Chapter 56 – Teller of Fate

Teller of Fate

Sixth Movement: The Fate of Stars

Chapter Fifty-Six

* * *

Erahndira turned away from her study of the furthest tower top after failing to make out any movement at that distance.

Next to her atop the Mercenaries Guild tower was John Airkhart in a black cotton shirt and leather leggings. He had shed a long leather coat and laid it on the low wall of the tower top. The former Custodian had just glanced at the top of the Merchants Tower, to their left where it was just possible to get a glimpse of movement.

The two women, Quolamin and Darmorel were stationed there. Erahn wondered which of them had caught his fancy.

Watching him in profile, she was fascinated to note how much he resembled his sister. Curve of jaw, curl of ear, straight slightly longish nose. When a slight breeze lifted his hair, she saw that even his hairline was the same. Jane had once told her she and her twin had come from the same egg.

They’d spoken a little when they’d first arrived here, mostly small talk and comments on the dizzying view over the walls.

He had been stiff, almost formal in his manner. It wasn’t rudeness. John seemed pained by something.

Glancing at the square below, Erahn considered that it would likely be some time before they were called to execute their part of the plan.

The Miu didn’t like mysteries. Even less did she like the notion of permanent estrangement from her lover’s brother.

The cat-woman moved toward John. He was only slightly taller than Jane and had a similar, though more muscular, build.

John noticed her approach and turned to her. He was polite, but still distant. “Hello, Erahndira.”

“Hey, John.” Same eyes, too. “You seem a bit uncomfortable with me, ya. Tell me why.” Erahn pitched her voice to sound curious and a bit troubled. No sense in making him defensive.

He looked down. His cheeks reddened. So like her in manner. “I, uh…I didn’t expect anything like Jane taking a lover, that’s all.” He looked up at the end, face red, eyes shining. He was breathing more quickly, too.

Erahndira puzzled over his reaction for only a moment. She startled herself when she realized what it had to be. “You and Jane?”

He only nodded.

Erahn’s own people didn’t have a family structure anything like humans. The father of her poor, dead daughter had been a half-brother. By her understanding of human familial relations though, conjugal unions between siblings were frowned upon.

John had turned away and was leaning on the parapet, staring at the Merchant’s Guild tower. His breath came in small gasps from between his lips.

Erahndira stepped forward and embraced John. He stiffened for just a moment, then turned toward her and returned the clasp strongly. As his silent weeping became stronger and gradually subsided. She stroked his back and whispered comfort to him, ended with, “I’ll never take her from you.”

John pulled back and looked at her. His eyes were puffy and red, his fine cheeks tear streaked. He wiped them. “I’ve no right to make any request of you, in this or anything else. Her heart is her own. I’ve no one else, that’s all. Everything’s changed so much.”

“What d’ya mean, ya?”

“The Airkharts have been the keepers of the Incunabulum for a very long time. Now that trust is ended. I’ve lost my life’s purpose. If she goes decides to go off with you, I’m alone as well.”

Erahn smiled for him. “There’s not a better place anywhere to start over than here, ya.”

His smile was faint, but genuine. “True enough.”

“If ya don’t mind my askin,’ how did ya become lovers? I thought that humans didn’t do that regular, ya.”

“Oh! Well, we’re twins, as I’m sure you know. No other siblings. Our mother died in childbirth and our father, who was always distant, died abroad when we were twelve. We had governesses and later tutors and trainers. Mostly we were alone. The house we lived in was huge and mostly empty. It was far from any other. All we had was us.” He shrugged. “It happened gradually. We’d always been each other’s best friend and…we just began expressing it physically.” John laughed a little, then. “You know, we never talked about whether it was right or not. It just was.”

“Now yer afraid it’s over, ya.”

Again, a nod.

“I don’t know what Jane thinks of it all, but you’re a handsome man, John Airkhart. I’d welcome it you if you came with Jane and me, wherever we go.”

This time the smile was broader. “Never thought I’d be propositioned by a woman with fur!” They both laughed at this. He gave her a considering look, surreptitiously using the hands he still had around her to give her a quick feel.

Erahn resisted the instinct to purr, but only just. She did smile with half lidded eyes at his caresses, though. Her tail lashed back and forth, striking his hands at one point.

“I’d like that, Erahndira. If we survive this, let’s all talk about it.” Erahn smiled again and held him close. A handsome man, indeed.

Her grin was almost feral at a sudden thought: sex with twins!

— Gideon Jagged
Innsmouth, August 2026

© Gideon Jagged
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