Character Backstory: Soleiya, Ch. 3

• Posted by Soleiya November 4, 2011 - 772 views

  Soleiya didn't seek out Sakirra for a few days after that.  She felt--perhaps justly, perhaps not--that she had been rebuffed, and didn't care for that feeling.  Eventually, though, as she pondered the Khajiit's words, she began to understand.  How would she, Soleiya, enjoy her life if she ended up married to a Bosmer lord, as her family intended?  The wife of a nobleman could never join the hunt, or even wander the forests alone.  It would a scandal.   It would not be permitted.  Though she was free to go where she would and do what she willed now, that might not always be so....and that was another thought that she found she did not care for.

  Soleiya began plotting.

  Later that week, on the eve of the rest day, she ambushed Sakirra as she carried a scrub-bucket across the garden toward the sump.  The sun had set and the shadows were blue and grey shading toward black in the twilight.  By now Soleiya knew the acuity of Khajiiti hearing, so she didn't delude herself that she actually surprised Sakirra.  But she did plant herself in the other woman's path so that she was impossible to avoid.

  Sakirra stopped.  Her expression was unreadable. "Yes, m'lady?" she purred.

  Soleiya drew a deep breath, but spoke barely above a whisper. "You were right," she said. "Survival is important. But to sustain the body is not enough....the spirit must have the strength to endure."

  Sakirra said nothing, merely eyeing Soleiya down the length of her striped muzzle.

  "You think you want to see your homeland again," Soleiya said.  It was not a question.

  Sakirra's eyes narrowed. "Does the young mistress read minds, now?" she rasped.

  "It isn't really Elsweyr you want," Soleiya went on. "What you want is to be free to decide your own destiny....and that's what I want, too."

  Sakirra went very still.

  Suddenly Soleiya felt hot and cold all over.  Her delicately pointed ears were ringing, and she could feel her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest.  "Would...."  Her mouth went dry, and she subconsciously licked her lips.

  Sakirra's eyes darted to the flicker of Soleiya's tongue, then back to her eyes.

  "Would you....come with me?" Breath. "If I went?"  Suddenly the words were falling all over themselves to come out.  "I know you'd be in more trouble than me, I mean, it's not like you're owned, but Aunt Mirrim would be pretty mad if you ran off, but I promise I could keep us hidden, I know the forests really well, and we could go to Elsweyr first if you wanted, but eventually I want to see a lot of different places and we c-c-could..."

  Soleiya stuttered to a stop as Sakirra set down her bucket and a furry warmth gently stroked Soleiya's arm.  Looking down, she realized it was Sakirra's tail, striped tawny and black with a white tip, poking out from beneath her plain skirt and apron.

  Stepping closer, Sakirra's whiskers came forward in a Khajiiti smile.  "I would go with you, young mistress," she purred, and boldly rubbed her bristly cheek against Soleiya's. "There is much I can teach you about survival of body and spirit...."

  Soleiya followed eagerly as Sakirra led her into a quiet place amidst honeysuckle and stoneflowers, in the darkness of the garden.