Vex – she was really vibing with the name the more she thought of herself in that term – spent the next hour or so just getting to know Leilynn a little better. She pushed the idea of their future to the back of her mind, tried to not think about their impending union, whenever that happened to be, and just tried to settle into the present.

  They talked about little things. The fact that Leilynn was an avid tea enjoyer, and enjoyed experimenting with her own blends. She preferred herbs with a slightly bitter base, and then complimenting it with sweet and spicy fruits found throughout the Isnds.

  “It’s one of the only good things the Criobani did during their occupation,” Leilynn observed. “Introducing us to tea. A shame they’re terrible at it themselves, completely locked in their idea of what tea should be.”

  “And what’s that?” Vex asked.

  Some part of her was eager to hear more about where she came from. Any information not tainted by Rua’s bitter memories, of the horrors of war and the occupation that followed.

  “Bitter. Just some herbs, boiled in water. Well enough by itself, I suppose, but at the end of the day, it’s just bck grass water.”

  “Have you thought of adding milk?” Vex asked, going from Otter’s memories of tea. A pity this world didn’t have honey. At least, not the kind Otter was accustomed to. “And maybe sugar?”

  “I have, but I find it dilutes it too much. Perhaps others would enjoy it, but not I.”

  “Fair, I guess.”

  Leilynn did a little half-smile, the left side of her face quirking into a weird little pleased grin. Vex found it very honest, and kind of attractive.

  “What are we waiting for?” Vex asked. “You said we’d get news soon.”

  “Patience. The future always comes on its own time, regardless of what we might want. Just remember that with a little care, we can make small changes to the narrative. Even lie about the story we’re telling. But the story itself must remain the same. She should be here soon.”

  “Her? Who?”

  There was a knock at the door, and then Liaru helped herself in, giving a small nod of her head to Leilynn, and offering nothing to Vex.

  “Apologies,” she said. “We have another visitor, asking after you, Seat Kurangi. Perhaps you’d like to conduct business in the salon?”

  The unspoken “and out of my Mistress’ bedroom” was left unspoken, but her disapproval was clear.

  Leilynn’s expression changed, her eyes widening, casting her gaze about the room. “Where am I? When am I?”

  “Rua’s house,” Vex said. “Uh, now? I don’t actually know the date.”

  Leilynn looked from Liaru to Vex, and then she paled. “It’s you.”

  “Last I checked, I was me, yes.”

  Leilynn recoiled, standing up, and strode from the room, nearly bowling Liaru over in her haste to leave.

  “Okay, I know I haven’t bathed today, but that seemed a little rude,” Vex grumbled. “Do I stink that bad?”

  “Yes,” Liaru said. “But I am also sure there are other reasons why she’d wish to be away from you.”

  Her gaze once more flicked to the colr around Vex’s neck, her gaze calcuting. Her eyes were assessing, looking for a threat.

  “We haven’t been introduced yet, have we? I forgot, sorry. My name’s Vex. It’s short. For Vexurian.”

  Liaru paused. Her eyes narrowed. And then, very neutrally, she said, “I see.”

  “I doubt it, but I’m sure you’ll figure out my importance if you think about it really hard.”

  In truth, Vex had no idea what that importance might be. But there was one of Otter’s memories rattling around in her head. An old important lesson she’d once learned.

  If you talked long enough, people would always make assumptions. But if you talked less, they’d make assumptions of what they feared the most.

  Liaru seemed to think it over, and then bowed her head a little more respectfully.

  “Maybe make some tea, if we have any,” Vex said. “For Leilynn, of course. I think she’s a little spooked. Something with some–”

  “I know how she likes it prepared,” Liaru said coolly, albeit not with the same level of distrust she’d had before. “I will attend to it, as well as something for the guest.”

  She bowed her way out of the room, and too te Vex realized she had no idea who had come calling. She made her way to the salon, to find Jua of all people sitting sprawl-legged in Mama’s favourite chair, Leilynn on another seat and pulled up next to her as if for protection. Behind them both was Jua’s personal bodyguard, a woman named Reyna. Mama’s memories let Vex know that she was pretty good with that two-handed axe she liked to carry around, but was nothing insurmountable.

  Both Jua and Reyna were in uniform. So, this was an official visit. Jua was throwing around her power, like it was her cock.

  “So, it’s one of the two mystery women,” Jua said from her seat. Those eyes made sure to take in that colr. “The more interesting of the two, as well.”

  “What’s kickin’, chicken?” Vex said.

  Jua blinked at that. Right. They didn’t have ‘chickens’ here. I mean, there was a small, flightless bird simir to chickens and that served a simir purpose and even tasted just like them, but they didn’t call them that.

  Jua recovered after a moment, her cocky smile returning. “My sister here tells me you’re quite the monster.”

  “That’s me,” Vex said, “monster girl extraordinaire. Name’s Vex. And you’re Jua, also known as the queen of bitches.”

  “Vex, huh? With that colr, and that curly hair… Hmm. I almost believe it. What game is Rua pying at?”

  Vex shrugged, crossed the room, and sat down. She made sure to kick her feet up on the table, trying to make as rexed a position as possible. She had to let Jua know she wasn’t scared of her, that out of everyone there, she was the predator, the one you didn’t fuck with.

  Reyna shifted uncomfortably, but Jua held up a hand to still her and smiled.

  “I was hoping to get to talk to you. The other one as well. I hear you and the pink-haired one assaulted one of my soldiers guarding the gates.”

  Vex smirked. Leilynn flinched for some reason, retreating further into her chair.

  “Yep. Like a fucking pinata. Good times.”

  “Witnesses reported the other one using that word. What is this ‘pinata’?”

  “Eh, cultural thing. Honestly, I only have scant memories of it. Very unreliable. You’re better off asking Otter. All I know is there’s candy involved.”

  “So this Otter isn’t from the Isnds?”

  “You can ask her that yourself. But c’mon, we both know you want to ask me where I’m from. Let’s skip to the good part.”

  “I know where you’re hinting you’re from,” Jua said. “Which makes me not trust it. You’re trying to tell a story, without actually saying it. But I don’t know why you’d make the cim, given who I am, and what my duty to the Isnds is.”

  “Burden of Vigince. Safeguard the Isnds against external threats. Specifically the Criobani Empire. Very noble. Very brave. I’m sure it gets you id all the time.”

  Jua snorted at that. “My cock gets me id. No one cares about my reputation.”

  “They’ve had to, with a nose like that. Ain’t no one having sex with you for your looks, especially given your bony ass.”

  “Dreamer, I hope you’re not actually Criobani. I’d love to fuck that attitude right out of you.”

  Vex shrugged, spreading her hands. “Sorry, I’m spoken for.”

  That seemed to wake Leilynn out of her reverie a little, who tugged at Jua’s sleeve. Jua for her part rolled her eyes and brushed her off.

  “Not now.”

  “You don’t understand, she’s a monster, I know what she is.” There was genuine terror in Leilynn’s voice. Not the usual serene tone she had, or the pyful and flirty cadence.

  Jua seemed to pick up on it. “When do you hail from, sister?”

  “The past,” she said in a stammer. “I’m supposed to be in my lessons. Father was just with me–”

  “Your father’s been dead five years,” Jua said. “And you haven’t been with your tutors in seven. So, at least that long.”

  “My… my father dies?” Leilynn said, tears coming to her eyes.

  Vex wanted to stand, wanted to go to Lei, wanted to comfort her a little. But this Leilynn, this version of her who knew her so little, was scared of her, and wouldn’t react well to the attempt.

  “Oh, for fuck sakes,” Jua said. “Fables. I’m sorry. I didn’t think before… I thought you might already…”

  “Liaru!” Vex called. “Where’s that tea?”

  As if on cue, Liaru strode into the room with a tray prepared, a steaming cup already poured with a pot beside it. She served the tea to Liaru, who greedily drank it down as if to drown the news away.

  Something like settled nerves came over her, but her hands still shook, and Liaru took the cup away before she could drop it. She refilled it, and handed it back, and this one Leilynn took the time to sip at.

  “Maybe something stronger?” Vex supplied, and Liaru gave her a knowing look and departed.

  “Why is my sister so terrified of you?” Jua asked.

  She still looked like she was attempting a zy posture, but there was something a little more alert to her. Her gaze gnced at the wall, and Vex had a hard time not noticing the giant spear leaning against a mantle. Reyna, the bodyguard, had also shifted a little, her stance a little wider. She wasn’t quite ready to start swinging that axe, but she was preparing for the eventuality.

  “We get married apparently,” Vex said. “Weird, I know. Just found out yesterday. Must be pre-wedding jitters.”

  “Ah, so you’re the one.”

  “You heard of me?”

  “Not as much as one would think. Leilynn doesn’t confide in me as much as she should.”

  “I wonder why.”

  Jua looked over at her still distressed sister who was barely holding onto her cup of tea, and bowed her head. “That’s fair.”

  “Well, here’s what you need to know. Yes, I am Criobani.” When Reyna began to ready her axe, both Vex and Jua waved her down. “I am formerly a Vexurian. The only known Vexurian to escape her armor.”

  Jua sat up straight, her feet both firmly pnted on the floor for a change. “How?”

  Vex shrugged. “You’d have to ask Rua. She’s the one who pulled me out. I owe her everything. I follow her now.”

  “No loyalty to the Empire?”

  “Why would I? They stuck me in that thing, ensved me.” A half-truth. She didn’t care for the Empire one way or the other, since she had no memories of her own about it. But loyalty to them seemed foolish considering what they’d done to the woman she’d previously been. “Rua gave me a second chance. One I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

  There was a gleam in Jua’s eye. A desire for something. For the first time, Vex thought that maybe being upfront about her origins, even if some of it was misleading, might not be a good idea.

  “Sureya will want to talk to you,” Jua finally said. “She won’t like you being on the Isnds, but she’ll see the importance in it.”

  Vex didn’t have much in the way of memories of Sureya from Rua. And what she did have weren’t exactly great. A mother figure, but a distant and cold one.

  “Well, I’m sure she can come visit herself, preferably when Ma… Rua’s home.” Vex tried to keep the wince off her face from the near slip-up.

  “I know what your Pact is,” Leilynn said quietly. “I know why the Criobani were wise to put you in that suit.”

  “Woah, hey, spoilers. Let’s keep that one on the downlow.”

  “No, she’s–”

  “Hey, ixnay on the Ifecraftery.”

  “What’s this?” Jua said, a genuine smile coming over her face.

  “She’s a weapon,” Leilynn hissed.

  Vex compined, “Oh come on. Like, ten minutes ago, you were being nice to me and flirting with me, and now you’re outing me, pick a side. I thought you were trying to get me to like you so we’d get married or something.”

  “I will never marry you,” Leilynn growled.

  “I feel like I’m missing something,” Jua said. “Which is the usual with you. But I’m eager to hear more.”

  “She is a weapon. And the only reason I can think of why we might get married is so we can bind that weapon to us, to wield it against our enemies. You don’t know what she does, what she’s capable of.”

  “Technically, I don’t even know what I’m capable of,” Vex muttered, and when Jua looked her way, she wished that half of her mind wasn’t made up from Otter’s.

  “Well, maybe–”

  “Someone’s at the door,” Leilynn said, her whole body jolting as if she’d been struck by lightning.

  “What?” Jua said. “Again with this? Let the servant–”

  “No, someone’s at the door, he’s here, he’s here, he’s–”

  “Must be losing my touch,” a man’s voice said.

  Vex went cold at hearing it. She knew that voice. Knew that arrogant tone, that self-assuredness that, even though he’d been caught, it was too te to do anything about it.

  She turned to the doorway, and leaning against the frame, cd in dark leathers and a bck cloak, a dagger held loosely in one hand, was Il-Su, the Bringer of the Long Quiet, Silence.