Chapter Eight: Letters in the Forest
'My niece,
Have you learned anything of import? I heard that the Trantzvlos took your cousin; I am sorry for your loss. Please, give the Royalty of your other culture my condolences in a way that will not anger them.
Are you acting the proper Sekevlos while in the L'Taur1? Will you remain so for your stay here, or revert? There is an or'shanse2 planned for the day after your arrival, so you may want to remain.
What your allies will think of the ceremony I do not know. I do know, however, that Dalninil-ssinssrigg3 has informed our Ilharess4 that she will be returning to Har'oloth for the first time in almost a century.
I, at least, will welcome her.
L'Jallil d'Orbben5 sends her greetings and says that she fully expects you to participate in the or'shanse. What should I tell her?
—Vlosorbb'
Damn. Tylia quickly reread the letter, particularly the parts about a sacrifice, before flinging it across the room. Born by the weight of its silver ink, it thudded on the door. As if in response to this abuse, a small crystal at eye height began to glow with a soft light. Xsa6.
Tylia groaned—someone wanted in. With an effort, she schooled her expression to disdainful boredom and rose. Scooping up the letter, she folded it gently, lovingly, as though in apology for throwing it, and placed it gently in the top drawer of the nearby dresser.
The crystal turned blue as she touched the door and then its light faded. Her trio of humans—plus Petrius—was standing there. They seemed to have given their guides the slip, which made the Orondralas grin; Maerosi would be panicking within the hour. The lovely Jhondraer took her responsibilities very seriously.
"Did you want something," Tylia drawled, lounging against the door. "Or are you just bothering me?"
"She told us that we could find you here," Eileen replied calmly. Tylia examined her closely. Her eyes and face were calm and open, her smile simple and sweet. She was very still, unlike Tylia had ever seen her.
"'She?'" Tylia asked, as unnerved by Eileen's sudden stillness as Eileen had been by Tylia's change to darkness.
"Tyraesi," Eileen answered quietly, her silver eyes coming up slowly to meet Tylia's green ones.
"Then you are just here to bother me," Tylia sighted, hiding her sudden anxiety behind a roll of her eyes.
Letting a visitor commune once with Tyraesi was precedent enough. Only the Aelai—until now—had ever spoken with the great tree more than once in a lifetime.
"No." Eileen's voice, so full of energy before her mind had touched that of the great tree, was smooth and calm, like a slow river, and as warm as midsummer. "We came to ask if you had any rooms to suggest to us. They are all so large and so beautiful."
"I would like a room higher up, so that I can see more of Si Thysaer," Pyra commented, glancing out the little window that was opposite the door.
"As long as it's near the Jhordasia7—surely the palace has a Jhordasia—I don't care if I sleep in a closet," Scorpius added fervently.
"And you, shai mael shor kaer tol8?" Tylia inquired with boredom evident in her voice.
"Something simple," Eileen replied thoughtfully. "Like yours."
A pair of Jhondraelaer passed behind the humans with light bows and a whispered 'Thol.'
"Easy enough," Tylia yawned—she really was tired all of a sudden. "Scorpius, go up six flights and down the hall with the green trimmings. The Jhordasia is at the end of that hall. Try the door with the silver star; you ought to like that one.
"Pyra, go down this hall and to your right. The door with the emerald crescent is the Jhos9. It'll take you to Si Saeryr Vys;10 I think it's empty now.
"Eileen, go back down a flight and to your left. The blue hall should suit your wishes."
"Thank you," chorused the humans. Scorpius was gone before the words were out of his mouth. Pyra left quickly, too, but Eileen floated serenely down the hallway toward the stairs.
"Eileen!" Tylia called, a question leaping suddenly to her mind. Eileen turned to face her friend. "Why couldn't you just ask Tyraesi?"
"I did." The reply was simple and completely matter-of-fact. "She told me to ask you. She said that whether you are acting like one of your mother's people or not, you need interaction. You need fr—allies."
Eileen laughed and danced suddenly down the stairs, her pale green dress flaring as she twirled. Tylia shook her head and let the door close again. She pulled Vlosorbb's letter from the drawer and brought it back to the bed, laying it on the bedside table.
Fighting her sudden weariness, she picked up the other letter and smiled when she saw Theodore's precise handwriting.
More chattering, I see.
Tylia spun and crouched, a knife appearing in her hand before her eyes met Petrius'. He had come in while Tylia was talking with Eileen and was stretched across the doorway.
"Petrius, don't do that!" Tylia snarled, putting her dagger back in its place and picking up the letter she had dropped.
It isn't my fault that you weren't paying attention, Petrius sniffed, his tail twitching. Since they are all splitting up, I set some sholol on them and came here to spend time with you.
Tylia sagged visibly and beckoned to him. He rose and crossed the small room to her and she buried her face in the soft fur of his neck.
Thanks Pet.
If it is so hard for you to do this, then why do it? Petrius asked quietly, his deep, rumbling purr beginning to fill the room.
Because they need to have Mother's people shoved in their faces, Tylia replied wearily. They need to be able to see Mother and Uncle and Vol'axle past Ilharess Zauval and L'Zhennu Jallil11 and the Trantzvlos.
And if they refuse to see?
Then at least I tried, Pet. At least I will have tried. Tylia pulled away. Her face—and his fur—was dry, but her eyes were full of tears. She dashed them away before they could fall.
Leaning against the bed, Petrius' warm, solid, purring weight draped across her legs, Tylia slit open Theodore's letter.
'Tylia,
I have always tried to be polite. My godfather tells me that Dad always was, and I try to emulate him. Jhondraelaer and Pasaelaer are not hard to hear of in my line of work. It's hearing anything of consequence that's hard. The spellings I got from a goblin-friend who claimed to have been to the Underdark. Glad to see he got them right.
It was obvious to me that she was--is--intelligent, but then, I am more in tune with natural creatures than most 'two-leggers.' I am an archeologist with a group of Muggles. I make certain that no obviously magical items find their way into Muggle hands. Even those not found by my team I buy or, in very extreme cases, steal.
I originally heard of the Aelael peoples from a young-looking fellow-and by 'young' I mean that he appeared to be twenty-eight or so-with darkly tanned skin, the kind one usually sees on sailors. Blonde-haired and eyes the precise color of the sea when hit by the noontime sun that were as sharp as any hawk's. My crew and I were digging near the coast of France and this fellow just ambled into camp and sat down near the fire without a word. He cooked us the best fried fish I have ever tasted, too. He said that he was a renegade, though he wouldn't say from what. He thanked us for letting him stay in our camp for the night and, in exchange, told us some stories that—and I quote him here—'most humans had lost to the inevitable tides of time.'
The bow and quiver I found together in the south of Africa. The knife I found in France, at the same dig that I met the fellow who told me of Aelaer. The sword I found in Spain and the music box washed up on the shore of California. I bought it in a curiosity shop.
'Aelael War?'
If they would be so wanted by your families, then it would be my honor to return them. Could I, however, ask for one small concession? Allow me to return them in person? I would be forever grateful if that could be arranged.
What wouldn't I give to see the Summer Court, even in their winter regalia? What wouldn't I give to meet the Lady of Spiders in the Underdark, though I would probably be killed for the pleasure? Wishful thinking, eh?
Your friend,
Theodore Lupin'
Tylia laughed, a true, pleased laugh that left her in tears.
Is something wrong? Petrius inquired sleepily, lifting his great head to look at her.
"No, my Pet, my darling," Tylia replied with a happy sigh and another laugh. "Everything is perfect. Bring Korthus to me?"
Petrius sent out a call for the sholol as Tylia slid out from underneath him and found a pen and a piece of paper and scripted her reply to Theodore with a hand that trembled from suppressed laughter.
'Theodore.
It can be arranged. Be ready at sunrise on the second day of Hogwarts' Winter Break—surely you know when your godbrother went on break! Be near a tree with long branches, and show Korthus where you will be waiting. I shall come to fetch you myself.
See you soon,
Tylia
P.S. It is 'The Court of a Thousand Summers,' not that any Maer12 would know that! '
Korthus fluttered in through the open window as she finished writing. Tylia fastened the note to her leg and gave the bird a firm look.
"Take this directly to Theodore Lupin, please," she asked the sholol. "Make certain he gets it tonight. Make sure you know where he will be waiting, please. Take the Vysar13 if you must."
Korthus creeled her agreement and sailed back out the way she had come. Tylia fell onto the bed laughing again.
What has put you in such a good mood suddenly, Tylandraes? Petrius asked sleepily. Not that I'm complaining, mind you.
"Before the end of this break," Tylia replied when she caught her breath. "Si Tys will be indebted to a human. And L'Zhennu Jallil will be indebted to a human male!"
The very thought sent Tylia back into fits of laughter. She calmed only slowly and did not rise when the melaer taer14 bell was tolled. As the darkness deepened, the crystal on her door glowed a soft green again.
Who is it, Petrius?
Young Master Malfoy, I believe, Petrius replied easily. And alone.
With her hand on the wooden wall, Tylia willed the door open. It obeyed silently and the Orondralas let her hand fall. It was indeed Scorpius and he was alone. He held a tray with an assortment of Jhondraelael foods on it. Before he could speak, Tylia's voice rang out.
"Have you ever met Theodore Lupin?"
"Yes," replied the young man, stepping inside and allowing the door to close. "He's Albus' godbrother. Why?"
"He will be joining us here and in the Underdark," Tylia explained with a shrug as Scorpius placed the tray in the open space on the clean floor. "Starting tomorrow."
"Excellent! Teddy's a great guy," Scorpius replied with a smile. "I brought you some dinner, since you didn't come down for it. I hope you don't mind. Petrius, there's steak for you, as well. Venison, I think Masaelaer said it was."
Petrius gave a cat's bow and started on the venison as Tylia rolled onto her stomach.
"What've you got there?" she inquired, her eyes glancing over the tray.
"The soup is exquisite," he replied thoughtfully. "The salad is also very good, but the por os paern bar masol15 is by far the best. Also, I noticed that you had ale before, so I brought you the same."
"Thank you," Tylia murmured softly, sliding off the bed to sit next to Petrius. She picked up the salad first, eating it in small bites. "The ale is the only of the alcohols that I like; the wine is too sweet and the whiskey too strong."
"I'm glad you like what I brought," Scorpius admitted with a sheepish grin. "There was so much, I wasn't sure what to bring."
She gave him a soft smile as she finished the salad.
"You brought all of my favorites," Tylia assured him, picking up the soup after a drink of ale.
"May I ask you a question?" Scorpius inquired quietly, almost hesitantly. He fiddled absently with the copper pendant around his neck. Tylia noticed that he had found a thin copper chain for it; she approved.
"I suppose you may," Tylia agreed slowly, putting the soup down gently. "But I reserve the right not to answer."
Or to cut your tongue from your mouth if you get too personal, Petrius added with a yawn that showed off his own large tongue—not to mention his teeth.
"That, too," Tylia agreed with a grin.
"All the Aelaer I have spoken with say that you are acting like a Pasaer. Or they say that you are losing a fight with your madyrdorol." Tylia nodded to both, noticing that he was phrasing his comments very carefully. "But you are kind to me. How are both possible?"
"Not all Pasaelaer are evil, Scorpius," Tylia replied quietly, her eyes holding his. Her voice was soft, like velvet, the kind of voice that most humans can't help but listen to, but there was steel beneath the velvet. "As a matter of fact, the majority are not, now, and a fair number are actually quite kind. Only the Trantzvlos and select others keep up the vileness of past centuries. The culture still needs work—what with ritual sacrifices and such—but there is much of it that is beautiful and wonderful."
She took a deep breath and continued.
"My mother has never been anything but kind to you, and yet she does not act like anything but a Pasaer. My Uncle is the kindest, sweetest, most noble person I have ever met, yet he has attained the highest post that a male can in Pasaelael culture."
"I didn't mean to offend," Scorpius interjected quickly when Tylia paused again.
"You didn't," Tylia replied wearily.
"And I still don't, but that didn't answer my question."
"Then rephrase the question," Tylia suggested bluntly.
"Why me?" Scorpius asked just as bluntly.
Tylia stiffened, then rose and opened the door. Taking the hint, Scorpius rose as well, and left with a bow. Tylia caught him gently by the arm before he could get far and he turned back and caught the sad look in the Orondralas' eyes.
"Because you are special, Scorpius," she informed him softly. "Because people like you are rare."
"And what kind of person is that?" Scorpius inquired with equal softness, hoping that he hadn't gone too far by asking another question. His heart was racing suddenly, though he couldn't think why.
"Someone who sees no barriers," Tylia replied in her lilting voice. "Or who breaks them when he does."
She kissed him gently on the cheek and retreated into her room. She closed the door firmly and picked up what was left of her dinner, placing the entire ensemble next to the door—it would be gone by morning, one of the many workers in the palace come to collect it. She collapsed into her bed and was asleep within moments.
1The Forest; what Vlosorbb calls The Guarding Forest
2Sacrifice
3Sister-love; how Vlosorbb refers to Jallilvlos
4Matron; the individual female that rules a particular House
5The Lady of Spiders; the highest rank to which a female Pasaer can ascend, the Lady of Spiders is the voice of Jhyr in the Underdark, her highest ranking priestess. It is not a title that a single Pasaer usually carries for long. The current Lady has been such for nearly a century, which is a record.
6Damn
7Library
8Who speaks with great minds
9Lift; a magical room that leads two places only: the Ground Floor and the Treetop Room
10The Treetop Room; the highest room in Tyraesi, the floor is approximately 1830 feet off of the forest floor. All of the windows in this room are well above the other treetops, so that an expansive view of Si Thysaer may be had.
11The Great Lady; a way to refer to the Lady of Spiders
12Sea Elf
13Portals; a particular group of trees that can transport the user to specific places based on what the user envisions. Saerar is a Portal; in fact he is the Portal. The first and eldest of his race
14Sunset meal
15Literally 'dish of dew and starlight;' a Jhondraelael dish similar to casserole that is made of many things. It is light and almost melts on the tongue.