“The present changes the past. Looking back you do not find what you left behind.”
- Kiran Desai, The Inheritance of Loss
Valens looked after his departing sister and sighed deeply. She was his savior and he loved her dearly, there was not a more important person in his life but she had sworn herself to the vagaries of the fickle wind and the only thing constant about her was her regard for him.
She had had friends, even more than that, but if the wind took her she could be callous, ruthless even.
He walked towards the next class keeping an eye on Alyssa as his sister had requested.
A ‘request’. That took him back…
The sea breeze ruffled the hairs of the green-haired boy for a moment he was disoriented then the aches and pains of the bruises that were all over his small body made him groan with pain. He was lying behind some large boulders on the pebbled beach ten minutes walk to the north of town.
“You are awake.” a girl's childish voice sounded beside his ear. Looking up he saw his sister’s blue-green eyes, rough-cut, green hair hanging into her face.
“It is hidden behind the white boulder.”
“You did not tell them.” It was not a question. She brushed her recalcitrant bangs out of her eyes.
The surf crashed against the rocky shore, seagulls screamed overhead. In the distance the town of Kruogh’s Breach was visible, wooden houses with dragons and sea monsters carved into the lintels lining the large fjord. Smoke rose from hundreds of chimneys. Longboats creaked in the stiff breeze.
Valens looked up at her, the sun blinding him momentarily, and forced himself to say, “So when the son of the mayor cannot produce his promise-band at the engagement ceremony…”
“They will ask some pointed questions. He will rue the day he touched you.” Vivienne looked into the distance. Grey clouds hung low over a stormy sea. “There will be hints, there will be indications, and they will find the band with his sweetheart, and not with his fiancee to be. Perhaps they will be expelled, but I think they will simply punish them. But that is only the beginning.” The look in her eyes sent a shiver down his spine.
Of the Kingdoms of the Broken, the Breach was mostly this town, large as it was, and the fleet of ships manned with warriors. They were mercenaries first and raiders second when honest work was scarce.
Wind and wave were what made or broke this town. Tiomena Wavemother was an obvious choice and she had a large temple overlooking the harbor. But Yrgos…had his temple too, he was too important to be slighted. His worship was more appeasement really and his priests were chosen by the elder council. He was a jealous and uncaring deity and those who were sworn to his service were shunned. Who would want a priest of the god of tricksters and traitors as a friend?
He was a deity of contrasts, storms that could uproot large trees, lightning, and thunder, but also the playful breeze, the soft caress of air on a hot summer's day.
His sister spread her arms and the shabby clothes she wore fluttered baring her lower back, the beginnings of an off-white and dark grey tattoo were visible reaching for her shoulderblades were, as he well knew, Yrgos eyes were staring from storm clouds that covered all of her torso. Each spot of dye paid for in pain.
They had been outcasts since birth, their mother a prize won in an old feud. She had died in childbirth, twins were very rare in elven society apparently and their human blood had not helped. They were brought up as near-slaves and it was no surprise that his sister was chosen to be Yrgos’ own.
She had always had an eye out for her brother. Being sickly and smaller than her, he had been bullied relentlessly. By making her a priestess they sought to spare their own children but sometimes Valens thought they should have thought it through some more.
For the children and adults who had tormented them two had been lost at sea as their boat had floundered. One was killed by his wife who had discovered his infidelity. Two were crippled as they ate the corn poisoned by the dark spots. One was disgraced as he was drunk and asleep on watch when the raiders came. He was a drunkard and vagrant now. One was hit by a horse's hoof and struck dumb and deaf, now he often drooled staring vacantly in a corner. No one was left unscathed.
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A cold hand stroked his brow while eyes shining like mirrors in a small, pale face regarded him, showing nothing beside his own reflection. “Sleep some more. Big sis will keep the bad dreams away. And when you wake it will hurt no more.” And as she hummed a lullaby the breeze dancing among the dry yellowed grass moved to accompany her song.
They neared the classroom and he shook himself free from his recollections. 'And then they sent us south to study. More like they wanted to get rid of us and she could be useful to the elders for once'.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Alyssa looked at him. She seemed a bit recovered from the encounter with Otto but was still pale.
“Nothing I would like to talk about.” Valens shrunk back a bit, a habit that was hard to break having been ingrained with frequent beatings until he awoke to his water affinity and could reasonably well defend himself.
“Sorry, you just looked so pensive. I was afraid you would walk into a wall.” Alyssa tried to joke. Her smile looked a bit forced.
He managed a nod and a half-smile and the conversation died again.
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In the courtyard of the academy, the lesson began.
The blonde, thickly set woman with blue eyes clapped her hands twice. “I will have silence.” Heru Gera von Turswacht was her name and she was the professor teaching ‘Water, the first building block of life’. She gestured, “Leave the tests on the table near the entrance.”
The tall building surrounding the secluded courtyard kept all but a thin slice of lawn in shadow. The sun's rays illuminated a part of the frescos ornamenting the columns of the colonnaded walkway running the length and width of the yard. The pool in the center rippled with a soft breeze. From a window in the upper floors fragments of music drifted down to them.
Valens stood behind and to the side of Alyssa making her somewhat nervous, but asking him to come forward to stand beside her had been an exercise in futility.
“After getting an overview of your respective talents it seems there are many who still need the basics. So today we will be continuing with the language of water and the most common sigils you all should know.”
And during class Valens saw a fine unnatural looking mist drifting towards Alyssa who was focused on the lecture. With an unwilling gesture, the boy dispersed the mist before it could reach his charge. Giving an internal sigh he thought. ‘My sister is truly on the ball again’. He looked around but could not identify a culprit.
The class ended without something more happening- that he was aware of. He walked with Alyssa until they reached the front yard where he bade her goodbye. His sister fell in step with him as he walked back to their dorm. He wasn’t even surprised by her timing anymore.
“I did not find what I was looking for. What could they have planned?” Vivienne looked dissatisfied. Her brother simply listened and walked with her.
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Meanwhile in Wisteria Dorms.
Alea was writing a list comparing it to some books lying open before her. Alyssa yawned and held a cup of tea while studying a large tome balanced precariously on her knees. Mireille played with Semiramis who had invaded their room just minutes prior.
“Tomorrow we will go to the market again, won't we?” Mireille opened the conversation.
“I want to buy the orb. Otherwise, I have no plans.” Alyssa looked up from the diagram she was trying to memorize.
“Lieseleta mentioned our planned visit to the market again today, so nothing changed I think,” Alea spoke while moving her spider over to some better vantage position.
“Do you think about the duel?” Mireille asked while hugging Semiramis.
“Naturally. But I can only prepare myself as best I can. Does anyone know of this Otto?”
“The Landesend are a small noble family they hold the hereditary title of knight. It is the lowest of the hereditary titles only a bit better than those that are awarded for life.” Alea explained.
“That means?” Mireille looked a bit interested.
“Knights are normally retainers and as such the title is low nobility but ends when the holder dies. It is not hereditary. A landed knight with an inherited title can give that title to his eldest son. But they are still pretty unimportant. Probably trying to please more powerful nobles.”
“Suck-ups.” was Mireille’s laconic comment.
They fell into their respective beds, tired from the day's encounters and studying.
Semiramis and Cyrus had claimed the empty bunk above Alea for their own use and with their wings stretched fully there was hardly any space left.
And then they went to sleep.
The market was as full as the last time they were there. Men and women, some dwarves, one elf they could see shoved and hurried to their respective destinations. The sun shone and the weather was dry.
Lieseleta, Jera, and some guards accompanied them. Vivienne had pleaded the need to study and Valens, needless to say, had joined her.
“Let us buy some more fruits from the snake-woman.” Mireille gestured. “Those were pretty tasty.”
“Her name was Iseret.” Alea corrected her.
“I thought about getting an enchantment for the basilisk claws. I did not use mine much after the wyvern cave, but it would be a shame to simply let it gather dust somewhere.” Alyssa joined the conversation.
They bought the lo berries again. Iseret Sekesh, the pureblood, was manning the shop again and smiled as she recognized them.
And then they left the market proper and entered the Arcaneum.