12. Kavian

Breakfast is a feast after the meager food I've had during my journey to and from New Solas. I eat in silence, but every so often pause to look at Meera, who is sitting opposite me. I'm curious to see if she's enjoying the food. Demon cuisine isn't easy on most palates.

She quietly stuffs her face and takes portions of food from every dish placed before her. Faint noises of approval escape from her mouth.

I can see that her poor table manners are making Korval uncomfortable but he does seem pleased that she's so clearly satisfied by the meal. The team of chefs are his friends, after all.

"I asked you to have breakfast with me because there is something I wish to discuss with you." I wipe my mouth with a napkin and signal to Korval I've had enough.

He swiftly clears my plate and patiently waits for Meera, who is still eating. Given her situation, it must have been days since she last had a proper meal. And even then, she likely never got to eat this kind of decadent cuisine.

Meera takes a bite out of her fried thison and speaks before completely swallowing. "What do you want to talk about?" Her mouth is oily and she licks her lips like a satisfied iypin that just ravished a fat rodan.

Something about the way her tongue swipes across her lips gives me pause. A slight tingle courses down my legs, carrying along a familiar heat. What a strange reaction to the human.

I shake my head, holding back a chuckle. "We can talk once you've finished eating."

She pauses and looks at me guiltily, fully aware that she's lost her composure with the delicious food in front of her. Suddenly, she sits up straight and wipes her mouth with a napkin as well, now the epitome of a well-mannered lady.

"Thank you, Korval. I'm done," she says with a shy smile.

He cleans the table in a few quick moves and walks away, closing the dining room door behind him.

Meera looks at me expectantly.

"Tell me about your experience with the xaphans. Start at the beginning and leave out nothing."

Her eyes lose their shimmer, and the sight ignites a low-burning fire in me.

"I, uh… I was watering the vegetable patches when my younger brother Kai ran over to me. He came from the village and told me about strange, armed creatures just outside the village borders."

She wrings the napkin with her hands, her voice unsteady.

"I didn't believe him at first. But then…we rushed back to see the xaphan invaders ransacking huts and rounding up villagers. Those fuckers attacked anyone who resisted."

I pour a glass of wine into a tall glass and pass it to her. She wordlessly takes it and swallows almost half of the drink.

"I tried to reach my parents but one of them restrained me. I managed to break free but two chased after me. I didn't stand a chance… the bastards have wings…"

Meera goes quiet and we sit in silence for a few minutes. I decide to speak. I need to know more.

"Do you know why they chose your village?"

She looks up at me as if my question violently broke through her thoughts. She nods.

"Revenge. They wanted retribution for what happened to one of their own. Zathex, they called him."

I flinch when she begins to tremble, the memories of that day deeply unsettling her. My fist clenches and I have to fight the urge to console her. That would be inappropriate of me. She's an ally, a guest. Most importantly, she's a human.

"What else can you tell me?" My voice is firm despite the turmoil of feelings in my heart and mind.

She takes another sip of the wine and presses her lips together.

"You want details? Okay, I'll give you details. I was dragged through the dusty streets by my hair. I tried fighting back but those monsters were too strong. I watched as the people I grew up with and cared for were killed brutally. This included children."

Meera looks into my eyes as she continues her recounting.

"Any woman who tried to resist or even ask for help was mercilessly whipped. We had dried blood all over us. I'm sure you saw what we looked like at the auction."

She laughs bitterly, wiping at her eyes. A redness encapsulates them.

"They were smart about it, too. They made sure to leave our faces mostly intact. They'd whip our backs until our clothes clung to us, the blood congealing. They'd hit us in the ribs and stomachs so the bruises wouldn't show and lower our value."

My jaw tightens as I listen to her talk, though I do not react outwardly. The anger simmers inside me. Not due to the injustices done to humans overall, but the injustices done to her specifically. I only care about those, for some reason.

I maintain a composed exterior and motion to her to continue. "Anything else? Even the smallest details can help me with my plans."

"They treated us like we"re nothing but scum. What more is there to tell? I could go into detail about how they groped us and made lewd comments, but I don't think that's relevant to your master plan."

Images of xaphans dragging their dirty hands along Meera's body flash through my mind. The low-burning fire in me starts to grow taller and brighter and I have to use all my self-control to not react.

Those pieces of shit will know the meaning of pain when I get my hands on them.

A thought strikes me. "And your family? Where are they now?"

"Dead, I presume."

She speaks with such coldness that I have to search her eyes to determine her emotions. They are shiny and she avoids eye contact. It's obvious she's doing her best not to cry.

I shift awkwardly in my seat. "I'm sorry for your loss."

"Then make them all pay like you said you would."

Our eyes meet and I nod, frowning. "I will."

Meera finishes her drink, clumsily setting down the glass. "This is delicious. Thank you."

I nod curtly, my thoughts focused on the many ways I can torture Gorran and his lackeys.

She clears her throat and stands up. "If that's all…"

I look up. "Yes. Thank you for sharing what you've endured. I understand talking about it must have been difficult. I appreciate your openness."

Pushing my chair back, I stand up and look into her eyes once more, as if drawn to them.

"We'll work together against Gorran, I promise. I don't make promises easily and I don't take them lightly. We have a shared interest, and I vow to be a reliable and capable ally."

"Thank you. I believe you," she says, a small smile on her face. She's no longer pale and tired-looking. Instead, her skin looks almost radiant and rosy.

"I have manners to attend to." I excuse myself and walk away but stop at the door. "You have the freedom to go anywhere in the mansion. You can take a tour of the gardens if that will please you. I also have an extensive library. Feel free to lose yourself amidst the treasures of knowledge stored there."

Her grateful expression tugs at hidden emotions deep within me and quickly I look away from her.

I leave Meera to spend her time as she wishes, retreating to my private study. I feel a new drive to take down Gorran. Not only because he's an annoying, cocky bastard with far too much wealth now, but because he hurt Meera.

Wait. What?

I shake my head and grab a quill and parchment. I spend the next hour sending cryptic notes to my network of spies and scouts. We need to get together and compare information.

It's time to come up with a strategy and leave no gaps that will allow that useless slave trader to escape.

A warm breeze wafts into my study from the open window and I relax for a minute. Memories of my previous interactions with Gorran play out in my mind.

The first time I saw him, I thought he was nothing more than an arrogant and spoiled newly rich brat. He seemed to enjoy boasting of his immense wealth, which annoyed any nobles with even just a dash of sensibility.

Once I heard of his possible link to slave trading, I began seeing him in a new light. I saw the fucker for what he really is—a vile opportunist without a shred of dignity.

I haven't had the opportunity to openly confront him yet. It's better that way. He mustn't see me coming. The element of surprise will be to my advantage.

I'll make sure his greed and arrogance are his downfall. No matter what it takes.

I walk to the faux wooden perch in the corner of the room. A pair of karasu sit quietly, patiently waiting for my instructions. I pet one of them across its head and wing.

"He'll burn in the flames of his own making," I mumble to myself before returning to my desk. I write another note, addressed to one of my most trusted allies, Vrask.

After sending the note with one of the birds, I write my final letter. This one is meant for Vex, a capable and intimidating spy well worth the money I've spent on him over the years.

I watch the karasu as they fly towards their destinations, small black specks in the red, darkening sky.

Down below, I spot Meera. She's alone, walking through the eastern garden. She stops to smell the flowers and caress their thick leaves. The red glow of the setting sun casts an eerie light on her, making her seem like a wandering spirit lost in its tragic memories.

I can't make out her expression from where I'm standing, but I do hear a faint and harmonious humming. She's taken a liking to the garden, and I feel a sense of pride at how luscious it is, filled with exotic plants.

Seeing her so relaxed for the first time reignites my desire to get my hands around Gorran's filthy neck. I ache to make the night echo with his screams of pain and desperate pleas for mercy.

Oh, how delicious it will be.

A triumphant smile plays on my lips, and anticipation makes my heart race faster.

"Soon, Gorran. Soon."