Esra (21 page)

       She watched as the shapes before them took on a more solid form, revealing long, low, Earth colored dwellings.  Arland was right about the Trees, they were massive.  If her Assembly stood next to one another and spread their arms they would not even cover half the width of one trunk.  A flowering Ivy covered a good portion of the wooden structures, blending them seamlessly into their lush surroundings.

       “The Unni are extremely skilled in carving, a skill they developed from their cleverness in weaponry and blacksmithing.  Ye will see that all of the furniture here; the tables, chairs, beds, everything is hand carved in intricate patterns and forms.  This was the Unni’s contribution to the Stronghold.”

       “What do ye mean contribution?” Esra asked.

       “Well, every race gave something to build this place, both in matter and ability.  The Stronghold was not built in a time of war.  It was created hundreds of years ago when the four races lived and worked together in peace.  They had wanted to build a place fer training, where the different peoples could share their skills and traditions.”

       Esra could barely imagine a time when she would be working side by side with an Unni or Shendari. “It makes me happy that it was not war that brought the peoples together, forcing a bond, but rather a common good.  There had once been a time when the races wanted to share fer the sake of learning and community.”

       “It was a glorious age, yer right.  Not something our generation has ever been able to attain, unfortunately.”

“What else did the races give?”

“Although the Unni were the woodworkers,” he continued, “ye may notice the roof has a…Fishlike quality.”

       She focused her attention in the waning light to the roofs of the dwellings.  They seemed to be made of overlapping plates of varying red sheens, indeed like a Fish.

       “The work of the Shendari, the Water people.  They shed their skin about every twenty years, so ye can imagine how long it took to collect all of it, and how precious the material.  The scales that their bodies are covered in are not only Water repellent but nearly indestructible.  Ye will see many suits of armor and shields made from them.  And the only person alive now that can forge them is Baelin.”

       “His first Gift, the Hammer of the Shendari,” Esra recalled as she gaped open mouthed at the roofs, which shimmered darkly.  The structures, although made entirely of material foreign to this region, seemed to blend perfectly into the backdrop of The Gardens.  “It looks like the people who built these had obviously taken care that they didn’t disrupt the tranquil forest atmosphere.  I was expecting something more like The King’s Hold, but this is a pleasant surprise.  So then what about the Elves?”

       “My people,” Arland smiled proudly, “brought the stone of the mountains.  Ye will see our craftsmanship in the floors of all the dwellings, the pillars of the grand halls, and sculptures placed throughout.  We are also responsible fer the marble fireplaces in each room, although they have never been used in any real sense.”

       “What do ye mean?”

       “Well, there is no true winter here.  It does become somewhat colder in the change of seasons, but the Keepers have ways of maintaining Fires without actually burning anything. There is a Fire and flames but wood is not consumed.”

   Esra did not understand how one could have a Fire without burning wood but she listened quietly as he continued.

       “Ten years ago, when Nadia and I first came here, I did not take it as good as ye.  I remember Nadia sitting in front of me on a Skycatcher as her form shimmered in excitement, but all I could do was sulk.  I did not want to leave the mountains of my ancestors nor did I understand why I needed to come here.  The Eshomee Ledges were my home.  Nadia and I are from the Hyvva tribe, as ye can see from the markings on our foreheads.  The Hyvvas are some of the oldest Elves in Idona, and have had more Keepers in their line than any other.

       “I was not originally sent here to become a Keeper.  I came because the only way my mother would let Nadia travel to the Stronghold at such a young age was if her twin brother went with her.  I was to stay with her fer the first few Moons until she was comfortable here and then return home.  The Great Keepers had agreed to this, of course, since they were used to some of the Keepers coming as mere children.  My sister was delighted, of course, but I was bitter.  I would never admit it, but I was jealous of her skills and resented that she was starting an adventure that I could not join.”

       “So ye didn’t know ye were a Keeper then?”  Esra asked.

       “Nay, I was much like ye in that respect.  I understand how ye feel, not knowing what ye are or if it will be enough, or what yer purpose is.  My skills were very subtle at first, and they were not of a physical nature.  At home I was able to convince people of practically anything.  I could ‘charm’ my way out of trouble.  But there didn’t seem to be any magick in that.  And being handsome is not a thing of sorcery, or so they thought at first.  I also had no evidence of the mark of Tur, or the rash, as Nadia had.  It was only after I was here a few fortnights, watching Nadia being introduced to the way of Keepers, that Talitha came to find me.  She looked just as puzzled as I when she told me she had my first test.

       “It was then that Nadia’s teacher gave me a few simple spells to try, and they found I had an enormous talent fer influence magick.  At once I understood what my powers were and how to tap into them; I did not even need spells to make objects move around or convince people to do my bidding.  Ye have to understand, I could not use a simple influence magick spell on an advanced sorcerer, but to common folk I can make them say or do almost anything I desire.  The only exception is that I must be in fairly close proximity to them, and the more advanced the request, the less people I can affect.  So I can make an entire crowd of people feel generally happy or angry, but I could only make a few people stand on their head. 

“I could see the apprehension in Talitha’s eyes as she told me gently that this was a great responsibility, that I had the ability to bend people to my will.  I must never use it against anyone or fer my own gain.  It was then that they introduced me to the Five Laws of Keepers and asked me if I wanted to stay at the Stronghold and become one of them.  The next day the markings of Tur began to appear and I made the decision to stay.”

       “Bumbling Huckfly,” Esra murmured in surprise.  They sat in silence as Esra passed two small purple Birds hopping on a low branch.  The one seemed to be holding a large Grub, trying frantically to keep it away from the other by jumping about.  She tried to picture Arland as a child, his piercing blue eyes and temptingly crooked smile.  How difficult it must have been to know you could practically control someone else.  Esra’s thoughts were interrupted as they entered the lush field in front of the Stronghold, the Skycatchers’ hooves gently clomping on the padded ground.   She continued forward with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation, eyes darting around for any sign of her parents.

       Her friends leapt down from their Horses as a large group of people rushed forward to greet them.  Feeling fairly awkward and not quite knowing what to do, Esra lowered herself from Roja’s back and stroked the Horse briskly down his flanks.  Were her parents here among the excited chatter of welcoming friends and family?  She dare not look up to see as her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

       “Thank ye, my dear Roja,” Esra whispered. “Ye travel faster and more graciously than anyone I know.”

       “Esra!”

       She heard a familiar voice call out to her from the front of what appeared to be the main dwelling, as it was the largest and seemed to be at the center of the rest.  The crowd of people became abruptly silent and parted slightly as the person made their way slowly towards Esra.  Narrowing her eyes in the failing light, it was a few moments before she recognized the tall, long figure and ceremonial composure.

       “Cane!”

       She rushed towards her old teacher, catching him around the waist in a relieved embrace.  She was not normally so emotional or affectionate with him, but the strange events of late had caused her nervousness to finally explode at the sight of something familiar.  The crowd behind her laughed as he patted her head gently.

       “Hello, dear girl,” Cane said softly before peeling her tenderly away from him and looking her over.  “All in one piece, that’s a good start.”

       “Aye,” she spoke breathlessly.  “I have so much to ask ye.  So much to tell ye!  Do ye know how my grandparents are?  I met Maeve.  How come ye never told me about yer wife?  I was kidnapped by the Elites.  Did ye know Tallen has taken over Kiran Brae?”

       “Oh dear,” Cane raised his eyebrows in typical teacher fashion. “Has she been like this the whole time?”

       “Worse,” Fynn teased.  “I kept a large rock in me pocket te knock her out with, but it still didn’t stop her, she babbles even when unconscious
.  ‘Why’d ye knock me out?  What kind of rock is that?  Are we there yet?’
  Plain stubborn if ye ask me.”

       “I see,” Cane chuckled.  “Myself or someone else will be happy to answer all of yer questions after ye get a good night’s rest.  To answer the most important one, yer grandparents are alright.  They wanted me to give ye this as a token to prove they doing well.”

       He pulled a long wooden item from the pocket of his cloak.  Esra took the bread beater into her hands and laughed in relief.  Only they would think of sending such a foolish thing, and she was immensely grateful for it.

       “Alright,” she agreed.  Exhaustion washed over her then in a heavy wave and she swayed on her feet.

       “We will have yer Horse and things taken care of,” Cane grabbed her elbow to steady her.  “Nadia, can ye show Esra to her room please?”

       “Of course,” Nadia stepped forward and took her elbow from Cane, guiding her through the whispering crowd and around the right side of the main dwelling.  Esra had not realized how much her body ached from the stress of everything that had happened in the last few weeks.  She also had to admit that she was alternately relieved and disappointed that her parents were not there to greet her. 

“Where were my parents?  After almost twenty years, I’d assumed they would want to see their long lost daughter.  At least everyone made it sound as if they truly missed me.  Maybe they were very busy, the Kingdom being taken over and all.  Then again Cane had been able to come.”

“I’m sure there’s a good reason,” Nadia assured her.  It was all Esra could do to keep from collapsing as her friend steered her towards a cluster of small circular houses.  These were also made from the large Yanquor Trees, but unlike the long, rectangular structures of the main dwellings they were round like a Tree.  The houses were spaced fairly well apart, about fifty paces, affording privacy to the ones who resided there without losing their sense of community.  She couldn’t tell how many houses were actually in this area from the dense forest and darkening sky, but she was guessing it was quite a lot.

       “Ye’ll be in the same dwelling as me.  Depending on the size of the house, there are two to eight people in any given one, but always five rooms.”

       “Ye mean ye don’t live with yer brother?”  Esra asked weakly. 

       “When Arland and I were younger we stayed in one of the family houses over there in the middle of The Gardens.  Now that we’re older, however, we both wanted a little more privacy.  I still see him practically every day.  Sometimes an Assembly will decide to live together fer a period to bond.  And if I choose to live with my brother, or another man fer that matter, it would be perfectly acceptable.  There are no real rules here, just general principles we use to guide our decisions.  We follow a set of morals that we know as the Five Laws.  We enforce no more or less.”

       “Oh,” Esra nodded.  “Arland mentioned those.”

The spell of dizziness that had overtaken her had begun to subside slightly, and to her relief they walked towards a house near the front at the far right.  She wasn’t sure she would have made it much farther.  Willing her heavy feet up the steps, she arrived on a small porch area that wrapped around the entire house.  Esra watched, too tired to be stunned as Nadia whispered a few words to open the door before they approached.  The inside of the corridor was as round as the outside, with two doors on each side and an open entryway directly ahead of them.  Nadia lit a few candles on the entry table with a flick of her wrist and handed one to her friend. 

       “There is room fer three here, but one has since gotten married and the other has been…well, killed unfortunately,” Nadia explained.  “So it’s just been me fer the past two seasons.  I must say, I’m glad to have a roommate again, although I’m not here much, especially as of late.”

       Esra was glad as well that she would be allowed to stay with Nadia, as it was one less adjustment she would have to make in this new place.  And she had to admit that the two of them had grown closer than she had expected over the last few days, closer than any female friends she had ever had in Sorley.  There was a quiet understanding between them already. 

       “The first door on the left is the washroom, and the open area straight ahead is the common room.  My room is the first one on the right.” Nadia walked over to the second door on the left and swung it open. “And here will be yer room.”

       Nadia walked around the room and flicked her wrist again to light the five circular lanterns on the wall, illuminating the small area.  A long bed was pushed up against the right wall, and Esra was surprised to see that her meager possessions were already at the foot.  A nightstand with three shelves was next to the bed and a small desk sat underneath the one large window overlooking the porch.  At the other end of the room was a dresser and tall shelf, both with rounded corners.  There was an absence of straight lines in the house’s structure, with the ceiling sloping upwards towards the center of the dwelling.  It was very different from the sharp corners and square angled Human furnishings she was used to.  If she had not been so tired, Esra would have enjoyed studying the intricate craftsmanship of the Unni.  She smiled and thought of Arland’s proud lesson as she looked at the floor of the room, a beautifully polished blue stone.