice cracking as if he wished he weren't the one giving the information. "The red-haired demon has returned, and three of our Brothers have fallen."
"He's dead!" Magna'est eyes snapped to Zarnithia, her panic at his thoughtless loud words had her shifting back toward the corner. She was fragile in that way. He swallowed his anger and forced a smile. "Leave us," he said to Vav'ian, waving him away.
"I will be in the hall, your Eminence," Sy said, and quickly left the room.
"My love," Magna'est said, as he forced calm into his posture and rose from the seat. "It is news I wasn't suspecting, nothing more. He held out his arms, inviting her inside them. Her alarm fled, and she ran to embrace him. "You have nothing to fear when I am near." Magna'est stroked her hair.
Zarnithia looked up, the scars of her learning looking at home on her skin. "It frightens me when you yell."
"Then, I shall be more careful." Magna'est gently embraced her face and kissed her forehead. A light peck to re-enforce that she is loved beyond all. Her smile told him he succeeded. "I must attend to some duties. Shall I have some of those grapes you enjoy brought?"
"Oh, aye," Zarnithia replied, and danced from his arms, spinning around the room. "I will save some for you." It pleased her to be kind and pleased Magna'est that he was the target of it. Such a wonderful daughter to love.
