#skournaverse

[archon-skourna]

'Muuuuum!' Aera screamed as she ran into Skourna's personal chambers. The Archon's pale, beautiful face creased with annoyance at the sudden intrusion. Skourna had important things to do, like get wine drunk in bed and watch Lelithbowl reruns while planning her next realspace raid with the seven naked Syrabites she had invited into her bed.

She was, after all a very good multitasker.

But Aera had a habit of taking up all of her attention. She loved that about her daughter, but right now Skourna needed some 'me' time.

'What is it my scrumptious little dark star?' Skourna asked in a sing song voice and giving her firstborn a warm smile.

Aera looked distraught as she ran up to the side of her mothers bed. 'Mum! The mandrakes are under my bed again!'

Skourna sighed. No one knew why, but the cursed creatures had taken a liking to Aera's bed, regardless of wherever it was in the spire.

And while it was certainly an annoyance, at least Aera hadn't come to beg for another sibling like the last 487 times she had called out 'Muuuuum!' In that exact tone.

'M'urtair.' Skourna snapped her fingers and the tall, lean and armoured figure of Skourna's personal bodyguard loomed out of the shadows. Aera and the Sybarites all flinched, they hadn't noticed the Hierach at all up until now.

'You called Mistress.' M'urtair asked her voice dour and emotionless.

'My dear could you assist my little princess with her Mandrake problem?' Skourna waved them both out of her room. 'I have important business to attend to.'

M'urtair gingerly took Aera by the hand and led her back out into the corridor. It was a strange sight, M'urtair, even among the tall Aeldari was a giant clad in armour. Her charge was the equivalent to a human of seven standard years.

'How many of those Mandrakes did you see?' M'urtair asked as she guided the girl back to her room.

'Four.' Aera snivelled.

'Good. I can handle four on my own. Would you like to watch?'

Aera's face lit up. 'Are you going to disembowel one?'

'I'm planning on disemboweling as many of them as I can. Might decapitate one or two of them as well.'

'That's so cool!' Aera beamed and began to skip along beside her guardian.

[archon-skourna]

'Where's my little Dark Star?' Carendeza declared as she stepped off the transport and onto the Spire's landing pad.

Aera ran to her Grandmother and hugged her tightly.

'Oh, you're getting so big! What's your mother feeding you?' Carendeza laughed as Skourna kissed her mother's cheek.

'Thank you for coming. I know it was late notice.'

'Nomsense!' Carendeza waved her hand dismisively. 'Now go on. You need to get raiding.' She eyed her daughter pointedly. 'You could use the exercise.'

'Mother.' Skourna sighed, though there was a smile on her lips.

'You're lucky that armour still fits.' Carendeza laughed. 'Now go on. Vect sent for your Kabal to raid the target, so don't keep our Overlord waiting.'

'I won't. Goodbye mother.' Skourna sauntered over to her waiting transport.

Carendeza turned to Aera and lifted the young Trueborn onto her hip. 'Come on little one. Let's get some McVects and watch Lelithbowl!'

'YEES!' Aera grinned.