Mortals & Deities (10 page)

Still, having the mind he did, one question nagged at the back of his thoughts since he had arrived here. He did not think it would intrude on her confidence with her father. “How did you know to wait for me at the Sending Stone?”

“The Sending Stone glows while in use. Plus, those who come through are not conscious for near an aurn afterwards. So, I was not waiting for you. I had plenty of time to reach the arrival platform after you used the Sending Stone in Mocley.”

It made sense. He had woken up with her hovering over him. Still, the memory of that gods-awful device was not something he wished to dwell on.

Sooner than he wanted, the two stood in front of the doors that led into his quarters. Once again, he knew he should say something, and once again, his mind went blank. During their walk, a lock of hair had fallen over one of her eyes. Reaching out, he brushed it aside. “Thank you for showing me—”

Leaning toward him, she brushed her lips across his cheek. Blushing, she turned and raced down the hallway, her lantern casting wild shadows along the walls. He stood in the dark long after she left. He had no idea why. A creaking noise off to his left made him jump, and he tried in vain to peer through the darkness in the general direction of the sound. Remembering he did not wear his sword, he suddenly felt vulnerable. Raising a hand to his cheek, he still felt her soft lips and hot breath.

With one last glance down the hall where Rinear had disappeared, he opened his door and entered his room.

I hope I can stay here for a very long time indeed.

Sarshia’Mion Mocley, the Princess of all the Elmorr’Antien peoples, stepped out onto the balcony of her private quarters, and her home city overwhelmed her with its beauty, as it always did. In her travels, she knew that Humans tried to make fine-looking architecture. The Human city that held her House’s name contained several buildings that pleased her eye. Still, nothing she had seen elsewhere on the Plane of Talic’Nauth compared to the White City.

Gliding across the marble tiled floor of the balcony, the pristine blue-gray skin of her thin legs shimmering in the sunlight, she stopped short of the delicate crystal-laced railing that lined the area. A refreshing cool breeze blew over her skin, ruffling the hem of her golden serota as she drank in the sight of the city. Wrapping the three fingers of each of her hands around a banister so thin it seemed it should crumble under their weight alone, she cast her gaze out to the vastness of the ocean. The tops of the small, endless water waves rippled white as the wind from the west blew across them—one of the things she loved about autumn. Here and there, a speck rose in the distance—a merchant ship mayhaps, or one of the large war galleons that patrolled the coasts off Elmorr’eth.

She gazed closer to shore and found more and more ships crowding the Dasha’alan. The port of Hath’oolan, busy even during the harshest of winters, was even more packed during the fall season. Merchants’ ships, with their multi-mast configuration and wide hulls marking them as long-voyage sea vessels, boasted flags and colored pennants of every shape and size imaginable. They brought in exotic wares from all over the Plane to Elmorr’eth and left with a cargo more precious than gold to the rest of the races—Oolant draughts, Fessio’tar fabric, Silrith’tars, and many other Essence enhanced items that only her people had the ability to create. Mixed in with the larger ships were other crafts as well. Fishing schooners gliding in with this morn’s hauls, war galleons making their way to or from the Millitinia, and guide boats, with their Guide Masters onboard, making their way out to the next vessel in need, to ensure the ships arrived where they should…and paid the proper duties, of course.

Her eyes lingered on one of the war galleons sailing toward the Millitinia. Grays scurried over its mass of ropes and netting, working to ready the ship for port. Its sails drawn tight, it was being pulled by a tiny craft. The guide boat, unmanned of course, its guider having already boarded the massive battle ship to stand on the forward bow, ensuring that the tug went as he directed it. She could almost see the Essence of the craft and surrounding water being Melded by the Master Guider.

It amused her that none of the other races seemed able to tell her people’s classes apart, though she did not see it as an issue. The other races
should
see all Elmorr’Antiens as the same and treat them
all
with respect. Though she laughed at the image of a Blue hauling ropes on a ship like some common
Human
sailor.

She continued to watch the guide craft until it disappeared behind the gleaming white walls of the Millitinia. Those walls soared up out of the frothy water of the bay some fifty spans into the air. Gralet’nars, the massive Warrior Servants of her people, guarded the wall. Just black specs at this distance, they marched their way across the tops.

Her eyes traced along the white wall of the Millitinia until some of the taller buildings of the city proper passed across her line of sight. Gleaming white, the spires and towers of the city below rose impossibly thin. She followed them down further until they fattened out, and balconies much like the one she now stood upon, dotted the landscape of the city.

Finally, looking out across the city itself, she took it all in. Hath’oolan. Huge palaces, temples, and buildings everywhere she looked, gleaming white in the light of the early morn, some ten stories or more, all in perfect splendor and harmony with each other. The streets below, meandering where they should meander and straight where they should be straight, already bustled with people—her people—who had need to be out bustling this day. Of course, there were no guards present, not in the inner parts of the city. No foreigners were allowed past the harbor gates so there was no need. Yet, it was the city itself and not its people that enthralled her so. It was like standing in the middle of a forest made of light itself. Like being surrounded by all that is blessed and good—surrounded by pureness made stone. She drank it in—drank in the cool, salty breeze of the ocean, the smooth walls, the towering spires, the fluffy white clouds that drifted by with only the sea birds for company. Gripping the thin crystalline railings of her balcony, she felt complete.

I am home.

A rustle from inside her room reminded her that she was not alone. Turning, she glided back into the sitting room
“Thank you, Theriana. I am sure I can manage now on my own.”
She reached out and took the serving tray from her handmaiden. A spicy aroma wafted up from the silver pot and beads of sweat ran down its frozen sides. She smiled. It had been over a turn of the seasons since she had last tasted raz.

Dipping her head to the side, her long flowing white hair shifting over one of her thin gray shoulders, her handmaiden hesitated.
“Forgive my being forward, my Princess. I would just like to say that it is good to have you home. The palace has felt empty without your presence.”

Sarshia smiled.
“After living amongst the Humans for so long, it may take me a while to remember what it means to be forward.”

Theriana bowed her head once more before seeing herself out. The Gray had been her handmaiden now for almost a century, ever since her first handmaiden had expired from age, and she did more than an adequate job.

Looking around, it filled her with joy to see that her apartment remained much the same as when she left. The Fessio’tar of the jungles of Kisu that her grandfather had given her before he expired still hung over the fireplace. Walking up to it, she gazed into its depths. As she had growing up, she imagined she could see the fat green leaves swaying in the breeze—the detail of a Fessio’tar made this easy. Laughing, she remembered how, as a youngling, she pretended to catch a glimpse of some large black cat prowling for its next meal. Stepping over to her bitha sitting in its rack, she ran her fingers over its strings and cringed at the sound it produced. She made a mental note to have the instrument tuned. It would be enjoyable to sit and play it again. She glanced at the glass-fronted cabinet that held all of her crystal figurines. She started toward it when a knock at her door gave her pause.

Theriana’s large, tear dropped-shaped head leaned around the door once it opened.
“Forgive, my Princess. The Human Initiate, Shaith Ku’rin is here. I told her you have just arrived and do not wish to be disturbed. However, she is most insistent.”

Thinking of the dark-skinned Human girl, Sarshia smiled.
“It is all right, please show her in.”

The woman who entered was much grown from the skinny girl she had last seen two winters gone.

Humans change so fast!

Wearing the white robes and gold rope belt of an Initiate, Shaith Ku’rin carried herself well above what her clothes suggested of her station. The girl’s upbringing, so much like Sarshia’s own, was the reason they related to each other so well. They had spent some time together before duties called her to Ro’Arith. Holding her hands clasped before her, Sarshia glided over to the girl. “Princess Ku’rin. How wonderful it is to see you again, yes?”

Shaith smiled as she curtsied. Not too low, yet low enough from a foreign princess visiting another on her own soil. “The pleasure be all mine. I be sorry for disturbing you just as you arrived home. Yet, when I learned you did return, I felt I had to come and see you. I fear I have troubling news, and I be in need of your assistance.”

Despite her graceful outside appearance, now that she had spoken, Sarshia could tell the girl was in a state of barely controlled panic. She waved her handmaiden away. Theriana spoke no Human, still whatever had riled the Mu’shadar princess should be spoken of in private. She guided the young woman to a sitting area. When both were seated, Sarshia reached out and placed a hand on the other woman’s knee. During her time with the Humans, she had learned that physical contact made them feel better. It shocked her when Shaith flinched and pulled away. The body chemistry of Elmorr’Antien and Human were very different, she knew. Humans were so hot she often wondered how they could stand it. She also knew that to them, an Elmorr’Antien felt cold to the touch. Still, none of that explained the girl’s reaction. Leaning back to give the girl the space she needed, Sarshia placed both her hands in her lap. “Something is troubling you dear, yes? Please, tell me how I can help.”

Fidgeting, the young black-skinned woman glanced around the room as if seeking an escape. A pang of fear shot through Sarshia as scenarios filtered through her mind.

What could cause this girl so much anguish?

Then a horrible notion took hold of her. “Has one of the Human male Initiates…well…have they done something to you, hmm?”

Shaith let out a mirthless laugh. “I do wish that be the case, Princess.”

Falling silent once more, Sarshia remained at a loss. They had not spent an exorbitant amount of time together. Still, the woman was of royal blood and staying in her homeland. Sarshia had made it a point to befriend the Human when she arrived. It surprised her when she found she actually enjoyed the dark-skinned girl’s company. Yet, this? This behavior was most peculiar. “Shaith, please. If you do not tell me what has happened, I do not know how I can help, yes?”

The girl looked out the window, and it looked like she was struggling with an internal argument. Finally, she nodded. “You be correct, Sarshia. I did come to you. Though, I be no sure how to begin.” She shifted in the padded chair. Looking up, tears filling her eyes and her bottom lip quivering, she reached out and took Sarshia’s hand. Her touch was hot, almost unbearably so. Yet, Sarshia did not pull away. “This concerns your twin, Aritian.”

Compressing her lips, Sarshia let out a thin wisp of air from her nose. “I understand your hesitation now. Rest assured, you may speak freely about my
little
brother, yes? There will be no repercussions to you for anything you say to me in confidence. I give you my word, yes?”

Bobbing her head, Shaith reached up and wiped away the tears that fell from her eyes. Crying—yet another thing that fascinated her about Humans. “I think he be doing something horrible to the Human Initiates.” Before Sarshia could ask, she shook her head. “I no be knowing what. Do you remember Srist? The blond girl who said she be from somewhere east of Ro’Arith.” When Sarshia nodded, she continued. “She disappeared just after you left.”

“I do not understand. Did she run away? Was there a search for her, hmm?” It would not be the first time a Human Initiate cracked under the strain of training here in Hath’oolan. Though it would shock Sarshia if the girl had not been found.

“Nix. We were told she be sent home.”

Sarshia laughed. This girl was jumping at will-the-wisps. “If she went home then she went home, yes? I do not see the issue.”

“Neither did I. Until Alant came.”

That was a name Sarshia had not heard before. “Who is this Alant, hmm?”

“Alant Cor. He be a boy who came in the spring. From Ro’Arith. He did say he could—” Her eyes grew wide and she covered her mouth with one hand. “He did say he suspected that Aritian be up to something.”

Leaning back into her chair, confusion overtook her. She knew her little brother well enough to know he was a plotter and a schemer. Elmorr’Antien society being what it was he had very little in the way of a future. Though he and she were twins, an almost unheard of event among her people, it was their older brother, Prince Varishma who bore the brunt of the royal duties. Unlike among the Human nobility, there had never been infighting for power within the Royal Family of her people. Though she had to admit, this was the first time in a millennia when there had been a second male heir to the throne. Thanks to the use of the Essence, the King always produced one male child, then, if he and his queen wished, a female child a few decades later. This was how her parents had planned things. The fact that her mother had developed twins, and one a male, stunned all. “Does he have some proof of wrong doings, hmm? It seems if the girl was sent home, I do not see an issue.”

“Again, there be none. Not until Quiln.”

“I remember Quiln. A very timid boy, yes? I still do not know why he was brought here. He was not strong enough to gain much from our way of training.” Now that
had
been at Aritian’s insistence. To this day she did not understand why he fought so hard to have that orphan boy taught here.

“Something happened to Quiln. Alant said that Aritian be coming for him that eve, to do some type of
test
on him. The next morn Quiln was…changed. It be as if his mind did be gone.” She began to cry. “He did no recognize me or anyone.”