The celebrations upon his return this evening had been glorious. Another new trade route formally opened through the dangerous deserts. There had been a couple of minor attempts at raiding and looting, but those parties had been handled, one destroyed, and another considering the wealth that they might attain with regular trade instead of the chancy nature of raiding, and likely dying when targeting a caravan out of the might city of Dhar-as Elkavark.

His lovely wife had arrived a few days earlier from her regular estate in Vinbar after receiving his message of return. Her beauty and, more importantly, her love, kept him returning to these estates long after their arranged marriage of state so many years ago.

The party had roared late into the night, and Curator Prienna Ben Barka had outdone herself. Her beauty still drew crowds, even in her later years, long after her brood of children had become grandchildren. He daughter, Prima, named after her mother, the first curator of House Zephyrias, handled much of the duties now, ready to assume the role her family had held for so many years.

As a long standing member of the Familia Consulate, even the sultan had attended, along with his father. Of course, Valeryian Mavromikhalus was welcome at his cousin’s estates any time he chose to visit, let alone as Sultan. Rarely did Tolaryian see Valerus any longer, as the Marquisse called her home more and more frequently to Karendar, and it pained him especially so when he saw her features in Valeryian’s eyes and hair, the trademarks of the Windstar line.

While the party had roared late into the night, it did so for much of the time without the Dominus and Domina of House Zephyrias. As of yet, no child stood to inherit the house, but not for a lack of effort in the long years since the estates had been rebuilt. That night, however, the efforts were especially passionate as new trade routes were becoming longer, and more difficult to initiate, requiring more and more time apart from his dear mate.

As he drifted off to sleep late into the morning, an epiphany struck him. As much as he loved this house, and the friends he kept, even as much as he deeply loved his wife, he missed the days when they all traveled together, fighting in the arenas, defeating their enemies. But years had passed, and long distances seperated him from his brothers, and, age made it difficult for some to travel. Then, in the throes of pleasant exhaustion, he resolved to travel, to see everyone together again. He smiled as he drifted asleep.

As the first hints of dawn snuck into the chambers, he awoke with a start, unsure at the cause.

He turned over in the large bed, reaching for Khepri with amourous intent when the bedding squelched, and he recoiled in horror from the bloody gash in her neck, screaming for the guards.

The horror only increased when the bloody gash moved, and Khepri’s voice echoed from the ruin of her throat, asking, over and over, “Why did you leave me Tolaryian? Why did you leave me?”

 

---

 

He awoke from the doubled nightmare, tears flowing down his cheeks to the echo of his pained thunder crashing through the temple.