Rouya wandered towards her chambers with a sense of exhaustion creeping into her. She hadn't used that much magic in her fight against Parsa but the shoulder injury made every movement, including breathing, painful. All she wanted to do was let herself fall back in her bed and sleep, hoping the next day would suddenly appear better. The council meetings weren't helping in that regard but pointed out just how much rested on her shoulders.
It all came down to her and her ability to restore order. She decided to go over the information she'd gathered on the other summoners the next day and pick out her next target for after she recovered. Practicing with Markus would also be for the better in order to help her keep from getting injured again. Her luck wouldn't last forever.
The two guards standing watch outside her chambers opened the door for her and held their spears at attention. She dismissed them for the evening and entered. If another summoner did attack her, the guards would only be casualties on their way inside.
"I need to enjoy the time given to me," she said to herself and caressed the Nazar dangling from her neck. A tinge of magic spiked Evelyn's interest and she appeared a moment later. Her alarm quickly faded when she noticed Rouya wasn't in danger but that they were alone in her room. "It's been a tough day. Have you found out anything about Markus?"
"Not yet. He only just retired with Adelaxia to his chambers. Should I conceal myself and continue the observation?"
Rouya shook her head and went over to the serving table and filled herself a cup of tea. "I never figured you to be the voyeuristic type to spy on others during their intimacy." A brief smile crept across her lips before she became serious again. "Tassia's already filled me in on what happened in the Great Hall. I think we can trust him for the time being but I'm not sure he'll respect my authority forever. He's proving to be more difficult to handle, as is everything else in the empire."
She sipped from her tea and eyed Evelyn over the brim of the cup. The maiden appeared more at ease when it was just the two of them and they weren't in public. While Rouya couldn't deny a level of attraction for Mah, her bond with Evelyn far outweighed that. They'd only just met and while the daeva knew Rouya well, she couldn't say the same the other way around.
"I understand your concern. It's important to be wary of anyone that might wish to take the relics from you. Summoners could use even commoners as a means to steal from you." Evelyn crossed the room and took Rouya's hand, helping her over to the bed. "You really shouldn't exert yourself with the amount of injuries you have. You need time to properly heal. Here, lay down and take off your shirt. Let me have a look."
Rouya sat down on the bed and undid the straps of her armor and letting Evelyn help her ease it off. She winced as the leather brushed over bandaged wound and laid down on her back.
Evelyn laid her fingers on Rouya's chest, probing the area around the wound before slowly removing the bandages and inspecting it directly. She pouted and eyed her master. "You're lucky Tassia missed your heart. A few inches more and you'd have been dead on the spot."
"I think it's fair to call the amount of luck I have skill by this point."
"I'm being serious," Evelyn said, raising her brows. "I can't take care of you, if you're killed. We need to be more careful and take less risks."
"You're starting to sound a lot like Markus." Rouya cocked her head to the side. "I don't know how I can possibly do everything while also doing nothing at all and just hiding. It's as if I can never satisfy others. I'm just trying to do the best I can."
"Shh." Evelyn silenced her by placing the tip of her finger on her lips and moving her body over hers. She leaned in and kissed the gaping wound leftover from Tassia and watched the skin regenerate at an expedited pace. "That should help but the muscle underneath will need more time to fully heal. You're still worrying about others too much. It would really help for you to clear your mind and relax. When you enter a fight, you need to be focused in order to make the best decisions. I can't have your thoughts drifting to matters we can't influence."
"I know but the people deserve better and they expect me to give it to them."
"You will. I know you can but you can't do it if you go into your next battle with old injuries still flaring up and your mind in the wrong spot." Evelyn brushed Rouya's blue hair aside and let her lips brush against hers and enticing her to want more before she gave it to her.
"Your Grace," came a cry from the halls as the minister of war burst into her chambers and caught them both in a state of undress. He blushed and swiftly turned on his heels but it could not be unseen. "Your Grace, our scouts have just spotted a Battle Maiden outside the city. What'll you have us do?"