Chapter Nine: Fetching Back
Dawn comes later here than in his part of the world, Petrius added as Tylia glared at him. Korthus had returned only an hour or so earlier and told him where Theodore would be waiting.
"Not this much later," grumped the Aer.
You do not wish to look presentable when first you meet Master Lupin? Petrius inquired with a hint of a laugh in his voice. You must bathe, dress.
Alright, alright!
Tylia grudgingly slid out of bed and showered, grumbling incoherently to Petrius in Undercommon the entire time. By the time she was finished, she was awake and excited again, as the pa'das had known she would be.
"Korthus, where is he?" she asked as she quickly dried her hair and dressed. She combed out her hair and tied it back as Korthus gave her the information she would need to retrieve her newest guest. "Excellent and thank you."
Tylia exited her room, straightening her clothes as she descended the stairs. Black boots, black linen breeches, black shirt. Her ebony bracelet had been replaced by a pair of spider-lace black-gold armguards and her satin choker with one of black-gold chain, tiny rubies embedded into the shape of House Zauval's symbol.
So early in the morning, not even Si Tys was up and about. Tylia saw no one until she got to the ground floor. There, Masys stood in tystelol with Tyraesi. Tylia crossed the ground hall silently. As she exited, she heard Masys invite Eileen, who was hiding in the shadows, to join him.
Tylia shook her head and continued on to a much, much smaller tree nearby. His bark was very pale silver, almost white and his leaves were a pale, delicate green.
"Good morning, Saerar," Tylia murmured, patting him on the trunk as she passed in. As she stepped through his doorway, she visualized the tree that Korthus had described to her, a tall, slender beech with long, flexible limbs.
She heard a curse as she stepped through the portal, her eyes closed to guard against the brilliant light.
"—could've warned me," grumbled an unknown voice, distinctly human with a slight accent that seemed composed of many places. "Could have told me about the bright light."
"My apologies." Tylia, eyes clear because she hadn't caught the flash of light, smirked as she glanced this man up and down. He straightened at the sound of her voice, and bowed, though he still couldn't see her.
He was dressed almost lazily in black robes with pale embroidery in many colors. Under the robes he wore a black Muggle t-shirt with the words 'I :heart: DIRT' in pale brown except the heart, of course, which was bright red and black jean pants, as well as black combat boots that looked not unlike Tylia's own. His light brown hair was streaked with gold and it was short and spiked. A nice enough looking man, the halfbreed supposed.
He had a black backpack set against a rock nearby and a flat wooden case set on top of it.
"I beg your pardon?" Theodore asked politely, and then he stepped back before looking at Tylia with pale brown eyes. "Is he yours?"
He gestured to a space outside of Tylia's vision and his eyes followed the gesture. Before she could turn to see what he meant, Petrius replied.
No, I am not. Tylia rolled her eyes at the silky pride in the pa'das' voice. Though I am often with her.
I hadn't realized that you came with me, Petrius, Tylia said in an almost dangerous voice. At the same time—and after Theodore had jumped nearly out of his skin from the shock of being addressed by a black panther—she said to the human: "No, Petrius is not 'mine.' However, we are rarely separated. He is highly intelligent, and, as you might have noticed, telepathic."
Since when did I have to tell you everything that I did? Petrius inquired rhetorically.
"Yes, I noticed. 'Petrius?'" Theodore asked, taking a step toward where the big feline was standing. Then, as though recovering himself, he bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Petrius."
Be certain that it remains a pleasure, Petrius advised.
"And you, Tylia," Theodore continued with a further bow. Bringing his eyes up to meet hers, he stepped back again, as though seeing her for the first time. She smirked as she felt his eyes travel down her body and back up to her eyes. He flushed brightly.
"The pleasure is mine, Theodore Lupin," Tylia replied in a velvet voice. She gestured to herself and continued. "Are you disappointed with what you see?"
"No!" Theodore looked shocked and Tylia laughed, which only made Theodore blush more. "No, not at all. I hadn't been quite sure of what to expect of you, but…you are quite beautiful."
"Did you expect less of an Aer?" Tylia demanded arrogantly. Petrius snickered into her mind.
"I have never met an Elf before," Theodore reminded her. "I didn't know what to expect."
"That's not true," Tylia mused, her eyes still on his face. It was clear and open, and the confusion he felt at her statement was instantly visible. "The gentleman that you described as telling you of Aelaer matches the general description of a Maer."
"You mentioned that word in your note," Theodore replied with a slight smile. "Forgive me, but I know little of the Elven languages. What does it mean?"
"Sea Elf."
"He was an Elf…" It was not a question. Theodore's eyes had gone slightly out of focus, as though he were putting together pieces of a puzzle. "Some how, that doesn't surprise me in the least. "If 'Maer' is 'Sea Elf," then what are 'Jhondraelael' and 'Pasaelael?'"
"I can give you language lessons later," Tylia replied dismissively. "For now, let's get you into Si Thysaer and settled."
"Of course," Theodore agreed at once, slinging his bag over one shoulder as Tylia reached for the wooden case that she assumed held the weapons that Theodore had found. "That is very heavy, Tylia, perhaps I—"
Elves are stronger than they look, Petrius commented as Theodore fell silent because Tylia had lifted the case without seeming effort.
"Apparently," Theodore replied and he bowed again. "Forgive me."
"For what?" Tylia asked as she concentrated to bring Saerar's latent magic back into use from so far away.
"For assuming that you are as frail as you look."
"Most humans underestimate the first few Aelaer they meet," Tylia replied with a shrug. "Just make sure that, if you're going to do it again, do it before we get to the Underdark."
The light will be coming back, Petrius drawled a split second before the blinding gold light lit up the area again.
"Bloody hell," Theodore muttered under his breath. Petrius wrapped his long tail around one of Theodore's legs and tugged. Theodore followed him reflexively through the portal.
Tylia stepped through after him and let the portal collapse as a babble of the Jhondraelael tongue assaulted her ears.
Someone was yelling, but Tylia couldn't see her face and didn't recognize her voice. Theodore looked thoroughly startled, and thoroughly impressed. He had dropped his bag and Petrius had released his tail-hold and sat down near the human's feet. Korthus appeared, glinting in the early-morning sun, to land on Theodore's shoulder.
Tylia could see her other three humans standing in the crowd of Si Tys. Scorpius quickly came to stand near Theodore and Pyra followed him. Eileen remained near Masys, who was speaking quickly and quietly with the Jhondraer that was yelling.
She quickly placed the wooden case on the ground at Saerar's base and touched Theodore's shoulder gently. He stooped slightly so that she could speak into his ear.
"They aren't yelling at you, Theodore," she informed him, eyeing the Jhondraer who was making such a fuss. The woman was dressed in the dark gray of the Royal Guard. "They're yelling at me."
Petrius, make them shut up, please.
Masters, Lady. Petrius addressed Scorpius, Pyra and Theodore as he rose and stretched, showing off his teeth and claws in the process. It is about to get very loud in here. You might want to cover your ears.
The three humans glanced at each other warily, but took the suggestion to heart.
Now, Petrius.
At her command, Petrius roared. The sound was so loud that everyone except Tylia flinched, and the Jhondraer in front of him actually collapsed, blood trickling from one ear.
Again, Theodore looked shocked. This time, the entire court was with him in his surprised state.
She'll be fine, Petrius assured him as Tylia stepped forward into the sudden stillness; everyone had fallen silent, watching the halfbreed with a mixture of wonder and resentment. The royalty stepped forward to meet her. Tyrn Voli Shondral helped the injured Aer up and into the crowd.
"What is going on here?" Tylia demanded coolly before the royalty could say anything.
"That is precisely what we would like to know," replied the Cel with equal chill to her voice.
"I was not speaking to you, Ussta Valsharess1," Tylia objected with a sneer. Like her husband had the night before, Tylia's cousin flinched at the address in Undercommon. "Masys?"
Careful, Tylandraes, warned Petrius. Scorpius, standing beside and behind her where no one could see what he was doing, put his fingertips on her shoulder blade in a gesture that conveyed much the same message. You are playing with elemental fire2 here, if you catch my drift.
"When you left Si Thysaer," Masys began in his calm, quiet voice. His golden eyes took in Theodore before meeting Tylia's. "Tyraesi informed me. When you started back with a human, she informed my parents."
"And they saw fit to inform all of Si Tys?" Tylia inquired scornfully. "What is the purpose of this…spectacle?"
"What is the purpose of you bringing yet another human into Si Thysaer?" demanded the Jhondraer that Shondral had helped up, the blood from her wounded ear brilliantly scarlet against her lividly pale skin. "They are a danger to our people!"
Tylia's eyes blazed and she stepped forward, away from Scorpius' comforting touch. The Jhondraer did not back away, though Tylia saw a flicker of fear in her now-familiar face.
A question asked calmly has more impact than an accusation made in anger, Petrius commented quickly. It was something that Myrdyl often told her. Taking the reminder to heart, Tylia took a deep breath before speaking.
"Your grandfather shamed our people and your family during the Aelael War." Her voice was soft and filled with pity. "Will you do the same during a time of peace, Bydyrdaes?"
Bydyrdaes flinched, but no one else had heard a word. She opened her mouth to respond, but Tylia overruled her.
"The only dangers to our people, Bydyrdaes," the halfbreed continued in a voice pitched to be heard by all. "Are the Serdyr and ignorance. These humans are not Serdyr and they are here because they wish to remedy their ignorance. Do not place shame on them for that."
From somewhere in the back of the crowd, someone began to clap. From the clink of metal rings, Tylia knew that it was her grandfather who had started the applause. It swelled quickly until all of Si Tys was clapping, and Tylia smiled. Then she remembered that Bydyrdaes was one of her grandfather's Breezes, and almost grimaced, knowing the reprimand that would be in store for the Jhondraelaer.
"As for Theodore—" she gestured him forward and he stepped up next to her as Bydyrdaes moved back to stand behind the royalty. "—he bears gifts, which I wished to be a surprise."
"And what would these 'gifts' be?" asked Selaesas.
"Three items which have not been seen since the beginning of the Aelael War," Tylia replied mysteriously. That was when the whispers started; all of Si Tys was wondering what Tylia could possibly be talking about.
With a mysterious smile for Si Tys and the royalty, Tylia picked up the case again, gestured for Theodore to retrieve his bag, and led him through the crowd of Si Tys, which parted before her, though a few eyed the case with suspicion. Scorpius and Pyra followed, joined by Voli Masys, Eileen, Myrdaeraes, Peji Masaelaer and his sister.
As she mounted Tyraesi's grand staircase, Masys murmured to Theodore the same explanation of the great tree that the other humans had received. With a smile for the Voli, Theodore caught up to Tylia.
"This palace—Tyraesi—looks very grand," he began, touching Tylia's shoulder to make sure he had her attention. "I'm not used to it. Could my room be more…simple?"
"You'll room near me, if that's alright," replied the halfbreed with a touch of cool to her voice. "The rooms on that floor are simpler than most."
"Thanks, Tylia." Theodore smiled and fell back to make room for Scorpius.
"Nice jewelry today." The comment was made with a feather light touch to one of her spider-lace armguards. Tylia merely nodded, and Scorpius dropped his voice. "Theodore does not deserve your coolness, Tylandraes. He has done no damage to you or yours, not like the Jhondraelaer here in Si Thysaer. You show none to me and I expect none toward him."
Tylia did not acknowledge him, but only because they had come to the twelfth floor.
"Any room here may be yours, Theodore," Tylia began with a sweeping gesture down the hall. "Save the one with no markings; that one is mine. The 'gifts' I will keep in my own room, assuming that you have no objections. No one would dare take them from me."
"Are you implying that your own people would steal from your friend, Tyrol?" Saeras inquired with a smile.
"As fond as I am of you, Tyrol," Tylia snapped as Theodore began examining the rooms. She saw him flinch at the sudden viciousness of her tone. "These people are not my people. I have no people."
Saeras shrugged--it was the answer that she had come to expect--but Theodore shot Tylia a sad look, which the Orondralas ignored for the moment, though she filed it for further reference.
"This one will be perfect," Theodore commented, gesturing to the one just across from Tylia's. "And feel free, as long as you stick to our deal."
"As if I would renege!" Tylia replied, stepping straight-backed into her room. "Masys, I have a need to speak with you, Your Highness."
Masys came into her room after her and she willed the door to close. She and Masys spent the next three hours--until the early bell was tolled, calling Si Tys to its morning meal--planning a ceremony suitable to present the items that Theodore had brought.
Most of that time, Tylia spent dodging Masys' questions about what precisely was in Theodore's wooden case.
1My queen
2Elemental fire does not require two fuels to burn (unlike normal fire, which requires oxygen plus another fuel). It can run on pure oxygen, or without oxygen, as long as it has something to burn (and it can burn anything, save elemental water). Also, burns from elemental fire heal very slowly and hurt very much.