Chapter Thirteen: Cotton

Kestian was waiting for Cotton outside her tent. She could not help the smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth when she saw them. Cotton had kept her circus in the city an absolutely unheard of six weeks. She convinced herself that it was because the shows kept filling and she kept finding people for pacts, but she was fooling herself. She stayed past the regular three weeks she normally kept the circus in the large city for exactly one reason. And they were standing outside of her tent.

She was going to miss them. Maybe she could write. She'd never kept in contact with someone before. At least not if she hadn't brokered a contract for their soul. But it would be nice to keep in touch with Kestian. Kestian Cere Thaedra. Gods she didn’t worship their name was perfect. Gods she didn’t worship they were perfect. It was not even as though they had spent every single spare moment together. Cotton still had various duties to attend to when she was not performing and Kestian had at least two other lovers. But the time they did spend together was intentional and perfect. Kestian had come to most of the performances. They had even brought their armorer to one and their priestess friend along with her parents to another. Cotton had spoken to them after every show, sometimes just briefly and other times spending the rest of the day and night together. Cotton had taken Kestian back to the spring and had succeeded in teaching them at least the very basics of swimming. Kestian had slept next to her more than one night asking nothing more than to have their arms around her. It was so normal, so easy, so nice. Cotton pulled up her thoughts. The extra time here had been delightful, but she had to move on now. Moving on with her circus was what was expected of her. It was not as though her mother paid her much attention anyway but if she did choose to look in, everything needed to be perfect and normal. If her mother did choose to look in, she could show her the new pacts she had brokered. And she would hide from her the soul she was quite decidedly letting get away.

Kestian smiled and stepped towards her. "You were excellent tonight." They said as they rapped their arms around her waist and kissed her quickly on the lips.

"I am glad you enjoyed our show." Cotton said. She breathed in deep taking in their sent of blooming orange trees and incense.

"I should probably let you get changed." Kestian said. Cotton could see they were blushing a little.

"It would make me more capable of going out with you." Cotton said.

Kestian gave her a final affectionate squeeze and then stepped back.

"Hurry, I've got plans for us tonight" they said.

"I'm excited" Cotton said and slipped into her tent. She loosened her bow and put her violin back in its case first then quickly took off and put away her costume and slipped into the clothes she had selected earlier in the day. She'd planed her outfit down to a truly absurd pair of combinations who’s only real function was to be looked at. It was decidedly uncomfortable, but she hoped Kestian would like it.

Cotton checked the mirror and made a final adjustment to her hair before walking back out of the tent.

"What do you think?" She asked with a spin letting her skirts flair out.

"Lovely as always." Kestian said taking her hand and spinning her into an embrace. "And especially."

Cotton laughed and turned in their arms. "The same to you." She said and went on her tiptoes to kiss them.

"This is new" Cotton said pointing to their gorget.

"It is, it’s from David," Kestian said.

"Yes, your armorer, your artist." Cotton said with dramatic flair.

"Oh stop."

"What? If he wants to call you his muse you can certainly call him your artist."

"Perhaps but here, I got you something." Kestian took half a step back to reach into their bag and pull out a long box. They handed it to Cotton. She took it and looked down at it a moment.

"But I didn't get you anything." She said.

"I don’t need anything" Kestian smiled.

"But you got me something"

“Just open it.” Kestian said with a smile.

Cotton carefully opened the paper box to reveal a woven length of lavender interspersed with orange blossoms.

"Kestian it’s…”

"It’s a flower crown. I thought the lavender would be for you and the orange blossoms are me."

Cotton smiled. Her father had always kept sachets of lavender in the trunk with their clothes. It was a habit she had kept up. It helped her keep a little piece of his memory alive.

"It’s beautiful." she said.

"Can I help you put it on?" Kestian asked.

"Yes."

Kestian gently picked the length of flowers up by the ends and tied the two trailing ribbons together and placed it on Cotton's head. Cotton blushed deeply. "How do I look?" She asked. Kestian kissed her on the forehead and inhaled deeply.

"Perfect" they said

Cotton took their hand and began walking towards the road.

"Well now I need to get you a perfect gift" she said.

"I don’t need anything." Kestian shrugged. "I’m not really into things, I don’t have a lot of stuff." They said.

"You have a lot of armor." Cotton said.

"That is different, and I actually really don't, and they each serve different purposes."

"Well which is it do you not have that much, or do they all serve different purposes?" Cotton asked.

"Yes" Kestian answered.

Cotton laughed.

"It’s not that much.” Kestian insisted, Cotton listened as the proceeded to list a mildly absurd number of armor components “And I only just now have the metal bracers and a new gorget from David, but they are for his master work."

"But would you have wanted them even if they weren't for his master work?" Cotton teased.

"Want and get are two very different things. I will always want more armor. It’s shiny and versatile and useful"

"And pretty?"

"And pretty" Kestian repeated with a smile.

"Well I don’t think I can buy you any useful amount of armor, so I am going to need you to set your sights slightly lower." Cotton said.

"Like I said you don't need to buy me anything. I just want to spend our last night with you."

Cotton squeezed their hand and looked up at them. "Now that is something I can do for you Kestian Cere Thaedra."

"You have got to stop with my full name Cotton." Kestian said with a laugh.

"Oh but I like it it’s perfect. I think it’s the hard Ks and all the different es. It’s the length also, not short but not over long like some stuck up prince with eighteen titles."

Kestian smiled and rolled their eyes. "You know you could do it with your name too."

"What?"

"It’s simple Cotton Cara..." they left a blank for Cotton to fill in but she did not "your mom's name" they prompted.

"I don’t want my mother’s name" Cotton said quickly. She looked away.

"I’m sorry" Kestian said, "I didn't want to upset you, what’s your father's name?"

Cotton smiled just a little. "Yonas, my dad's name was Yonas"

"Cotton Tala Yonas" Kestian said.

Cotton shrugged "doesn't have the same ring to it as yours."

"I don’t know, I like it." Kestian said.

"You know you don’t have to say that it’s fine" Cotton said.

"But I do like it. Although to be perfectly honest I do think Cotton Telarna is a fine name on its own."

Cotton blushed a little. "Thank you" she said. She leaned her head against Kestian's shoulder for just a moment then felt the flower crown and straightened back up.

"So what do you have planned for us this evening?" She asked.

"Start with dinner, move on to dancing. Maybe a walk either on the terrace of lights or on the waterfront for a dessert.” Kestian said.

"Well the waterfront is always lovely and lively." Cotton said.

"Yes but there is a man in the terrasse of lights that does cream ices." Kestian said.

"What is a cream ice?" Cotton asked.

Kestian gasped "Oh I have failed you utterly."

Cotton just laughed in response

"You've been in town what, six weeks? Over a month! This is just unacceptable on my part."

"But what is it?" Cotton asked.

"It is what we are having for dessert tonight." Kestian said and kissed her on the forehead. "And after I have corrected my grave and unforgivable mistake and gotten you a cream ice, I thought we could end the evening at my temple."

"That sounds perfect." Cotton smiled. She was going to cherish every moment of this evening and secure each morsal into her memory where she could savor the perfect moments once they had passed.

The two of them had dinner on the waterfront, a compromise as they would not be getting dessert there but Cotton still verry much wanted to see it one last time before leaving town. They had fish that had been swimming in the ocean only hours before, and shrimps roasted over an open fire on long wooden skewers dripping with garlic and oil. The night was coming on. The shops where people worked during the day closed and the taverns and places where people went at night opened. The tavern they went to for dancing was not one Kestian had taken Cotton to before. But they assured her that the music was good, and it would be a lively and fun time.

It was certainly loud and absolutely packed. There was a small wait to get in, but Cotton was excited. Kestian had taken her dancing a few times now and she had also harassed some dancing lessons from Rikvah and Mauricio as well as the Horse Thief, she was excited to show Kestian what she had learned.

The first dance was a line dance. Cotton thought this perfect. She remembered the first night Kestian had taken her dancing and the way she had stumbled through the unfamiliar steps that everyone else already knew by heart. She had glanced nervously over at Kestian the whole time which was difficult considering the ever changing orientation of the dance. Now she could glance over at them with confidence, watch them from behind, and know she made all the right moves when they watched her from the same angle.

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Kestian wrapped their arms around her waist from behind after the first song. “you’ve been practicing.” They said, their voice betraying their smile.

“I’m a bard it’s what I do.” Cotton said with a shrug and turned in their arms to face them. They kept dancing each of the next songs switching between coupled and line dances. Cotton could feel the exhaustion growing in her, but she did not want to sit down. She wanted to soak up every moment of this evening. She did not want it to end or to stop even for a moment. But Kestian noticed her shortness of breath.

“Do you want to take a break lover?” they asked.

“a short one.” Cotton said, failing to conceal her panting.

“Do you want anything to drink?” they asked.

“no, I’m fine.” Cotton said. She wondered if Kestian had noticed how she didn’t drink when they were out. She hoped they would not mention it if they had. It was not a conversation she wanted to have.

They stood back from the dance floor leaning against a high table. Kestian reached across and took her hand.

“When is your show tomorrow?” they asked

“It’s an hour before midday.” Cotton replied.

“And when will you be leaving town?”

“As quickly after that as we can manage. We’ll want to get good miles in before we have to stop for the night.”

“Will everyone else be celebrating tonight?” Kestian asked.

“I imagine so. Each to different degrees. Rikvah and Maurico have the kids, and everybody does have a show in the morning, although I think some of the jugglers might perform better with a glass flu despite all odds.” Cotton answered.

“And you’re not celebrating with them?”

“I wanted to be here with you.” Cotton said. She moved around the table to be closer to them. Kestian wrapped their arms around her and kissed her softly. “I’m glad.” They said. Cotton breathed in deep their scent of incense and orange trees. A driving song struck up met by cheers from around the tavern. Cotton recognized it and smiled up at Kestian.

“I know this one!” she exclaimed.

“You’ve known all of them so far,” Kestian laughed.

“Yes, but it’s a circle dance we haven’t done one yet.”

“We’ll hardly be together for it.” Kestian said though they were smiling.

“Please?” Cotton asked. She looked up with pleading and excited eyes.

Kestian sighed indulgently “inside or outside?”

“Outside!” Cotton replied and Kestian led her out onto the dance floor. Other couples also began to fill the floor arranging themselves into two concentric circles. All pulsed with the beat until the melody and the dance began. The circles moved in partners in the same direction one way first and then the other and then moved in opposite directions weaving in and out of each other to arrive at a new partner, coming together, leaning apart twirling one under the other, then again together apart, turn and move. Repeating the pattern. The rhythm and melody were intense and driving. Cotton looked for Kestian through the turning bodies smiling each time they came together and then laughing as they moved away from each other again. This is what she wanted to remember them by with joy and with fun and with love.

The song ended, and as Kestian had predicted they and Cotton were on opposite sides of the dance floor with a tavern full of people between them. The man whom Cotton had finished the dance with spoke to her.

"Would you like to go round again then?" He asked. His hand rested with far too much familiarity on the small of her back. Another song was starting up.

"No thank you. I'm here with my friend" Cotton tiptoed and craned her neck to try and spot Kestian and wave them over.

"Well then I insist I buy you a drink." He said. And with his arm around her moved her with him to the bar.

"No thanks, like I said I'm here with my friend." She didn’t even trust a drink she bought herself and watched the bar keeper make, let alone a drink someone else bought for her.

"I don’t see a friend; I just see you. Why don't you come with me." He said as he pulled her closer to him.

"Stop that." She said and tried to push him away.

"No you stop." He said. Cotton found her gaze pulled up to his. "There really is no need to struggle. Just let me buy you a drink. And then we can see if you want to dance again."

His voice had a strange sweetness to it. Something in Cotton turned over. She wanted to fight back and to run away. She could feel the little hairs on the back of her neck standing up and screaming at her that she was in danger but suddenly she felt no need to heed those warning signs.

She let him guide her to the bar. He ordered and she looked around again for Kestian, she needed to find them.

"Hey!" He grabbed her arm. "What are you looking over there for gorgeous? Look at me." Cotton was startled by the pain and looked back at the man. Why had she come over here with him? She did not want to be over here with him and she certainly did not want to accept a drink from him. He was charming her. He must have a spell scroll or an object or something he had to be charming her. She needed to get away. She tried to pull away from his grasp but he held her fast. "Just look at me darling” his other hand came up to caress her face and turn her to him, “no need to run away." His voice was sweet and enchanting. Cotton again felt foolish for her fear and unease from just moments before. "Theres a good girl." He said. Cotton felt him smooth something onto her arm. She tried to look at it.

"No don't worry about that" he said tipping her chin up so she was looking in his eyes. "Just stay focused on me and I promise it will be an amazing evening."

"But I came here with my friend." Cotton said. "I just need to find them so we can go."

"No," he said dismissively "you want to come home with me. Don't you?"

“I...” Cotton trailed off. She felt confused. Why was she so trusting of this stranger? She knew better than to be so trusting.

"Come on gorgeous, let's just get out of here." The man.

“But...” she knew she did not want to go, but she could not come up with why. He was guiding her towards the door.

"Cotton?" She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Kestian." She looked at them and relief flooded over her. She turned back to the man.

"See this is my friend I told you I was here with someone." Cotton said.

"Well say goodbye then, we're leaving." He said. He sounded annoyed.

"But..." Cotton looked between Kestian and the man.

"Cotton," Kestian asked gently "do you want to go with him? You can tell me the truth." There was the faintest glow and warmth to them as they said the words.

"I don't," Cotton said "I want to stay with you."

"Then stay." Kestian said and pulled her closer.

The man grabbed her arm. "She doesn't know what she's saying. Look. She's ill I was just taking her home."

Kestian did not let him pull her away.

"And why was she going with you if she didn't want to? You tell the truth too." Kestian said with much less gentleness and a brighter glow.

"I charmed her, it’s what I do." He sneered. He gasped and let go of Cotton's arm when he realized what he had said. "I mean, I'm charming. She wanted to come with me because I am charming."

"Oh I understand you perfectly." Kestian said. They stepped in front of Cotton protectively.

"You charmed her because it’s what you do. Because you think just taking from people like that is acceptable, you utterly despicable little man."

"Well, you're here now. So it’s no harm done was it?" the man said.

"And if I hadn't been here?" Kestian asked.

"Then me and, Cotton was it? would be quite happily on our way. We still could be," he took a step angling around Kestian to Cotton. "What do you say, aren't you tired? Let’s go home." he reached for her. Kestian blocked him and shoved him back with a hand.

"Don't," they warned.

"Or what?" He laughed "You'll start a fight? The muscle at the door, they're cult of Boxal. The line for them between breaking up a fight and starting their own is very thin and their god encourages both sides of it."

"They're oath knights then?" Kestian asked with a glance towards the door.

"Kestian, can we go please?" Cotton asked from behind them. She could feel herself shaking. Her head felt light and strange. She was terrified and she needed to get out of there now.

Kestian looked back at her. The anger on their face melted quickly to concern.

"Of course," they said "let's get out of here" they put their arm around her and walked towards the door. Cotton was happy to have the man behind her but something still felt wrong.

Kestian stopped in front of one of the men at the door. "Excuse me," they said "but there is a man inside who is making a habit of charming people in order to have them leave with him against their will."

The man regarded them quickly, his eyes rested on the holy symbol etched onto their gorget. He nodded once. "My order gives thanks to your goddess for the opportunity to right this. Point him out to me?"

Kestian did. He nodded once. "Thank you again, for letting us handle this."

Kestian nodded "of course" then tucked Cotton closer to them "let's get out of here" they said.

Cotton nodded and walked with them. Their voice suddenly sounded far away.

"I'm so sorry Cotton. I've never had trouble there or wouldn’t have even thought of bringing you. Are you alright?" they asked.

Cotton's feet felt heavy as she tried to walk with Kestian. She leaned into them.

"Cotton?" Kestian's voice was concerned.

"I need to go home." She managed to say her tongue felt thick and leaden.

"Of course, of course. I'll take you home. I'm so sorry. This is not the kind of night I wanted to give you."

"Its fine." Cotton stammered. She was suddenly shivering despite the warm night. Kestian was saying something but she couldn't hear them. Their voice was so very far away from her. Cotton was vaguely aware of pain in her knees as she fell on the cobles of the road. There were arms around her, and a hand insistently tapping at her face, but she couldn't move, couldn't stand, couldn't respond at all. She could just hear her name being called as she slipped backwards into darkness.