Chapter: Living through History: 8 of ?

Author: Sam

Series: A Deeper Magic

Note: Azkadellia is about to give a history lesson. To make things easier, I have included a chart often found in school texts across the O.Z. with notes marked by former student Ambrose on common identifiers (italics). This will be included at the end of every chapter from here on in so it might be referred to as information pops up.

Last Chapter: While awaiting news on Ambrose's surgery, Wyatt's group arrives and informs the royals about the possible coup. Wyatt recalls meeting Zero as teens.

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The Twelve Clans of the Outer Zone with the Ruling House of Each Clan:

Aquam Clan/ House of Rimi . . . (Ice- Mount Runcible)

Cogitatio Clan/ House of Idae . . . (Milltown)

Corde Clan/ House of Animum . . . (Viewers)

Fortitudo Clan/ House of Greyhatt . . . (Guilds- Munchkins)

Lux Clan/ House of Gale . . . (formerly House of Ozma- Gillikin)

Mortem Clan/ House of Shiz . . . (Alma Mata- Gillikin)

Nature Clan/ House of Terrae . . . (Vinkus- Thousand Year Grasslands)

Papay Clan/ House of Somniabunt

Phlogiston Clan/ House of Pyre . . . (Fire- Desert surrounding O.Z.)

Sapientiam Clan/ House of Quinolui . . . (Quadling- Realm of the Unwanted)

Spiritus Clan/ House of Aeris . . . (Air- Lake Country)

Tenebris Clan/ House of Fugae . . . (Witch's Dark Tower- Gillikin)

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Light flashed into DG's eyes, making her sit up with a start. She looked around in confusion at the opulent onyx and gold room. She knew she'd be late to her job but . . . memory settled in and she frowned, turning towards the large windows she normally kept curtained at night.

Stepping softly, Azkadellia, dressed in a soft butter yellow robe and satin slippers, long black hair trailing to her waist, strode to the bed and stopped with a welcoming smile. "We have a couple of hours before we can talk to Ambrose. Let me dress you."

Only a couple of weeks ago, DG would have balked at the offer. Their tastes didn't exactly match. However, the sisters hadn't had much time together even after the witch melted. With a couple of hours to kill, DG relented and smiled gamely. "Sure. Why not?" She stood and hurried to a closed door that led to a water closet, as Az called it, which they shared; another door connected to Az's bedroom on the other side.

Once finished with her morning necessaries, DG came back into the bedroom and stopped just over the threshold. She watched as her sister rooted through the closet of O.Z. clothing DG tended to avoid. Repressing a sigh, DG stepped over to the other woman and pasted a weak smile on her face. "No jeans today?"

"No jeans," Az laughed in reply. She threw a smile over her shoulder and turned, several items in her hands. "However, in deference to your . . . preferences I thought you might wish common clothing to that of the aristocracy." She offered the soft, sturdy linen blouse and woven cotton skirt, both of a deep blue. In her other hand, she held a lighter blue shaper and matching stockings.

DG made a face. She couldn't help it. "A corset? Really?" She dreaded the hours of discomfort and lack of air she could foresee.

"Corset?" Az looked at the clothing she carried then laughed and looked back at DG. "No, a shaper. This goes outside the clothes and helps show your curves. It does not get tied tightly. Every young girl in Central City puts one on at puberty." She looked thoughtfully at the near-mutinous expression in DG's eyes. "It's a rite of passage for women. Just like putting our hair up if we are no longer available for marriage. Something all young brides do. And putting off ribbons or barrettes at puberty, as well: the mark of leaving childhood."

A soft snort interrupted Az and both women looked under DG's bed. There laid a scruffy brown and grey dog, paws stretched in front of his nose, eyes closed and tongue tip slightly protruding in sleep. He snorted again, shifted his head, ran a paw twice over his muzzle, and sighed, drifting off once more. The sisters looked at one another and laughed softly.

"I guess Tutor's exhausted," DG explained to which Az nodded and held up the clothes. The younger sister acquiesced with a shrug. She began to strip from the night shirt and trousers she'd used for pajamas.

Lifting her arms, DG allowed Az to slip the blouse over her head. Settling the fine fabric around her hips, DG lifted one leg to step into the skirt but her sister slipped that over her head, as well. "So, you wear your hair up but you aren't married, Az." She tried to keep the conversation light, half of her mind on the passing time and Glitch's recovery. Az seemed to stiffen and the reaction surprised DG. "Az?"

Azkadellia shook her head once and pulled the skirt to DG's waist, carefully smoothing it over her blouse. She fastened the shaper over the shirt and skirt then smoothed it carefully before stepping back, a soft frown on her face. Finally, she raised her dark brown eyes to meet DG's lighter blue ones. "Sit. You haven't learned the history of your homeland yet."

"Okay . . ." DG dragged out the two syllables as she stepped to the bed, mildly surprised that the soft, plain clothes weren't uncomfortable. The outfit seemed similar in feel to her waitress uniform from the Other Side, except the material felt nicer and didn't smell of burnt cheese and fried onions. Carefully, DG sat on the edge of the bed, turning her back when Az picked up a brush and sank down behind her. "Okay, history," DG prompted.

Taking a long, slow breath, Az let the air out then carefully brushed a hand down DG's brown hair. "Over five hundred annuals ago there were twelve clans of the Outer Zone and many more in the lands beyond the desert which marks the boundary of the O.Z." She dropped the stockings over DG's shoulder, into her lap, then she continued talking. "At that time the Tenebris Clan started taking over the entire O.Z., killing and terrorizing everyone. The only clan able to stand against Tenebris was the Lux Clan. The Lux Clan was led by Queen Ozma, mother of Prince Ozma. They sent a travel storm to the Other Side and were able to bring over a young woman with a strong light magic. This was our ancestor Dorothy Gale."

Poking DG's shoulder, brush held loosely in one hand, Az said softly, "Put on your stockings or I won't tell you the story." Her tone sounded light, though sad.

"Okay, so Dorothy came and helped Ozma defeat Tenebris?" DG put one foot on the bed and started sliding the stocking over her toes, wonderfully surprised by how the silk felt.

"Tenebris is a clan, but yes. Dorothy helped defeat the leader of the ruling house, called Fugae. She had help from other clan people: a viewer, a guild fighter, and a vinkus noble. The witch was then entrapped in the cave near Finaqua."

DG whirled around, stunned. "But if you knew that . . . "

"No," Az shook her head. "I learned this part from the witch. It's a history normally taught in later school days." She reached out and gently took DG's shoulders to turn her back around. "The other foot, too," she said in an apparent effort at gentle humor.

"Okay . . ." DG nodded and quickly slipped the other stocking on, ignoring the delicious feel of the silk. "Then what?"

"Dorothy married Prince Ozma, turning the House of Ozma into the House of Gale." Before DG could question that point, Az added, "The Lux Clan follows the maternal family. A young man took over Tenebris Clan. A younger son, I believe, as the royal family remained the House of Fugae. And so the twelve clans rebuilt and renewed their harmony. Marriages were arranged among the lesser houses between clans to foster this peace." The older woman sighed and picked up the brush from her lap.

Carefully she began to stroke the bristles through DG's soft hair while the younger woman absorbed the history lesson, knowing that Az would eventually come to the reason she kept her hair up. At the moment DG felt it might have something to do with the witch's control and long years of habit, but DG refused to say so. She didn't want to hurt Azkadellia.

After a long moment of silent brushing, Az's voice sounded in the morning-lit room. "About ten annuals before I was born the House of Shiz fell into disruption."

"Shiz? Who's that?" DG turned only to be gently turned once more.

"Shiz was the main ruling family of the Mortem Clan. The Mortem Clan, like the Lux Clan, was made of gilikenese families . . . what you call humans, I believe. The House of Shiz encouraged learning simple magical energy manipulation and transformation and even founded and maintained the most prestigious learning centers throughout the O.Z. I believe Ambrose was educated in their learning center to the north of Central City." Az stroked DG's hair from her right shoulder, pulling it back carefully and tying a ribbon around the lock of hair. She smiled as DG began to watch in the mirror across the room.

"So, was it Tenebris Clan again?" DG asked.

"No," replied Az. She braided the simple white ribbon around the lock she'd gathered. "No one was exactly certain what had happened. People supposed it might have been an internal struggle. Whatever the reason, the royal family was lost and their main seat of power, Shiz Academy, was abandoned. Without governance, their people were confused and frightened and so Mother took in the refugees. Most of the Mortem Clan was absorbed into the Lux Clan and the O.Z. became eleven clans rather than twelve. The school was never reopened, which is why the nobles of Lux instead hired tutors to educate their children."

A loud snore drew the women's attention to the small dog under the bed. His stunted legs kicked in his dream, as if running at high speed, and DG turned an amused smile on Az. They both started laughing at their magical tutor's sleep antics.

DG turned back around and gestured for Az to continue with her hair. "So, are the gilikenese all shifters?"

Chuckling at that, Az began to braid. "Stars no. Imagine if everyone had access to magic. Only the very gifted can manipulate magic energies. And each clan has a special connection to one type of energy. Lux Clan is connected to light energy." She dropped the first plait and began brushing on the left. "The remaining clans were worried about what the loss of the Mortem Clan could mean and how it could have happened. They had no idea who was responsible, so a council of the eleven was held. They discussed the normal political worries as well as the fact that we should stand united against our enemies from beyond the deserts. It was commonly believed that someone from beyond may have had a hand in this recent destruction in conjunction with a disgruntled lesser noble or even royal of the House of Shiz. All agreed and it was determined that if messengers came from one clan for help, the others should seriously consider sending aid."

"Uh oh," DG sighed. To her it sounded like someone might have set the council up for a fall. "Let me guess . . . another rebellion happens?" She was beginning to get restless with their rather violent history.

"No," Az shook her head, long hair swinging caressingly over her torso. "Two years later, eight years before my birth, the House of Terrae of Nature Clan had a son and heir. This was a rare event in Nature Clan, as the royal family often proved childless and would adopt their heirs from the children of trusted allies and advisors. Suddenly, for the first time since the downfall of the dark witch, House Terrae had a royal infant. Within weeks of the grand event a messenger came from the House of Rimi in Aquam Clan. Aquam Clan are situated to the far north, where our ice palace is, and they are often independent and strong. The only other time they had been threatened was by the dark witch. Naturally, The House of Terrae sheltered the messenger as they listened to his pleas."

"And the bastard made off with the silver in the night," DG cynically stated. Suddenly her eyes widened and she turned quickly, yanking her hair painfully from her sister's nimble fingers. "No, wait. The baby! That bastard stole Terrae's baby! And the Aquam Clan destroyed Shiz, too." DG filled in.

"No!" Az shook her head, horror lighting her face. "They never sent the messenger to begin with. It was a ploy, but no one knows whom by." She sighed and slipped a hand to DG's shoulder. "And, yes, the heir was kidnapped and never recovered. It is believed to this day that Orez of the House of Terrae is dead." She sighed, bowing her head in respect. Before her sister could say anything, Az lifted her face once more. "And now we get to my part, if you let me finish your hair." Her voice had softened at the tragedy she'd just relayed.

DG nodded and turned back to face the mirror, seeing the sorrow reflected on her sister's face. She felt the brush begin once more to run through her hair, her sister's gentle fingers to gather the mass, to find the right lock of hair.

Az's voice sounded soft yet firm. "Another council was called to find the child and his abductor, but nothing ever came of it. As far as I heard, the trail led to the destroyed learning center of Shiz and disappeared. To prevent another such infiltration, passcodes were created to communicate with each clan. Without the passcodes, visitors could be killed on sight, if the clan members so chose. Also, certain conditions must be met to send pleas for help. These passcodes and conditions were known only to the royal families and their most trusted advisors. Aside from special admittance, the eleven clans would remain autonomous. Inter-marriages had ceased . . . except by special arrangement."

Finally, Az began braiding the lock of hair. "In order to aid the Nature Clan, Lavender made an offer of her first born child, male or female, in betrothal to their first born or adopted child. Once one of the royal families produced a second child, called a spare, the first would go to live and eventually rule in the opposite clan."

"Whoa," DG turned, once more pulling her hair from her sister's grasp and inadvertently undoing the work. "Does that mean that with me here, you're supposed to go to this Nature Clan?" Her quick mind linked the bits of information together and she pointed at Az. "You're betrothed already. That's why you wear your hair up."

Az rose to her feet and sighed. "Yes and no." She sent a glare to her younger sister. "You aren't making this easier, DG."

"Well, you've just dropped this bombshell on me, Az! If you're the heir and I'm the spare, and the heir goes to the other Clan, then I've just become heir."

"Technically, DG, you've been heir to the House of Gale since you were born and I was seven." Az whirled towards the window and gripped the brush tightly in her hand. "Lavender . . . Mother signed the treaty with the rulers of the Nature Clan. At my birth, my name was filled in during a ceremony at House Terrae in the Thousand Year Grasslands."

"I . . ." DG knew their parents were headed there to find their cousin: a fact she had yet to mention to her sister.

But Az would brook no further interruptions. Apparently annuals of keeping this inside needed sharing at last. "The annual after I was born, House Terrae had another son, named Flint." She turned and looked at DG, pain shadowing her dark eyes. "We were to travel to their palace to sign the treaty in his name. Then would come the wait to see who produced the spare and relinquished their heir. Before we could even leave Central City, the House of Terrae was attacked from the inside and a massacre occurred. No one knows for certain if any of the ruling family survived . . . including Flint." She raised a hand to prevent DG interrupting. "Thus, the Nature Clan withdrew completely into hiding and our cousin Leona with it. She moved out there when I was born. The gates were barred even to the House of Gale and, without the proper passcodes, no one will be allowed inside the royal halls nor given access to the people. The only message they sent was that they would further discuss our betrothal arrangement when I reached adulthood."

DG walked quickly to her sister and gave her a hug. She pulled back and asked, "and what did they say?"

"Nothing." Az replied, turning DG around and brushing her hair yet again, though she seemed to give up on braiding the left side at all. "The witch took over when I was twelve and none of the royal houses have contacted the House of Gale since. But," she turned her sister to face her and offered a brave looking smile, "I wear my hair up in honor of Flint . . . and Orez before him. If the House of Terrae ever produces their heir, I will marry him and go to rule the Thousand Year Grasslands. And it isn't as if I found someone I wish to marry . . ." She looked suddenly, fiercely sad and added, "at least who still lives."

"Oh!" DG shook her head, deliberately changing the subject to try to ease Az's pain. "Mom and Dad went to the Thousand Year Grasslands to visit Leona. Cain came last night and told us that the people want her to rule." She sighed and turned her head, glancing at her sister sideways, judging the other woman's reaction to the news.

With a smile, Az nodded. "Good. We need Leona on our side. She should come back." Az moved to the dresser and placed the brush down. "But since we may need them if a coup does happen, let me tell you the passcodes." She turned and straightened, smoothing her dressing gown and looking as if they'd never discussed the death of her future husband or the destruction of three clans.

"DG, if a messenger is sent to a clan one of two things must happen. Either the messengers are made up of members of that clan or the messengers are only a pair. One foreign messenger will be taken as a hoax and imprisoned, turned away, or killed. More than two will be seen as an invading army and dealt with accordingly. Of the two messengers, one must be of royal blood or one of the acknowledged advisors from the clan he or she represents. For instance, if we needed help from the Corde Clan, or the viewers, we could either send one of us or we could send Raw or Kalm. For the Cogitatio Clan centered in Milltown, we could send Hank or Emily. Once there, certain rites or rituals would be displayed in order to convince the people the messengers are genuine."

Eyes widening, DG looked at her unblemished left palm. "Like a glowing oval swirly on the hand?"

Az frowned and tilted her head slightly. "The Crest of Gale? Yes, set in magic and presented is one of the traditional signs of need. In fact, if a group chose to ignore numbers, the magical emblem could even get a small group into the inner sanctum of a clan." As if realizing things for the first time, Az's eyes widened to equal DG's and she asked, "is that how you got past the Cyborgs and the Guild Fighters and the Papay?"

"Uh, it's how I got in to see Father View and how I healed a tree for the Papay so they'd let me pass, yeah. And it's how I got into the Northern Palace." DG looked at her nondescript hand once more. "But it disappeared after awhile, once I was about to invade this tower."

Laughter drew DG's attention and Az smiled at her. "That's amazing. Mother truly outwitted the witch in the end." She turned back to DG. "We may as well dress and discuss security with your Officer Cain. I see he's returned."

DG nodded. "Yeah, he's a Tin Man again." She rolled her eyes. "Dad put him in charge of protecting me until they get back."

Az smiled and nodded. "Good. You need someone to pull you out of trouble. I can no longer do it." She threw a wicked grin at DG who interpreted it correctly as teasing. "I'm going to get dressed and meet you at Ambrose's room."

"Yes, Glitch!" DG smiled, checked the clock and groaned. "Ten more minutes." She turned to study herself in the mirror, made a face at the oddly beribboned braid, but didn't disturb it. Her sister had shared with her, and DG cherished that more than looking like her familiar self. She waved one hand at Az and called, "see you in ten," before heading out the door. Somehow she doubted it would take Az only ten minutes to ready herself for the day.

Behind her, Az turned to stare out the window and study the horizon, looking for something only she knew and never expected to see.

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Continued in Chapter Nine: A Time for Action