Elias, walking in front of Noras to bow his head gently: Valainya, I-

Noras, recognizing the name, suddenly shoots out of the chair, also bowing his head, hands clasped tightly behind his back, fingernails digging into palms. He tells himself: keep your mouth shut and let Elias handle it.

Valainya: [hissing] No excuses! I’ve dealt with you going out without telling anyone before - but this? A week and a half!? Do you have any idea how worr- [she stops speaking, narrowing her eyes at Elias, and striding up to look him over, especially focused on his not completely healed arm - grabbing it] What. Happened.

Elias winces: I fell, it’s nothing. [he pulls away from her] Valainya, this is Nor- Shahīn. I’m making him my knight.

Valainya, eyes snapping to look at Noras: What.

Elias, slightly dryly: I believe you heard me perfectly clear.

Valainya, turning back to Elias with murder in her eyes: I did. You’re telling me that after nine years of refusing anyone we sent your way, you pick a stranger to be your knight?

Elias: He saved my life, Valainya. I trust him.

Valainya, with dry humour: After you’ve known him a week?

Elias, completely serious: Yes.

Valainya falters at this, then rubs her head in annoyance: You. Shahīn, was it? Come here.

Noras, still tense, walks slowly towards Valainya and stops a few paces away from her, keeping his head bowed.

Valainya: [barks] Look up, man! Are you going to shy away from the people who are sent after my brother!? Stand up straight!

Noras bristles, straightening completely and meeting her gaze. Her silver-blue eyes are sharp, but they are so far from cold — he reads care for Elias in them, and meets them steadily.

Elias tenses, but says nothing, looking between the two.

Valainya’s face remains hostile, staring him down: How did you meet my brother? How exactly did you save him?

Elias, alarmed: Valainya, it’s late, can’t we do this tomorrow morning?

Valainya, not breaking eye contact with Noras: If he’s too tired to do this now, he doesn’t deserve to protect you. [referring to Noras] Well?

Noras: [without breaking eye contact] I was hired to capture him and deliver him to my employer.

Valainya: … [draws her greatsword and points it at his throat, speaking to Elias while making sure Noras doesn’t try anything] Is that true? [her eyes narrow] Is he the one who hurt you?

Noras does not react to the sword. He’s had a lot of swords pointed at him.

Elias: [his voice gone from quiet to harsh] Valainya. Enough!

Valainya pauses, surprised, then turns to look at Elias, whose eyes have gone orange: Elias? What are you doing?

Elias: He’s not the one who hurt me - and I promised him he would be safe while I was alive. I plan on keeping that promise. [the sword starts to glow a bright orange, wiggling slightly before it starts melting] Shahīn is going to be my knight, and all his past actions are excused.

Valainya is frozen from shock, never having been on the receiving end of Elias’ anger before, dropping her hand by her side, her sword now completely deformed and useless.

Noras takes a step back, finally lowering his eyes. He looks at Elias, then back up at Valainya: [quietly] Prince Elias saved me. I have not yet repaid him.

Valainya, tearing herself from her staring contest with Elias: And once you have? What will you do? [her question is said slowly, deliberately]

Noras looks across the room at Elias: [sincerely] I will never be able to repay what the prince has done for me. I think I will work the rest of my life and still not come close.

Elias and Valainya both look at him in shock, Elias stepping closer to him: I don’t want you to feel in debt Nor- Shahīn. If you don’t want to continue, or do this, you know that you’re free to go. Right?

Noras shakes his head, walking over to Elias: I said I would be your knight, and I will. [He looks up at Elias, and then his eyes drop down] For as long as you’ll have me.

Elias is feeling that feeling again and coughs in what he identifies as a mix between embarrassment and something else.

Valainya coughs, breaking the moment: Very well. You… from what I’ve seen… you seem genuine. I’ll organise the knighting ceremony. [She goes over to Elias, and cups his cheek] If this is what you truly want.

Elias: [glancing at Noras and then back at her] It is.

Valainya nods in defeat, lowering her hand: It shall be done in three days time then. [She turns to leave, walking several steps before looking over her shoulder at Noras] If you ever betray my brother, know that even the Divines themselves won’t be able to stop me from hunting you down, flaying you alive, and leaving your barely conscious corpse out for the crows.

Noras turns to face her, and nods once.

Valainya, satisfied, looks down at him - she’s rather damn tall, especially compared to Noras - with one final warning stare, and leaves the room.

Several seconds pass, and once the clacking of her heels fade, Elias collapses onto the floor, heaving: That was terrifying. [Glaring up at Noras] Why, in the four realms, would you tell her the truth!?

Noras: [shuddering and going back to his chair] I’m glad I did. [he mutters something unintelligible in Xikyun and then looks at Elias] What if I had lied and she’d found out?

Elias: I don’t know!? [he’s bordering on hysterical] I used magic on my sister. I used magic against my sister! Holy Mothers of all sanity I thought she would kill me.

Noras looks at him for a moment: [quietly] She cares about you.

Elias quietens down, looking at the door from which she left: Yes. She does. But I would never, ever, have had the will or guts to do that before. [he laughs, standing up] I think you’re a bad influence, my knight.

Noras blinks at the epithet, feeling his face grow warm: Well. That’s what I’m here for.

Elias, walking over and placing a warm hand on his shoulder: Then may we have a long lasting battle between your bad and my good influences. [he pulls his hand back, walking toward the door, and grabbing a platter of cheeses on the way out] Come, I’ll show you to your quarters. [behind a curtain of hair, he’s still puzzled over these strange emotions that this ex-assassin has been bringing out of him]

Noras rises slowly from his chair and follows, wondering, not for the last time, at the nature of this person he’s pledged himself to.