and some by virtue fall; Straia

[Kushiel]

Kushiel had to consider her question carefully. The idea caused a wicked smile to quirk to his lips, though it had never been far away. His whole life he had been told that he would certainly, one day, burn Beqanna to the ground. Everyone had told him that such a foolish boy could never control such a destructive power. They had not considered that he would do it on purpose. In all likelihood, he wouldn’t. Such exertion was not high on Kushiel’s list. When he burned things it was usually bits and pieces of himself. His mane, a bit of his forelock (never his tail), and when the flames got very, very high, he would even say a little of his soul. It was cleansing, exhilarating, pleasure and pain all at once. While he was still considering her question, he gave a perfunctory, flirtatious answer at once.

“Why, whatever part has annoyed you most recently, my queen.” Of course that was his answer, for Kushiel was such a dedicated kingdom man, loyal to his queen and cause. He was actually, rather loyal to kingdom and cause, but he worked hard to insure that was not the impression he gave. He would rather others think him a useless fool. It was easier to surprise people when they expected nothing from you in the first place. With a thoughtful tilt of his head Kushiel continued.

“Followed by the Tundra. Think how I would be feared, a man who could burn down a frozen kingdom?” Besides, it was really time those boys went out and met some women. You could only hide away with your buddies for so long. Perhaps they just found male companionship more enjoyable. Kushiel shrugged, to each his own. Kushiel considered for another moment.

“If you lent me that boy of yours we could do some real damage…” For a brief moment Kushiel saw the flames rising before his eyes. His one weakness was that he couldn’t actually create fire. It was a weakness he did not advertise. If he had so much as a spark he could manipulate it, twist it, make it grow, but where there was no spark there was no fire. It was why he carried flame with him, and why he liked the Chamber’s tree so much. Erebor, however, would solve all his problems. One stallion who could create heat and another who could manipulate fire, it was almost funny, that they should reside in the same kingdom, and follow the same queen. Kushiel smirked.

Who would have thought that kids solved problems?

He was distracted from his musing when Straia moved closer. Predictably, Kushiel’s thoughts instantly switched priorities. She all but whispered in his ear and the big stallion felt a shiver race down his spine. He looked at her with almost a touch of wariness, (for he wasn’t foolish enough to assume his undeniable charm had won her over) but with considerably more pleasure. She was smaller than him by a hand, so he dropped his head a little lower, graciously presenting his ear should she want to continue whispering. That’s when the birds landed. Kushiel was so distracted by her that the first thing he felt was talons. The big man jumped, like someone had stuck him with a poker, then forced himself to stand still and to gaze into Straia’s eyes, silently asking what she was up to. The birds talons bit into his skin and he was about to shake them off, or else light them on fire, when they obliged him. The slight pain instantly turned to pleasure, and he groaned, low and pleased, like a man with a good woman or a strong drink. His eyes, usually sharp and playful, clouded over, and when he spoke his voice was nearly groggy.

“I think you know I’ll be your man if you keep this up.” He felt her slink along his side, and like a magnet he was drawn to her. For a brief moment he wondered if she would burn, if she could join him in his blazing inferno. The fire on his back raged higher, and he groaned again. So easily won over, when she handed him his drug of choice, both the literal flames and her slinking form. Trying to maintain some small measure of himself Kushiel spoke again.

“Though I can’t promise you perfect honesty.” He could promise her other things though. And he would tell her whatever she needed to know. He trusted her birds to tell her the rest, though three of them were still burning on back.