Looking in the mirror, she did look… pretty. With an elegant dress across her body, it brought out her femininity, and reminded her of someone. Someone she hadn’t seen for twenty years… Someone she had called mother.
The colours of the dress were similar to the attire her brother wore; a deep purple, with orange edges and streaks down the sides. The dress almost reached down to her feet. It was light, didn’t retain heat, and would chill her to the bone if she wore it outside!
There was no makeup on her face, she didn’t own any of the pointless stuff. Her hair looked neat enough. It was held in a bun, with the odd blonde curl dangling around her ears. She wasn’t sure what prompted her to regrow it—she just felt like it—but it was now long enough to style.
“None of the slayers must EVER know about this,” she said to herself as she stepped back from the mirror.
She left her room and moved through the upstairs corridor in a confident stride. The dress parted from the force as she moved, revealing a single breast to the air. Sonja growled to herself, fixed the V-neck, then continued down the stairs, moving a little slower with her arm pressed against her chest. Unconventional.
“You look good, sister,” Kallum said to her. He was sitting at the bench table, diagonally opposite their father.
“My…” Kain’s mouth was wide open, his eyes were growing teary. “Daughter! You’ve grown into a stunning woman!” He began shaking his head, which was turning red.
“Settle down, Father. It’s still me!” Sonja went to reach a leg over the bench seat. It didn’t seem to work wearing a dress. She then walked around to the edge of the seat, sat down, and gently slid towards Kallum. “So, ready for your date?”
“I think we all are!” Kallum smiled at his sister, then turned his attention to their father. He looked a little teary. “Except Father, are you alright?”
“Yeah,” Kaine said, beginning to nod. “I’m sorry Sonja, I just saw something in you I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
Kallum scrunched his face. “It’s just Sonja!”
Despite knowing what her father saw, Sonja nodded in agreement with her brother. A knock came from the front door. Anyone would have thought it triggered some spring mechanism beneath Kallum’s butt. He leapt up and dashed for the door.
“I saw in the mirror,” Sonja said. She clutched her father’s hands, aged, but tough as leather. “I’m sorry if it upsets you.”
“No!” Kaine breathed in deep, then smiled. “I am glad to see her in you. For so long, I had thought nothing of her remained in this world. How wrong I was!”
Sonja smiled and squeezed her father’s hands.
“Sonja!” Kallum called out from the front door. “It’s for you!”
“Shit!” Sonja cursed. “Who would be coming here to see me? Wearing this? Shit!”
Kaine laughed. “Don’t worry about it, you look lovely.”
“If Red or Lauf find out about this, I won’t hear the end of it!”
“It’s Rigst,” Kallum announced, walking back to the dining room.
“Shit,” Sonja cursed again. He had been out on a scouting mission and wasn’t scheduled to be back in town just yet.
“Invite him in for dinner!” Kaine said. His eyes were now dry, you couldn’t tell they had been watering a few moments ago.
“No!” Sonja slid along the bench then stood up, blushing.
She pressed her arm against her chest, then walked to the front door. It was a warm moon, for Holtur, and Kallum had left the door open. Rigst stood there, mouth agape, appreciating the way Sonja was dressed. He, on the other hand, looked like shit.
“I’ve missed you,” Rigst said.
What? “That’s no way to address your Captain,” Sonja responded. Her voice held masculine authority, but her appearance screamed femininity.
Rigst coughed into his hand. “Ah, apologies, Captain.” He blinked a couple of times. “Everything is unusually calm. Didn’t see anything out of place during the run. Even Lachtod Bog is quiet.”
A quiet sun, a quiet scout run. If this is the calm before the storm, this storm may be like nothing they had ever seen. “I don’t like it,” Sonja said, “things feel too easy.”
“Doesn’t bother me!” Rigst’s eyes had begun to wander down to Sonja’s chest.
“Eye’s here, slayer!” Sonja commanded.
Rigst shook his head. “Sorry, Captain. I’ve just never seen you, you know? Dressed up? You look good.”
Sonja blushed. “Go home Rider, and don’t tell anyone of this.”
Rigst nodded. Clearly he had been longing for her since their last encounter. She had been too, but it wasn’t right. Sonja didn’t want to look weak. She didn’t want to be a slave to a man. She won’t become a woman that waits at home patiently while he works hard, caring for him at the end of a rough sun. Which was exactly what this felt like right now; Rigst had arrived home and was looking for some affection.
As Rigst turned to leave, he bumped into something. Whatever it was, neither of them had noticed it a moment ago, it was as though it formed from the shadows behind them.
“Ouch!” a feminine voice complained. “You must be a friend of Kallum’s?”
“Ah, that’s me?” Rigst stepped to the side, revealing the woman to Sonja.
Was this Eltra? She was tall, slender, dressed in a flowing black dress. The sleeves were conservative, running down along her arms, but the bust was quite the opposite. The dress sat firm on her, but the V of the neck ran almost down to her belly button. It displayed the inner edge of her breasts, clinging to her body as the material flowed over them. The tailoring was impossibly perfect! Sonja was glad her dress wasn’t so revealing.
“You must be Sonja! I am Eltra Konigan,” she reached her hand out to Sonja. It was hard making out her features in the darkness outside, but it was obvious she wore dark makeup around her eyes and lips. “Kallum has told me so much about you!” How much time exactly had these two spent with each other?
“He has?” Sonja shook the woman's hand. Her grasp was powerful for one who appeared so… frail.
“Indeed, Kallum idolises you!” Eltra’s dark lips formed a grin. She then turned to face Rigst, who seemed hesitant about leaving. “And who, may I ask, are you?”
Rigst raised an eyebrow and quickly glanced to Sonja. “My name is Rigst, I work with Sonja.”
“Another slayer!” Eltra forcefully grabbed his hand and shook it. “Such a noble line of work.”
Sonja and Rigst shared a brief look of confusion. The ‘elegant’ types generally looked down on the slayers. They didn’t dislike them, more avoided them and kept a social distancing.
“We’re a necessary evil,” Sonja said, “to keep the people of Holtur safe.”
“A necessary evil…” Eltra repeated the words slowly. “That is one way to look at it. Still, a noble cause all the same.”
Sonja gestured for Eltra to enter. “Come, my brother will be happy to see you.”
Eltra walked to the door frame, then turned back to Rigst, who was idly watching. “Won’t you be joining us, Rigst?” she asked. “You look hungry?”
“I’m famished!” Rigst confessed. “But, I’m not invited.”
Eltra turned back to Sonja with a frown. “Surely you could invite one more to dinner?”
Sonja hesitated. This moon wasn’t about Rigst. It wasn’t about her either. Kallum and Eltra were the focus of this moon, that was why she was wearing this stupid dress after all. “Fine!” she said. “Come on, both of you get in here!”
They both grinned, then followed her in to the dining room. Finally, she had met the first woman to distract her brother from his scholarly duties. On first impression, Eltra wasn’t quite what Sonja had expected. That said, she really wasn’t sure what her brother would find interesting in the first place! Maybe a woman with wings? A tail? Talons? Sonja laughed internally. Kallum was not the kind of person who was easily predicted.
“Kallum,” Sonja called, “your friend i
s here!”
Kallum’s spring triggered again, launching him to attention. “Eltra,” he said warmly. The two of them then embraced each other. She was taller than him, and his head buried between her breasts. It wasn’t lustfully passionately like two young lovers, but like two people who genuinely cared for each other. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too, Kallum,” Eltra said, lowering herself, slightly pressing the side of her head against his. She then inhaled deeply through her nose. Was she smelling him? They then pulled apart from each other, holding hands for a moment as they separated. Good, there was at least a little lust in there.
“I take it you’ve met my sister already,” Kallum said, then turned to his father. “So I’ll introduce you to my father, Kaine Bluwahlt.”
“Eltra Konigan,” the woman said, reaching her hand out.
“A pleasure to meet you,” Kaine said, shaking her hand. His mouth was smiling, but his brows were furrowed, creating waves of wrinkles from temple to temple. “Konigan, I don’t think I’ve heard of that family before. Where are you from Eltra?”
Eltra briefly giggled, then met his smile with one of her own. “My family is from Holtur.” Kain raised a brow. “A very small family, we generally keep to ourselves.”
Kaine laughed. “A rare one, huh? That explains Kallum’s interest in you!”
Everyone laughed. Everyone but Kallum and Eltra.
“Father!” Kallum’s cheeks had blushed pink. “Please, show some manners.”
“I apologise,” Kaine bowed his head slightly. “Despite our attire this moon, most of the time we look like that one!” He pointed to Rigst, who was rugged up with furs and leathers. He also didn’t smell all that good. Not many bathing opportunities presented themselves while completing scouting errands.
“I assure you, there is no need to apologise,” Eltra said while curtsying. “I know Kallum reasonably well. There was no need to get dressed up for me, although I do appreciate it. You all look so delightful this moon.”
“Thank you,” Kaine said appreciatively. “So, do you like kuhvi stew? I’m not the best cook around, but I make a hearty stew!”
Eltra’s lips flickered for a moment. A glimpse of displeasure shot across her face then quickly disappeared. “It sounds delightful. However, I am only a small woman. I have a tiny appetite.” It was a lie. She wasn’t that small, not when you considered her height.
“It’s a really good stew!” Sonja said hopefully. Perhaps this Eltra was one of those weirdos who didn’t eat meat, but wanted to be polite. What has Kallum gotten himself into?
“Perhaps some wine first?” Kallum suggested.
“Fantastic idea!” Kaine nodded. “Sonja, would you mind fetching a bottle?”
“Of course not!” Sonja happily left the room, leaving the others to talk. Hopefully it would be a little less awkward upon her return.
In the spare room on the lower floor, she folded up a brown rug, revealing a wooden, square trapdoor in the stone floor. She swung the door open, then climbed down the iron rungs that were embedded in the stone. Fortunately, the climb wasn’t as bad as she had anticipated with the dress. It probably wouldn’t be so easy on the way back up.
Cellars were cold places, but in Holtur they were even colder. Their cellar wasn’t all that large compared to many others and was mostly empty. Sonja didn’t really collect things, other than weapons and armour, all of which was either stored at her own residence or the northern armoury. Kaine had always been a practical man, his main focus for the last twenty years was taking care of Kallum. Most the stuff down here, belonged to her brother. Wyvern skulls, graekan shells, remains of other creatures; claws, talons, skeletal bits. Things he had been intrigued with, but no longer had an immediate fascination over. He couldn’t part with any of these monster remains though, they could be useful one sun! It saddened her that none of her mother’s possessions remained.
The other thing that they kept down here was a small collection of wines and spirits. Sonja was the biggest drinker in the family, but she preferred ale, which she—almost exclusively—drank at the Wounded Wyvern Tavern. Her father loved the occasional wine. Kallum would have the odd ale with Sonja, but on very rare instances he indulged in spirits, lolligolp being his favourite.
She grabbed two bottles of red wine. Sonja was unsure what variety they were, but she didn’t really care, wine all tasted the same to her. Should she bring up some lolligolp for her brother? They only had six bottles left, but surely this was a worthy occasion. No, best not grab a bottle unless he asks for it. It could make him cranky to reveal a bottle without his permission!
Returning to the entrance, she noticed Rigst climbing down the rungs. Great. “I’ve got all we need,” she said, prompting him to climb back up. He kept climbing down. “Rider?”
“Sonja,” he said, “I just wanted to get you alone for a moment.”
Sonja raised an eyebrow. “And?”
“I know this isn’t what you want, but, well, I’ve been thinking about you non stop since—”
“Since we fucked?” she interrupted.
“Yeah…”
She looked at him sternly. “It was a bit of fun, that’s all.”
“I can’t help it… I think I—”
She slapped her hand up to his mouth, covering it firmly, and pushing him against the wall. “Not another word, Rider. Yes, we are friends, but professionally, I am your captain. I’m sorry for taking advantage of you that moon. It was a mistake, but we can’t pursue this any further.” She retracted her hand.
“We could,” he said, “I know you want to.”
“No, I do not!” Sonja whipped back. “If we decided to, it would cause all sorts of chaos. What would happen if I fell on the battlefield? Would you keep fighting to protect the people of Holtur? The other slayers? Or would you rush to my side?”
“I am a slayer, Sonja,” he said sternly, “I will always defend those that need it most.”
“Yes, and it will be easy to continue doing so, provided we don’t engage in anything stupid!”
“It wouldn’t be stupid.” Rigst sighed. “Even your brother has found someone to share affection with. Surely you could too? Surely you don’t want to keep fighting until you no longer can, only to find yourself old and grey and all alone.”
“I am not my brother!” Sonja breathed heavily. “And I am not the same as every other woman. This discussion ends here, Rider.”
He silently nodded, taking the two bottles of wine from her. He climbed up the rungs as Sonja grabbed a couple more bottles. She could use an extra bottle or two this moon.
Climbing back up had been a little more difficult than the descent. She couldn’t hold her dress and the bottles at the same time. She had to haul herself up with a single armed pull-up, catch both legs on a rung, then repeat the process. After climbing out, she fixed the hatch, covered it with the rug, then walked to the dining room.
“You didn’t get lost down there I hope?” Kaine asked upon her return.
“No,” she said, then turned to Kallum. “I was just arguing with myself whether or not to bring up a bottle of lolligolp.”
Kallum raised an eyebrow. “And did you, sister?”
“Not without your permission, brother,” she responded.
“I think maybe later we should crack a bottle,” Kallum said. “Have you tasted it Eltra?”
Eltra nodded. “Indeed I have. It truly is amazing how such an unusual plant can be used to create that exquisite beverage.”
Rigst had opened a bottle of wine and was already pouring it into the tall, crystal glasses on the table. “I’d be happy if I never saw another virylolli in my life,” he said in a serious tone.
“Fascinating plants,” Kallum said, his eyes drifting as he daydreamed. “We are fortunate they grow not too far from Holtur.”
Rigst raised an eyebrow. “That’s easier to say when you’ve never had one try to eat you!”
“Speaking of eating,” Kaine said, “w
ho’s hungry?”
A rumble of confirmations declared a unanimous decision. They were famished, all bar Eltra, she remained fairly quiet. Kaine began filling porcelain bowls with the stew, then sat them in front of the hungry group, guests first.
Kaine placed a full bowl of stew before Eltra. “Uh, if it’s acceptable by you, Kaine, a smaller bowl would suffice,” Eltra said. She then passed the bowl to Kallum. “I apologise, I do not have much of an appetite.”
Kaine nodded, then offered a bowl with barely a scoop of food in it. A child would probably go hungry from such a pitiful meal. Sonja felt offended, but knew this woman must have her reasons. It was lucky her brother was infatuated with her, otherwise she would have given her a piece of her mind. Holding back her tongue, Sonja noticed Rigst looking at her with a concerned face, it had ‘please don’t shoot your mouth at the poor girl’ all over it.
Once everyone had been served, Kaine sat at the head of the table with his own bowl. The Bluwahlts weren’t religious and didn’t pray to any gods, but they were thankful for each other. “Thank you all for being here this moon,” Kaine said appreciatively. “And I am truly thankful to meet a woman that my son finds interesting!” He turned his head to his son, who was sitting on the bench to his right.
“I’m thankful that such a woman exists,” Kallum said. “Thanks for a great meal too!”
Sitting next to Kallum was Rigst. “I’m grateful I made it back to Holtur, again. And, of course, for this great looking meal!” He raised his glass. “Cheers Kaine!”
Across from Rigst was Sonja. “Thanks Father, for this lovely meal,” Sonja said. “Thanks to my friends, and I’m also incredibly thankful for Kallum’s good health.” She raised her own glass. In a world where you never know who will survive the next sun, it was important to appreciate all those you had right now. She loved her father, her brother, and damn it, Rigst too. She was sure she would come to appreciate the woman sitting beside her just as much.
The Holtur Curse (The Holtur Trilogy Book 2) Page 4