Chapter Forty-seven

A Time of Introductions


Allura departed, and the rest of us made our way down to the training room. Everyone except Sephra. No one had seen her all morning, and I didn't think she would be pretending to be Jörgen. While he was wearing a ring, it was not the same ring Sephra used to disguise herself.

Ari'yasa wanted to go dress shopping with me, since I'd be meeting with the council, but I really didn't want to do that then. Going to the council meeting was beyond my comfort level enough.

The double doors to the room were a couple hands taller than Keothi. He pushed them open, revealing a massive room. The floor of the outside of the room was about three hands higher than the center of the room, the arena, but I didn't see any equipment.

Once Keothi crossed the threshold of the room, it lit up. The rest of us followed, and I was amazed at the height of the room. It was about two storeys tall, though we had not come down that far.

A spectral servant appeared before Keothi and bowed. "What do you require?"

"I require means to gain strength and experience," Keothi said.

"So it shall be." The servant backed up, and Keothi stepped down into the sandy arena. The ground seemed to come alive and trees rose from it. I felt like I hadn't seen trees in such a long time. I was nearly overcome with joy.

Keothi turned to us. "Do you see what I see?"

I looked out with wonder. "This is incredible!"

"This is amazing!" Keothi seemed just as awestruck as I was. "I wonder if this will teach us about enemies."

I stepped down, and Keothi stepped farther into the trees. He paused again and looked around. "It's like home."

We walked in farther for a minute, then we were ambushed by bandits. I took out one with my first shot, and another in two. Keothi was also taking them out quickly.

They started to dodge our attacks better, and were striking us more frequently. They got too close and I had to back up, barely dodging their blows as I scrambled to get away. I took one out as he approached Keothi from behind, and he took out one that had his bow trained on me.

We finally had taken them all out, but just barely. It was incredible how much harder the fight got as it went on. The magic must have adjusted to our skill as we went along.

The trees retreated into the ground. The throbbing in my arm where I'd been struck by a sword suddenly stopped, I felt whole again.

The spectre appeared again. "What do you require?"

"Is it possible to die in this arena?" Keothi asked.

"As your abilities are tested, those who cannot withstand the magics may fall unconscious, but death cannot find you here." That was a relief. We'd fought off the bandits, but I knew it could have been much harder.

"That is good to know," Keothi continued. "What is possible? Can we learn of other creatures and magic by asking for them?"

"This place is determined by your mind. Those things which you have seen, those things which you have encountered can be recreated here. Your minds connect to this place." I thought of that green dragon from long ago. Surely, I'd fare much better now, I might even be able to handle it myself.

"What if my understanding of something is imperfect?" Keothi asked.

"From your knowledge, it will adjust. It may not be as exact as what is in real life, but from your knowledge, of what you know, it will adjust."

Keothi looked at me. I'd never seen him so excited. "Tawariell! What should we do? We could recreate the battle with the beholder!"

Naidaroe grew excited. "Yeah! We should do that!"

My eyes grew wide and I stepped back. "I am not ready for that."

Keothi nodded. "I would rather think of other foes, like dragons, at the moment, instead of bringing up the horrors of what we just faced."

I laughed nervously in agreement. "I can give you a realistic dragon."

Keothi turned to Jörgen. "But first, I want to see what you are capable of doing, wizard!"

Jörgen smiled and stepped in front of us. He moved his arms, and a massive fireball went off in front of us, it was even bigger than the one Sephra had created in our last battle. Jörgen stepped back in surprise, it seemed to be bigger than even he had expected.

"Now, watch this!" He moved his hand in a swirling motion, and the air just in front of him began to spin, picking up the sand beneath it. I'd seen this once before, traveling across the grasslands. An upward tunnel of wind, sucking up anything in its path.

Ari'yasa watched the swirling sand in amazement. "That is incredible, it looks just like the ones from home!"

Jörgen looked back at Keothi with a smirk. An ethereal hand appeared and poked Keothi in the eye, just like at breakfast. "That's what you get for picking me up!"

"I'll do it again!" Keothi rushed over and tried to pick up the mischievous wizard.

"I'll just keep poking you in the eye!"

"Well, I'll keep picking you up! You'll take more damage than me, and you'll lose it."

"I'll burn you." Jörgen stopped dodging and stared Keothi down. Keothi finally caught the wizard and picked him up. There was a clap of thunder, and Jörgen was no longer in Keothi's hands. He was a stone's throw away, and Keothi was stumbling backwards.

"Hey, that one still hurts," Keothi said.

The spectral servant appeared again. "Yes, only injuries from the training magic will disappear. Anything you do to each other is real and will remain as normal after you leave this place."

Keothi looked to me again. "I vote we use our time training against spellcasters and other things we have encountered that were hard to deal with. Do you agree?"

My mind turned to Brox'l Tor. I didn't know everything he was capable of, but understanding how to fight him better, even imperfectly, would not be a disadvantage.

Before I could answer, I noticed that Jörgen was staring off into space. "Copy that!" He turned to the rest of us. "Everyone is wanted at the council chambers in an hour."

Melima snapped her head towards me. "Tawariell, we need to get you something else to wear. Actually, all of you."

"What's wrong with my clothes?" I asked. I was slightly hurt, I had made some of them myself, but I also understood the importance of the meeting and the culture of the council.

"Put some pretty tassels on the giant!" Jörgen said. I couldn't help but snicker.

Keothi didn't understand the fuss over clothing either, wanting to continue training. "Fine, but after the meeting, we're coming and fighting a dragon."

I finally relented that I would try to clean up, and that Ari'yasa could at least do my hair. There was not enough time to go find a dress for me.

I was actually really pleased with the braids Ari'yasa put in my hair. It looked nicer than what I normally wore, but it still fit well with my woods loving, ranger personality.

It was good to be out in the daylight again, even if it was still within the city and surrounded by stone. Despite being next to the cloudtop district, there was no entrance to it from Allura's tower, and we had to walk around the wall for a bit to get to the nearest entrance.

We walked through the military district, and Keothi got a few friendly nods from some of the guards. It seemed he was known by a few there. I was sure it wasn't often that a goliath entered those parts.

The portcullis to the cloudtop district was down, but Melima went right up to the guards in her flowing dress and told them who she was, showed them her family crest, and that we had a meeting with the council. In no time, the portcullis was raised for us to enter.

As soon as we had entered the district I felt out of place in my ranger's tabard and leather armor. Melima and Ari'yasa were in elegant dresses, Jörgen was in his wizardly robes, even Naidaroe had dressed up a bit. Only Keothi and I had kept our rugged looks.

Everything was clean and beautiful, nothing seemed out of place. The few shops we passed had very expensive taste, nothing that I was used to, or even really liked. I sighed, were these the types of things my unknown family was accustomed to?

We reached the council hall, which had six guards in front. They didn't seem terribly imposing, though they did ask us why we were there. Melima explained in her eloquent way that we were there upon the request of the council.

Inside the outer chamber there were many statues, only a couple of which I recognized from my lessons on the history of Lystran. Most were Human, though there were several elves, and even a couple of gnomes. There were metal placards beneath them, probably explaining who they were and what they had done, but we had no time to look at them.

We were ushered into a small antechamber and asked by a finely dressed servant to remain there a few moments until the council was ready for us. All this fine dress, I was nothing like it. But the council would have to take me as I was, that was me. I had valuable information, and if they wanted it, they would have to take it as it came.

A few minutes later, we were invited inside the main council chamber. The ceiling was about three and a half storeys above us, and a grand rose window with depictions of various scenes was set in the wall behind the council members.

One depiction that especially caught my eye was Bahamut fighting a five-headed dragon of multiple colors, Tiamat, the evil dragon deity. Another reminder to me that not all dragons were bad. The scenes all looked to be deities fighting one that seemed to be their opposite. In the center was a globe that was surrounded by a golden mesh.

There were two other panels in the window that really stood out to me. The first was a depiction of a half drow, half spider fighting a beautiful elf. The symbol of Loltha that we'd seen all around the church was next to it. This had to be her. Dark purple skin, silver hair, and a terrifying body of a spider.

The other scene was her being pierced against a cliff with a spear held by another deity. The symbol of Kord, the Storm Lord, was next to this one. It must have been a depiction of when she was defeated. I'd have to see how much I could see of the window from Allura's tower, I'd noticed it from there, but hadn't cared to try to see any details on it.

The council was seated around a table that, while rounded on their side, was flat on the side closest to the door. Their chairs were all ornate and had different symbols carved into the tops of them. Most likely representing the different positions they had on the council.

Allura was sitting in the chair second from the right. I saw the druid that had restored me sitting third from the left. So, it was two council members that I owed my life to.

Allura motioned us towards the table. "Please, come forward." Once we had further entered, she continued, "if you would, Miss Moonfeather, please introduce yourself and your companions to the council, and then the council members shall introduce themselves."

Melima stepped forward. "Good morning council. I, as you have become aware, am Melima Moonfeather. I am the eldest daughter of Caylus Moonfeather. We have been on many journeys together, me and my group, and I will allow them to introduce themselves, starting with my dear friend, Tawariell."

I was not expecting that. I took a deep breath and stepped forward to address the council. "My, my name is Tawariell Nosgartha." I was no longer afraid to let my surname be known. "I hail from Raishan, and I help lead our group."

Eyebrows were raised at the mention of Raishan. I looked down with sadness. Would it ever be a place to hail from again? I stepped back and gestured to Ari'yasa, who was standing next to me.

Ari'yasa stepped forward. "I am Ari'yasa Galestrom, an air genasi druid, of the Air Ashari."

She stepped back and Keothi stepped next to Melima. "I am Keothi, and I am the last adjudicator of the late tribe, Kalagiano."

He stepped back and Naidaroe stepped forward. "I am Naidaroe Anthys, I come from the isle of Darctow, and I have been roaming the seas for many years as a sea merchant."

She stepped back, and I half expected Sindus to step forward. But Jörgen stood where I expected him to be. Jörgen did not step forward, but stood still where he was. Allura nodded towards him. "And of course, you know our friend, Jörgen."

The first chair on the right of the table was empty, so Allura began the introductions. "Of course, you know me, Allura Visoren, Master of Arcana in the city."

She motioned to a Human man sitting next to her. He had hair black as ink that he wore slicked back. That and his brown eyes contrasted with his pale white skin. His face was covered in scars, probably from fighting of some kind. He wore a cloak trimmed with black and silver. "I am Master Lornak Syfe, Master of Development. Very nice to meet you all."

Most of the council had politely nodded as we had introduced ourselves, I took note that this man was one who did not. He motioned to the man next to him and the introductions continued.

"My name is Emissary Theadorn Krazz, Master of Foreign Relations. Nice to meet you all." This man was also Human, but his skin was nearly the same color as my brown hair. His hair was tightly braided in tiny rows down the length of his head. His yellow eyes stood out against his dark skin.

He wore a loose-fitting white shirt, with lots of necklaces and bracelets of silver and leather. Most prominent was a symbol of a sun that hung at the middle of his chest.

Next was a male gnome. His chair was higher than everyone else's so that he was sitting at the same height as them. His hair was bright green, which matched his eyes of emerald. His skin was a similar brown to Keothi's, but around the wrinkles of his smile there was a hint of mossy green. He seemed kind, yet regal. "My name is Assum Emring, Seeker Assum if you will, Master of Information in the city. Very good to make your acquaintance. Thank you."

Sitting next to him there was another Human man. His auburn brown hair defied his age, he looked to be not much younger than me. His skin was more of a red tone, with brown eyes. Black robes draped over him, and I couldn't see his hands under the table. "I am Brom Goldhand, Arbiter Brom Goldhand. Master of Law in the city."

He looked at Keothi. "I've heard of some of your exploits. My advisors tell me you have tested your strength against some of our own. Very impressive."

He turned to the chair next to him, where the druid was seated. In her hair, she wore a headband woven of small antlers and ivy. "Hello, my name is Hanna Wasseran, Hearthmaster. Master of Agriculture here in the city of Emildan and the surrounding area. It is very nice to meet you."

Next to her was a high elf, who wore a tabard similar to the one Darion wore, embroidered with the crest of the Platinum Dragon in the center. He must have been a paladin for Bahamut as well. His white hair almost blended in with his white, almost pearlescent skin. He hadn't taken his bluish-silver eyes off of me since we had entered, and was the other council member that did not nod as we had introduced ourselves. "Guardian Tofor Brotoras, Master of Defense in the city."

He finally averted his gaze and looked to Melima. "Nice to see you again, Melima, and nice to meet you all. As I understand, from what Lady Allura has told us, you call yourselves Vox Imperium, is that correct?"

"That is correct," Melima said.

Allura spoke again. "Currently, the council members that are missing are Lord Riskel Daxio, Master of Commerce, he is dealing with some trade shipments and things down in the docks and trade district, dealing with an emergency down there.

"Also our General Krieg, Master of War. He is currently on the war front, dealing with the horde at this moment. He has sent emissaries often to inform us of what is going on.

"As I have explained to the council, and as is very apparent to one of our members," she said, motioning to Tofor Brotoras, "We are aware of the Elven concern at this time, of the inability of the elves to trance and meditate for their normal rest.

"So, we understand as multiple members of your party are Elven in nature, that you may have additional information of which you wish to share with the council? Please, anything of that which you can share would be most, most appreciated."

Melima explained what she knew from being raised in the High Elven palace, her journey to Lystran, and what she had learned from her studies at the library. Ever graceful, she stood with stately poise and made an effort to look to each member of the council as she spoke.

The paladin stared at me the entire time Melima was speaking. I felt like not only was he trying to read me, which only made me more nervous, he was trying to figure out what I was. A mixed breed. I tended to forget how unusual I was, especially to other elves.

Finishing her speech, Melima stepped back in line with the rest of us. Most of the council nodded in acknowledgment and appreciation. Brotoras still wouldn't take his eyes off of me. Allura addressed us again. "Thank you. Is there anything else any of you would like to share?"