renascentem

As sunrise peeped through tarp and onto her face, she squinted and flinched at the brightness, vowing to burn that inefficient tarp one day. Her head was pounding, her mouth was dry, and her memory was hazy. She was too warm and comfortable to move, so she contemplated closing her eyes and drifting back off to sleep, placing her head back down onto the pillow... which was not a pillow. It was breathing. Opening her eyes again, she made the alarming discovery of Damon sleeping next to her. Skin to skin.

Eleadora startled, jolting away from him in horror and covering her gasp. Hoping it was a nightmare, she rubbed her eyes. But from the goosebumps all over — really, all over — she knew it was real. She felt unclean, throwing on clothes and combing out her hair. Damon was still sound asleep behind her, looking like a marble statue, with his chiseled chest rising and falling and his waist covered in white bedsheets. Looking at him sent shivers down her spine. Her memory was blurry.

Her only other similar experience was the night in Lord Paulos' manor. He poured drinks and pursued her. She could still feel the ghosts of his hands. It was hard to tell if this was different. She felt regret, and yet looking at him made her heart race and swell. It was easier to push it aside, to blame the drinks and male pursuit. Eleadora left without a sound, hoping not to wake him up and deal with the awkwardness that would follow.

After bathing in the forest stream, she felt recovered from the aching and sluggishness from the morning. A familiar little boy scampered up to her with high energy when she walked into town.

"Eleadora, wasn't that your name?" He rasped excitedly, then added, "Ma'am."

She nodded and smiled, trying to hide her wincing, "Good to see you, Niko."

"Boy, you look tired! What, did you get beat up last night?"

She shrugged, grimacing humorously, "Something like that."

"Damon must still be asleep, the bum," Niko laughed, "It's awful late. How much did you drink last night?"

In surprise, she paused for a moment.
"How do you- where did you learn about such things?"

He laughed as little boys did when knowing something they shouldn't.

"This isn't the first night he's done it, ma'am," Nico giggled, "For as along as I've known him. My mama would make him wash his mouth out with soap. Sometimes I bring him a cheap cut of greasy duck or some citrus fruit. He likes those for hangovers."

"Well, I'm not his maid," She scoffed, but felt oddly warm about the thought of Niko and Damon's friendship.

"Might make you feel better too," He insisted, then handed her a rolled up parchment, "Here. Today's news. Thought you might want to know, since you're from around there."

Eleadora took the paper from Niko and frowned, "Around where? What're you talking about?"

Niko was already handing off papers to more passerby before she could question him further. She unraveled it and began to read. But the first headline made her blood run cold:

PANDEUS DECLARES WAR ON ORMOS

She couldn't read any more. Her fingers clenched the paper, nearly ripping it, as she tried to calm herself. Pandeus declaring war on Ormos... Damocles must have lost his mind. There was no way such a small polis could stand a chance against a major metropolis. Unless, of course, he had a new supply of soldiers. Ones that were undeniably loyal, inhumanly ruthless, and worthless enough to throw away. The shadow soldiers. Which meant that Favian had been sold.

She flew down the ladder to get what she could and get on the first boat to Pandeus. Praying to Saint Cyra that there would be a ship from Ormos traveling to Pandeus, she left the parchment on the cot and raced towards the docks. People were knocked out of her way, but she was frantic. The docks were crowded, but when she went to the ferryman, he shook his head in confusion.