Page 93 of Victoria's Discovery

“I– I… ”

Before they could continue, Victoria scanned the open atrium above and all the floors that could be hiding eavesdroppers. Stepping forward, she lightly touched Aria’s arm, whispering, “I think we should take this to a sealed conference room. Just in case.”

Aria’s gaze was sharp as she looked down at her, but she nodded. Turning back to the newcomer, she held up a hand. “Don’t answer.” To the sentries, she said, “Return to your posts. Make sure we don’t have any more surprises sneaking up on us. Tirox?”

“I have him,rwy’n la.”

Addressing her Generals, she prompted, “Make the rounds. Check on everyone. Reassure them we’re not under attack, but tell them to stay put for now. Food, water, you know the drill.”

With murmurs of consent, they all split off into different directions, but before Victoria could join them, Aria caught the back of her dress.

“Not you, kid. You’re coming with me.”

Surprised, but pleased she’d been singled out, Victoria nodded, probably a little too eagerly, but who could blame her. She was dying to know more about the pretty stranger and how they’d come to be there.

Glancing over her head, Aria cocked a wry brow. “Ah ah. Let me stop you, there. Yes, you can go with her, but don’t get in the way and don’t pull any macho shit. Got it?”

Looking up and back, Victoria caught Thegan’s nod, Vi’kail’s grunt, and Thorn’s, well, he didn’t actually make any gestures of agreement, as though unable or unwilling to make that promise.

Aria snorted but sighed, “Men.”

* * *

Once they werein a conference room and Aria set it to lockdown mode, they all took seats at the large, oval table, Thorn and Thegan flanking Victoria’s sides while Vi’kail stood behind her chair.

“Do you need medical attention? Food or water?” Aria asked.

The being blinked in surprise, their bottom eyelids going up instead of the top going down. They looked like they wanted to say yes, badly, but bit back the words and dropped their gaze, remaining silent.

Victoria peeked at Aria for approval, and at her short nod, got up, grabbing a food and water pouch off the side table and sliding her healing ring off her finger as she approached the person.

Kneeling by their chair, she smiled. “Hi, my name’s Victoria. What’s yours?” They didn’t answer, tension rolling off of them in palpable waves. “It’s okay. Really. We’re not going to hurt you.” Aria cleared her throat. “We’re not going to hurt you unless you're a bad person,” she amended with an apologetic wince.

Oddly, that seemed to reassure them. “I am Unnamed, unaltered fourth scion of Xailu’s fourth brood. But my Master calls me Eseh. ‘Singer.’” Their voice was almost painful to listen to, raspy and hoarse as if their vocal cords had been damaged.

“That’s a pretty name. Do you sing?” she asked, expanding the ring. Getting to her feet while she waited for an answer, she gestured for them to stand, smiling up at them when they did.

The look they leveled down at her was very carefully devoid of emotion. “I was named for the sounds I make when my Master hurts me.”

It took a second but understanding hit her like a punch to the stomach. She felt herself pale a little. “Oh god… ”

They didn’t acknowledge her horror, flicking a nervous glance at the silent room before hesitantly stepping into the ring, posture rigid as if waiting for someone to hit them before they could get fully inside.

Victoria bit her lip but didn’t say anything, knowing actions would speak louder than words, and just took a moment to get a handle on her expression.

The ring made two passes, telling her they were hurt worse than they let on. When it dropped down to hover above the ground, their head fell back, and they sighed deeply, eyes falling closed as an expression almost like bliss fell over their delicate features. The scars were still there, but they were able to stand straighter and were no longer favoring their right leg, if they had legs. She couldn’t quite tell under the folds of the ragged cloak.

Focusing back on her, they whispered brokenly, “I am in your debt.”

The profound gratitude at something as simple as letting them use a healing ring almost broke her heart. Victoria wanted to shake her head, tell them in no uncertain terms that they owed her nothing, but she grit her teeth and only nodded.

Her first priority had to be to protect the hundreds of people in the complex. If this person felt indebted to her, they might hesitate before doing something to endanger those people. Until they were positive this person wasn’t a trojan horse, she had to proceed as if they were. And if that meant having to manipulate them, then she’d do it. Even if it made her feel sick to her stomach.

She’d cry about it later, alone in her room.

“Is there something else you’d like us to call you?”

“I am Unnamed. There is only Eseh until I am altered.”

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