By: Alondra Posted on: October 27, 2008
A sigh of exasperation, accompanied by the sound of papers being thrown on a
nearby desk, woke me from my rest. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I sat up,
squinting into the candle lit room. With a sigh, the one who intruded upon my
sleep flopped himself into a chair by the desk. Placing his head in his palms,
he shook his head at my soft, gentle, "Gehan? What is it?" Rising from my bed, I
went and poured him a goblet of the fruit wine he loved so much. Gehan, while
not a master, was the one who had taken me in. My life was devoted to his care
and comfort. He was the only father I'd ever known, and I knew something was
bothering him, and if I was quiet long enough, he'd tell me.
Moving about silently as he sipped his wine, I gathered some bread, fruit, and
cheese for him. Peering out a side window, I looked out at the moonlit sky, the
silver glow lighting up the pristine white marble that made our city. Dawn would
be arising soon. And he'd just be off to bed as I began the day.
So intent was I on my morning chores, I jumped, almost dropping a crystal
goblet I was washing, when his voice entered my ears. "Kiliya. I excuse you from
your chores today. I have a decision to tell you, and you must make your own
from it. Come, dear girl, sit here by the fire." His voice full of sorrow, I
actually felt hesitant as I took a seat at his feet, beside the fire.
Standing, he paced across the floor before stopping, and looked me full in the
eyes. His blue eyes seemed full of something that almost seemed regret. Smiling
softly, his voice was kind, though tinged with that sorrow still as he spoke,
"Child, you know things have been tense with the city and I the past few months,
right?"
Nodding, I held his gaze. His worship of Lord Agatheis had turned him into an
ostracized member of the city, instead of someone well respected. Queen
Clytemnestra herself had come for a visit. Gehan had been grumpy enough that
she'd woken him from his rest, then to hear the topic of conversation had put
him into a very, very bad mood. The Court had decided they'd had enough of his
eccentricities, and ordered his worship of Lord Agatheis banned. He'd naturally
just ignored them all.
His sigh took me out of my thoughts, and I blinked up at Gehan curiously.
Smiling again softly, he gazed into the fire. "Kiliya, child, we who worship the
Elemental Lord will never be truly allowed up here. I have whispers the Court is
ready to start taking deeper measures to prevent our worship, too. We've decided
to leave Arcadia, this night, and move somewhere that we may worship our Lord
freely."
Gaping in surprise at Gehan, I was speechless. I'd never really thought of this
possibility. Of us all leaving our home. Unsure of what to say, unsure if I
could actually speak, I just stared at this fatherly figure of mine. Almost as
if he could sense my hesitation, he knelt beside me, taking my small hands
within his large ones. "For thirteen years, I've raised you as my own. Today,
though, I give you the choice. You may stay here, where you were born and
raised, or come with me. Should you decide to stay, I've made arrangements with
a family I trust. You'll live in one of the best homes in Arcadia, upon T'er
Palatium, near the Queen herself. I know it's not long to choose, child, but
it's all I can give you."
Reaching out, I hugged this man, and wiped away a few tears that fell upon my
cheeks. Gulping back the deluge of tears that threatened, I nodded, whispering
softly, "I will think about it while you rest this day, Gehan." Nodding, he
leaned forward and kissed my forehead, then rose, and walked to his room,
closing the door behind him.
Still slightly in shock, I sat there by the fire, running his words through my
head. I had a bit over twelve hours to make my choice. To choose either the only
city I'd ever called home. Or the only family I'd ever known. Sighing softly, I
rose and went to the pantry, gathering loaves of bread and some sliced cheese.
Taking a few coins from a jar on the counter, I grabbed my shawl and headed out.
Gehan and I lived on the second tier of the city, T'er Caelian. Listening to
farmers and their wives hawk their wares all day was one of my favorite things
to do. Sometimes, I even took some of these coins to buy a new ribbon from them.
This was not my goal today, though.
Out in the fresh air, my step livened slightly, the worry leaving my face. I
stopped by the bakery to pick up some milk and fresh ginger biscuits, before
heading westward along Caelian Lane. As I approached the gate to the city,
Ramean, the Gatekeeper, hailed me, smiling brightly. "Where you off to today,
Kiliya? Back down to T'er Aventine?" I smiled back, nodding as I lifted my
basket of bread and cheese. "I'm just going to go help them out a bit, like I
try and do." With a wave of farewell, I made my way down the steps to the lowest
section of Arcadia.
T'er Aventine, home to the poorest in Arcadia. Here was the only tavern in the
city. It always made me a bit sad to see how hungry its residents were. This
tier was where Gehan had found me as a child. He thought I must have been around
two. Smiling as I saw a group of children, I grabbed some of the biscuits I had
just bought. I always made sure the children got this extra treat, especially
the little girl with the injured wing. Just an hour passed before I was out of
food to give away, and with a sigh, I started my way back towards home.
Stopping on the landing, I paused, and looked out over the Isle of Erymanthus.
It was so beautiful. How would I survive without my home? Abruptly changing my
course, I continued upwards, stopping as I reached T'er Palatium. Here was the
palace. I'd often come here, delivering messages for the guards, or singing for
Prince Dardaenus. Listening to young Prince Elatus cry over his broken toys.
There was Chenubis, the sky serpent, guarding the palace, so gentle and kind to
all of us, though he turned vicious quick enough when any who threatened our
city entered his sight.
Continuing my slow, lazy tour of the city, I walked back to the stairs, heading
towards T'er Visayus. Here was the toymaker, whom I'd often visited for a new
toy for the Prince, and Suthaine, the bookbinder. There was a cafe for those of
us who could afford more expensive tastes, including the fruit wine Gehan loved
so much. Waving to the guards, I climbed the last set of stairs, to T'er Briham.
Always one of my favorite tiers, this one housed the scholars and students of
our city. King Iasius was always lost in thought here, and Amae, sat in silent
contemplation when not with one of us, teaching us the proper enunciation and
tones for our beloved Atavian language.
Walking out of the library, after listening to some students argue about how
Erymanthus could float in the sky(an almost constant argument if you sat and
listened long enough), I stopped, and stood, gazing down at the city below me.
Gazing upwards, I could see the Sky Tower rising high, and thought, whimsically,
that I could hear Cassandra singing up on the top floor. This was home. But it
wasn't family. I would go with Gehan. This would always be here. A place I could
come to visit.
Feeling much, much more at ease, I walked home. Taking one last walk through
Caelian Park, I climbed up into the tree house, and watched the sun drift
through the skylight, casting rainbows on the wall through the wind chime hung
within. I watched the sun set as I sat in my favorite hide away, then rose with
my basket. It was time to head back home and tell Gehan of my decision.
As I walked inside, he turned towards me from his seat facing the fire place.
His face was full of worry and stress, and so I walked over to him immediately
and wrapped my arms around him. With a gentle smile, I whispered softly, "I'm
coming with you, father." The shock in his eyes was apparent, but then he beamed
brightly at me, and wrapped me in a massive bear hug. He explained we must pack,
and quickly, and take only things we'd need. Food, blankets, tools, and clothing
were gathered, placed in packs specially designed for our wings.
It was midnight by the time we were ready. We took to wing right outside his
home, and the small group joining us, only about twenty others, met us. Ramean
only sighed as went through the gates. While he'd not outright disobey his
Queen, he had no reason to stop us. We weren't forbidden from leaving, but we
all knew she'd be angry when she discovered our leaving. We made our way down
the mountain, through Erymanthus woods, and further down the floating isle. Here
we stopped, and looked down. When the day was clear, we could see the world
below us. But tonight, the clouds were heavy, and with the darkness, nothing
could be seen.
The hesitation was felt. All knew that if they took this final step, the only
ones welcomed back would be the children. Gehan paused, and looked back to
everyone, his tone serious as he spoke quietly, though his voice carried in the
night. "I require none of you to come with me. Those who do, you know seeing
home again will be very, very unlikely. But you'll also be able to worship our
Lord Agatheis freely. We'll start a new chapter in our lives, and be stronger
for staying true to our beliefs and desires."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and one by one we took that last step through the
mists, falling to the world below us.
Cold wind hit us as we at last landed. Looking about, we discovered we weren't
really all that far from Mount Nicator and the keystone that led back home. We
knew, though, that we must find a place to call home, and quickly. we weren't
used to this cold, and a fire was definitely needed. Gehan quickly organized
three scouting parties, and sent them off to look for a place we might call
home. The oldest of the children were ordered to look after the youngest, and we
got them a snack and water.
A few hours passed before the first scouting party returned. Everything they'd
found, without leaving the mountains, either wasn't suitable, or was inhabited
already. The second returned with the same news, but also with word of bears
within the mountains. Waiting for the third group to return, we began to worry,
as two hours passed with no word. Finally, one of the scouts came out of the
night, waving us down. Beaming brightly, he excitedly told us that they'd found
the perfect spot. Quickly, we all followed him, and he led us across a hastily
constructed rope bridge.
From here, we began climbing; a steep, narrow climb that eventually opened up
into a plateau. We stared out in amazement at the area before us. With the
clouds and the narrow passage, it wouldn't be easy to find us. There was a small
branching in the narrow trail to the northeast, that we decided to explore
later, but it was quickly decided that this plateau was where we'd build our
home.
A fire was built, and all of us lay down upon the blankets we'd brought,
quickly and easily falling asleep.
The sun was well into the sky when I woke. A pile of wood already lay in the
centre of the plateau. The children were running around, having a grand time, as
the men and women gathered, discussing the layout of the town. Quickly joining
them, I listened carefully as Gehan spoke.
"We'll build a perimeter wall, in the shape of a diamond, leaving the south
eastern point open. We'll place a gate further down the trail, so one person can
watch it easier and notify us if anyone's coming along. The main streets will
also meet in a diamond pattern, with a centre street horizontal and vertical."
The group nodded, and began to cut wood, plant posts within the ground, and
lash poles together for our walls. As the group got engrossed in their work, I
noticed Gehan looking around. I knew him well, and could tell, with that slump
of his shoulders, that he was contemplating something serious. As he silently
crept away and down the mountain, I followed him. I knew I wouldn't really be
missed. One of the older girls had charge of the youngest, and I was too little
still to help with the building.
I recognized the path he took as leading back towards Mount Nicator. Curious, I
crept behind him, being careful to not let him see or hear me. I stopped as he
stopped beside the keystone. With a barely heard, "I'm sorry," I saw him lift
his sword, and slam the hilt into the stone. With a brilliant flash of light,
the stone broke into five pieces. I sat in shock at what my father had done.
That was the only way to Arcadia, and now it was gone. What I saw after shocked
me further, though.
Softly, he chanted in a language I didn't understand, raising his hands to the
heavens. Lightning flashed, and it almost seemed that fire blazed upon the
mountain top. Rain poured down, though wet nothing around, while the wind raged
and whirled. The ground beneath us shook so hard, I was surprised the mountain
did not crumble. With one more uttered word, a bright light flashed, and when I
could see again, four elementals stood before Gehan. What he said, I've no idea,
but I saw him give each of the elementals a piece of the keystone before placing
the last in his pocket. With a tear wracked voice, he ordered them to go and
began to stride down the mountain. I sat there stunned silence, unsure of what
to do.
Finally, my strength gathered again, and I raced back to our new home. My voice
trembling, I raised a hand and pointed it towards Mount Nicator. "It's.. It's
gone. The keystone! I-I saw.. I saw..." My voice trailed off as I tried to speak
of what I'd seen. Quickly, the scouts ran back to the mountain, as I sat there
unable to speak. They returned quickly, and recounted in a dull voice that I was
right. There was no keystone.
I opened my voice again, pointing to Gehan, trying to get the words out. Gehan
looked at me, startled, and rushed to my side, wrapping his arms around me.
"She's in shock, the poor child. The Queen must have ordered the keystone
destroyed! We knew she'd be angry, but I never guessed she'd be this upset! We
have no choice now but to make our village strive! We shall build it, and we
shall live, worshiping our Lord Agatheis!"
The group nodded, murmuring before cheering loudly. With haste, they got back
to work. Gehan looked at me, and shook his head. I knew then that if I said a
word, no matter how he might feel for me, my life would be forfeit. Not wanting
to lose the closeness I held with my father, I stood up, and gave him a hug.
Together, we walked off to join the group now beginning to build our huts.
The years passed, and our village grew. We came to call it Genji. Others who'd
been stranded on the main land of Sapience joined us, helping us grow and
strive. We learned that manticores inhabited nearby caverns, though they seemed
to leave us alone so long as we left them alone. A woman now, I had my own
responsibilities. Gehan was a wonderful leader, and I let his secret stay a
secret. With the future holding such great promise, all we could do was continue
to strive and grow. Who knew what the future would hold?