Unfathomable Voyage [Zkjt]

[Emma]

Nädindel was a city unlike any other. To my untrained eye, it was entirely impossible for me to pick out the actual trees from the buildings. Unlike in most of Du Weldenvarden, the elves here thought it uncouth to bend a growing thing into their elven ideals of beauty. They only sung what was necessary out of them, and as such, I would have no idea I was even within the city if Dellanir had not assigned me a local guide to lead me here. The elven guide, Morian, had tattooed himself so vastly and so colourfully that he was almost indiscernible from the strange animals that roamed these woods.

We had gone by boat from Ardwen Lake, and now floated along a stream so tiny it barely qualified as such. Swampland surrounded the lake, full of alarming creatures that lurked in the murky water. On several occasions, Morian had to strike them with the blade of his oar to leave us in peace. He stood at the stern of the canoe, completely still except for the movement of his eyes, entirely on alert. I sat near the bow, my legs folded beneath me and covered with a very heavy woollen cloak. The scent of a human was apparently very exciting to the monsters of the deep, therefore requiring me to remain shrouded.

However, that was not the only reason I wished to go unnoticed. Dellanir had sent her personal handmaiden Sayenna Ebrae for rest and recuperation here in Nädindel. While she was here, I would be visiting her to give her lessons on better shielding her mind. My parents’ homeland, the Antilles, was full of odd magicks such as hers, and I had no qualms about letting people within my own mind. That was why Dellanir had asked for me personally. However, there was another reason, one that she had not told the reputably easily frightened Sayenna about- she was being hunted.

And this wasn’t the sort of quiet killings that were often the results of playing the Grand Game- this was a planned, necessary death contract that someone badly wanted to achieve. After Sayenna had left for Nädindel, Dellanir placed an illusion of a sleeping Sayenna in her bed that night. The illusion was struck by poison darts in the very early morning. Had that been the true Sayenna, she would have died. Naturally her would-be assassins quickly became aware of the trick, and had stalked her here. They had also become aware of my coming, which made discretion absolutely necessary.

I resurfaced from my thoughts as I felt the bottom of the canoe scraping against earth and slow to a halt. I clambered out slowly while Morian leapt from his perch, pulling the canoe onto dry land and hiding it under the cover of several oversized ferns. Then, without even a nod of acknowledgement, he moved off into the trees. I removed the heavy cloak and tucked it underneath the ferns before following. Normally I would wear my mask on such an outing, but the white of the porcelain would be a dead giveaway. Due to Nädindel’s huge canopies, many places were shrouded in darkness.

In fact, as I quietly followed Morian through the forest, I saw that there were some places where the light didn’t even touch. I could see why the rest of Du Weldenvarden considered this a place of evil and savagery- it was frightening to behold. However, having met with many natives of Nädindel, I knew better than they. But as I walked, I found my imagination began to toy with me. I constantly saw dark figures lurking within the trees. However, whenever I looked at Morian, he never seemed alarmed. Shouldering my pack and keeping low to the ground, I followed him in silence.

Long minutes passed before Morian suddenly came to a halt before a tree that looked no different from all the others. He approached it, feeling along the bark before pulling a hidden lever, revealing an opening in the wood. He turned to me, gave a shallow bow, which I returned, and left. I carefully entered the hidden building, stepping out of the forest and into what would have likely been a rustic household if it weren’t furnished with such rich finery, likely sent by Dellanir. Sayenna was not in the building’s main hall. I raised a hand and knocked sharply on the doorway, and waited for her reply.

Words;; 740
Muse;; Good!
Thoughts;; Ehh, didn't get to have as much fun with it as I thought I would, but it's still alright.

[zkjt]

Nadindel was most definitely not my most favorite place in the world. Being accustomed to the bright citizens of Ellesmera, Nadindel's was dark and dreary. The city itself was supposedly big, but the boundaries were gone, and it's reaches far. Houses were spread out, and the people here were close-knit, not willing to enjoy outsiders, especially a blind human in the favor of the Queen.

This would be my first time in this elven city. Sure, I had been to Illa Feon, and Kirtan, but this was a city much unlike the others, and quite honestly it intimidated me. I relied on my other senses, and the lack of sound here was deafening in just the complete stillness I felt in the air. The smell of course, gave me clues as to my surroundings. Pine needles, foreign herbs and plants I had yet to learn, all pointed toward the fact we were deep in the forest. And I mean deep. The trip had honestly not been the greatest.

The question came out of nowhere. "Would you like a break?" The Queen had asked, as I fixed her her dinner plate. Puzzled and shocked, I had not replied right away. Taking this as indifference, Dellanir urged me to respond. "You won't hurt my feelings. But you have gone a long while helping me and being a valuable friend. Don't you think you deserve something like this?" Still slightly stunned, I only nodded my head. But in actuality, I was scared. Being blind wasn't good, though being with people I could trust always gave me a sense of comfort. Yet to be without Dellanir's strong support would be a devastating change to me, and I dreaded the thought of being alone. Still not replying I hovered in front of Dellanir as she ate her dinner of berries and vegetables. "Well?" she asked once more. And then I nodded slowly. Ever slowly.

Preparations were arranged almost immediately. Kirtan and Osilon were instantly ruled out. Too close to humans, and too familiar with hatreds toward them. Nadindel would be perfect, being situated deep within Du Weldenvarden. So it was settled. Not having many supplies, I packed shortly, and Dellanir informed me of new plans. I would have a teacher in Nadindel, who would teach be the art of mind guarding. I was surprised. Other attempts at Alagaesian magic didn't bode well with me. Numerous times I had exhausted myself to the point of mental fatigue, and had to take days off. But if Dellanir thought it was best.

Her name was Medusa, a human. I knew very little about her, and Dellanir didn't go into much detail. From what I heard, I pictured her as being very ascetic, and unsocial. This improvised personality only made me the more nervous as I left Ellesmera, with an honorary guard of two other elves. We would go on horseback to Ardwen Lake, and from there would go down several small streams to reach the city. Many times I had to lie down, as the constant motion discerned and terrified me. When we finally reached Nadindel, only one elf woman came to meet me. She explained she was Ezhra of house Galain, a minor one. She had no mate and no kids, and was still rather young. I instantly took a liking to her. She brought me into Nadindel, and was virtually the only one who showed me kindness. I returned the favor by explaining Terrae, and my magic.She was intrigue, yet at the same time appeared guarded. Not wanting to offend, I quickly dropped the subject.

For a week Ezhra and I wandered the city. She described the city to me, and showed me all their wonders. It was interesting, listening to how she described life. Family and love was what concerned her, not the Great Game. Hearing and seeing this new perspective inspired me, and only made me that much more aware of my Queen's paranoia and ambition. Awkward thoughts, yet my vacation kept me busy.

On the night before the woman Medusa would be here, Ezhra came to my quarters. She expressed distress, and quickly explained why: I couldn't trust anyone. Confused, I had fumbled for her hand, yet found she was gone. Alone, scared, and tired, I slept, awaiting Medusa, with Ezhra's grave warning in my mind.

I sat in my room, twirling my fingers. My hair fell past my shoulders, falling straight down my back. Neither of my guards were here, as they were enjoying themselves' in a village to the South. It was me alone. And then finally, a knock. I stood and said, "Come in," barely keeping my voice from shaking. As the door opened, I felt myself hold my breath.


words;790

[Emma]

The voice from deeper within the house replied almost too quickly, and even then there was hesitation within it. Dellanir had warned me of Sayenna’s crippling insecurities and tendency to be terrified of her own shadow. This was an issue I had dealt with many, many times in the Hive, as there were plenty of women who had been rendered so by abusive husbands and fathers. I carefully made my way through the main hall, going up a small spiral staircase and entering a large room that appeared to be the bedchamber. Sayenna Ebrae sat on a chair near her bed, twiddling her thumbs nervously.

She jerked her head up on my approach. Sayenna was from the southern deserts, her skin only a few shades lighter than mine, but her eyes were ice-blue and unseeing. She was blind from birth, but it was possible to show her mental images, Dellanir had told me. The girl immediately stood to greet me, long dark hair falling past her shoulders. Though the eyes might prove a deterrent to most- they were, after all, windows to the soul- she was not an unattractive girl. I removed the small leather pack I’d brought, placing it on the floor, and approached the girl slowly so as not to alarm her.

“Hail, Sayenna. I-” I paused when she seemed to shrink backwards despite my warm tone. “Come hyah, daughter. I’m no craven maga dog here to harm you.” After a long moment, she stepped forward hesitantly, arms outspread. I reached out and grasped her hands, holding them gently. “Miss Dellanir told you of me coming, nuh?” She nodded. “Bad.” I touched her forehead. “May I?”

At another hurried nod, I slipped into her mind, remaining near the edges so that only the consensual transfer of mental images could occur. I said nothing, but took an image of my face that I’d seen on a fairth a male elf in the Hive had once drawn for me. It showed me looking forward, thick brown hair framing my face, my expression serene. After memorizing the details, I passed the image on to her so she was aware of what I looked like. After another long moment, she nodded again, and I broke the mental link. I gently took one of her hands and led her to a tiny coffee table with two chairs at either end.

Again, she seemed to need to think it through carefully before complying. Despite the friendly tone I’d taken with her and my gentle hand, she acted like I was a rabid dog about to take a bite out of her. Considering the Hive’s reputation and the fact that I was one of the highest-ranking members on top of her own insecurities, I couldn’t blame her. However, I was not the venom-spewing, man-hating kind that had made it so infamous. All that was required was to remain kind to and patient with her, and she would relax. She sat down very quickly and very noisily in her seat, and I moved to join her.

However, before I could, a flash of movement outside the window caught my eye. I approached it slowly, my deep emerald skirt rustling softly against the floor, and peered out. There was nothing, and it could have just been a bird. Considering the circumstances, however, I decided to close and double-lock it. Turning back to Sayenna, I joined her at the small table where she waited nervously. I arranged my skirt and placed my hands on the glass top, looking at her intently. She twitched slightly, as if she could feel my gaze. I spoke gently, hoping she would understand my heavy Antillese dialect.

“I am hyah to help you, seen? Your mindbreaking…” I waved a hand. “Cheap to the fullness. But you're scared. Cyaan teach a thing when you're shaking like a leaf. Tell me what’s crossing you, daughter.”

Words;; 650
Muse;; Strained. XP
Thoughts;; WOW. Do you know how hard Jamaican patois is to learn, let alone write?