Chapter Eleven: Darkness' Reign
The week was finally over, and things were bound to get interesting again as soon as they stepped through the portal and into her Uncle's domain. Everything had gotten very quiet after the ceremony and Tylia was bored.
Everyone was gathered again in Tyraesi's grand chamber. Tylia glanced around, judging the success of the first half of her plot. Her Jhondraelael relatives seemed genuinely sad that her human friends were leaving. Perfect. But saddest of all the group were Mays and Eileen, who seemed to have forged a rather intimate bond.
"Will I see you again?" Eileen murmured, a sorrowful, almost frightened look in her eyes. Masys smiled gently and took her hand in his.
"Dream of me, my dear friend," Masys replied, kissing the hand. Tylia was fairly certain that she was the only one to notice the subtle stress that the Voli Aelai put on the word 'dear.' "Dream of me and I shall be there. You have my word."
Eileen nodded, and pulled slowly away from the Aer's burnished eyes. Pyra and Scorpius materialized out of the crowd. Scorpius stopped short to scrutinize Tylia's newest manner of dress.
For the first time in a week, Tylia was not wearing any black--or any shoes. She was wearing fine Aelaeli in various shades of green. Her breeches were forest green, her tunic emerald and her shirt a pale, delicate green. Both tunic and shirt were sleeveless, as was the current fad in Si Thysaer, baring her long arms. On the front of her left shoulder was a silver scar shaped like a stylized hawk--the symbol of the Sholel family; on the back of her right shoulder was a red tattoo in the shape of House Zauval's symbol.
"Oh, are you a Jhondraer today?" snarled a voice in the crowd. Quick as lightning, Tylia slipped into the crush of Aelaer and pulled the speaker forward. It was her cousin, Jhondraes.
To his credit, Jhondraes stood his ground against Tylia's poisonous glare.
"I am never a Jhondraer, e'trit1," Tylia replied coldly, her voice full of venom and her eyes full of hate. Then she straightened and all negativity left her face, body and voice. "But nor am I ever a Pasaer, Tyrol. Do not put me into your limited world. It is not my world. Mine is far broader."
"Kalyl2, go and be silent." Myrdel and Theodore had arrived at last. "You are a fool. Do not allow me to hear of you insulting Tylandraes again."
Jhondraer glared at his grandmother from a moment. Myrdel met his gaze evenly, and it was he that broke away.
"Tylia, deliver these for me? Myrdel added, turning to the Orondralas. "I would send Silliv, but they are bound for your destination."
Tylia nodded, accepting the two letters. Silliv was Myrdel's companion sholol. Korthus would remain with Myrdaeraes for the next week because Tylia would not force the wind and sun loving hawk into the dark, still tunnels of the Underdark.
"The portal is ready, Your Majesties," came a voice layden with distaste. Tylia turned to see Shondral standing at Tyraesi's doors. The cause of his distaste was instantly apparent.
A vividly red portal was spiraling in the meadow outside. Just in front and to either side stood a Pasaer in the garb of L'Jallil d'Orbben personal guard.
"Let us see off our guests, then," the Cel replied, and Si Tys as a whole moved outside. All the Jhondraelaer save one avoided both portal and the two Pasaelaer. Meiryrdaes alone moved apart from the crowd, and Tylia noted that her hands were moving rapidly.
"Dear friends," the Col began, addressing the humans. "Your good faith has been proven to us. You will be ever welcome here. It saddens us to see you go, but know that you shall never be turned away, should you wish to return. The owls that your people keep as companions can find this isle, and you need only seek admission and one of us shall come for you."
"Thank you, Your Majesties," Eileen replied for the group. "To have such a home away from home is more than we could have hoped for."
A third Pasaer stepped through the portal as she finished speaking, a male where the other two were female. He was dressed in grey to their black, though his embroidery was in black. Meiryrdaes backed into the group as he began to speak.
"Greetings to the Forest," he began. His voice had a soft, rough accent. "My name is Vol'axle and I have been sent to escort our guests. May I say that it is my honor to stand in the presence of the Court of a Thousand Summers and, of course, Tyraesi."
He bowed deeply in the great tree's direction.
"You may," the Col agreed stiffly. "They are ready to go."
"Excellent and I thank you," Vol'axle replied cheerfully. "Guests, if you would follow me?"
He turned to go back through the portal.
"Vol." He froze at the sound of Tylia's voice. "Vel'klar zhah Ilninuk?3"
"Fridj pholor l'byr suul, Kaoveh4, Vol'axle replied in the same tongue. Without looking back, he stepped through, followed by the two others. Tylia's friends looked to her, and she gestured them forward. Petrius vanished into the scarlet light without a second's hesitation. Scorpius followed, then Pyra, then Eileen.
As Pyra passed through, Myrdaeraes appeared. Theodore's wooden case was in one hand, something covered in canvas in the other.
"Thank you, Meistaraes," Theodore said as he accepted his case.
"Nice sword," Myrdaeraes replied under his breath. Theodore looked startled, but Tylia just rolled her eyes. He continued at a more normal volume. "Tylia, this is for you."
He unwrapped the other item, revealing a lovely short bow and quiver of pale white wood. It was carved with Jhondraelael symbols stained a pale green. The quiver was the same, its arrows fletched with scintillating feathers.
"Excellent," Tylia breathed, slinging the quiver over her shoulder and taking the bow with gentle fingers. "You made these yourself, Kalaraes?"
"Yes," Myrdaeraes replied.
"It is my honor to receive such a precious gift," Tylia murmured with a bow. She ran her fingers down the shaft and along the re-curve that would allow her to keep it strung without using it. "And gryphon feathers for fletching…you are too kind."
"It is my prerogative to spoil my granddaughter," Myrdaeraes retorted with a smile, but his eyes were stern. "And to arm her. Her name is 'Mas ail si Paer5.'"
"Thank you, Kalaraes," Tylia replied as she gave him a hug. He handed her a bit of oiled paper with the bow string inside, and she and Theodore turned to the portal.
"Thol!" The Volaer stepped up past her parents, her eyes on Theodore. "Might I ask you a question?"
Though her voice was imperious and her eyes suspicious, Theodore replied with grace.
"But of course, Your Highness."
"Where did you come by the 'gifts' you gave us?"
Atleast half of Si Tys looked shocked at the question, and even Theodore bristled at her tone.
"I killed no one to receive them, if that is what you ask," he replied coldly, and marched through the portal without a backward glance.
"How dare you offend him so?" Tylia demanded, her hands clenching on her lovely new bow.
"He's an archeologist, Tyrol," came Saeras' voice from behind her. "He found them following his job."
Tylia gave another glare to the Volaer, hooked the bow shaft onto the quiver and tucked the bowstring into her bag before following Theodore. Just before she stepped through, she closed her eyes. Once on the other side, she opened them again, and her eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness. She could hear ragged breathing and swift whispering.
"Theodore. Pyra. Eileen. Scorpius."
"We're all here, Tylia," Pyra replied in a whisper. "Did Eileen never tell you that she doesn't like the dark?"
"No, I didn't," Eileen commented in a ragged, frightened voice.
"Scorpius, do you have the pendants I gave you?" Tylia asked quickly.
"Of course." Tylia though she heard a coarse laugh from somewhere deeper in the cavern.
"The one made of elf-silver, where is it?"
"Here, just a moment." They heard him fumble with something, and then a pure, silvery light appeared out of his pocket.
The far-off laugh turned into a hateful hiss.
Eileen had risen to her feet as soon as the light appeared and, restored to her more proper self, had heard the hiss.
"There's someone here."
"Of course there is," Tylia retorted gently, her keen eyes probing the darkness beyond the medallion's sphere of light. "And if 'someone' had left a light on, I would not have had to resort to this."
That caused another laugh, but it was softer, not so rough or spiteful. A well-dressed Pasaer came into the light, Vol'axle just behind him on his left. He barked an order in Undercommon, and a trio of torches flared at equal distances around the circular cavern, a male Pasaer near each.
"Do forgive my men," the Pasaer began in a voice with the same soft, rough accent that Vol'axle had displayed. "They have a wicked sense of humor. Could you please put that away? It makes them nervous. A nervous Sekevlos is dangerous, as I am sure that Drathirdalharil has warned you."
Scorpius slowly put the medal back into his pocket.
"My friends, allow me to introduce Vlosorbb, the Consort of the Lady of Spiders," Tylia drawled; upon introduction, the handsome Pasaer bowed and smiled. "Ilninuk6, I am ashamed of you! Allowing your men to scare Eileen like that!"
"Forgive me, dalninil's dalharil7. You know the ways of the Pasaelaer," Vlosorbb replied with a sorrowful look. "Jabbress8 Eileen, I will make it my duty whilst you are here to minimize further frights to you, if that would make up for my misbehavior."
Eileen nodded regally, not quite sure what to make of this charming man.
"Vol'axle we have already met; he is Vlosorbb's personal servant," Tylia continued, pleased with the way her Uncle had reacted to her accusation. "The others are unimportant. Vlosorbb, Vol'axle, these are Eileen Morani, Pyra and Scorpius Malfoy and Theodore Lupin."
"It is our pleasure to have you among us," Vlosorbb replied with another charming smile. "L'Jallil that I serve wishes to meet you; it is best not to keep her waiting."
"Ush'akal, lor vel'bol Usstan muth velkresa wun nathat resk'afor!9" crowed a voice from out of a side tunnel.
Vlosorbb crossed the cavern with amazing swiftness and struck the Pasaer that had spoken. The contact cracked sharply.
"When our guests are present, you will speak their language," snarled the Zil10.
"Yes, ush'akal!" replied the man. "But look at the treat I found lurking."
He snapped a word in Undercommon, and two other Pasaelaer came out of the side tunnel, a person bound and gagged between them.
"You fools." It was amazing how cold Vlosorbb's voice could go. He struck the two away and caught Saeras before she could hit the cavern floor. "They have just come from L'Taur."
Pyra started forward as Saeras shook herself awake. Tylia restrained her; she wanted to see what her Uncle would do.
The Jhondraer began to struggle as soon as she saw that she was still in Pasaelael custody. Vlosorbb's eyes were kind and his hands gentle. Vol'axle made the three arms men back away and moved away himself so that it was only Vlosorbb and Saeras. Vlosorbb began speaking softly and Saeras stilled suddenly. He removed her gag first and then untied her hands.
"Thank you," she murmured and he bowed low to her. She moved to stand near Tylia.
"What are you doing here?" the Orondralas hissed.
"Getting away from Si Tys for the first time in my life," Saeras replied easily. "Forgive me for being jealous of you, Tyrol. Besides, I'm learning. For one, I never thought I'd have reason to thank a Pasaer."
That shut Tylia up. She could not--would not--argue with someone wanting to learn. So she shook her head at her cousin's eccentricity, and turned back to Vlosorbb.
"Zil, this is Saeras Sholel, my cousin," Tylia informed him, gesturing to the Jhondraer. "Cousin, this is-"
"The Consort of the Lady of Spiders," Saeras interrupted quickly. "That much I heard, before I…lost consciousness."
"If you are my niece's cousin, then you are my relative as well," Vlosorbb said graciously. All three of the arms men who had touched the Jhondraer looked suddenly nervous. "You are welcome here, at least by me. Do not worry: Alakzt, Dureth and Lymeyrr will be punished for treating you in such a manner."
"That will be unnecessary," Saeras replied with dignity.
"Shouldn't we be going?" Pyra asked idly. "You said she was waiting."
"Of course! How foolish of me to get carried away!" Vlosorbb answered, turning so that his cloak flared, revealing his sword. Scorpius stared at it: It was perfectly straight. "Please, follow me!"
Vlosorbb, followed closely by Vol'axle, started down a wide tunnel.
"You three next," Saeras ordered coldly, eying the three who had laid hands on her. "I do not trust you at my back."
"I do not have to listen to you, dos hawrest aterruce11," snarled the Pasaer who Vlosorbb had struck first.
"Yes, you do." The Zil's voice floated back to them. The trio snarled, but went ahead. Saeras followed, with Tylia and the humans close behind. The three torchbearers spaced themselves along the group.
"Did you know that your Uncle speaks the Jhondraelael tongue?" Saeras inquired, falling into step next to Tylia.
"Is that how he got you to calm down?" Saeras nodded. "Yes, I knew; I'm the one that taught him to speak it."
"It startled me," Saeras admitted. "As did the fact that his eyes are not red!"
"I thought all Pasaelaer had scarlet eyes," Scorpius objected, easily sliding into the conversation.
"So did I," Saeras retorted. "But his eyes are pale lavender. Like the blossoms that grace Tyraesi's meado in spring."
"It is rare that a Pasaer be born without the typical red pigment," Tylia admitted. "Of the variant colors, orange and lavender are both the most common and the most accepted."
"Of the other three colors," Vol'axle added, appearing as though out of nowhere, his eyes cast down. "Green is the rarest and least accepted. Those with green eyes are considered 'light-touched,' since that is the most common color of eye for the Jhondraelaer. Most often they are killed at birth, though one will occasionally find a wealthy or influential patron and survive."
"You would know, wouldn't you, Vol?" Tylia drawled, smacking the Pasaer gently on the shoulder. He glanced up and grinned, torchlight glinting in the depths of his pale green eyes as he faded back into the shadows.
Theodore laughed as he noticed the color.
"What are the other two colors, then?" the archeologist inquired genially.
Blue, almost as hated as green, came the voice of a pa'das, soft and deadly. It had the same sharpness as the striking of two blades upon each other. And amber, which is actually a rather popular color.
All the humans save Theodore jumped, as did Saeras. This only elicited a soft, cold laugh.
"Don't you know it's rude not to introduce yourself?" Theodore asked the surrounding shadows.
My name is Lerien, and my Bond is Vol'axle. The pa'das, slightly smaller than Petrius, materialized next to Theodore, and her long tail flicked his hand. You have guts, human. I like you.
She glanced up at him and he laughed again; her eyes matched Vol'axle's perfectly. She melted seamlessly back into the shadows.
"Speaking of cat-friends," Eileen began thoughtfully, "where is Petrius?
"Curled up at the Lady's feet, I'm sure," Tylia replied wryly. He has a crush on Her Bond. Luckily, such feelings in him require me to like neither the Lady nor Her cat."
Pyra chuckled, but the laugh gave way to a gasp of awe that was mirrored by all five of the first-timers.
On the floor of a massive cavern a hundred or more meters below them (and they were atleast that far from the ceiling) sprawled a beautiful city carved and constructed completely of a shimmering black rock. In the precise center of the cavern rose a stalagmite that was met midway by a stalactite. At the base and roof of the cavern, the column was as wide as Tyraesi herself. By the time the two met, they were a mere hundred feet in diameter. the entire hourglass-shape glittered with firelight through many windows.
1filth
2Grandson
3Where is Uncle?
4Just on the other side, Cousin
5Star in the Deeps
6Uncle
7Niece
8Mistress
9Sir, look what I found hiding in a hole!
10Consort
11You insolent creature