Stillwatch (Suikoden III, Sasarai/Yun) Title: Stillwatch Author:catdevigri Fandom: Suikoden III Pairing/characters: Sasarai, Yun, Dios Rating: PG Warnings: none. Word count: 971 Prompt/challenge you're answering: Yun and Sasarai, with the title "Stillwatch"
"So, you were captured off the battlefield of Chisha Village?" When Sasarai had learned that an Alma Kinan, barely more than a slip of a girl, had been taken prisoner, he had been anxious to speak with her. He had seen them on the field of war, but not quietly, up close like this. The Alma Kinan were a rarer breed on the frontlines than the Lizards of Karayans. No one saw much of them even throughout the Grasslands, or so he'd heard. Dios was looking at the girl just as curiously as he was. Since the Alma Kinan had been sighted during the recent spate of skirmishes, there had been a flurry of rumors and chitchat circulating about them around camp. Sasarai had it on good authority that Dios had been captivated by them.
"I was," the girl answered. She was small and young and, considering her situation, almost preternaturally calm. She had to be nervous, at least to some degree, but she gave off none of the common signs of fear displayed in their usual prisoners of war. "I heard that you are the bishop. Your name is Sasarai?"
Dios bridled at her familiar address, but Sasarai raised a hand to halt his reprimand before it began. "I am, and yes, it is. And what's yours?"
"Yun." She nodded her head. Her entire manner suggested she was meeting an equal, not a superior, let alone her captor.
"You're a very plucky young lady, Yun, but I can't help but wonder what you were doing on a battlefield. You were apprehended without any weapons on your person, you don't seem to bear any runes... What are you, an enemy strategist?"
This was just too much for Yun. She laughed, her voice ringing clear and bell-like throughout the tent. "Me? A strategist? No, of course not. I was just in the village to meet up with someone, but we didn't have time to take care of our business before the fighting broke out. Anyway, the spirits will see to it that our destinies proceed as planned. I may be weak, but she couldn't desert the village in its time of need."
When Yun said "she," Sasarai was sure she meant Chris Lightfellow. It hadn't taken his colleagues long to pick the striking Zexen woman out among the plain, rural Chishans, even without her white horse and gleaming armor. "I see. So, you're harmless, are you? And it wouldn't do me any good to put you to the sword?"
"You won't. You aren't inclined toward that sort of thing and it isn't my fate to die here."
Dios continue to silently bristle at her bold words. She was too young to really strike him as "beautiful," but she was enchanting nonetheless. That she could stand before them a prisoner and yet hold any power over them at all frightened him. This was the demesne of witchcraft.
"I suppose then there's little I can hope to gain from you."
"You can't be thinking of simply letting her go, sir," Dios spoke up. He no longer felt himself taut with rage. Once again he was merely practical, cautious.
"Not scot-free of course." Sasarai folded his hands and Dios found he looked quite sly. His political side was showing. The bishop turned his gaze back to Yun. "Perhaps we could make a deal. A wager." How as this going to turn out? Dios kept himself calm ("Wait and see.").
"We'll wait out the night, Miss Yun. My forces are still engaged against the Chishan defenders on the eastern side of the vineyards. If the Grassland forces succeed in pushing back my troops- or even if they merely hold the line until dawn, then I will release you into their waiting hands. If, however, the tide of battle flows in the opposite direction, you will remain in my custody indefinitely."
"I'll accept that wager."
Sasarai held out his hand and Yun awkwardly shook it. Dios knew that the bishop did not realize handshakes were no custom of the Grasslands either. He need not have bothered.
"Dios, if you will, prepare tea for three tonight."
He might not like it, but he would do it. "Of course, Your Excellency." It was nearly time for their usual evening tea already. "If you'll excuse me," he bowed and left the tent. He couldn't imagine the bishop was in any danger from the young girl so calling over one of his guards to take over his vigil over Sasarai didn't even cross his mind.
"Have a seat if you like," Sasarai offered. He was somewhat disappointed to only be able to offer her a spot on a folding stool. He was occupying the only chair in the tent.
"Umm, the floor is fine, if you don't mind." Yun casually sat down on the thick rug underlying the desk. She looked at home on the floor. Perhaps this was typical behavior in the Grasslands.
"Of course. Whatever makes you feel at home," it would be awkward though, when Dios brought the tea in, himself in the chair, Dios on a stool, and Yun on the rug.
"It was kind of you to make that deal with me."
The longer Sasarai spoke with Yun, the more he got the impression that she was not entirely normal. She might not bear any runes, but that didn't mean she was without power. He wondered if this sort of presence was close to what one would feel around a saint.
He decided to give voice to his curiosity. What would it hurt to investigate? "You know it's going to turn out in your favor, don't you? You knew from the start."
"I kept up a pretty good poker face, don't you think?"
Huh. He was bemused. "Well, you still have to wait out the night."