Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Umm… Captain... There’s… ahh….”

Balahn looks up in amusement, it’s rare to see Walid tongue-tied, usually it’s a case of having to stop him talking.

“What is it, soldier?”

“There’s someone…”

“Honestly darling,” comes a voice Balahn recognises so well, and he understands Walid’s lack of composure. “Anyone would think you didn’t have any women here.”

The musical, laughing voice comes closer as the woman it belongs to enters the room. Balahn swallows, his mouth has gone dry.

“Vanasha,” he croaks. Stars in shadow, he thinks, why does she have this effect on me? The fact she has the same confusing effect on every person she chooses to shine on is small solace.

He coughs, “Thank you, Walid. It looks like my visitor has announced herself.”

Walid backs out of the room unable to take his eyes off the woman. Balahn can forgive him that, even by Vanasha’s usual standards, she's looking particularly alluring in a dress that has a form fitting jewel encrusted bodice and a skirt made of finest silks that seem almost transparent. Balahn feels a tightness in his groin, he cannot help himself imagine catching a glimpse of the body underneath that skirt. But it is only almost transparent, Vanasha knows exactly what she is doing.

Vanasha raises her right hand and wiggles her fingers in a jaunty wave for Walid and then closes the door on him. She turns to Balahn and smiles widely; she knows the effect she has on him especially.

“What, sweetie?” she says as she sits down on the chair in front of his desk, “Aren’t you pleased to see me?”

By dint of sheer determination and bracing his legs against his chair, Balahn manages not to wriggle in his seat to accommodate his growing hardness. By the sun, he will not let her know.

“What are you doing here Vanasha?” he growls “This is a military garrison, there’s no court intrigue or fancy parties for you here.”

Vanasha makes a play of pouting at this, “That is true, but Daytower has one thing Meridian doesn’t.”

“Which is?”

“A man I can trust.”

Chapter Text

Balahn leans back in his chair and eyes her narrowly, he can tell she’s being serious because she’s no longer projecting any flirtatiousness. Her eyes are glinting with the fierce intelligence and determination that he knows so well.

He sighs, “Okay, you want me to do something for you. What is it?”

“Not want, need.”

Balahn just raises his eyebrows and waits.

“Marad has received word that one of the prisoners in Sunstone Rock has information for him that’s time critical. We need your help to get it.”

Balahn is amazed, of all the things he was expecting, this was nowhere on that list, “You want - need - me to help you talk to a prisoner?”

Vanasha stands up, with an expression on her face that Balahn can’t immediately read, then he realises that, bizarrely, she feels awkward.

“Ah… no… not quite.” she raises her voice, “Captain Balahn of the Carja Guard, Commander of Daytower, I am removing you from command and placing you under arrest.”

Balahn jumps up, his chair crashes over behind him, “You’re WHAT?” he bellows.

The anger brings soldiers bursting into the room, but a glance tells Balahn that these are not his soldiers, they are Vanasha’s.

She turns smoothly, “He’s not coming quietly I’m afraid. Chain him.” She turns back to Balahn and mouths, ‘please’.

Balahn resigns himself to dancing to Vanasha’s tune at least for a while, and holds his arms out for the chains. It is then that Walid comes barrelling through the door, out of breath as if after a struggle. He comes to a dead stop as he sees the unimaginable. Balahn breathes out slowly, forcing himself calm.

“Walid, get Rahimat in here.”

Walid doesn’t move, still open-mouthed in shock at the sight of Balahn with chains around his wrists and ankles.

“Now, soldier!” Balahn barks.

Walid turns and leaves with parade ground precision.

Two minutes pass in silence, the two soldiers that came with Vanasha are waiting for her command to leave, but she allows Balahn this final conversation.

Rahimat marches into the room and shows no surprise at seeing his commander in chains or at the two soldiers who are not part of his company. Walid has briefed him, Balahn thinks gratefully, he’ll make a decent officer yet.

Rahimat ignores the soldiers and after one flickering glance filled with admiration at Vanasha he ignores her too. He stands at attention in front of Balahn.

“You need me, sir?”

Balahn nods, “At ease. I’m leaving you in charge of Daytower until I return. Continue with the manoeuvres we planned. War Chief Sona of the Nora is due here in eight days. Apologise for my absence, but you know why she’s coming and what she has to discuss so you can handle it. And make sure everyone here understands that I will rain down the fire of the Noonday Sun on any soldier who disrespects her or any member of her party in any way. Nora braves are our equals and she is their chief.”

Rahimat nods, “Understood, sir.”

“If you have any trouble with the traders or with Hunters Gathering, deal with it however you feel is best - you are the authority for the Carja in this area. I’ll back you all the way in whatever you decide.”

“Thank you, sir.” Rahimat comes to attention, nods once more and marches out of the room.

Balahn turns to Vanasha, “Right, let’s get this done.”

Vanasha nods, gestures to the two guards and leaves the room. There’s no avoiding walking through the main courtyard, and Balahn braces himself for the humiliation of the whispers and the stares from the civilian traders and visitors who cluster around. He refuses to look anywhere but directly in front of him but even so he can hear, he can sense, every soldier he passes standing to attention, watching him with respect as he leaves. This makes him feel a little better, he’s proud of this garrison, proud of what he’s built. His mood rises a little more when he sees two more of Vanasha’s soldiers waiting by the back gate to the fortress looking a little the worse for wear. These two must have been tasked with stopping any of the Daytower troops interrupting Vanasha’s meeting, and had to deal with Walid wanting to get through.

As they exit the back gate, two guards in front, Vanasha and Balahn in the middle and two guards behind, Balahn looks with amusement at Vanasha’s dress.

“Are you planning to walk to Sunstone in that?”

She laughs and raises her skirts to show a heavy pair of walking boots. “I came prepared.”

Balahn grunts, he should have known; Vanasha always thinks of everything, which leads him to another thought.

“Why didn’t you warn me?”

“I wanted to make sure to get a genuine response.”

“And what would you have done if I fought you?”

Vanasha looks at him, her face serious and her eyes dark. “We would have taken you down.” 

Balahn realises that the four soldiers she brought with her must not be aware of Vanasha’s overall plan, which would explain why they’d stayed outside until she spoke the words of the arrest. He would be patient and wait. If she really needed his help, and it sounded like she did, she would explain.

Chapter Text

The group stops at a small village about an hour south of Meridian, Vanasha has obviously organised this stop in advance, as the innkeeper immediately shows them to one room with six beds - an arrangement that will allow the guards to rest while remaining on close guard of Balahn. Balahn also hopes it will allow Vanasha the chance to explain what’s going on. He was surprised when they skirted Meridian, he had assumed they would be heading for the palace and the holding cells under the Sun-Ring but it seems Vanasha has other plans.

Vanasha points to one of the beds, “That one’s yours Balahn. I’ll take your chains off if you give your word you won’t try to escape.”

Balahn grunts and holds up his hands, “You have my word,” he growls.

A knock at the door heralds a server bringing in several plates of food, which he places down on the table under the window on the far side of the room. He doesn’t speak but he casts several covert glances at the criminal in their midst. Balahn glowers back.

The four guards sit down and start to eat.

Settling herself down to food, Vanasha instructs the guards, “Once you’ve finished eating I want Jamal and Saghir to scout through the village, make sure there isn’t anything going on that could cause us any problems. Masud and Ziyad, you stand guard outside the door. I want to question the prisoner.”

“Yes ma’am,” all four answer quickly. 

Balahn eats carefully, keeping a close eye on Vanasha and the guards. He hopes that Vanasha’s “questioning” will take the form of her explaining what’s going on. The guards keep looking at him nervously, they definitely don’t know why he’s really here, Balahn thinks, and feels a sour humour, Vanasha must have told them quite a story about him, they look worried that they might need more guards.

After the guards finish their meal, Jamal and Saghir pull on their cloaks to head back out into the village. Once they’ve gone, Masud and Ziyad leave to stand guard and close the door behind them. All four look happy to be out of Balahn’s presence for a while.

Waiting a minute after the door closes, Balahn fixes Vanasha with a glare that would make his soldiers quake, Vanasha simply smiles in response.

“Explain,” he growls, “everything.”

Vanasha nods and becomes serious. “As I said, Marad has received word that one of the Sunstone prisoners has information that Marad needs. Marad didn’t explain all the details - he never does - but he said it was imperative to get this information in six days. So I’m guessing it has something to do with the announcement Avad is planning for just after that to officially anoint Itamen as his successor.”

“And what does arresting me get? You won’t get me convicted in a week.”

“No, but because you’re a highly trained military officer, we put a clause in the arrest warrant that you be held in high security while waiting for trial. You’d too easily escape from the Meridian holding cells.”

Balahn looks at Vanasha considering things. There is silence for a while, then he says, “I’ve been wondering why you wore that outfit. When you first arrived I thought it was for me, to help you persuade me to do something, but that wouldn’t be necessary since you always planned to arrest me. No, it’s to distract everyone else, isn’t it?”

Vanasha smiles, but says nothing.

“Those four guards of yours would do anything you say. Walid probably doesn’t remember his own name, and the only thing the people here will remember is a fearsome criminal. No-one’s going to remember you, just your dress and Blameless Marad’s not connected with any of it at all." He leans forwards, "I hope for your sake you have a different plan for when you get to Sunstone. Floaty silk isn’t going to distract Janeva.”

Vanasha raises an eyebrow, “You know him?”

Balahn smiles in memory, “About as well as anyone - we went through basic training together, and we were stationed out at Daybreak until Avad started the liberation.”

Vanasha’s eyes gleam, “Then I will leave that part up to you. Once you get the information we need, Janeva can send a message to Marad and you’ll be released.”

Balahn laughs bitterly, “You make it sound so simple. Put me in Sunstone to get information from one of the prisoners. I can see why you didn’t try to persuade me with an explanation before you arrested me. Why can’t Marad just have this prisoner brought to Meridian for questioning, or he could go to Sunstone.”

Vanasha shakes her head, “The prisoner refuses. He got the message to Marad that he has information, but he doesn’t want anyone in Sunstone to know he’s talking. It would make life dangerous for him”

“He does have a point. Who is this prisoner?”

“Hadiya - used to be one of Jiran’s high-ranking Kestrels.”

Balahn whistles through his teeth, “Yeah, I can see why he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s talking to Marad.”

Balahn yawns and then sighs in resignation, “Well, looks like I’ve got a busy week ahead of me. I’d better get some sleep.”

Vanasha lays her hand over his - even without trying she still sends electricity through his body with a touch.

“Thank you,” she says softly and sincerely.

“Don’t thank me yet, there’s still a really good chance that the whole thing will fail.”

The next morning, as they are getting ready to leave, Balahn takes advantage of a moment when the four guards are paying attention away from him, to mutter quickly to Vanasha, “when we get to Sunstone, send me in with two of the guards. Don’t come in yourself - you’ll attract too much attention.”

Vanasha nods minutely without altering her gaze from the path ahead of her.

By midday, they reach the outskirts of the prison’s land. Vanasha orders Ziyad and Jamal to take Balahn into the prison. She hands them the arrest warrant and the key to the chains.

As Saghir and Masud move to take defensive positions with Vanasha, and Ziyad and Jamal grab him by the arms to lead him in, Balahn casts one quick glance back to Vanasha and is rewarded with a moment of her attention fixing on him as she surveys the landscape.

And that is goodbye, he thinks, as the guards lead him down to the gates of Sunstone.

Chapter Text

“Ah! Our new arrival!” calls out a cheery voice, “Balahn - previously of Daytower - you are not someone I would ever have expected to meet here!”

Balahn looks up to watch Janeva walk down the steps from the battlements. “Warden Janeva,“ he replies tonelessly.

Janeva strides over, takes the arrest and imprisonment order and the key for the chains from the two guards and dismisses them. They seem happy to be leaving Sunstone so quickly, perhaps worried they might be thrown into a cell if they linger too long.

Janeva watches them leave, eyes narrowed. Once the gate closes behind them he orders his troops back to their duties. He opens up the scroll, but Balahn can tell he’s not reading it. Janeva’s looking at it, but concentrating on him.

“What are you playing at Balahn? Don’t you know enough not to volunteer for one of Marad’s plans?”

Balahn shakes his chains, “I didn’t exactly volunteer.”

Janeva snorts, “But you didn’t fight back, did you?”

Balahn shrugs and then asks, “How much do you know about it?”

“Officially, nothing.” Janeva says with disdain. “But when I get two special orders in succession: one to move a particular prisoner to solitary and then a day later one to receive a prisoner assumed to be so dangerous that they have to be held here before trial, I can figure out who’s behind it.”

He laughs quietly and his mouth quirks in a lopsided grin, “I did wonder who they’d find to fit that bill.”

“Huh,” Balahn says. “So the plan is for me to talk to this guy in solitary?”

“ Their plan was,” Janeva replies emphasizing the first word and turning the page on the orders, still apparently scrutinizing them. “ Your plan will need to be something different. Marad’s plan works in theory but he’s obviously never been in prison.” He speaks louder, “Follow me, I’ll take you to processing.”

Janeva walks slowly to keep pace with Balahn who is still restricted by the chains, he keeps his eyes looking ahead, never at Balahn. “First of all, if I put Hadiya in solitary for no reason, everyone in here will know something’s going on. You know how prisons work, Balahn.”

Balahn snorts softly, he does indeed. His time before joining the military involved more than one stay inside a jail cell.

“Add to that,” Janeva continues, “a new prisoner being brought straight to solitary and Marad might as well just paint a target on Hadiya’s back. I’m assuming bringing you here in chains is to avoid anyone thinking he’s talked at all.”

“Right as ever,” Balahn grunts.

Janeva flashes him one of his lopsided grins, “It got us out of that hell-hole in Blanchine Pass.”

“Ha! I still owe you for that.”

“Huh, well I’ve done what I can to help you here, but you probably won’t consider adding it to the list of favours owed.”

Janeva opens the door to the processing room. It’s a large open room with crates piled high on one part of the left wall and shelves of orange clothing filling the rest of the wall, the right hand wall has wooden benches. The wall ahead has a single door. There are no windows. It is a room designed to cut prisoners off completely from the outside world.

Janeva looks Balahn up and down calculating his size, then he walks over to the shelves, grabs an orange outfit and a crate and puts them down at Balhan's feet. He unlocks and removes the chains at Balahn’s ankles and wrists.

“You know the drill,” he says, “Strip, put your belongings in the crate, put on the uniform.”

Balahn doesn’t speak, he’s remembering the other occasions he’s been through this. He thought he’d left all that behind when he joined the Guard. Knowing that this time it isn’t real doesn’t stop the shame. He hopes gossip doesn’t reach Duskshine, the town where he was born and where his family still lives.

Once he’s in the orange outfit, he picks up the crate and puts it on the shelf without Janeva asking him to, he really does know the drill. He may never have been in Sunstone before but Carja prisons are the same all over.

“I was surprised to read you were staying on as Warden here” Balahn keeps his voice low.

Jameva shrugs, “Well, there were still prisoners, and it turns out I am good at running this place. I volunteered, if you can believe that! Which is a good thing for you, given you’ve got yourself wrapped up in this insanity of Marad’s”

Janeva leads the way to the exit door. He stops and looks at Balahn with compassion, “You won’t be Balahn of Daytower inside. But it’s only for eight days; I give you my word, whatever Marad may order, success or fail, I’m pulling you out at evening roll-call on the eighth day.”

Balahn nods, he is very grateful that he has someone he trusts as much as Janeva watching over him. Janeva bangs on the door and Balahn rolls his shoulders and breathes out slowly. He’s as ready as he’ll ever be.

The heavy door opens into a corridor, four guards armed with Oseram blaze weapons keep close watch on Balahn as he steps through. A fifth guard closes the door behind them with a heavy thud and locks it. A sixth steps forward to talk to Janeva.

“Balahn of Duskshine,” Janeva says in a cold tone. “Military, violent, put him in East Wing, cell 2-5 has space.”

The sixth guard nods to the four guards with the blaze weapons and two step forwards to flank Balahn, they each grab an arm and propel him forwards to follow the sixth guard down the corridor towards the prison itself. At the end of the corridor is another thick door. When the door opens Balahn is assaulted by a wall of noise and the stink of too many men living in a closed environment. The door slams shut behind him and the lock ratchets into position. This is his life now.

“Eight days, eight days, eight days” Balahn repeats to himself over and over.

Chapter Text

The guards take up position; one in front, one behind and they take Balahn through what looks to be a main exercise area. His eyes flicker everywhere taking in possible hiding spots, ambush points, sightlines for attacks as well as a sense of all the other prisoners - who is grouped with who: tribes, gangs, hierarchies. Being a prisoner uses a lot of the same instincts as being a soldier in war, and he has survived both.

The guard in front reaches forward and unlocks a cell door and opens it; the guard at back pushes Balahn through and the first slams it closed and locks it again. They leave.

Balahn remains still, sizing up the situation. He’s in a cell with six other prisoners. There are bunks for eight, so at least he won’t have to fight for a place to sleep - he hopes.

A growl comes from his right, “I know you!”

Balahn looks over, and at that point of distraction, two come in from his left and grab his arms. Rookie mistake, Balahn berates himself, you’ve gone soft out in the world. He remains still, waiting to see how things play out.

A prisoner about a head taller than him and twice his width steps up and smashes his fist into Balahn’s ribs. Balahn holds in the scream as he feels his ribs bend, and all the air is forced out of his lungs. The big prisoner grabs Balahn’s hair and pulls his head up.

“I know you,” he says again, foul breath blowing into Balahn’s face, “You’re Carja Guard! You fought with Avad. Traitor!” he spits at Balahn.

Balahn looks up at him and smiles. The big prisoner doesn’t know what to make of this and for a second he loosens his hold on Balahn’s hair. It’s all Balahn needs, he swings his upper body back to throw the two prisoners holding him off balance, and, forcing himself to ignore the pain that is turning his chest to fire, Balahn swings his arms forward and drags the two prisoners around and into the big prisoner in front. All three stumble and fall into each other. Balahn dives forward and pushes the big prisoner to the ground, slamming his skull against the floor. Breath coming in gasps, Balahn stands and puts his foot on the big prisoner’s neck and presses down, hard.

“Yes, I fought with Avad, you scum-sucking shade in darkness,” he hisses, “and now I’m here. You want to restart the war? I’ll win it again!”

The big prisoner’s face is turning red and he’s gasping to get breath, his hands grabbing at Balahn’s leg to try and lift it, but Balahn is putting too much pressure on. Balahn presses down one more time and then steps back. He walks to the back wall of the cell, ignoring the three who attacked him.

Of the three other prisoners; two are sitting on bunks trying to go unnoticed, but one is standing leaning against the wall. He’s shorter than Balahn and slender but his arms show taut muscles, he has a good-looking face with intelligent eyes watching everything and there’s a small smile on his lips. This is the true leader of the group Balahn decides and he walks over and leans against the wall next to him.

“Janeva must really hate you, putting you in here with us,” the prisoner says.

Balahn grunts, “We’ve had run-ins in the past, didn’t realise he’d been made Warden here.”

The prisoner snorts with laughter, “Would that have been enough to keep you honest?”

Balahn grins, “That part didn’t include much thinking, but I would have fought harder to escape.”

He puts out his hand, “Balahn.”

The other prisoner nods and shakes hands, “Hadiya. The two on the bunks are Makis and Sachar, the big guy coughing is Brecc and the other two are Tamar and Patamon.”

Balahn knows not to mistake this as an offer of friendship or peace, but he’s not interested in finding either, just in figuring out how to talk to Hadiya privately, and sleeping through the night without being stabbed. He’s not sure on the second part, but thanks to Janeva at least he’s made a start on Hadiya.

“So why are you in here?” Makis calls from where he’s sitting.

Balahn realises he has no idea what Vanasha wrote on the arrest warrant - he’s pretty sure no-one here will know either so he makes something up quickly.

“Civilian Prefect in the town next to our base was getting a little too friendly with the daughter of a friend of mine,” Balahn shrugs, “Now he’s dead, and half his guard are in the hospital as are the first group who came to arrest me.” He glances at Hadiya, “Like I said, if I’d known I was going to be left in Janeva’s charge I’d have tried harder to stay free. As it is, I figured: have my day in court, escape and go find another war to fight.”

Hadiya nods, “There’s always a war somewhere.”

“Chow-time, E-Wing,” comes a shout from the corridor. The guard pushes a tray with seven bowls of stew through the gap in the bottom of the cell door.

Balahn doesn’t push himself forward. Nor does he wait for last. Continuing to get a read on the dynamics of the group he sees them all defer to Hadiya; Brecc, Tamar and Patamon push to be next in line after Hadiya, Makis and Sachar lazily get up from their bunks - showing no interest in getting there first. It’s these two who interest Balahn. Brecc and his cronies are understandable - acting the same as prisoners in any jail, but there’s something a little too relaxed about Makis and Sachar. Balahn doesn’t know who they’re working for, but he’s certain they must be working for someone.

For now though, food and rest are his immediate concerns, conspiracies and Marad can wait. Makis gestures him forward with a smile. Balahn nods and steps in to collect his bowl after Patamon. As he bends he sees in the side of his eye Tamar move towards him and then Tamar knocks against Balahn’s bruised ribs. Balahn’s vision blurs and his legs go weak. He almost falls into the tray of food, but manages to get his balance in time.

Patamon snickers, “Watch yourself, fledgling, they don’t serve extra here.”

Balahn glares at him without saying a word. He picks up his bowl of stew and picks a place to sit alone, against the side wall where he can see everyone. He amuses himself while eating day-dreaming about sending Tamar and Patamon over Rahimat’s assault course back at Daytower. He doesn’t allow himself to relax but he enjoys thinking about Daytower, his soldiers who take pride in showing the other tribes the better face of the Carja now Avad is the Sun King. It intrigues him that Hadiya is the one who wants to talk to Marad. Hadiya is clearly a leader here and was at the heart of the Shadow Carja during the war. What could be happening that would lead one of Jiran’s true-believers to help the enemy?

When everyone’s finished eating Balahn stands up and collects the empty bowls; it strikes him as a harmless way to make himself pleasant to the rest of the group, and if he goes up alone there won’t be anyone with him to “accidentally” knock his head into the bars. The slight flicker of disappointment in Brecc’s face makes Balahn think that he had something of that sort in mind. Balahn carries the bowls, places them on the tray and slides it back through the gap in the door. As he slides it, he tries to lift it, but the tray is fixed to the floor. Balahn’s not surprised, Janeva wouldn’t put such a weapon easily into the hands of prisoners but it was worth finding out. Balahn rests his shoulder against the bars and looks out to the corridor. His cell is furthest from the exercise square. Each of the cells are separated by stone walls. The building is brightly lit with torches hanging from the ceiling - no obvious way of getting at those. There are guards patrolling constantly and Balahn can tell these guards are well-trained and paying attention. Again he‘s not surprised - Janeva learned all the lessons he did about commanding a motivated force and he hasn’t let a posting at a prison lower his standards. Balahn grins to himself - he’ll add that to what he tells Janeva once he’s out. He will appreciate knowing how well his prison is run from the inside.

“Something funny, prisoner?” The guard passing by Balahn’s cell door has noticed the flicker of amusement in Balahn’s features. Damn, these guards are good.

Balahn knows not to make eye contact, he looks down to the floor and keeps his posture non-threatening, “No sir!”

“Good, because if you’re finding your stay enjoyable we can sort out some special time for you!”

Balahn doesn’t speak and doesn’t move, he waits for the guard to move on. Then gets back to examining the terrain. Ceilings are high, walls are smooth.

“Figuring out a way to escape?” Hadiya’s quiet voice speaks from behind him.

Balahn continues looking out, “Guess I’d better - Janeva’s going to figure out some way to screw me over. Any suggestions?”

“From here it’s impossible, you might have a chance from the exercise area, but the best chance is probably the infirmary.”

“Interesting. Are you volunteering to put me there?”

Hadiya laughs, “Brecc will happily oblige.”

Balahn grunts in amusement, “Maybe that’s not a good plan.” He thinks some more. “When do we get exercise?”

“Once a day, in the morning. E-wing gets their turn after everyone else - side-effect of being high-risk - if there’s trouble at any time, all the exercise is cancelled, so they go from least to most likely to cause trouble. Unfortunately that means we often miss our turn.”

Balahn turns away from the cell bars and grins at Hadiya, “I hope everyone’s really well-behaved tomorrow, I do not like being shut up in a small room.”

“Ha! Who does?”

Balahn looks over at the bunks, everyone is settling down to get ready to sleep now and he needs to figure out which bunk he can take. Brecc, Tamar and Patamon all have top bunks, Makis and Sachar have lower bunks. The bunk under Brecc is free and one entire set of bunks is empty.

Balahn glances at Hadiya, “I’m guessing yours is the other top bunk.”

Hadiya nods.

“I’ll take the bunk under you then.” and he walks over and climbs in.

From this bunk he can’t see any of the top bunks but he can see the next two lower bunks; the free bunk under Brecc and Makis’s bunk. He stretches himself out and tries to look relaxed. He’d often been forced to sit a watch after marching all day during the war, he’ll just have to do it again. There’s no way he’s going to sleep now.

Sure enough, as he expected, about half-way through the night, Balahn hears movement from the bunk next to him. The stillness from all the other bunks tells him that everyone is awake and waiting. He doesn’t move. If someone wants to pick a fight, they can come to him.

He watches the shadowy form of Brecc come closer. It’s never completely dark in this prison, but some of the lamps are covered to make it a little darker for sleeping. Balahn continues to watch without moving as Brecc comes closer. Brecc bends himself down so he can look into Balahn’s bunk. He grins when he sees that Balahn is awake.

“Time to initiate you into the cell brotherhood, little fledgling.” 

Balahn gets ready to fight.

Brecc reaches in a meaty hand to grab Balahn. Balahn has nowhere to move away so he chops at Brecc’s wrist with his hand held rigid, it causes Brecc to flinch in reflex. Balahn takes this opportunity to slide out of the bunk, going behind Brecc and out into the open space of the cell. Brecc spins round and jumps towards him with a speed that surprises Balahn, he reminds himself that these men were the finest of Jiran’s soldiers and should not be underestimated.

Brecc swings a fist, aiming to smash Balahn’s jaw, Balahn rocks backwards on his heels and tilts his head back slightly so that the attack swings past harmlessly leaving Brecc off-balance. Reacting immediately, Balahn takes advantage and rams the palm of his hand upwards to the base of Brecc’s nose, aiming to drive the cartilage back into Brecc’s skull. At the last second, he remembers where he is, and why, and pulls back on the energy of his thrust. Rather than taking Brecc out of the fight, Balahn merely breaks his nose, sending blood flying everywhere and causing Brecc to stagger. He can’t risk killing Brecc. 

Running through the possibilities and strategies for the fight in the seconds while Brecc recovers from the shock, Balahn decides his only path is to get beaten as quickly as possible, for him to try to win is too dangerous.

So when Brecc swings again with his fist - an attack Balahn could easily avoid - Balahn watches it come and as the fist connects with his jaw, he moves his head with the hit so it looks more damaging than it is. Balahn staggers and groans, spitting blood, realising that he has underestimated Brecc again. Brecc is strong enough that he doesn’t need Balahn’s help to make any attack look bad. Balahn realises he needs to end the fight quickly. He staggers a little, trying to look concussed to give Brecc an easy target, which Brecc takes, landing a solid fist into Balahn’s stomach. Balahn sees it coming in enough time to tense up his muscles so the force doesn’t penetrate but it still grates his ribs and he cannot help but stagger backwards, it takes all his determination to keep himself silent and not cry out loud. Sweat beads on his forehead as he fights to stay conscious.

Balahn discards any thoughts of letting Brecc win, there’s too much chance of Brecc killing him. Balahn’s instincts take over, this fight has to end, now. He takes a deep breath and shakes his head to clear his vision, he reaches up and grabs Brecc’s shoulders. Using them as leverage to straighten himself up, he tips his head back and throws it quickly forwards smashing his forehead into Brecc’s already damaged nose.

Brecc screams and falls to his knees. Balahn staggers back, dizzy and stumbling until he reaches a wall which he can slide down.

“Enough” calls Hadiya. “We don’t want to attract attention.”

Both men slowly make their way back to their bunks, Balahn waits until Brecc is back at his bunk before moving. Once at his bunk, he carefully lies down, feeling the grey fog of tiredness and injury shifting across his eyes. 

He jerks awake when the bell rings to wake all the prisoners. His body aches as he hauls himself upright. He tentatively tests his jaw and runs a tongue around his teeth, everything is sore but nothing is broken.

The other men are gathering at the entrance of the cell. Breakfast is served in the main exercise area, a chance to get out of the cell and socialise a little. The guard comes up, unlocks the door and ushers them out. As Balahn walks to the door, Hadiya touches him lightly on the arm.

“Walk with me.”

Balahn shrugs and complies. They leave the cell and it is locked behind them. Hadiya deliberately walks at a slower pace than the others. When they notice his absence, Sachar looks behind him, and Hadiya waves them on.

“You go on ahead,” he calls cheerfully, “I won’t be long, just have a few questions for our new cell-mate.” Hadiya grins, clasps Balahn’s shoulder and shakes him. 

It could be friendship, it could be a threat. Balahn isn’t sure, but he hopes to take the opportunity of being alone with Hadiya to raise the question of Marad’s information.

Once the others are a safe distance ahead, Hadiya speaks quietly, in a pleasant conversational tone, “You’re a violent man.”

Balahn shrugs, not sure where this conversation will go.

“And a trained fighter.”

“Yes”

“So it occurred to me that you could have stopped Brecc much more easily last night. And once I thought this, I replayed my memories of the fight. You exaggerated the power of his hits, and lessened yours. I’m wondering why.”

Balahn doesn’t speak, not sure whether it is safe yet to admit the truth.

Hadiya continues, “And then it occurred to me, that it was because you didn’t want to injure him too much. A violent man, a trained fighter, being so careful when he’s already in prison? It doesn’t make sense.”

Hadiya doesn’t wait for a reply, understanding that Balahn isn’t ready to risk endangering himself by admitting it.

He continues speaking in his quiet, pleasant tone, “Gutsy move on Marad’s part, putting a man actually in the cell with me.”

Balahn knows this is his chance and he has to take it, “That was Janeva’s move. Marad’s idea involved solitary.”

Hadiya barks with laughter, “That rings true - Marad would mark my death warrant under the guise of keeping me safe.”

They are nearly at the end of the line for food serving so the conversation needs to end.

“Next exercise period,” Hadiya says.

Balahn nods.

But exercise for E wing is cancelled, a fight broke out with B and C wing. Balahn has to spend the entire day cooped in the cell with the six Shadow Carja. Brecc, especially, is watching him with hooded suspicion, which is worrying. Also preying on Balahn’s mind is Vanasha telling him that Marad needs the information in six days. Since she said that, two days passed getting him to Sunstone and now this is day three going to waste.

Leaning against the bars, Balahn tries to calm his mind by thinking through his options. He can’t risk the possibility of the exercise period being cancelled tomorrow as well, especially not with Brecc looking happy to kill him as soon as he gets the chance. The problem is, he can think of only one way to get to talk to Hadiya in the cell without the others knowing. It has the benefit of also helping him leave the prison without raising any extra suspicions. The downside is that reason might be because he’s dead.

Balahn grins as he has a sudden image of Vanasha looking beautiful in a traditional deep red silk mourning gown, delicately wiping a tear as she stands by his grave.

“Thinking happy thoughts?” Makis says conversationally, leaning against the bars next to him.

“Just thinking about a girl I knew once,” Balahn grins again, hoping to throw them all off-balance a little. “I was imagining her crying over my grave.”

Makis blinks, “Okay,” he says doubtfully,

Balahn rolls his shoulders, wishing he was as young as last time he did anything this crazy. He had Janeva for back-up then, he remembers, which helped, but he’s alone this time.

Time to start a fight.

Chapter Text

Balahn turns round to Makis - a feral grin on his face that causes Makis to step back.

“Sorry,” Balahn says softly, “but you’re in my way.”

While Makis is confused, trying to work out what this means, Balahn grabs the back of Makis’s neck, fingers digging in hard, pulls back and slams Makis’s head into the bars. Makis’s body slides down against the bars - he didn’t have time to scream, just a faint whimper as he falls shows that he’s still alive.

Balahn spins round to face the other prisoners. He lets the blood thirst rise up within him and lets loose a loud guttural roar. He runs straight for Brecc.

He looks like he’s out of control but he’s not, he’s plotting every move. He has to take out Brecc fast and hard, the others won’t enter the fight if Brecc’s down, then he can go for Hadiya. He has to move fast - he’s making a lot of noise because he wants the guards to come in and end the fight. By the radiant sun, he does not want to die here. So he has only a very short time to make his move.

Brecc has had just enough time to begin to react, climbing to his feet. Perfect. Balahn barrels his shoulder into Brecc’s midsection, feeling his bones squash into Brecc’s flab. No matter how hard a man tries, it is impossible to stay in good physical condition in a prison - the food alone destroys it - and Balahn is a Captain of the Guard whose life revolves around keeping himself and his men healthy and at their peak. Now that he’s not holding back Brecc doesn’t stand a chance.

Balahn follows up the shoulder charge with a fierce uppercut. Brecc’s jaw crunches closed with the force of the blow and his head snaps back sharply, a sickening crack sounding as his neck vertebrae hit each other edge to edge. It’s probably enough for Brecc to be out cold but Balahn can’t take any chances, he has too little time. He reaches up as Brecc’s body starts to sink, puts a hand on either side of the man’s head and jerks it sharply round to the left. Another crack signals the definite end to Brecc’s life. One more death on his conscience.

Ignoring Brecc’s body completely, Balahn pivots to his next target: Hadiya.

“You,” he growls, bestial, violent.

He sees real fear in Hadiya’s eyes and hopes the man can keep control of his mind well enough for this to work.

Hadiya is already pressed against the back wall of the cell, which works to Balahn’s advantage. He runs the few steps it takes to cross the room, grabs Hadiya by the neck - but not as hard as he appears to - and almost gently pushes him against the wall.

Hadiya’s eyes register confusion, conclusion, cunning and relief; all flashing past in less than a second.

Good, Balahn thinks, he knows.

“We can’t wait. Tell me now.” Balahn hisses in Hadiya’s ear.

Hadiya grunts, flexes his back and twists his body to loosen himself in Balahn’s grip, lithe as an acrobat he slips out under Balahn’s arm and runs past the bunks.

Balahn turns, takes a stride and grapples Hadiya to the floor. It looks like the bigger man is struggling to gain a good hold on the smaller one. Hadiya, underneath, puts both his arms up around Balahn’s neck, pulls his head down and bites Balahn’s ear. Balahn screams - more than is needed for the pain - to cover the sound of Hadiya’s desperate whisper.

“Anointing of Itamen as successor. Shadow Carja going to claim he’s not Jiran’s son to undermine Avad, make him laughing stock for gossip. Only thing they have left to try.”

Balahn almost falls out of character in surprise. He just manages to hold himself together, growling again as he gains purchase on Hadiya’s chest, lifts him and throws him across the room. Hadiya rolls, keeps himself moving to land against the wall. He lands close to where Patamon has been standing. Patamon scuttles out of the way, he isn’t getting involved.

Balahn pounces like a cat, landing by the wall next to Hadiya. In the background he can hear the sounds of running feet. The guards are coming. He only has seconds. He grabs Hadiya, pulls them both upright and presses his body full on Hadiya's, squashing him against the wall. Balahn leans his head in, his mouth next to Hadiya’s ear.

“What do I tell Marad?”

“Tell him,” Hadiya keeps his voice so low it’s barely a whisper against Balahn’s ear, “they’ll say Itamen is mine," his voice changes tone, pride even in the whisper, "I was Nasadi’s chief bodyguard.”

“And?”

Hadiya flexes his body again and Balahn allows himself to be pushed backwards apparently off balance. Hadiya jumps forward pushing Balahn over, landing on top of him. Balahn lets himself fall, bracing himself against the weight of Hadiya, blinking away another sudden vision of Vanasha, this time taking Hadiya’s place in straddling him, her long hair brushing his chest, her smile… He shakes his head violently to clear his senses.

Hadiya takes hold of Balahn’s wrist and pushes it under his own leg as though to pin it in place. He leans down, puts a hand around Balahn’s neck as though to strangle him. It isn’t hard for Balahn to pretend to be struggling, he’s still dealing with the injuries of the previous day and night and exhaustion is causing his consciousness to waver.

He hears Hadiya’s bitter chuckle in his ear, “You think Jiran would let anyone near his women who might cuckold him?” He shifts his leg and Balahn’s hand is squashed against Hadiya’s groin. “Tell Marad this.”

Balahn knows immediately what he has to tell Marad, his hand grips Hadiya’s groin but there’s nothing there but a misshapen hard lump - scar tissue?

Time to end this. 

Balahn heaves up his shoulders, he throws off Hadiya and hauls himself to his feet. Giving another roar he turns to the face the guards clustered at the cell bars.

“You want some?” he screams, sweat and dirt streaking down his face. His chest is heaving as he gulps breaths, his body swaying with the effort to stay upright and awake. He spreads his arms wide to welcome them all to the fight.

“Take him down,” Janeva’s cold voice.

Thank the sun who shines upon us.

The door opens and the guards run in, spears forward. His body becomes a wall of pain and it all goes dark

Chapter Text

Balahn wakes to pain, different pain, controlled pain. A feeling he’s familiar with from many hospital stays. His breaths are shallow because his chest is tightly wrapped in bandages, his head, neck and shoulders are also bound; he can't move his head. His legs and arms aren't bandaged but he can feel they are stiff and sore. He's glad no-one can see the mosaic of bruises he must have. He opens his eyes, looks around without moving his head to get a handle on his situation. 

He’s in a ward, but the other beds are empty. The smell of the air tells him he’s still at Sunstone. His eyes rest on the only other person in the room: Janeva.

“How much time?” Balahn croaks.

“Don’t worry - not long. Everything about this screamed 'not well thought out emergency plan' so I hurried you here with loud shouts about you dying. Help the prison gossip along a bit, you know? And as it turns out, I wasn’t too far from the truth - the medic says it was 50/50 on you breaking your spine. Fate rolled the dice your way.” 

Balahn squeezes his eyes shut then opens them again, he groans, his head aches. “I feel like the morning after that bar in Frosted Cliffs.”

Janeva grunts in amusement at the memory, “You always were a lightweight.”

Balahn groans again, struggling with thinking, “I need to get word to Marad fast, but it can’t go by a normal messenger.”

Janeva grins, “Don’t worry, it’s amazing how the words “prison riot” speed response to official despatches. You already have a “not-normal” messenger waiting for your word. The only reason she’s not in here interrogating you is because I threatened to have her hog-tied.”

Now that was an image to keep him warm at night… As soon as Janeva says “she” Balahn knows who it is and his face softens with pleasure. He grins as he hears Janeva’s scornful laugh.

“You can come in now, he’s awake.” Janeva calls out, turning his head back towards the door.

The door opens and Balahn moves his shoulders to turn his head so he can watch Vanasha enter the room. She’s definitely been moving in a hurry - no floating silks today, instead there’s tough Carja armour to protect her for travelling at speed across dangerous terrain. Balahn enjoys the sight, even carrying the dust of several hours’ travel, she still manages to look on fire with sexuality. She could probably make the orange prison jumpsuit look good.

Janeva can tell what Balahn is thinking, “don’t tempt me,” he mutters.

Out loud, he says, “I’ll be outside, there’s no one else here.” and leaves Vanasha looking down at Balahn.

She reaches out and gently touches the bandage covering his bitten ear, “My poor Captain,” she whispers, “was this the only way?”

“Only thing I could think of in time. I don’t have your persuasive talents.”

Vanasha smiles, enjoying the moment, then she becomes serious, “But were you successful?”

“I was,” And he relates all Hadiya has said and what he learned to her.

Her eyebrows rise but she makes no comment beyond, “poor souls", which Balahn takes to include Hadiya, Nasadi and Itamen.

“Can you get this to Marad in time?”

She nods decisively, “Can and will.” she kisses him gently on the forehead, “I hope for better times when next we meet.”

Balahn closes his eyes and revels in the feeling of her breath on his skin.

“If you come with chains, they’d better be decorative,” he growls.

He can hear the sound of Vanasha’s laughter even after she’s left his room.

He sleeps and dreams of floating silks.

Chapter Text

When Balahn wakes again there is no-one in the room with him. His pain has lessened slightly and the room is dark. He is sure though that Janeva has stationed a guard outside. In the silence Balahn is able to take time at last to process everything that happened. From the time of his arrest to the final fight he's never had time to properly consider his actions, things moved too fast.

The information Hadiya offered Marad is now with Vanasha but is that enough? Balahn is confident the fight looked genuine and that no-one saw the information exchange, but is that enough? Is there room for suspicion? What could still go wrong?

Brecc is dead, so he’s no longer part of the equation but what about the rest of the cell. Tamar and Patamon were Brecc’s cronies, but Makis and Sachar... Balahn remembers his sense that they were working for someone. Who? Marad? Probably yes, one of them would be Marad's but two in the same cell? That would be a waste of resources, so who else? The Shadow Carja? Whatever stumbling corpse of that group is left after Avad’s win in the Battle of Meridian; they are desperate to gain some level of power again. 

Balahn groans. This isn’t finished yet.

“Hey!” he shouts, his voice gravelly.

The guard that enters is armed and approaches Balahn warily. Balahn wonders what Janeva has told the guards about his status. As the guard gets closer Balahn sees readiness to react in the man’s posture but none of the disdain that guards hold for prisoners. Janeva has told them something but not everything. 

Balahn brings his concentration back to his current situation.

“I need to talk to the Warden,” he says simply.

The guard obviously expects this, he merely nods and leaves.

In the silent room Balahn has no sense of time passing, he listens to his breath in and out, thinking things through, trying to work out all of the possibilities for action.

The door opens, the guard holds it for Janeva who is carrying a tray. Balahn pulls himself carefully up into a sitting position, trying not to show the pain.

Janeva places the tray on his lap, “Direct from the guards’ kitchen,” he says with a grin, “proper food.”

“Much appreciated,” Balahn takes a mouthful of the bowl of stew - beautiful meat-laden stew with good vegetables like he would have back at Daytower not the bland stodge served the prisoners.

“Where’s Hadiya?” he asks while chewing, knowing that Janeva never has the patience for anything but direct conversation.

“Solitary - as the inciter of the riot that almost killed you.”

Balahn is pleased and relieved. He should have known Janeva would have thought things through to a logical conclusion and realised Hadiya needed protecting. He can move straight to the next question.

“Can you get Hadiya out of here? Without anyone thinking anything odd?”

“And presumably with all his ex-friends still thinking he’s their now-friend?”

Balahn nods, it's an odd shoulder jerk with his neck still swaddled but it works.

Janeva leans back in his chair and stares at the ceiling running through possible scenarios. Balahn takes this moment to savour his food, there’s fresh-baked bread too. Janeva doesn’t skimp for his guards.

A few minutes pass and then Janeva comes to a conclusion and looks back to Balahn, “Yes, I think so. Prisoner transfers are sometimes done, either for punishment or compassionate reasons. With the riot, an argument could be made for transferring Hadiya well away from other Carja prisoners so he has no power-base. In fact, it’s probably what I’d suggest if this situation were real. A spell in an Oseram jail would be perfect for him. And no-one here is going to check whether he actually arrives.”

“Good. Whatever Hadiya may have thought or hoped, his information’s worth nothing unless we can keep him safe too, and he's not safe here.”

“And how do we keep him safe, since you aren't leaving here until our medic says your head won't fall off when you sneeze?”

Balahn thinks, “Get him to Vanasha in Meridian, she'll hide him. But only Vanasha, I wouldn’t put it past Marad to dangle him on a string for some other long game he’s running.”

“And Vanasha wouldn’t?”

Balahn is certain, “Not this time.”

Janeva breathes a sigh, “You’ve always been better at reading people than me, even if you are too easily swayed by a pretty smile. Okay, I’ll get him to Vanasha.”

“Thank you.”

Balahn closes his eyes and rests his head against the wall hoping now everything can be handed to Janeva and Vanasha and he can sleep.

But Janeva hasn’t left yet. He’s considering: are there questions, possibilities, threats leftover? He has one more question for Balahn.

Balahn opens one eye to look at Janeva, “What have I forgotten?”

“Oh. Well, where’s Hadiya going to go long-term? If you need to know he’s safe, you can hardly drop him off in Meridian with a handful of shards and a cheery wave.”

Balahn sighs, this is why he and Janeva worked so well as a team in the Guard, he sees what Balahn misses.

Balahn closes his eye and thinks. Janeva knows to wait. Balahn runs his mind again through all of his interactions looking for clues, possibilities. There was a single moment of softness in Hadiya, flickering and gone in one instant. During the fight. Something made him remember happiness. What was it?

“Tell Vanasha, from me, to ask Nasadi. Don’t ask Hadiya, he’d probably refuse on principle; to protect her and Itamen. But I think they both might appreciate a friend.”

Janeva nods, then pats Balahn’s leg when he notices Balahn’s eyes are still closed.

Janeva stands to go, “If time is still important, I’ll get the papers written up now and Hadiya can be on his way tomorrow morning. I hope Vanasha lives up to your trust.”

Janeva takes the tray with him and Balahn is left in silence again.

Chapter Text

Janeva sits at his desk in his barracks room. This room is where he can do his serious thinking. His second-in-command, Kostas, is on shift and there is little that Kostas can’t handle by himself.

Janeva taps his fingers on the edge of the desktop. It is great to see Balahn again, commanding Daytower obviously suits him, in a way it would never suit Janeva. A prison garrison suits Janeva: very little by way of dignitaries visiting, far more of knocking into shape other squads' cast-offs of malcontents and time-wasters. Sunstone Rock is now the last chance placement for Guardsmen. If Janeva can’t get you into shape, you're out.

Janeva smiles, remembering some of his surprising successes; soldiers who responded to his direct but resolutely fair style and became decent soldiers, maybe never rising up the ranks but doing a good job for steady pay.

Janeva sighs, he’s getting off track. Balahn… Janeva throws a scrunched up wad of parchment into the fire. Balahn is an idiot! An idiot who is far too willing to trust any woman who flashes a leg and flutters her eyelashes. But, Janeva admits to himself, Balahn is also his closest friend, and he loves him like a brother. A stupid brother!

So, it is time to help out his brother. In Balahn’s defence, this time it does seem to have been important. Janeva’s not sure how it could be so important that it required Balahn getting himself battered by Shadow Carja but if you did need someone to get themselves beaten up by Shadow Carja and still manage to get you your secret information, Balahn was your man.

So, Balahn’s done the fighty secret bit, now it’s Janeva’s turn; to tidy up the loose ends and make sure everything gets squared away.

He writes two copies of the transfer order, one to go with Hadiya and one to stay at Sunstone in Hadiya’s file. He decides the transfer will be to the Old Nickel Mine in The Claim. Janeva is always amused by the Oseram’s sense of whimsy in calling their prisons by whatever the locations were used for before. Old Nickel is a hellhole for prisoners - almost literally - a used up mining pit, 3,000 feet down. It’s not much fun for the guards either - at least at Sunstone daylight isn’t far away - at Old Nickel it's an hour in the elevator to get out. If there really had been a riot at Sunstone, the ringleader would definitely be getting a stay out at Old Nickel.

As well as the transfer orders, Janeva also writes a message to Jorgen, the Warden of Old Nickel to tell him there’s a prisoner coming. They’ve shared prisoners before - the Oseram hate the heat at Sunstone, to them this place is a hellhole. In the message he writes to expect them in the next month or two. That would give him enough time to get Hadiya well away from anyone who might be paying attention.

Janeva leans back and continues to think. As much as he trusts his garrison, this is going to have to be something he does himself. And why not? It’s about time Kostas got a chance at being in command, and other than Balahn’s particular chaos, life is quiet. Janeva reflexively looks up at his ceiling to where the sun is in the sky and apologises for tempting fate.

He continues to plan; if he’s going to leave with Hadiya, then why not take a trip up to The Claim and visit Old Nickel in person - not with Hadiya obviously, but no-one else needs to know that.

Janeva stands up and walks over to the large map he has nailed to his wall, with Sunstone marked by a red pin. He looks and wonders, where can he go that’s reasonably in line for a trip to Old Nickel... which is... there, he adds a pin,... a place to quietly leave Hadiya to Vanasha’s tender charms. And how does he get her to be there too?

He traces a finger on the map; Old Nickel is on the far north-eastern side of The Claim up near Banuk territory and a long journey from Sunstone, which makes it ideal for both the real and fake reasons for moving Hadiya. Janeva ponders, we can either do a circle round Meridian or go north immediately into Oseram territory. The Claim gets them away from Marad’s eyes, but is unknown: the better plan, Janeva decides, is to stay in Carja territory but swing wide around Meridian. So, is there a safe place to meet with Vanasha before turning north to Old Nickel. Janeva smiles… there is a safe place, an ideal place for this particular exchange…

Daytower.

Now to craft an invitation for Vanasha that Marad - who has ears to every wall and fingers in every pie - won’t understand and also will find mundane. Janeva stares at a blank page for several minutes. This is not within his abilities, he needs Balahn.

Chapter Text

Balahn is asleep, but he’s still on edge from the prison and the injuries, so the slight sound and change in air from the door opening triggers his reflexes and his eyes open, his body tightens up ready to fight.

“Balahn, it’s Janeva.” Janeva calls from the door before stepping through, he knows how Balahn will react.

Balahn moves his head carefully to watch Janeva enter.

“What time is it?”

“Two hours before sunrise. Hadiya will leave with me and several guards at dawn - that’s already in motion. I’m now organising the details for later.”

“What do you need from me?”

“Some of your creative ability. My plan is to take Hadiya around Meridian and to stop at Daytower.”

Balahn grins, “Send my regards to the garrison for me.”

“I shall. I want Vanasha to meet us there. So I need you to write a message that will get Vanasha to come to Daytower and take Hadiya. But the message mustn’t even slightly tweak Marad’s interests.”

Balahn hauls himself up into a sitting position and gently leans his head on the wall, closing his eyes to think.

When he opens his eyes, he asks “Is the crate with my uniform here or still in Processing?”

“It’s here. I had it brought down.”

“Good. Open it for me and pass me the breast plate of my armour.”

Mystified but trusting, Janeva goes to where the crate had been placed against a wall, opens it and pulls out the breast plate of Balahn’s Guard uniform. He places it on Balahn’s legs on the bed where Balahn will be able to look at it without moving too much.

Balahn reaches forward carefully, “Perfect,” he murmurs and unhooks a copper chain that rests between the two chest pieces of his armour. It is a fine piece of workmanship, handed to him as part of the promotion ceremony when he was made Captain.

“Write this down,” he says, “ ‘My Lady Vanasha, you left this behind on your most recent visit. My apologies that it was not discovered before you left.’ sign it Rahimat, Deputy Commander Daytower and seal it with my ring,” he gestures again to the crate.

Janeva looks at what he has written, “I agree this won’t bother Marad, but you think it will bring Vanasha to Daytower?”

Balahn smiles, a small soft smile that causes Janeva to look at him sharply, “It will if you put the chain with it. Vanasha will understand what it means.”

Janeva shrugs and grins, “Luckily I don’t need to understand.”

"Pass me your pen and parchment," Balahn gestures with his fingers, "Your time at Daytower will go easier with word from me."

Balahn scrawls a quick note and signs it, then hands it to Janeva who tucks it away in his armour.

Janeva stands to leave, “This is goodbye for now, but I would like to not wait for you to be arrested before we get together again, so make an excuse to call in if you’re ever ordered to Meridian.”

“Agreed, likewise.” Balahn holds out his hand, Janeva grasps it in friendship.

“And while I’m gone,” Janeva says sternly, “don’t give the medic any grief, he says you’re damn lucky to be still walking. Do what he says and stay put until he says you can leave.”

Balahn salutes, “May the Sun shine upon your travels,” he says solemnly.

Janeva grins and replies with the traditional response of the Carja Guard, “And may the shadows cover the bones of your enemies.”

Chapter Text

Dawn.

The sun is rising over the towers of Meridian and beginning its slow journey to bring warmth to all Carja, even those at Sunstone Rock.

Janeva stands at the door of the barracks, nods to the sun in recognition of its power over all of them. He walks out into the courtyard. Standing there are four guards and Hadiya. Hadiya is chained. Janeva, to amuse himself, has used the same chains that Balahn was locked into. This way, he will be able to return them to their owner, Vanasha. Balahn might be able to take being arrested in his stride, Janeva does not and he wants to make sure Vanasha is aware of that.

Kostas comes out of the main doorway to the prison to receive the formal handover of authority.

“Kostas, you’re in charge. Try not to break anything.” Janeva never does fancy, he’s handing over authority, there - it’s handed over.

He hands Kostas the two messages for Vanasha and Jorgen, “See these get sent out to meet up with the regular mail carriers going to Meridian and The Claim.

Kostas nods, doing his best not to look nervous. Janeva makes everything look easy. *No-one* messes with Janeva. He’s worried when word gets out that Janeva is not on the premises, they’ll all try testing his authority: soldiers and prisoners.

Janeva looks up at him directly, “You wouldn’t be my second if I didn’t have full confidence you could take over. I don’t mess around. You know that.”

Kostas does know that, he squares his shoulders, “Yes, sir!”

Janeva grins, “You’ll do fine.” He turns to the leader of the guards surrounding Hadiya, “Okay, Galel, let’s go.”

The four guards and Hadiya start walking. Hadiya has said nothing since he was told he’s being transferred. He’s asked no questions, made no complaints, everything is just accepted with equanimity. Janeva is slightly concerned that Balahn may have hit him a little too hard on the head. Not too concerned though, however helpful Hadiya might be now, he’s still Shadow Carja, and Janeva likes the quiet.

The group makes quick time circling north around Meridian. Janeva is impressed by Hadiya’s fortitude. He’s kept himself in surprisingly good shape during his time at Sunstone, usually stamina is the first thing to go. When the sun begins to sink behind the mountains at Sunstone, Janeva calls a halt. They will camp here for the night. The guards are used to this, Janeva never takes prisoners into settlements. Why put them anywhere near a tempting opportunity? Janeva sends Galel and Tomas to scout for machines. Machines are more docile since Aloy did whatever it was that Aloy did, but some of them are predators and should be treated with respect. Shahin and Davi are sent to refill the water carriers and to forage and hunt for food. Leaving Janeva with Hadiya.

“Give me your word and I’ll remove the chains while you piss,” Janeva says with his usual abruptness.

Hadiya quirks what could almost become a smile and nods. Janeva removes the chains and gestures to a thick tree some ten feet behind the campsite.

“Go behind there. I’ll be able to see and hear you if you run.”

Hadiya freezes at this apparent concern for his privacy, does Janeva know what he told Balahn? He realises Balahn has no reason to keep it secret, but still, he doesn’t like the idea of being gossiped and joked about. Then he remembers something he was told by one of the prisoners when he first arrived at Sunstone, the prisoner was ex-Guard and had served with Janeva before, he warned them all about how it had been serving with Janeva: any jokes or questioning of Janeva’s height: trip to the infirmary, any jokes or questioning about Janeva’s fastidiousness about cleanliness and privacy: trip to the infirmary.

Hadiya realises he's still standing with Janeva who is now watching him with an amused smile. Hadiya rolls his shoulders and pretends he was just relaxing his aching arms and walks off to blessed privacy where he doesn't have to hide his mutilation or the pain that comes every time he has to pee.

Once he returns, Janeva reattaches the chains, but does not attach them to a tree. "You can have free range in the camp. Ask before you go out to the tree and I'll remove the chains," Janeva says. "Know that if you try to escape, my guards will either kill you or catch you and truss you to a tree, whichever is easiest."

Hadiya nods and settles himself to sit with his back against a tree.

A short while later, the four guards come back together dragging a boar behind them.

Janeva looks up with a grin, “Are we expecting guests?”

Tomas looks embarrassed, “It took me by surprise sir.”

Galel adds, “The good news though is that there are very few machines around here. Only a group of grazers a mile to the east with a couple of watchers standing guard.”

Janeva nods, “Good, okay, Tomas you’re on skinning and butchering duty for your boar. Any of you want to help him you can, do it away from the camp and not near that tree” he gestures to the large tree he’d pointed out to Hadiya, “That’s the toilet tree.”

Shahin goes with Tomas dragging the carcass. Janeva addresses Davi and Galel, “Stay here, watch the prisoner, get a fire going and cook what you found to go with the meat.” Then Janeva leaves to walk the area around the camp for himself.

Hadiya silently watches Davi and Galel, impressed there are no muttered complaints about division of labour or tiredness, but perhaps they are on their best behaviour because a prisoner is present. Hadiya hasn’t dared ask where they are going. He’s scared to reveal any level of worry or emotion that’s not normal for a Shadow Carja. He had assumed they were going to Meridian for some reason, but that can't be happening with the route they are currently following. He remembers Balahn’s comment during the conversation on their way to breakfast; that it was Janeva who’d put him in the cell. Which means that Janeva knows at least something about what was going on. So he should realise that the ‘riot’ wasn’t what it appeared to be. So why the move to solitary? Why the move now? The agreement with Marad was to let him stay with the other Kestrels at Sunstone, why has this changed?

Janeva comes back to the camp, picks up one of the water jugs and pours some into a mug, hands it to Hadiya. Hadiya nods his thanks and takes a drink. He goes to hand back the mug but Janeva waves him off.

“That can be your mug for this evening. Help yourself to water when you want it.”

Hadiya lifts the cup slightly in salute and says “Thanks,” in a broken hoarse voice.

Janeva nods.

Tomas and Shahin come back with the meat from the boar, butchered into sections and wrapped in leaves. They push these into the fire to roast.

Later, the group are about to start eating the meat and stewed vegetables when a voice shouts, “Hello camp! Carja Guard Omari asking to enter.”

They exchange glances and Janeva nods to Galel, “Warn them,” he says, “but they are welcome to join us if they want.”

Galel runs to where the sound came from and in a couple of minutes returns with a Carja soldier and a Sun Priest. The Sun Priest’s eyes keep flickering nervously towards Hadiya in his orange jumpsuit and chains, but obviously the desire for extra security and company overnight is outweighing any nervousness about being this close to a dangerous criminal.

“My name is Kareem,” he said pressing his hands together in prayer, “May the sun shine its blessing on this camp.”

Galel gestures around the camp, beginning with Janeva, “May I introduce Warden Janeva and Guardsmen Tomas, Shahin and Davi.”

Janeva nods a greeting, “You arrived just in time, gentlemen,” he said. “We are about to serve supper and since Tomas accidentally tripped over a boar we have plenty to share.”

Davi serves everybody, he hesitates for a moment before Hadiya but Janeva nods at him to continue.

“What brings you out into the Wilds?” Galel asks the Sun Priest.

Janeva thinks about recommending a promotion and a transfer to a different garrison for Galel, his social skills are being wasted at a prison. Perhaps he could even get duty in Meridian? Janeva’s attention is brought immediately back to the conversation when he hears Hadiya take a sharp breath in. What is going on? The Sun Priest is talking.

“... Yes indeed, a most important proclamation and I’m in charge of making sure it gets to all the smaller settlements on the north western side of Meridian. Sun King Avad has named Itamen his successor.”

“What has the reaction been?” Galel asks, “any fuss?”

Janeva can sense Hadiya holding his breath. What could his interest be in this?

Omari answers, “A few rumblings from the hard-liners of the Liberation who think Avad is appeasing the Shadow Carja.” He chuckles, “they forget that Itamen is Avad’s step-brother, and only sibling, it makes sense to pick him as successor. It’s good to have things official.”

Janeva feels Hadiya relax, he remembers Balahn’s instruction about telling Vanasha to ask Nasadi about a long-term solution for Hadiya. The implication being that Hadiya and Nasadi were friends? Huh, that is interesting, Janeva wonders if Hadiya’s information for Marad was linked to this announcement. It certainly looks that way, Balahn was definitely in a hurry for some reason. So… what would be that information?

Janeva shakes his head, he shouldn't get wrapped up in idle speculation here, it will cause him to get distracted.

After eating, Janeva organises his guards for watches during the night. Each of his four guards will take a two-hour shift, Janeva himself will take the watch after those eight hours were up until everyone was ready to leave.

The night passes peacefully, no machine activity to disturb them and no bandits would approach a group this heavily armed.

Janeva wakes when Shahin shakes his shoulder, “Six o'clock, sir,” Shahin whispers, “Near dawn. Last watch.”

Janeva nods and sits up. Looking around he sees the Sun Priest also rising to give his salutations to the sun, Shahin is starting to organise breakfast and the other guards are asleep. Hadiya, Janeva notices, is awake. He looks rested but he also looks like he hasn’t moved from where Janeva saw him before sleeping.

Janeva walks over to where Hadiya is sitting, “Do you need to go behind the tree?” he asks, keeping to polite terminology since they do have a priest nearby.

Hadiya nods, “I'd appreciate that. Can I go now before everyone else is moving around?”

Janeva unlocks the chains, “Same rules as yesterday.”

Hadiya nods and gives a twisted smile, “Don’t worry Warden, my running and fighting days are long done.”

Janeva watches him go and come back, while staying aware of everyone else in the camp.

Hadiya does seem to be a changed man since the fight with Balahn. Perhaps breaking faith with the remains of the Shadow Carja has in some way separated him from his old concerns? Janeva hisses through his teeth, he’ll be glad to get to Daytower and hand Hadiya onto Vanasha. He does not get on with uncertainty in life.

Once Hadiya is back in chains, Janeva wakes the rest of the camp and they settle to eating breakfast.

“Are you going into Meridian?” Kareem asks.

Janeva shakes his head, his senses keen on any reaction coming from Hadiya, “No - we are heading north into The Claim.”

“Sun Priest Eelis is taking the proclamation to the Oseram. Captain Erend and some others of the Vanguard are accompanying him.”

Janeva nods, there are still security problems with the Oseram, as there are with the Banuk and the Nora, you couldn’t wipe out the history of decades of slaughter committed in the name of Jiran overnight.

And, damn the shadows, he’s allowed himself to get distracted and missed Hadiya’s reaction to the idea of going to The Claim.

Janeva shrugs it off and concentrates on breaking down the camp and getting started on their journey. If they make good time during the day, they should reach Daytower by night.

They part company with Kareem and Omari at the junction for the main road leading south into Meridian. Janeva and his group continue onwards east towards Daytower.

Hadiya says nothing at all, he readily stops to take a break when they do, he gets moving again without complaint. If he knows the area they’re going through he makes no comment. If he thinks this route to the Claim is inefficient he doesn’t comment. He is a model prisoner, which is wonderful except that before the meeting with Balahn, Hadiya had been one of the most vocal and vociferous about standing on his rights as a Kestrel. That too could have been a mask to hold his status among the other Kestrels. But which is the real Hadiya? Can Janeva trust that his running and fighting days are over or is he just biding his time?

Once they begin to close in on the environs of Daytower, Janeva sends Shahin on ahead with the note from Balahn.

“The commander there is Rahimat,” he tells Shahin, “tell him you know he has questions but he’ll have to wait until I get there because you don’t know the answers. That should save you both some effort.”

Shahin nods and takes off at a run to get to Daytower as fast as possible.

Janeva rolls his shoulders, he’ll be glad to get to Daytower and to leave again. All this spy stuff was an anathema to his nature. Which reminded him of who is waiting for him at Daytower, or who he will be waiting for: Vanasha. She is an anathema to his nature. Everything he isn’t and never wants to be.

He looks over at his men and Hadiya, no-one seems to be particularly struggling with the journey. “Let’s pick up the pace a bit,” he commands, “there’ll be good food and ale waiting at Daytower.”

Daytower fortress comes into view as the sun is beginning to set. The group are met about a mile out by a group of Guards and Shahin. When Janeva sees them he halts his group and lets them come to him. The Guards spread out in a line in front of Janeva’s group, calm but focused. Janeva is impressed - Balahn has a good garrison of soldiers here.

Shahin leaves the Daytower group and returns to Janeva, “I did as you asked,” he reports. “Rahimat welcomes us to Daytower. He is keen to speak to you and requests you find him as soon as you arrive. These men are here as an escort so that we can relax a little for the rest of the journey.”

Janeva nods, a welcoming escort so long as we are who we say we are. Any doubts and we’ll all be in chains before we enter the gate - which is exactly what I would do, he thinks.

Out loud he smiles and nods, “Lead on,” he calls.

The detachment from Daytower leads Janeva’s group into the fortress. As soon as they step through the gate, Walid intercepts them.

“Warden Janeva,” he says respectfully addressing Janeva, “Commander Rahimat requests some of your time.”

Janeva nods; it’s understandable that Rahimat would be keen for answers given the way Balahn had left the fortress. He turns to his men, “See that the prisoner is securely confined in a cell. Keep him in chains. After that, arrange a watch over him until I can review things.”

The guards nod and take Hadiya with them, following one of the Daytower guards who leads them to the cells in the basement of the fortress.

Walid takes Janeva to the commander’s office, knocks on the door, opens it and gestures for Janeva to enter.

“Warden Janeva, sir,” he says and closes the door leaving Janeva with Rahimat.

Janeva looks at the Commander. Rahimat is taller and broader than Balahn, a solid wall of a man with a shaved head and a wrinkled scar crossing his nose. Rahimat looks like a barroom brawler, Janeva wonders how many officers dismissed him as such before he came to Balahn’s notice, because there’s no way Balahn’s second in command is anything but as intelligent as Balahn himself. Janeva knows Balahn would settle for nothing less.

Rahimat is sizing Janeva up just as thoroughly and what he sees impresses him because he’s heard Balahn talk about the hard-nosed strategy-fiend who’d saved his ass many times during basic and the war.

“Sit, please,” Rahimat says.

Janeva takes a seat across the desk from Rahimat, and Rahimat also sits.

“Is Captain Balahn going to be released and come back to Daytower?,” Rahimat’s voice is deep and so gravelly that Janeva wonders about scars on his neck too.

Janeva nods decisively, “For definite,” then he pauses, “unless he does something stupid while I’m not there.”

Rahimat laughs out loud, “Fair. We are talking about Balahn, after all! Tell me everything about this ridiculous adventure of his that you are able to. All I know is a beautiful dark-skinned lady, all sex and silk turned up and arrested him. I know he knew her already and it was a fake arrest because Balahn didn’t destroy the fortress fighting it. So what happened next?”

Janeva nods, that is what would have happened if anyone genuinely tried to put Balahn in chains. “I don’t know anything officially and what I will say doesn’t go any further than you.”

“Understood.”

Janeva decides to trust Rahimat because Balahn does, and he takes him through everything that has happened except for the identity of the prisoner Balahn was getting information from.

“Balahn is currently in the Sunstone medical wing, and if he has any sense he’ll stay there until our medic says he’s safe to leave.”

“That’s acceptable. Knowing he’s recovering means I can stay here as temporary commander. Any doubts and we run the risk of the Generals in Meridian deciding that Daytower needs a proper replacement Captain and I know they aren’t going to pick me.” He grins, which has the effect of making him look crazy as well as violent. “I’ll be glad to have the Captain back.”

Janeva nods, “I’ll be glad to get everything back to normal too.” He stands, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to check on my prisoner.”

Janeva follows directions down to the cells. Shahin is standing guard over Hadiya who is the only person currently imprisoned in the cells.

“Have you eaten?”

Shahin nods, “Yes, sir. We all got squared away while Galel watched the prisoner, now it’s my turn.”

“Good, I would have asked for you, so I’m glad you’re already here. Stand guard over the door to this area. Anyone wants to come in, shout down to warn me and do not let them come down until I give you the okay. And if Hadiya manages to get past me and tries to escape, kick him back down the stairs.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Good man.”

Shahin leaves and starts to climb the stairs. Janeva is glad he was already here - he is his first choice for work like this: stoic, uncommunicative and unimaginative but very thorough, very tough and scared of nobody. Shahin won’t let anyone in and also won’t wonder about why the Warden is spending so long with the prisoner.

Janeva waits until he hears Shahin close the door at the top of the stairs before addressing Hadiya.

“You and I need to have a conversation.”

Chapter Text

Janeva opens the door to the cell and closes and locks it behind him. He sits down on the bench beside Hadiya, leaning back against the stone wall of the fortress.

“You’ll need to keep the chains on while I’m in here but once I’m done, I’ll take them off you.”

Hadiya nods, uncertain about what is happening.

“This whole business is driving me crazy." As he speaks, Janeva remains facing forward - it's easier to start this conversation with a little distance between them. "All subterfuge and secrets, not my deal at all. However, I’m about to hand you over to someone who is all subterfuge and secrets, so I figure this is the last chance either of us will have for a straight conversation. And I’m bothered by you. You’re too different from the Hadiya of even a month ago for my liking and if I can’t be sure it’s safe to hand you over to Vanasha I won’t; you can come to the Claim after all.”

There is so much in this that Hadiya cannot process but one thing stands out so far it’s blocking all the others.

“Vanasha?” he asks in a dazed tone.

Janeva glances over at him, intrigued by his reaction, “She’s one of Blameless Marad’s crew, all sex and silks is how Rahimat describes her,” Janeva chuckles.

“Dark skin? Voice like warm ale on a cold night?”

Janeva snorts derisively, “I guess, if you like that sort of thing, but yes, she's dark-skinned.

“Must be the same woman, there wouldn’t be two of those in the world. Ha! She was handmaiden to the Queen - I didn’t suspect her. I knew there had to be someone there from Avad to try and get Nasadi and Itamen away from those nutcases but I didn’t think it was Vanasha.”

Some things are coming clearer to Janeva.

“Nutcases?”

Hadiya’s laugh is bitter, “Helis and Bahavas, both as bad as each other. I served Jiran. I’m a soldier, he was my king - end of discussion. After I was promoted to be the Queen’s bodyguard, I stayed with her. After Avad killed Jiran and won the war, I could probably have walked back into Carja society no questions asked but when she went to Sunfall I went with her.”

Hadiya sighs heavily, “All along I knew the best chance for her was to be with Avad. He was King now, Itamen his brother but I knew I wouldn’t be able to get her out myself.”

Hadiya glances over to Janeva with a slight grin, “I’m like you - straight-ahead fighting I can do, spying and sneaking I cannot. So I hoped Avad would get someone undercover. He seemed like someone who’d want his remaining family with him. He wouldn’t hold a grudge against the Queen or Itamen for Jiran’s actions.”

“You’re her bodyguard but you’re also hoping she’ll escape?” Janeva grins, “Sounds like you were getting to be pretty sneaky there.”

Hadiya grimaces, “If I’d been good at it, I would have figured out a way to go with them. As it was, all I could manage was to go coincidentally deaf if I heard them moving around.”

“So…” Janeva pauses, “how come you didn’t say this to anyone after the liberation of Sunfall? You continued to play the role of ardent Kestrel when you could have been free. Nasadi would have vouched for you.”

“No!” Hadiya says firmly, more loudly than he intended. He takes a deep breath and continues more calmly, “She is the Queen. I couldn’t involve her in my problems, risk tarnishing her reputation by association. No, I knew my place, I’d walk my path.”

“Until now.”

Janeva and Hadiya sat in silence, each deep in thought. Hadiya: lost in memories, Janeva: trying to figure out his next move. To continue as he started, he decides, being direct.

“I don’t know anything about why you wanted to get information to Marad or what that information is,” he says calmly.

Hadiya’s attention jerks back to the present: Janeva doesn’t know!

Janeva looks at him with raised eyebrows, “That’s important to you still? Well, at this point, I think only Balahn, Vanasha and probably Marad know. Balahn won’t tell anyone else, he’s an honourable man. Vanasha and Marad probably won’t tell anyone because to them, knowledge is only useful if it’s secret.”

Janeva continues talking, “The problem for you is that whatever your information is, Balahn thinks it’s only worth something with you alive to confirm it. And he doesn’t trust that you’ll stay that way as a Kestrel in Sunstone.”

Hadiya breathes out another heavy sigh, “Told you I was no good at this. I didn’t think of that.”

“I’ve a feeling a lot of people should be grateful that Vanasha knows Balahn, and knew he would help her, no questions asked.

Hadiya chuckles, “He’s a rare one, that’s for sure. So what’s the plan then? Are you taking me to Oseram territory?”

"No, that’s just the cover story. I’m freeing you.”

This is such an unexpected answer that Hadiya is struck silent.

“You’re... what?”

Janeva nods, “Balahn’s plan. We need to keep you alive, best way to do that is not have you in jail where the people who might figure out what you’ve done can get at you. He reckons you’ve earned your freedom. Vanasha’s coming here. She’ll take you to Meridian, find you somewhere to stay.”

Janeva glances at Hadiya’s orange jumpsuit, “We’ll need to get you a new outfit.”

Hadiya is silent, processing the new state of play, “Meridian?” he says quietly in wonder.

Janeva stands, “I’ll leave you in peace. Come up to the bars and I’ll take your chains off.”

Janeva lets himself out of the cell and locks the door. He lifts the keys off the hook by the stairs, comes back and unlocks the manacles around Hadiya’s wrists and ankles. He pulls the loose chains and the manacles through the bars and carries them over to the stairs as well. He looks back at Hadiya.

“I’m going to hand guard duty back to the Daytower soldiers - it’s better to put some distance between my four and you. If you need anything or want to talk, ask for me.”

With that, Janeva leaves and Hadiya is alone.

Meridian? Free?

He still can’t process this information properly.

When he made the decision to contact Marad, he thought it was best for him to stay in prison. He had accepted his fate, he was a Kestrel and he had stayed in Sunfall after the war of Liberation, and to all appearances he was one of Helis’s Shadow Carja, and it made sense to him to stay within that identity - if no-one questioned his loyalty he would be safe.

But when he’d heard the rumours about Avad annointing Itamen and the whispers started, trying to undermine Avad by making him a laughing stock, fooled by Nasadi into accepting a commoner as successor, he knew he'd have to do something to protect Nasadi from such shameful lies.

Hadiya wonders if they had ever considered how that would all end. If Avad was deposed, then who would be the Sun-King? Is there some distant cousin somewhere in the line of Luminesence biding his time?

But that doesn’t matter any more, no-one can claim Itamen is his - Jiran took care of that long ago. And there was no-one else they could use as a possible father. Nasadi was never alone, there was always Jiran, himself or her hand-maiden. Hadiya laughs out loud, Vanasha was the spy! She was good. He’d been trying to find a spy and never thought of her. And now she was part of this plot too. A woman of great courage and skill.

Hadiya lay down on the bench and started to go to sleep. One thing prison teaches you is patience. He has no control over what is going to happen or when. It might be weeks. But still… Meridian…

Chapter Text

Janeva wakes the next morning comfortably rested and with an answer to the one part of the plan he hadn’t been able to figure out: how to get his guards to go back to Sunstone without him.

He goes down to the mess hall for breakfast and finds Galel and Tomas there already. He piles up a plate with food, walks over and sits beside Galel.

“Where are Davi and Shahin?” he asks, starting to eat with the determined rhythm of soldiers everywhere.

“Still asleep,” Tomas replies with a snort.

“We left them to it,” Galel adds, “Is that allright, sir?”

“Yes, that’s fine. I’ve received word from Jorgen - the warden at Old Nickel. Because of the continued unrest, he’s sending a set of his own guards down to pick up Hadiya. He doesn’t want Carja troops in the Claim, not right now.”

Galel nods, “News reports have shown a resurgence in hard-line Oseram activism against the Sundom. Even with the return of Dervahl to their justice. Some think we need to pay for Jiran’s crimes with more blood.

“Anyway,” Janeva speaks around a mouthful of ham and egg, “the four of you can go back to Sunstone. I’ll stay here for the handover, but I don’t want to leave Kostas four guards down for longer than necessary. Today can be a rest day: visit Hunter’s Gathering and the market here if you want. But,“ Janeva jabs his fork at both of them as he says the next words, “Do. Not. Get. Arrested.” he then continues normally, “Head back to Sunstone first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Right, sir. Instructions for the return journey?” Galel asks.

“Quick as possible. I’ll give you shards for staying in an inn overnight.”

Galel stands, “I’ll go and wake the others and let them know. They aren’t going to want to sleep through a rest day.”

Janeva chuckles, that’s true enough - rest days in new places were very rare and definitely not to be wasted.

Tomas leaves with Galel, leaving Janeva alone with his breakfast. He chews slowly while considering the question, “What next?”

What is next comes very quickly in the form of Walid looking very harassed and nervous, “Commander Rahimat would like to see you, sir.”

Janeva nods and stands. He has a very good idea of the cause of such nervousness in Walid. He carries his tray over to the clearing hatch and then follows Walid out of the mess hall. This is going to be interesting.

Walid leaves him at the entrance to the building, unwilling to go any closer. Janeva goes up the stairs to Balahn’s office and finds Rahimat waiting outside. Rahimat grins and claps Janeva on the shoulder. He nods towards the office door.

“Good luck!” he says, and then he leaves and goes down the stairs.

Janeva is amused and amazed by the alacrity with which everyone is getting out of harm’s way but at least it assures him of privacy. He takes a breath and enters the office.

Vanasha is standing looking out of the window dressed demurely in a black gown with a high neck and long-sleeves as would befit the hand-maiden to a queen. When she turns and smiles, there’s no mistaking the sexual allure she radiates. Janeva can sense it, even if it doesn’t knock him off the rails like most of the Guards Vanasha comes in contact with.

When she sees that it's Janeva who has entered, Vanasha smiles widely, “I thought it would be you," she says in welcome, "The message clearly indicated something was going on and Balahn is obviously not here.”

Vanasha gestures to the chairs by the desk, "Well then, my dear, why don’t you tell me what it is that you don’t want anyone in Meridian to know about?”

Janeva sits down on one chair. Vanasha doesn’t go behind the desk, she takes the chair next to Janeva’s, turns it around and sits so she is facing him.

Janeva gives Vanasha a quick rundown of everything Balahn and he had talked about and decided. At the end Vanasha gives a peal of laughter.

“Oh dear, my lovely Balahn! I am not the miracle worker he thinks I am. I can get myself in and out of Meridian without attracting official attention but I couldn’t bring anyone with me - that would be too peculiar and noticed by Marad in an instant.”

Janeva sighs, “Why can’t things ever be easy?”

He stretches out his legs and leans back to stare at the ceiling to think things through. When he sits back upright, he notices Vanasha is watching him closely with a half-smile on her face.

“What?” he asks, annoyed and suspicious.

“It’s a hard row you’ve chosen to furrow.” Vanasha says, sounding sympathetic of all things.

Janeva shuts down this avenue of talk immediately, “I walk my own path,” he says bluntly. “Hadiya. If I get him into Meridian, can you arrange for a place of safety for him?”

“Oh yes, certainly, inside Meridian no-one will blink an eye at me chatting to all sorts of different people.”

“Balahn told me to tell you to ask Nasadi directly about a long-term place for Hadiya. He was her bodyguard.”

Vanasha raises her brows and turns serious as she thinks , “Oh yes, I remember him.” Her eyes lose focus as she looks back into the past, “Yes… yes, I think Balahn is right. Nasadi would appreciate having him back.” Vanasha smiles a private smile, “Balahn… Always seeing more than you expect him to.” She focuses back onto Janeva, “Honestly, that man is wasted as a soldier!”

Janeva disagrees but remains silent.

Vanasha puts her hands on her knees, “Now then, how do you want to contact me when you get to Meridian?”

Janeva is adamant, “No more secret messages and codes. We’ll arrive and ask for you. People must actually talk to you openly occasionally.”

Vanasha’s laughter is genuine, “Oh I like you! Yes, it has been known for me to meet people. However, in this instance the Warden of Sunstone Prison arriving at the Court unexpectedly will raise far too much attention.” She smiles sympathetically, “I’m afraid you’re a known person at the Court - ever since the War of Liberation your name has been respected and then Avad gave you the responsibility for Sunstone.”

Janeva snorts.

Vanasha grins in return, “You may not have seen it as a promotion at the time, but it caused a lot of talk among the Generals. And you’ve made a great success of it. No, I’m afraid you don’t get to be ignored by the gentry any more.”

Janeva sighs, “Just so long as they don’t visit Sunstone. So - how do we meet?”

“There’s an inn, The Old Boar on Market Street. Take rooms there, eat your meals at 12 and 6. I’ll come to you.”

Janeva nods, that’s straightforward. He stands up, eager to be out of Vanasha’s company before she starts prodding him for answers he doesn’t want to give.

“I won’t be leaving here before the day after tomorrow, so expect us in three days. We’ll overnight outside the city.”

“That’s reasonable,” Vanasha agrees, “I’ll expect you then.”

Janeva walks to the door, and Vanasha calls after him, “Send in that lovely Commander, I want to chat to him some more.”

Chapter Text

Janeva does nothing to organise Hadiya until after his guards leave the next morning. He enjoys the rest day, visiting the market in the Daytower courtyard, and the various stalls in Hunters’ Gathering. As the sun sets, he stands at the eastern gate of the fortress and looks over towards the border of Nora territory. He wonders how they are all faring after the battles with Helis and the machines. He wonders if Aloy went back there to settle or if she’s still travelling all over the land. His instinctive thought is that Balahn probably knows and he laughs quietly to himself as he remembers Vanasha’s outburst about Balahn, which leads him to ponder the nature of that relationship. He shakes his head, getting soppy about romance is not how he’s going to spend his time. He says good night to the moon and stars and turns back to the fortress to walk to his room in the officer’s quarters.

The next morning he rises early to see to it that his men are organised and leaving Daytower as planned. He writes a note for Balahn to say the prisoner handover is going as planned and a note for Kostas to explain why the guards have come back without him. He is about to sign the letter when it occurs to him that it would be better if the trip to Meridian was above board and known about. No reason to create the possibility for suspicion after the fact by having him seen in Meridian when he’s meant to be in The Claim, so he adds a sentence to say that since Jorgen’s guards are collecting Hadiya from Daytower, he has decided to come back to Sunstone via a short break in Meridian.

He adds this information to Balahn’s letter as well and then folds and seals both notes. Galel can deliver them on his return to Sunstone. Janeva walks down to the courtyard where his men are already preparing to leave. He hands the letters to Galel, who is waiting to talk to Rahimat.

“Permission to leave Daytower, sir” Galel asks Rahimat.

“Granted. May the sun light your way.”

The four guardsmen march out in lockstep. Janeva is proud of them.

“Good soldiers,” Rahimat comments.

Janeva smiles, “Yes.”

“You’re not leaving yet?”

Janeva turns, “No. Can we have a quiet cup of coffee in your office?”

“Certainly can. I’ll smoke a cigar too - between it and the coffee it might overpower the perfume scent our friend leaves behind her.”

Janeva laughs.

The other part of the story Janeva has had to concoct is for Rahimat. He thinks Balahn will probably trust the commander with the full truth but that is his decision to make after the fact. For now, Janeva needs something else to explain everything to Rahimat. And he thinks a half-truth, nearly three-quarters of the truth, would be best.

Rahimat gestures to a chair for Janeva, pours coffee from the carafe behind the desk and hands him a mugful.

“Dark Roast direct from the Claim, Balahn has a regular order delivered.”

“Perks for the Commander of the Garrison?”

Rahimat sits in the chair behind the desk and lights a cigar. “There have to be some! I tell you, taking over here has given me a big appreciation for the Captain’s patience. The amount of inane questions people have that they feel has to be dealt with by the Commander of the Garrison. And they’re civilians too. I didn’t join the Guard to be nice to civilians!”

Janeva laughs, “Believe me, I sympathize. I know I could never put up with it.”

Rahimat leans back in his chair, “So tell me what I need to know - obviously there’s more going on here than a prisoner transfer. Vanasha’s arrival told me that. Although…” Rahimat pauses, “... I don’t know, maybe she’s addling my senses, but I think Daytower might be seeing more of her. She seems to be quite taken with Balahn.”

Janeva smiles, “I’ve been wondering that myself. But don’t tell him I said so. I don’t want it getting about that I have any considerations for the finer feelings of anybody!”

Rahimat chuckles, “Your secret’s safe with me - because it wouldn’t do my reputation any good either!”

“They would make a fantastic looking pair though,” Janeva muses.

“Oh I know! Can you imagine how gorgeous their children would be? Shouldn’t be allowed…”

Janeva laughs and sips his coffee, “Anyway back to the here and now, yes, this isn’t an ordinary transfer. We sneaking in the transfer for this prisoner on the back of the fight Balahn started. Marad wants to get information from him and the deal made involves an early release but not before Marad has rung him dry.

“So it’s in the books as a transfer to Old Nickel prison in The Claim, I sent my guards back to Sunstone on the understanding that troops from the Oseram jail were coming here. It would help if you could record simply that I left with the prisoner when we do leave tomorrow morning.”

“I can do that,” Rahimat agrees, “What time do you plan to leave?”

“Mid-morning. If that’s convenient for you.”

Rahimat checks a chart on the wall behind him, “Yes that’s fine. Our troops will be running training manoeuvres but nothing that’ll get in the way of your quietly leaving. The associated chaos will probably help.”

Janeva nods, “That’s true - what time are your men mustering?”

“8 o’clock for first call. They’ll be outside the fort until 11, when they’ll be back in for a break.”

“We’ll leave when they’re coming back in then. There’s no hurry to our first stop and it’ll be good to take advantage of that distraction.”

“Come see me before you go - if I don’t come down it’ll draw even less attention.”

“Will do. It’s been good working with you Commander,” Janeva stands and holds out his hand for Rahimat to clasp.

Rahimat stands and clasps Janeva’s in friendship, “Good to meet you too, Warden. I’ll write to you when Balahn gets back and if things… ah… progress.”

Janeva laughs, “Do that, thank you.”

Janeva leaves Rahimat’s office and heads down to the courtyard to the market stalls, specifically the stall selling clothing. He buys a basic set of men’s clothes; nothing too fancy, trader attire similar to what the stall holder was wearing himself. Next he takes a walk outside the Western Gate. He needs a quiet spot out of the eyeline of the fortress, but not too far away. He follows the main road away from Daytower until he reaches some trees. He turns to look back at the fortress, it’s far enough away that while he could probably still be seen, a guard would have to be already paying close attention to care.

There is a cluster of three trees close together with ground growth wrapping around them providing a good barrier that is perfect for his needs. He looks up at the sun and requests a kindly eye over his activities tomorrow. After that, he walks back to the fortress. Now to get Hadiya organised.

When Janeva goes down into the basement jail, Hadiya is sitting calmly as he always does. He looks up when he hears Janeva’s footsteps and although there’s nothing as obvious as a smile, Janeva can tell Hadiya is pleased to see him. There is one of the Daytower guards working at the desk, so rather than arouse curiosity by asking him to leave, Janeva contents himself with a basic report to Hadiya.

“The final leg of the transfer will happen tomorrow,” he says, and then remembering that Hadiya is expecting that to involve Vanasha he adds, “I will be handling the matter myself.”

Hadiya’s intelligent eyes register this piece of news with a flare of interest but he says nothing.

Janeva nods at the guard and leaves, duty apparently done.

Chapter Text

The next morning Janeva packs up all his belongings and his purchases into his kit bag and eats a final breakfast in the mess hall. He says goodbye to Rahimat and then at 10 o’clock he goes down to the jail. He grabs the chains from the hook and carries them over to the cell.

“Stand here by the bars,” he commands Hadiya.

The Daytower guard moves so that he has a clear line to the cell door if anything happens.

Hadiya stands and walks over to the bars. He says nothing just lifts up his wrists to receive the manacles and chains. Janeva sees a flash of fear in his eyes as the manacles lock. He hopes that Hadiya can see trust in his own eyes and know he hasn’t been conned with dreams of freedom.

Once the chains are attached, Janeva turns to the guard, “I’ve already spoken to Commander Rahimat. I’m removing the prisoner this morning.”

The guard nods, “Sign here please, sir.”

The guard moves the log book over to Janeva’s side of the desk and turns it so it is facing him. Janeva signs.

The guard unlocks the cell door. Hadiya doesn’t move, he knows the order of things in a prison.

“Let’s get moving, prisoner,” Janeva orders in clipped tones.

Hadiya leaves the cell, not speaking, eyes to the ground. The Daytower guard leads the way out of the basement, Hadiya walks in the middle, Janeva is last. He walks up the stairs at a steady pace, not in a hurry.

Once they are out in the courtyard, Janeva picks up his kit bag and scans the sky for signs of bad weather. One more prayer to the sun and it’s time to go.

“I am taking the prisoner now,” he says to the guard, officially removing him of the responsibility.

Janeva takes hold of the chain attached to Hadiya’s manacles and begins the walk to the Western Gate. He walks round the edge of the courtyard - standard practice, no need to put a prisoner among civilians. He keeps a quiet, steady pace, drawing little attention. A few glances are attracted by Hadiya’s orange jumpsuit, but by reflex Hadiya is keeping his head down so all anyone will see is “prisoner in chains”. Janeva doesn’t want Hadiya’s new life of freedom interrupted by people saying, “Wait, didn’t I see you at Daytower? Weren’t you…?”

Right on schedule the troops return from training through the Western Gate and the courtyard fills with noise, all attention turns to the soldiers milling around and Janeva and Hadiya leave without fuss.

They walk in silence until they reach the cluster of trees Janeva identified the day before.

“Okay, we stop here,” he says.

He throws his kit bag down and pulls out the parcel of clothes he bought. He unlocks and removes the manacles and chains, Hadiya is looking at him in confusion.

“I didn’t know what I was going to do in time to be able to explain things to you,” Janeva apologises, “I wasn’t expecting to have to handle this part of the journey.”

Tension leaves Hadiya in waves as he realises Janeva is speaking to him as an equal again.

“I was worried…” he whispers.

Janeva hands him the parcel, “Civilian clothes. Once we get to a settlement, you can have a proper bath, for now the clothes will have to be enough. Go change behind those trees. Give me the uniform back, I don’t want to leave anything behind.”

Hadiya moves like a man afraid to wake up, but he takes the clothes and goes behind the trees. He steps back a few minutes later and while there’s nothing they can do about the prison pallor or layers of grime, the clothes do a lot helped by the fact that Hadiya never lost his innate core of self-respect.

Janeva takes the chains and the prison jumpsuit and loads them into his kitbag. He stands and lifts it on to his shoulder.

“We are now a trader and a guard who met on the road to Meridian, travelling together for company and security.”

He digs into his pocket and pulls out a bag of shards, “Here, take these, it’ll look more normal if you pay your own way.”

Hadiya nods and takes the bag. He looks around him, staring at the trees and the sky as if he’s never seen them before. He rolls his shoulders, civilian clothes feel strange after all this time in one uniform or another.

“I didn’t think clothes would make this much of a difference,” he says in wonder. He looks at Janeva, “Thank you. You’ve done so much.”

Janeva nods abruptly, never comfortable with gratitude. Hadiya grins, recognising his own attitude reflected back on him.

“Right,” he says, “and that’s all we’ll say about that. I’ll buy you dinner, when we get to an inn.”

Janeva grins back, “I accept that. Let’s go, there’s an inn I like in a town a few hours walk along this road.”

They walk together, enjoying the peace and quiet of the countryside. Janeva shares stories of Aloy and how she changed everything; starting with the story of when they met.

“She sounds like someone it’d be fun to have a few drinks with, or fight alongside,” Hadiya comments, “I’d love to meet her.”

Janeva shrugs, “In Meridian, you’ve probably got as much chance as anyone. I think she’s friends with Avad.”

“If I do, I’ll tell her this story, it’ll earn me a few drinks!”

Janeva laughs, “If you do that, she’ll wonder if I ever manage to keep hold of prisoners!”

Hadiya knew of some of the things Aloy had achieved through the lens of how this annoyed Helis. He shares these stories with Janeva and then suddenly realises, “Wait! I have seen her. Of course, such a fighter could only have been your Aloy! Helis imprisoned her in the Sun-Ring, took away her armour and weapons and set her against behemoths. It was a master class, she destroys all the machines and then taunts Helis to come fight her. I had to bite my tongue to not cheer for her.” he laughs at the memory.

The time passes quickly and they soon come to the town of Island Lake. Janeva leads the way to a low-roofed stone building. As they enter the woman behind the bar looks up and shows no surprise or curiosity about them.

“Two rooms and two baths is it, gentlemen?” she asks, “100 shards for the night.”

Janeva and Hadiya hand over the shards and she passes over keys with room numbers and a coloured token for each of them.

“The rooms are along that passageway,” she says pointing to her left, “and the baths are out back. Hand your token to the attendant and they’ll organise things for you.” With that, she leaves them to organise themselves and moves further down the bar to serve another customer.

Janeva and Hadiya pick up the keys and tokens and walk down the passageway to find their rooms.

“Communal bath?” Hadiya asks quietly.

Janeva smiles, “No, that’s why it’s worth the extra shards. Individual baths, private cubicles, no fuss, no chat, just peace and the water exactly how you like it.”

Hadiya sighs deeply, “The sun is shining brightly upon me," he says reverently.

Janeva chuckles, “It got me that way the first time I stopped here - during the war after too many months sleeping in ditches with the rest of the troop.

“We’ll set off tomorrow close to dawn and get to Meridian by mid-afternoon.”

Hadiya nods, “See you then.”

Janeva drops off his kit-bag and heads straight for the baths. He hands over the token and requests hot water with oats and rose petals. Soon he is sinking back into complete luxury, safe behind a locked door. As he soaks he wonders what Hadiya is hiding - he knows a fellow sufferer when he sees one and Hadiya’s relief at being offered privacy back on the journey to Daytower was all too real and familiar. Still, Janeva isn’t going to ask questions, he never starts that sort of conversation. Anyway, Hadiya’s life should get a lot easier to manage as a civilian. Janeva closes his eyes and loses himself in happier thoughts of his own.

Chapter Text

The next morning the two men meet up for breakfast and begin their journey again. As they get closer to Meridian the road becomes busier and they have to be more circumspect in their conversations although it is still easy to find subjects that are suitable for a soldier and a trader. Speculating on Avad’s motives, plans and love life is an endless source of gossip that carries them through most of the day and the many meetings they have with other Carja along the way, some they stop with for a while, some walk along with them while their paths follow the same route. Janeva enjoys himself, it is nice to be reminded occasionally what ordinary life is like and it was nice to see ordinary life back to being so ordinary again.

As they get closer to Meridian, Janeva can feel nervousness rise up in Hadiya.

“You okay?” he asks.

Hadiya breathes out a long sigh, “Been a long time,” he says, “not just Meridian but civilian life. Not sure I’m ready.”

“Understood,” Janeva replies sympathetically, “from what I know about officers who’ve retired, you’re never ready, and I know prison is even harder to adjust from.”

“Not sure that helps," Hadiya comments dryly

Janeva shrugs, “Well if you want to take your mind off it, you can think about how Vanasha is the one sorting out the start of your civilian life - I wonder what she’ll organise for you.”

“That… helps even less. Actually makes things worse!”

Janeva laughs, “I’ll buy you an ale at the inn. Come on, we’re nearly there. Market Street starts at this end of the city.”

When they arrive at The Old Boar it’s just before six, so Janeva orders them both a meal as well as an ale with a comment of “Well, I promised you food if we got here before tomorrow, thanks, you know the best routes to take!”

Hadiya plays along, “Glad we met up. Bandits don’t like to see a Carja Guard in the camp.” He turns his attention to the man serving at the bar, “I’d take a room for the next two nights please.”

“Room for two nights for me as well please,” Janeva adds.

“Welcome to the Old Boar, gentlemen. Melite will bring you your food and drinks and I’ll bring you room keys once they’re ready.”

Janeva and Hadiya found an empty booth at the back of the hall where they wouldn’t be overheard.

“What’s the plan now we’re here?” Hadiya asks.

“Vanasha’s going to come here. She said we should eat each day at 12 and 6. Hold on, here’s our ale.”

Janeva waits while Melite places the two tankards on the table and even remembers to smile at her as she leaves.

“Anyway so that’s when she’ll check and she knows I planned to arrive today so it should be soon. Hanging around here is not part of the plan.”

Hadiya takes a long drink of his ale. “And in between times? Can I explore Meridian or do I have to stay here?”

Janeva puts his cup down and thinks, there’s always something left unconsidered. He rubs his eyes, “As far as I’m concerned you’re a free man so you aren’t under guard any more. But there’s the issue of your safety. If any Shadow Carja are here and they see you…”

Hadiya sighs heavily, “May their shadows never rise,” he mutters.

They stop talking as Melite brings two steaming bowls of stew. It smells delicious and they are both hungry so the silence continues as they eat their way through the stew, stopping only to slurp the ale.

When he finishes, Hadiya leans back with a contented sigh and rubs his stomach, “Ahh that makes me feel better!” He gestures with his mug to Janeva, “Buy you another?”

Janeva shakes his head, “Nah, I’m good, thanks,” and he continues to mop up his gravy with the last of his potatoes.

Hadiya goes over to the bar, orders his drink and returns with a full mug of ale.

“Okay,” he says, sitting down and stretching out his legs to relax. “How about this: I’ll stay in my room other than coming out to eat. But can you go out and get me a change of clothes and some newspapers to read? Last time I was in this city, Jiran was still king. I imagine a few things have changed since then.”

Janeva snorts with laughter, “Just a few! Okay, that’s a good idea. I’ll go out tomorrow morning.”

Chapter Text

Janeva sleeps well that night, it takes a little while for him to settle his mind because of being so close to being finished with the whole business - and this last stage relies on Vanasha, who he doesn’t really trust but he is pretty certain they are on the same side this time. Balahn was certain of that, but Balahn is also lying in the medical wing of Sunstone with his neck immobilized.

When he wakes up the next morning he resolves as he always does in the middle of a stressful situation to only worry about those parts he can control. The bigger picture will just have to look after itself.

What he can control right now is safety for Hadiya. He gets up, dresses and unlatches his crossbow from its holster. He carries it and six bolts across the corridor to Hadiya’s room. He knocks on the door.

“Hold on,” Hadiya calls. The door opens slightly and Hadiya peers round.

“Oh it’s you, okay.” He opens the door for Janeva to enter, his eyes growing wide at the sight of the crossbow, “Trouble?”

“Hope not.”

Janeva puts the crossbow on the table and lays down the bolts, “These are for you while you’re here. In case the worst does happen.” He turns to face Hadiya, “You eaten yet?”

Hadiya is staring fascinated at the crossbow, it wasn’t so long ago that he was a prisoner and now the Warden is giving him a weapon. “Uh…” he says, pulling himself together, “no, not yet.”

“I’ll go down and ask them to send something up to you, I’ll say you aren’t feeling well.” Janeva strides back to the door, “See you at lunch,” he calls over his shoulder and he leaves.

Janeva eats his breakfast, asks for Hadiya’s to be sent up to his room and walks out into the bustling streets of Meridian. He tries to relax and enjoy himself, this is the centre for all things of importance in the Sundom but it’s been a long time since he was in the city and for too long he has been living a life where security requires everyone to be under complete control. The normal rush of people in Meridian represents an unsettling level of chaos for Janeva and he finds himself hugging the wall, eyes darting everywhere to spot threats.

He knows this feeling will settle in time, but right now he has to push through. He remembers a good book and cartography shop a couple of streets away so he ploughs through the crowds ignoring the shouts as he elbows his way through, and ignores the pain when people push past him.

Opening the door to the book shop (thank the Sun it’s still here) allows him to breathe a sigh of relief, he sits down for a moment - there’s a chair next to the door, this shop must get a lot of customers who don’t like crowds and need to recover for a moment on entry.

“Can I help you sir?” a fluttering man comes over, old but still moving fluidly, like a dancer.

“Er… yes,” Janeva stands, “I’m buying some gifts for a friend who hasn’t been to Meridian in many years - I’d like a map of the city, a history of its growth post-Liberation, and newspapers if you have them.”

“Step this way sir, you have come to the right place,” the man says. “My name is Meticulous Antaeus and I have just taken delivery of the most beautiful maps.”

He walks over to a long, broad table where several parchments lay rolled.

“Look at this,” he says with awe as he unrolls a parchment showing a beautifully coloured map of Meridian showing restoration work, the changes Avad has made to the palace building and the Shrine of Kings now renamed the Shrine of Memory.

Janeva is impressed, he stretches out a hand but doesn’t touch, it seems too precious to touch. “This is going to be way out of my price range,” he says sadly.

Antaeus murmurs in sympathy, “Out of all of our price ranges, I think, unless I get a member of the Royal Court calling in, but,” he gently rolls the map back up, “I have prints, smaller, not quite as intricate, but still very serviceable and informative…” he stretches out a hand and pulls smaller roll towards him, “... here,” he unrolls a smaller map, still clearly created by the same artist, but with fewer colours and the parchment isn't as thick.

Janeva smiles, “That will be perfect.”

“This one’s 30 shards.”

Janeva nods, “That’s affordable, just, perhaps if you could make the history one of your cheaper copies.”

Antaeus laughs, “I can do that for you. We have Meridian: Liberation to Renovation by the archivist Cautious Ephiron available in a cheap edition designed to be carried and read by travellers.”

“That sounds ideal.”

“And for newspapers, I can sell you copies of the Shining Light - news from the Sundom, and also the Meridian Record which is city news.”

“Can you package them up for me and I’ll collect them on my way back? - I have other stores to visit.”

“Certainly, sir.” Anteaus looks positively thrilled at the idea of wrapping up the parcel.

Janeva hands over the shards and leaves the store.

A clothing store was going to be a more difficult business. Janeva hasn’t worn anything other than his uniform in years. Even his sweat pants for exercising in are Guard issue. He walks through the streets looking in the windows trying to find a display that says “Ordinary, not garish, not eye-catching, but reasonably prosperous". It’s getting close to midday and he’s debating asking one of the traders where they shop when he finally spots an open stall selling basic working men’s clothing. He purchases two full outfits for Hadiya and heads back to the inn, stopping at Meticulous Antaeus’s store to pick up his parcel.

It’s just turning noon when he gets back so he goes straight to Hadiya’s room. Hadiya is pleased to see him when he opens the door.

“It’s almost as bad as prison,” Hadiya complains mildly, “lying here with nothing to do. I started tracing patterns in the cracks in the ceiling plaster.”

Janeva chuckles, “Well I can relieve you of that,” he hands over the parcel from Antaeus. “One map, one history and two newspapers: one local, one covering the Sundom. Also two new outfits.”

Hadiya looks like he’s about to hug Janeva who steps back reflexively.

“It’s noon,” Janeva says, “I’ll go down and order myself lunch. You can come down whenever you’re ready. Do you have enough shards?”

Hadiya nods, distracted by looking at his new clothes.

Janeva snorts quietly, “See you downstairs,” he calls out as he leaves.

Chapter Text

Down in the main area of the inn, Janeva orders lunch - the same stew as the evening meal, basic but reliable, and sits in the same booth.

He is staring off into nothing when his attention is caught by a very familiar scent wafting in the air. He focuses on the door and there she is; dressed in the style of court attendants but wearing it just a little better, waving to the barman like a regular: Vanasha.

Janeva sits a little straighter in his seat to remind himself that he needs to be on his guard. She sees him and sails over.

“My dear, how lovely to see you!” she coos as she slides into the booth.

Melite comes over with Janeva’s stew and once she’s placed it onto the table, Vanasha asks, “My sweet, could I trouble you for a glass of water? The roads outside are so dusty!”

Melite is caught in Vanasha’s glamour and blushes, stutters a few times and runs off.

“I suppose this way you’re assured of a glass that’s been polished to a shine,” Janeva comments drily.

Vanasha pouts, “I have no idea what you are talking about.” She turns serious, “Where’s our friend?”

“Probably trying on new clothes upstairs. I just bought him some and he seemed enthralled. He should be down soon.”

“Good, because he and I have an appointment.”

Janeva bristles with suspicion at being excluded but realises he’s being foolish - the whole plan is to hand Hadiya over to Vanasha. They can’t be very secretive with him following along. He forces himself to relax.

“Good,” he says.

Vanasha’s faintly amused expression tells him that she read every facet of his emotional reaction. The fact that he knows from Balahn that she does this to everyone doesn’t help his frustration in the slightest. He is a soldier, he’s not meant to have emotional reactions. He distracts himself by eating his stew, and he is very glad that, when he looks up as Melite brings Vanasha her water in a glass so glistening it might have been melted and blown especially, he sees Hadiya enter the room from the stairs. He raises his hand in a wave to attract Hadiya’s attention.

Hadiya stops at the bar to order some food and comes over to the table. Janeva is facing in his direction so he sees the slight stumble and adjustment Hadiya makes; probably - Janeva thinks - at smelling Vanasha’s perfume in the air - so foreign to this inn but possibly very familiar to Hadiiya. Hadiya continues to the booth and when he sees that Vanasha is opposite Janeva, he jerks his head at Janeva and Janeva obliges by moving in to sit next to the wall and make space for Hadiya. Janeva understands, he would always want Vanasha in front of him with at least a table between them.

Janeva quietly eats his stew and lets the scene play out around him.

“Vanasha,” Hadiya says, “it has been a long time.”

“Too long,” Vanasha agrees, “But happily we are now able to rectify that.”

Melite brings over Hadiya’s lunch - a bowl of soup and a hunk of bread.

Vanasha looks at it approvingly, “Good, that shouldn’t take you too long to eat.”

“I’m in a hurry?”

“Yes. You and I have a meeting to get to. An important meeting.”

Hadiya’s eyes widen in panic but Vanasha recognises the cause and reassures him, “No, not Marad,” she reaches out and taps a finger on his hand. “Don’t worry, sweetie. He doesn’t know you’re here, and won’t until we have you all settled and protected.”

Torn between fear and curiosity, Hadiya eats his soup and bread quickly, wipes his face and stands to leave. He notices then that Janeva has made no move and is still quietly eating.

Hadiya glances at him with eyebrows raised.

“Not invited,” Janeva says quietly. “Go, you’ll be fine - if I see you again we’ll talk, if not, good bye and may the sun shine on your future.”

Hadiya reaches out a hand, Janeva takes it in the grasp of friendship.

“Clock’s ticking, boys,” Vanasha says.

Hadiya looks like he wants to say something more to Janeva but cannot find words. He nods and then follows Vanasha out of the building.

Chapter Text

Vanasha leads Hadiya down several lanes and alleys that he has no chance of remembering until they arrive at a nondescript door of a nondescript building in a nondescript street. Vanasha unlocks the door and leads the way inside.

Hadiya’s fight or flight senses are on high alert. The hall is dark but warm and he can tell from the smell of the air that they are in a building that is well cared for. Vanasha leads him down the hall and opens a door on the left. She holds it open and gestures for him to go inside. Hadiya obeys and she closes the door behind him. The room he is in is small and plainly furnished - just a desk, chair and shelves. There are no windows, but there is a second door.

The second door begins to open. As he watches it, Hadiya judges the distance to the chair: for a weapon, and the door: for escape. But then he realises the person coming through the door is smaller than he is.

It is a silhouette he is familiar with.

There is a scent that still covers his dreams.

He stands, mouth slightly open, frozen in shock.

It is Nasadi, looking more relaxed and happier than he has seen in years.

He recovers, kneels and bends his head, “My Queen,” he whispers.

Nasadi walks to him, crouches down and puts a hand over his, “Stand up Hadiya,” she whispers, "we are alone here, no need for ceremony.”

He stands. He’s staring at her, unable to stop looking at someone he thought he’d never see again.

“Wh… why are you here?” he whispers. “You can’t be associated with me. I’ll cause you trouble.”

She raises a hand to his cheek, “Hadiya, you could never cause me trouble, and if others cause it for us, then I’ll gladly stand with you through it all.”

“B...but…”

Nasiadi smiles, Hadiya’s heart does a hiccup.

“Things are better now, Hadiya,” she says, “Come home with me.”

She stands on tiptoe, puts a hand on the back of his head and pushes him down gently towards her. He stops fighting his desire, leans his head down and kisses her gently on the lips.

Chapter Text

Epilogue

Back at Sunstone, feeling like he can relax at last, Janeva makes a direct line to the medical wing. Going straight to Balahn's room he is pleased to see the door standing open and the other man moving around. He knocks on the open door to announce his presence and walks in.

Balahn turns and his face transforms with a wide grin when he sees Janeva.

"At last!" he exclaims. "Your men came home days ago! Did it..? Did everything...?"

"Perfectly," Janeva replies, "read this."

He hands over a parchment envelope that had originally been sealed with a seal from the royal household.

Balahn takes the envelope, looks over to Janeva to see if there's more of an explanation but Janeva stands peacefully waiting. Balahn opens the envelope and pulls out the letter inside:

My friends,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have done me a great service.
Nasadi

Balahn whistles softly, so he was right. He feels glad for Hadiya.

He feels a heaviness still in the envelope and tips it upside down. Out falls the copper chain from his uniform. He smiles and laughs softly, Vanasha offering her own thank you to him.

Janeva watches him toss the chain in his hand a couple of times before a thought strikes him.

"Aww man, you already shaved! I was hoping to see you with fluffy hair!"

Balahn snorts a laugh and rubs a hand over his gleaming scalp.

Epilogue to the epilogue

Nearly two months later, Shahin brings a parcel into Janeva that has just arrived from Meridian, there is a note attached from Vanasha:

Our friend wanted to buy you a gift. He asked me what to get you and I asked Balahn.

Janeva unwraps the parcel, and stares in delighted amazement.

Framed in glass, it is the beautiful map of Meridian from Meticulous Antaeus's shop.