Letters
Requiem of the Moth S03 C10
Content warnings1
“I’ll retrieve the puppet. You get out now.” Ulan yanks the door open and light floods the landing.
There’s shouts of surprise. Usira ducks and rolls, which probably saves his life. Jumping to his feet, he sees Ulan has jammed something into one guard’s neck from behind—more poison.
His own opponent is raising his sword. Usira grabs the climbing rope coiled at his belt and flings it out in a wide arc. When it tangles with the blade, he yanks on his end. The guard stumbles. It’s not enough to throw him off his feet but he’s bought time and an opening. Ulan appears behind the guard and slits his throat in a shower of blood.
The thump of his body on the floor turns Usira’s stomach. He swallows.
Ulan never hesitates. She wipes her dagger and drags him into the corridor. Before long, Usira gets his feet under him. Welcoming the rush of the flight instinct, he realises they’re headed back to the kitchen. In a nerve-wracking series of starts and stops, peeking around corners, moving as silently and quickly as possible, they reach the door. Ulan looks back at him. Usira has barely caught his breath when she pushes inside.
Of course, it’s not deserted anymore. Cooks and servants are milling about, preparing breakfast for their lords and ladies. Not one of them screams or even stares when they pass through.
At the back door, Usira’s patience finally frays. “Did you have to… do that?” he hisses, pulling at her shoulder. By the Moth, there was so much blood. The taste clogs his nose.
Ulan’s eyes glitter. “I ran out of darts. What did you want me to do, wrestle with them until reinforcements arrived?”
“That was never…”
“Part of the plan?” She grabs his hand and squeezes hard. Usira flinches as his bones groan in protest. “The plan burned as soon as your puppet was captured. Now, if you still want me to retrieve him, you listen to me and go home. Pretend nothing happened. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Usira’s mind reels. The truth is, he can’t think of a better solution. He’s useless in a fight, he’d only be a liability. Never mind Bini, if Usira is caught, his gamble is over. Not even Yun could break him out of that mess.
He prays Ulan is as ruthless as the glittering eyes behind her mask suggest.
“Go in darkness,” he says and, on shaky legs, slips out the back door.
Y,
Have you been well?
Truly, I have half a mind to
I wasn’t planning on telling you this way but then again, it was you who neglected to mention that you would be exiled for what you did. Like it or not, I know you too well by now. You must have anticipated Shuli finding out about your trick and punishing you for it. I bet you appreciate the irony of someone punishing you for bestowing the title of clan head upon them—it certainly isn’t lost on me.
If the news has not reached you yet, it will soon. I only wish to add that I did it only to restore our reputation. Being shunned by the Pai is a risk I was willing to take. Of course, I hoped to avoid it but I do not regret taking it for the sake of our clan and our future.
As much as I hoped to change you, it seems I have changed too.
I am writing this letter to confess to you that I have been associating with a secret organisation that works to bridge the class divide, to create a better society. In my dealings with the clans, I have seen commoners pay a hefty price for noble whims and excesses. You know I have often felt frustrated about this and wished it could be changed.
Well, this organisation is working towards that change. They call themselves Ithreyesh and have made me an extraordinary member. Needless to say, this knowledge must not fall into the wrong hands but I felt it important to confide in you, as you have confided in me about your plans regarding the clan headship. And as I have supported you, I ask that you support me in this decision too.
As angry as I am with you for disappearing on me, I will do anything in my power to have that order voided and get you back to Kandamsin. Never doubt that I want you here.
Then again, you have probably made arrangements yourself and do not require my help. Be that as it may, I have one last request: Do not punish Shuli for what she has done to you. I know you to be cruel to your enemies but in this case, I implore you to think before acting rashly. She has always been an asset to our clan—even I can see that—and her sense of integrity will prevent her from stabbing you in the back for her own gain. If she does, you had it coming. (One thing I understand very well about her.)
Spare Shuli and she will work for the glory of our clan until the end of her days.
May the Moth Deep grant I see you soon.
Fondly,
U
Yun barks out a laugh.
“What is it?”
Crouching by the fireplace, he feeds the letter to the flames. Usira’s code was crude but likely served its purpose of obscuring the contents from readers other than him. “Oh, nothing. I’m merely surprised at my own good luck.”
“Do not slander the Deep, Yun.”
Without leaving the place by the fire, he turns to the woman lying in bed: padded blanket up to her chin, hair in an artless knot. Her body emanates the pungent smell of prolonged illness, her orange eyes are dying embers. He hates how those eyes strip him bare even now. “The Deep has never been particularly good to me,” he mutters.
He stares at the flames, twisting and devouring the last scraps of paper. Perhaps she has a point—who could’ve foreseen that bonding himself to Usira would lead to this? Not only has his bonded proven he’s capable of playing the Great Game on his own merit, he has also allied himself with one of the most powerful players behind the scenes.
And the irony of it all: that they were both working with the same organisation all along!
Moved by the tingling in his body, Yun straightens and paces the room. It’s so small, he’s barely taken four steps before he hits the wall. He doesn’t mind. Unlike his bedridden roommate he won’t be here for much longer.
He risks a glance. Of course, she’s watching him. She’s been watching ever since they locked him in with her—it’s all she does besides sleeping. And what a stroke of genius that Shuli should throw him in with that woman. He would’ve applauded her for it, if he weren’t also furious with her.
You don’t know what you’re asking, he thinks at Usira. When he feeds another log to the flames—only the best for the Noe, even the exiled ones—, the shower of sparks provides little satisfaction.
Still, Usira knows him well enough to have guessed at his precautions. His soldiers might be on the move even now, throwing the stone that will cast ripples all the way to this backwater settlement.
Before long, Yun will be back in the capital arguing with his dear bonded and all will be well. As for said bonded’s request… He still has some time to mull it over, doesn’t he?
Author Notes
It’s not recommended to introduce a completely new character in the last third of a story—in this case, season three—but this is more of a teaser of what might be looming in season four. And I couldn’t resist giving Yun some (inner) action while he’s waiting for his comeback plan to kick off. Will it be successful and bring him back to Usira?
We’ll find out in the next chapter!
Meanwhile, I’ve been working on a new idea behind the scenes. I try not to reveal too much about new stories in the early stages in case they don’t work out but one thing I can say is that the initial idea was inspired by reading Paradise Lost and getting fascinated with Milton’s portrayal of Satan.
He is and will always be the arch-fiend, of course, but Milton is a master at making him relatable to us in moments like this, when he sees Eve and dreams of loving her…
Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet
Compulsion thus transported, to forget
What hither brought us! hate, not love; nor hope,
Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste
Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy,
Save what is in destroying; other joy
To me is lost.
I had a lot of thoughts on this one, so many, in fact, that there might be an essay on this underrated classic waiting in the wings.
Anyway, if you’ve been been following Requiem this far, I can’t thank you enough! I hope you’re excited for the season climax. Any ideas on how it’s going to turn out? And who could this mysterious woman be that Yun is stuck with in this chapter? Let me know in the comments!
Light violence, blood, murder, illness