"Awakening." Markos set his cup on the table before running his hand through his dark hair. "Do you think it's related to resonance?"
Caelyn swirled the red wine around the inside of his silver cup. His eyes fixed on the liquid as if it held an answer. "Possibly. We'd need access to the archives or elves to learn anything more."
Markos's thoughts shifted to the blonde elf once more. "You think the elves would help us?" He felt a sudden weight on him under Caelyn's gaze.
"Half-elves are made somehow." Caelyn's voice held a smidgen of pity that made Markos uncomfortable. "Anything is possible. They might work with us if they know our plan. We could endear ourselves by falsely reporting their deaths if they are allowed to escape."
"A... aren't they a threat?"
"In this world, anyone can be a threat." Caelyn emptied his cup before setting it down. He rose, heading towards the back. "We've schemed long enough for tonight without our third partner. Take Iliana and bathe her. I'll use the other tub and bathe while you do that."
Markos stared after the senior templar. "M.. me. I thought... don't you like her?"
"Quite a bit." Caelyn paused, slightly turning his head. Markos saw a sliver of a smile. "I'm not worried. How you two feel doesn't diminish how she and I feel. We'll work this out, however it develops— but she chose you tonight." He motioned for the bathroom. "Don't worry about it. We all need to wash off this muck and sweat."
The curtain swished closed behind Caelyn leaving Markos alone with Iliana. He smoothed an errant strand of hair from her face, considering her.
'She chose you tonight.' The comment made his chest feel tight and his face hot. His gaze swept over the woman's slumbering form, the thick orange belt and red rope around her waist needed to be undone to completely undress her. He pinched the bridge of his nose to bring his thoughts back to the task. 'What's wrong with me? He said she'll get sick and won't wake up until she's had a bath.'
He shook his head and nimbly traced the fabric at her waist, untying the rope and then the belt. He cradled the back of Iliana's head and gently lifted her out of her overdress, while keeping the underdress from baring her.
Markos adjusted her position in his arms before carrying her through the blue brocade curtain that led into the bathroom. His bare feet padded softly against cool grey stone, passing a closed white wool curtain on his right, before veering to the empty cedar bathtub in the back. He set her in the tub before carefully removing the last of her clothing. "Cold water only." He reminded himself as he turned the handle of the spigot marked cold.
While the tub filled, he tried to not stare at the naked young woman. He grabbed some soaps and dried flowers that must've been brought for a past female guest. Unsure of how much to add, he unceremoniously dumped the entire basket into the rising cold water. Red petals fluttered down, a couple landing on Iliana's hair and breasts. His face burned, shifting uncomfortably at the sight. His head spun as impure thoughts sent blood rushing elsewhere.
Markos splashed water on his face to calm down. He turned off the water when the water was at the halfway point on the tub. He carefully poured water over her head with a wooden bathing ladle until her hair was damp. He grabbed the shampoo, rubbing it between his wet hands until it formed a lather. With a sigh, he massaged the lather though Iliana's auburn hair.
Iliana sleepily sighed, turning her head towards him.
"It's ok. I'm just cleaning you up. You're okay, just rest while I take care of you." He rinsed the shampoo from her hair and soaped up a sponge. He swallowed as he looked down at Iliana's body. To his surprise, there were purple handprint shaped bruises on her stomach and a claw shaped bruise between what he thought were magnificent breasts. 'How are these here? These are fresh.' His blood rushed back to the rest of his body, and he was able to think straight again. "These look painful. Why didn't you say anything? You don't need to suffer in silence."
Iliana didn't respond. Markos sighed, using the sponge to chastely clean her. The Maraium embedded in her shoulders appeared to on both sides. He was saddened that she'd been deliberately marred in a way that could've broken her arms and collarbone if done carelessly. The fact that they had secretly done it at all was horrific. 'How could they do this to you and the others?'
The sponge moved easy over her skin as he washed her. His concern for her and his rage at the injustice had taken what he felt was a sexual moment and turned it into something like washing dishes; while he appreciated the look and feel of the fine china, it didn't excite him. Markos wanted nothing more than to protect Iliana and destroy those that hurt her.
"... We'll find a way to save you and free you. I swear until the last star dies that I'll always protect you how I can. We'll find the truth and save everyone."
A mote of white light brushed against Iliana's hair, giving her a halo. Markos felt something pull him towards both the North and towards Iliana. For a moment, he thought there was a red string joining them together, but he shook his head and finished washing her. He let her sit longer in the bath, not leaving her side so she didn't drown.
"What did I see? Were those the threads of fate or something else?" Markos shook his head. "I don't know anything about magic theory... W… was this a sign of something important in the future?"
"Awakening, what is it? Why does the Holy Sword fear it?" His thoughts drifted to his earlier conversation with Caelyn. "Balance. Two halves..." He dipped the wooden ladle into the water and gently poured it over Iliana's shoulders. Her breathing was even, and the bruises looked less pronounced. "...Why do they keep embers away from each other? I've never seen a Flamen but I've seen Sisters of the Order."
Markos caressed her cheek, setting the ladle down. "You said that you're drawn to other wielders of the Word. Does that mean there is a male ember that you yearn for?" There was a tightness in his chest. "Your true other half."