Victory

[selenias]

 “Nailah, what in Ashera's name did you do to them?”

If hearing Rafiel spluttering like a fool had been anything short of extraordinary when she returned with an eye as swollen and purple as the little purple flowers that scattered the Gallian country side, surely she would have felt the need to say so. Instead, ankles crossed, and tawny feathers soft against her thighs as she strung them, one by one, she smiled wolfishly, sore muscles and aching joints be damned, and flicked the end of a beaded strand at him.

Perhaps, if she hadn't been so upfront about her victory, Rafiel wouldn't have scowled so much.

Perhaps, if she hadn't been at ease with the situation, Rafiel wouldn't have begun to stare in reverence.

Perhaps, if Nailah hadn't responded to the ridiculous challenge in the first place, taken her desires, locked them away, and simply accepted the fact that there was no room for gambles or half-hearted foolery at a time like this, it wouldn't have ended with Tibarn moping around like a scolded child, and Reyson following like the often berated young heron he was.

“I simply dazzled them with my wits,” she answered blatantly, stringing on another feather with care—and Rafiel, staring at the splendid adornment in her lap and recognizing for the first time that it really was an extravagant trophy, looked as though he were torn between scowling and laughing at the absurdity with which she treated her prize.

“I pity my brother,” he said after a minute passed, lips twitching, and Nailah simply grinned crookedly in response, picking a feather at random and handing it to him for closer examination. Her good eye was nearly swollen shut, and a large gash ran along the underside of her jaw, but it was impossible to argue that her grin was anything less than bemused in her state.

Handling the feather with care, Rafiel rolled it between his fingertips admiringly, reminded of silk.

“If anything,” Nailah continued, “I'd be more concerned about Tibarn, if I were you. ...He's rather pitiful looking at the moment, don't you think?”

Completely unabashed, she was, Rafiel simply grinned and twirled the feather between his fingers once more. “Why yes... but that at the moment, I believe, is Reyson's role to play...” Rafiel blew the feather into the air and smiled.

“Anyway... I like victory.”