Chapter Text
I
The Halowed Round thrummed with magic Azune wasn't proficient enough to discern. He knew it was old, powerful in a way that made the hairs on his skin stand on end. As he circled the stage to find the tunnel that lead backstage, he caught the empty stage set rising high as aerial silks hung from the rafters, and on them, swinging, was a solitary figure.
He was too far away to recognize anything beside the orcish build, and as they leapt to the other rope, his heart leapt to his throat.
Shaking his head he went for the tunnel, finding Hal was impotent, as Azune's shift schedule would not allow him to join them at the Seven Stars tonight, but Hal needed to know.
The backstage was empty, no soul, just the remnents of magic that thrummed against his skin. Reaching out with his awareness, Azune caught the thoughts of a stagehand, muttering to themselves about talking to Tabias about securing the lighting rigs.
He found them further into the backstage area. "Excuse me," his keen eyes noted the way they jumped with a gasp, eyein. "Sorry for alarming you, I'm looking for Hal? I'm a friend of the Fang family.."
"Oh, yes, yes." The stagehand cleared their throat. Eyeing his Arcane Marshal armour warily "Have you checked the stage? He's due to arrive, if he hadn't already."
Figuring there's not much to do but wait, Azune retraced his steps to find himself back in front of the grand stage. The orc acrobat had moved to scaling down the tree with careful steps, then she turned, and recognition hit Azune.
"You're about twenty minutes too early." Shadia strolled across the stage as she spoke. "But he'll come soon."
Azune straightened to parade rest as he stared up at her. "I didn't say.."
"You didn't have to." Shadia reached the edge and sat down at it's edge, shrugging. "There's no reason for you to be here otherwise."
"I guess..." he trailed, looking up to meet her gaze. She had Thaisha's eyes, he always noted, big and brown. Her hair was a wavy mix of both Hal and Thaisha, gathered in a half braid behind her. "What are you doing here if Hal isn't here?"
"Rehearsing?" she perked an eyebrow, sounding as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Azune couldn't help but slip in a smile, looking up to the even pairs of white silk ropes arranged around the high set piece, the early noon breeze whipped them softly. "What are these for?"
Shadia laughed, jumping up to her feet. "Me, Matilde and Zari play the three fairies that warn Vokjan that even his Runjari- his followers- will betray him, there's a whole acro bit we do as we recite this whole ominous prophecy- and I love Zar and Tilde, I do, but I can't focus sometimes because they keep making me break character on purpose, so I come here before rehearsals start to clear my mind."
"And does Hal mind?" Azune couldn't help but ask.
"Please, I'm a grown woman and his assistant stage manager, he can't tell me no." Shadia motioned, a question in her eyes. Inviting.
Against his better judgement, Azune climbed onto the stage.
Shadia walked up to the first pair of silks, and before he even managed to blink twice, she had already hoisted herself upwards, at lwast double his height, if not more. "Renegade! Halt afore you raise to smite." She called, and Azune felt something rooting him in place as he watched her twirl against the rope, sitting like a falcon ready to dive. "to heed the lies we bring to light, Treason! Follows in your wake, if this cursed path you wish to take!"
"Treason?" The word came out before Azune even realised his lips moved.
Shadia's smirk made her eyes gleam, she untangled herself of the silk that bound her leg, and like a graceful bird, dove for the second pair on Azune's other side. She caught herself perfectly against the closest rope, wrapping it around herself so her upturned face looked down at his. "Aye, friends and foes together stand, below you as your march to your death bed." She twirled pulling herself upwards until she was held firm between the two silks, her voice otherworldly and foreign, it gave Azune pause: "as blood spills out from bodies strewn, beware, ye fool! of Azgra's boon."
Then she fell, spinning down like a stone kicked off a high ledge. Azune's eyes followed the rope, there was nothing really tethering her to-
The mage hand grabbed Vren and took him up with it, Azune watched it let Vren's struggling body drop and go splat-
He acted without thinking, reaching for his magic, his hand pushed outward to make the somatic shape to catch her. She froze mid air, her leg partly wrapped around the silken rope.
A frown appeared on her face "Did you just.. cast levetation on me?"
"Wh- you almost fell!" He protested, feeling his cheeks heat up as he eased the hold on her. Her leg held her as she reached for the second rope to tether herself. "That's sweet, but trust me- I don't fall that easily." With the practiced ease of a born preformer she detangled herself so she stood before him, the expression on her face as soft as Hal's sometime was, the same way that-
"Hey," she said, gently, as if he was some beast she needed to quell. "I didn't mean to freak you out like this, I'm sorry."
Azune hadn't realised his hand was still outstretched, even though the hold on the spell faded. He shifted to parade rest again. "Well, the prophecy part was ominous, so you can- you did a good job."
She hadn't let go of her gentle tone just yet. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes, yes of course." He bit out, hoping to dispose this moment of vulnerability. She didn't seem convinced, but she didn't push, merely nodded and began to make her way towards the end of the stage.
Turning after her, Azune noted Hal making his way down from the further end of the stairs towards the stage. "Hey, dad!" Shadia called out. "You have a visitor!" Thankful for the interruption, Azune slid down the stage to meet Hal in the middle, the older man's expression a question as he moved his gaze between Azune and his daughter.
"We need to talk." Azune muttered, feeling like a young boy under those eyes.
II
"I have news." Bolaire strolled into their bubble at the Seven Stars without even waiting to sit down.
Eyeing Murray, half passed out against the table, Azune straightened. "What news?"
"Good or bad?" Hal added.
"Well, that remains to be seen, my dear." Said Bolaire as she sat down in the last vacant chair as if it were a throne. "I have heard a rumor that king Augustus of Timmony was coming here to entreat with the Sundered houses, and that lady Cormoray will be hosting a joint gala to recieve him."
Azune narrowed his eyes, as Bolaire spoke, he could feel the faintest aura of magic- as if someone was watching them from some hidden corner. His gaze whipped around the room as Murray rose from the table, groaning. "You're saying we gotta be there?"
"Well, we must." Said Bolaire, his lips pursed. "To keep updates on their planning, we have to see to it that the king is safe."
"And if we can get to the king, we'll have a way into whatever they planned to use him for." Hal finished.
"Yes, quite." Bolaire didn't seem to be bothered at being cut off, his ceramic lips curled slighly upwards as he turned to Hal.
Azune leaned back, "What about security? Einfassen is probably involved in producing this event, and you all know just how many guys he has in his pocket. Do you think they'd try something?"
"There's no way of knowing anything for certain if we're not there." Bolaire shrugged. "Now, i know for sure I'm getting an invitation, and so will you.." he nodded at Hal. "The two of you, however, I can't say."
"Kora- sorry, Dean Keplenvisreck-" Murray sneered. "Will do everything she can to make sure I don't get invited, so unless I'm your plus one or somethin' ,I doubt I'm gettin' in there."
"You can come as my plus one." Azune found himself blurting. "I mean, Einfassen wants to promote me and I'm on track of worming my way in- and half of my fellow marshals already think there's something there..." he let the sentence fade.
Murray snorted into her drink. "really?!"
Color began warming his cheeks. "Uh, yeah? They saw us in the alley, remember? They haven't gotten off my back for that yet."
"The important thing is that you get Murray through the door- we need every eye we can get." Hal cut in. "Bolaire, is there a date yet?"
"Well, the king is due to arrive in two weeks, I'd assume they will start the 'save the date' process soon, so if you hear something..."
"We let eachother know." Hal summarised as he stood back up. "If you'll excuse me. I have some things I need to run by Nievda before Opening Night..."
"Of course, of course." Said Bolaire. "We must not keep you from your art long- it'll disrupt the process."
Watching Hal leave, Azune offered his hand to Murray, "You okay there?"
"I need sleep." She groaned. "But I'll be peachy soon. I'm warning you, partner, I ain't no dancer- so don't make me." She winked.
"Well, me neither." He chuckled, helping her to her feet as they walked out of the back room and back towards the bar. As they stepped out, the tug at his magical awareness disappointed, and towards the enternce, Hal still stood over a table, talking to an unseen group.
As they moved towards the entrence, Azune saw why: a half orc, a fair haired human woman and a familiar face sat there, Thaisha's eyes stared upwards, as if challenging Hal, who sighed and turned to leave. "Don't stay long, alright?"
"Of course not." Shadia's face were the picture of innocence. Then they moved to meet his. "Hey, Azune." She greeted.
"Hello. What- why are you here?" He enquired.
Shadia perked an eyebrow. "This is a bar still, you know. I'm just hanging out with Zari and Matilde." She gestured at the other two seated at her table.
Right. Azune reminded himself. This is what regular people my age go to a bar for- not planning to infiltrate a gala in darkened back rooms.
"Well, if Hal doesn't mind, who am I to tell you-"
"Are you off duty?" Asked the human with a slight purr.
Azune shifted, feeling Murray's amused form detach from him. "I'm off duty, yes."
"So you aren't gonna gonna tell on us?" Mused the half orc.
"Your buisness is your own.."
"So why don't you join us?" It was Shadia who spoke, Shadia who's pleading eyes rooted him to the spot, asking him to listen.
Fighting can't be the only thing that keeps you going. Thjazi said when Azune, seventeen, aimless and without purpose, begged him for advice when their days of rebelion were over. Try just living for a bit. Smile at a girl- or boy, whatever floats your will- a taste of the world beyond war can keep your spirit up longer than a dozen battles.
"I-"
"Just a quick mug of ale? Or whatever you like? It's on me." Shadia singsonged, and whatever magic she worked on him... Azune couldn't not refuse her wish to indulge in what Thjazi's memory urged him to as well.
"I guess i can spare a few minutes, you lot shouldn't walk by yourselves at this hour, tipsy and the like."
Matilde and Zari burst into a fit of giggles amongst themselves, and Shadia vacated a spot by her side with a soft bow.
Murray, eyebrow still perked, gave him a smile of encouragement. "I'll tell him you got them covered, I'm sure he'll be delighted to know they have someone making sure they get home."
Azune tried too keep his flaming cheeks in check as he nodded. "Happy to help." He blurted.
So he stayed, letting himself dip his toes into the other Dol-Makjar, the part of it he'd sworn so fiercely to protect.
Later, after they had dropped off the tipsy Matilde and Zari, Shadia steered him away from the Rookery. "Dad sent me to Elodie's for the time being." She grimaced. "Don't get me wrong, I love my sister and Ellie, but hadn't dad thought that maybe, I want in on whatever it is you guys are planning?"
"We're not planning anything." Azune quickly jumped to defend.
"Why were you in the Seven Stars, then?"
"I like it there." He tried to lie. "Just getting a few drinks with Murray."
"And my dad, and uncle Bolaire." Shadia's face held no amusement.
"That, was a coincidence-"
With her hands crossed against her chest and her eyes, accusing and hurt, he found it hard to lie to her convincingly.
"please, Azune." She pleaded. "Ever since the Faramh things have been so weird, everything changed, everyone around me seem to be walking on eggshells around me, but you- I may not know you well, but uncle Thjazi always said you were a good man, an honest man. Please don't prove him wrong."
Mentioning Thjazi was all she had to do to crumple up his pitiful attempt at lying. "It's complicated." He said, figuring he could at least give her something. "We're just trying to figure out how to tread forward with all those changes your uncle's execution brought to the city."
Shadia shifted as she walked, shivering slighly. Azune's mind fought against his drilled in propriety to at the very least let her borrow his cloak. "So what, did you guys think i won't notice? That i hadn't noticed everything going on with the Halovers right up our ass with the theatre? I figured my dad would give me at least some credit." She bit out in a huff.
"You are a smart young woman, I've no doubt." Said Azune. "But Hal just.. he wants to keep you safe."
She huffed again.
"You know, I used to get like that too, back at the rebellion." He found himself opening up without meaning to. "Drove Loza and Thjazi up the wall, getting myself into the thick of it. I wanted them to treat me like a man, not a boy. Got myself into quite a few close calls." He trailed off. "After what seemed like my third near death of the month, Thjazi threatened to leave me behind in the next Cause friendly village."
Shadia's eyebrows perked, her wide eyes did not leave his as she waited for him to continue. "He sat me down and said that if I keep trying to get myself killed to prove a point, then I'm a liability." Azune admitted. "He said 'proving a point isn't what we're fighting for, and at the end of the day we all have our parts to play."
"I get what you're saying." Said Shadia, "I just think... I can be of service, even if just to create a distraction at the gala while you four sneak of with the king or something."
Azune's feet screeched to a halt. "Where- where did you..?" He stammered.
Her eyes gleamed victoriously as she turned "My aunt Thimble taught me a thing or two about listening in."
the presence in the bar... "was that you i sensed?" He asked.
Her smirk told him everything he needed to know. Oh, she's good. he thought.
I know i am. Her message too, dripped with self satisfaction. Once again she managed to trip him off kilt.
"There's Elodie's place." Shadia pointed out, light as a doe, she bowed to him. "Think of my offer, just.. don't tell my dad."
"I won't." He vowed, already knowing he could not betray her trust.
Shadia skipped lightly to the door. Under the fine porch light, the warm magical stone lit her face in a golden shower, "and Azune? Thank you for walking me over, and.. staying to drink with us."
"Thank you for offering." He trailed off, voice cracking slighly as he cleared his throat. He found absolute truth in the words, for in those short hours he allowed himself to simply be, let down his guard if only for a bit. "Perhaps I needed it."
"Save me a dance at the ball, will you?"
Azune gave her a gentleman's bow. "Good night, Shadia."
She responded in kind with a lady's curtesy, overdramatized, accompanied by a soft chuckle that made the red in his cheeks burn hotter. "Good night, sir Arcane Marshal." She even adopted the high cadence he had heard from Einfassen's lackies.
Then she went in, leaving him with the memory of her chuckle to light his way back to the Brethen Hall.