Whoa. Celiath sat on the bed for a moment, stunned. This was not Neopia. This could not be anywhere in Neopia. If I say the wrong thing I'm going to die? I probably won't even make it out of this city! I remember things were pretty bad in the Lost Desert, and probably Meridell too, but at least I knew the rules. Now I have no idea how to get home. But I think if I get the key back, find some sort of library that can transport me back, and wear these clothes, I can do it.
What was the rest of the Mianre'll family going to do when they found out she was gone? When would they figure it out? It seemed to be mid-morning here, but Celiath had already gone through a day and whatever had taken her here had not helped her get used to the time of day. Or much of anything. Crescent will flip out, Celiath predicted. Elenqui will go hunting through every single unexplained entry in her dream journals that she's had for the last…five years, I think. Stelakar will probably try to go after me, and Kimtaya will be scared out of her wits. Everyone will be. I know I am! Celiath turned to the vanity table and wardrobe, biting her tongue slightly. Since Tikanie had run away, she wouldn't be bursting in any minute and demanding to know who this stranger was, but still…
Celiath yawned. This is so annoying. I lived through a day and I don't even get any sleep. As soon as I get on that boat headed for Ral Mirean…not Ista Kaderyi, Ral Mirean. Never mention Kaderyi or Yin Kador. I think I've got that.
There was a loud rap on the door, which Celiath answered. "Are you ready yet?" Briata demanded sharply. "Tikanie doesn't mind that you're going to be wearing her clothes or anything. Just put on a simple dress and do something with your hair…" she eyed Celiath's unbound hair with disapproval, "and we'll be off. I don't have all day." Briata slammed the door, not leaving any time for Celiath to protest.
She stood at the door for a moment before opening the wardrobe and drew out a dress of a strange shade of green-yellow, which was paired with an ivory-colored underskirt. Celiath took off her sweatshirt and then pulled the curtains of the large window shut. She changed into the dress and looked at herself in the mirror. Celiath was not used to wearing dresses of any sort, but this would do for a short period of time.
Then Celiath remembered that she wore no shoes. She continued looking through the wardrobe until she found a pair made out of white leather and clapped them onto her feet. Tikanie must have had large feet, because Celiath's feet would never have fit inside the shoes. Her feet had been small when she was born a Gelert, but after Celiath had turned herself into a Zafara her feet had grown.
Surveying her appearance, Celiath examined her hair in the vanity table. It was lucky for her that the women here seemed to style their hair the same way that she liked to. She ran her fingers through it and bound it into another bun using a hair tie she had found on the vanity table. It was perhaps a little looser than she would have liked, but it didn't matter.
There was a knock on the door, and Celiath opened it quietly. "Thanks, Damreith." She took the pack quickly and put her things into it.
Damreith nodded. "You're welcome. I also gave you a few coins that should pay for anything you need on your way to Ral Mirean. Also…" His face creased in an expression of curiosity. "What's your last name?"
"I am not certain, but I think it is Mianre'll."
His face developed a pensive expression similar to the one Briata had worn when Celiath had mentioned her name. "If anyone else asks, you are Celiath…Laitenla. That name is quite well known in Larkani and will give you connections. Remember that name, and do not use your old one. Foreigners attract a great deal of attention, and I do not think you wish to attract additional attention."
"How did you know I was a foreigner just from my name?" Celiath asked, wondering about this. Some names were endemic to certain parts of Neopia, but she had never heard of anything like this.
"Damreith!" Briata's voice trilled.
"It appears as if it is time for us to go to the marketplace, and for you to make your escape." Damreith led the way down the stairs, and Celiath followed. She hoped that her clothes and her notes would not wrinkle too much, then smiled at herself in amusement. As a result of sorting through many out-of-order files for the Water Faerie, Celiath liked neatness and order in her life. She kept a fairly tidy room compared to her sisters Stelakar and Kimtaya and liked to sort things out into their correct manner. That had been why Celiath took such comprehensive notes about both versions of NeoQuest.
This place, however, held none of the order that Celiath desired in her life. She had the name of a place: the city of Thora Mountain in a place called Larkani. Celiath also knew that the capital city, Ral Mirean, was on a nearby island. At least, she hoped it was nearby. There was also a place called Lurya, but that might have been another kingdom altogether. Briata had also mentioned the Yin Kador, who sounded like magic users of some sort.
Celiath assumed she would learn more about this world after she had escaped from Briata, but she was a little edgy. It would seem that transportation like the sudden snap from her attic to the library in this house would only occur for a very specific reason. However, it was unclear why Celiath was in Larkani. It appeared that she was only replacing Tikanie, for some odd reason. Perhaps the Yin Kador in Ral Mirean would be able to help Celiath. What would happen if they could not, though? Was Celiath meant to stay in Larkani? And if so, why?
Celiath glanced around at the Thora Mountain marketplace as she followed Briata. While the market in Neopia City could get rather crowded, it seemed as if everyone in this town was milling around the marketplace. People seemed to move out of the way for Briata, because she was nobility, but Celiath and Damreith had more difficulty getting through the marketplace. Though Celiath wore Tikanie's clothing, the residents of Thora Mountain could tell that she was not Tikanie and did not give her the same respect.
A small smile grew on Celiath's face, then just as quickly fell into itself. It would not be as hard as she had thought to escape among a crowd like this. She slowed her pace a little bit, partially on purpose and partially because the shoes were beginning to pinch her feet.
Briata glanced back. "Hurry up." She then turned back around and continued her stately walk through the marketplace. Celiath had some difficulty seeing the Shoyru, as several more people were coming in between them.
Damreith handed Celiath the pack. "Good luck, lady. To the river. Don't forget."
"Thank you," Celiath said to the servant. "Good luck to you too." She stopped walking, took the pack, and checked her surroundings. A fish seller's apprentice was directly in front of her clamoring for attention. Celiath spotted someone else sharpening a knife with a steely sound that made her shudder. She quickly turned away, eager to get away from the eerie sound of the knife scraping, and walked to her left.
After a few steps, Celiath could tell that she was entering the part of the market where the vegetable sellers held their sales. She tried to walk faster, hoping that she wouldn't run into Briata anywhere. However, Celiath figured it would be fairly easy to blend into the crowd.
Someone stepped on her left foot, and Celiath whirled around. However, since she was not used to the tight, high-heeled shoes, she stumbled and fell onto her right side. The pack she carried went flying into the crowd. Oh no…Celiath thought, quickly rising to her feet. She walked sideways toward one of the vegetable stands, where she had seen her pack. A Lupe in a black uniform who looked like a government guard of some sort was standing near the space that divided two stands. Celiath approached him. "Excuse me, sir, but have you seen a small brown pack anywhere in this area…"
Underneath his lined, even gaze, which did not change one bit, Celiath stopped. Her pack had no identifying marks on it, and there was probably nothing the Lupe could do to help her. Her clothes and notes were lost just as surely as if she had left them in Briata's home.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder. Celiath turned carefully, since she did not want to trip again, and saw a tall purple Techo holding her pack. "Does this belong to you, miss?" he asked. Celiath noticed that the Techo had a slightly different accent.
"Thank you, sir," Celiath said, taking the pack. "Would you happen to know the way to the river?"
"Of course, miss." He paused for a moment, as if trying to figure out how to direct her there. "The nearest exit to the marketplace is the way you were going. You will pass through some more vegetable stands and then past some woven goods before leaving the marketplace. Turn right then. The Rylrinmar River is not far away from there. Take a ferry to the other side, where you can get a boat to wherever your destination may be: Caenta, Gisend, Ral Mirean…" He gave her a searching look.
Celiath nodded. "Thank you." She then left in the way he had directed. The Techo had probably wanted to find out where she was going. Celiath had not wanted to tell him that she was bound for Ral Mirean, but her face might have given it away. Celiath had never heard of the other two cities, Caenta and Gisend, but she assumed they were also on the Rylrinmar River. In any case, their location did not concern her.
The names might be useful, Celiath thought as she reached the exit from the marketplace. I do need to create a story for myself, so I could claim that I am from Caenta. They discovered that I can heal others and the healers there taught me a little before sending me to Ral Mirean to complete my training. Celiath did not know whether that would be realistic, but perhaps more people would be like Briata and not want to question anything concerning Yin Kador. Then again, they might want to arrest me. Those names sound familiar, though. Caenta, Gisend, even Thora Mountain, Ral Mirean, and Larkani in a strange sort of way. But I've never heard them before.
Looking around for landmarks, Celiath turned to her right and noticed a row of buildings casting shadows onto the street she walked on. She spotted a pair of figures in those shadows, though they were hard to see. The sun betrayed gold coins in one shadowed paw. Celiath took a deep breath and walked on, hoping to reach the river soon. She placed each foot carefully on the street, not willing to risk another fall. The river did not look as close as the Techo had claimed. Celiath was glad she had not mentioned her destination to him.
A faint sound made Celiath look around, but then she kept walking. However, she continued to look all around her. Maybe those two figures exchanging money…could it have anything to do with me? Celiath wondered. It was impossible, though. No one could have noticed Celiath was there, and if they had, what would they want with her?
Then she saw two people in the streets: an Aisha and a small Kyrii. Though the yellow Aisha had her red hair pulled back into a bun, her face held none of Briata's severity. "Excuse me," Celiath called to the Aisha. "Do you happen to know where the river is?"
"Of course!" the Aisha said. "I can guide you there."
"Thank you," Celiath said. She considered volunteering part of her story, but decided not to unless one of them asked.
"Why don't you know where the river is?" the Kyrii asked. "We all do."
"Elsu, be quiet!" the Aisha scolded him. She turned to Celiath with a smile on her face. "Elsunor, or Elsu as he calls himself, is still rather young. I am Saemine Bettala, his mother."
"Saemine?" Celiath asked, shocked. Saemine was the priestess who translated the scroll in NeoQuest II!
The Aisha nodded calmly.
Celiath took a deep breath and began her story. "I am from the town of Caenta," she explained, hoping Saemine and Elsu couldn't tell she was lying. "My name is Celiath. I left Caenta to train with the Yin Kador, but first I visited a relative here. That is why I am not familiar with this town, Elsu."
Saemine seemed to accept her explanation. "I see. You have one of their talents, I assume?" She began to walk up the street, in the direction Celiath had come from.
"I will be a healer," Celiath explained as she followed Saemine and looked around the street. Saemine passed the entrance to the marketplace and continued on the street. That Techo must have misled me. He really was a shady character, Celiath thought.
Saemine smiled. "That will help you. Many people do not trust Yin Kador because of their gifts, but a healer is always welcomed. If you have other gifts, you may want to conceal them so that you may do more good with them."
Elsu smiled too. "I will be Yin Kador, like…Celi."
Celiath nodded to Saemine, glad for advice. She wondered a little bit about the lives of Saemine and Elsu. Saemine might have connections with one of the mysterious Yin Kador, or might even be one. Elsu might also have that gift, if it was considered a gift in Larkani. I see a pattern. Saemine Bettala and Celiath Laitenla, she thought.
"Might we walk a bit faster?" Celiath asked, suddenly nervous. "I do want to get the next possible boat."
Saemine looked a little worried, but simply said, "All right," as she continued her path through the city. Celiath simply glanced around, trying to shake the feeling of a watcher. She somehow knew that Briata would want to find her, for whatever odd reason the Shoyru had.
Elsu had none of his mother's restraint, though. "Why, Celi?"
Celiath was looking at a tall Eyrie in a black uniform who had posted a hastily written paper on a lamppost and then flew off to another destination. She shivered and went to examine the sign, hoping it did not involve her.
"Rainbow Zafara," Elsu read off of it, "by the name of Celiath Mianre'll…"
"Elsu!" Celiath shouted. The little Kyrii took on a hurt expression, and Celiath winced. "I am sorry, Elsu," she said in a more soothing tone.
Saemine had come over and glanced at the sign. "I see," she said quietly. Her features had turned solemn. She stopped for a moment to pick up Elsu, who looked exhausted. Then, they headed along at a faster pace. The neighborhood seemed to change slightly as they continued on the street. Celiath sensed water nearby and managed to keep her aching muscles moving. Why would Briata send the police after me? I would think she would be glad to get rid of me. Celiath knew very little about the mystery of this place and how to leave it. Hopefully someone in Ral Mirean did.
There was the river Rylrinmar, which ran rather quickly compared to the river that Celiath was familiar with in Neopia City. A small bridge crossed the river. Celiath wished she could try to familiarize herself with the scenery, but there was no time. "Thank you, Saemine," she said.
Celiath hurried down the dock. "It looks like it's about to close," she said, taking off into a run out of desperation. She reached the Krawk who was admitting passengers onto the boat and stopped, taking deep breaths. "Is this boat bound for Ral Mirean?" she asked quickly.
"Name."
Celiath thought quickly, knowing she would need to change it. "Seleika Laitenla," she said, taking the name of another apprentice healer. Since the Krawk had not changed his expression, Celiath reached into her pack and drew out four silver coins. "Passage for me to Ral Mirean." Saemine and Elsu had left.
The Krawk laughed. "I have been instructed not to take on any new passengers."
Celiath slid another three out of her pack, one by one, and then looked at the Krawk. "Seven," she said evenly, trying to look as if this was above her. "My family has summoned me to Ral Mirean, and I must reach the island quickly." Her gaze, she hoped, warned the Krawk that he did not want to bear the displeasure of the Laitenla family.
He snatched the seven silver coins out of her hand. "Go on," he said gruffly. "We don't have time to barter with the likes of you."
"I don't have time to barter with the likes of you," Celiath echoed confidently, like the noble she was disguising herself as would. She stepped up the ramp and onto the boat. The Krawk followed and closed the ramp, allowing no more passengers access.
Celiath let out a deep breath. She would never have to return to Thora Mountain again, and she was on her way home. With a sigh, Celiath sat down on an empty bench where no other passengers sat, weary from her long walk through the city and still feeling like she would meet her death here.