Levi met Liz near the bus stop a couple days later. She was waiting, bundled in a thick, fur lined coat which went down to her boots. Even bundled up she was hopping up and down to keep warm, her cheeks rosy with the cold. He thought it made her eyes sparkle more than usual. When she saw him a smile lit up her face.
"I'm glad you made it, the bus should be here soon."
"Yeah, me too, my intro to journalism class ran long. That man would go on forever if he could."
Suddenly she pursed her lips, her nose wrinkling in a frown.
"What's up, you've got that serious look."
"There's something about my family I didn't tell you."
"Huh, like what?"
She looked around, like she was worried someone was listening. She leaned in close. "Yeah, well, you know how I know all the hunters, and all that stuff about magic?"
"Yeah,"
"Didn’t you ever wonder why?"
"Sure, I kinda figured your dad and mom were hunters too, right?"
"My mom was, but she quit a long time ago, but that's not it."
"Alright, then what?"
"Well, my dad's not exactly human." She started tugging on a lock of her hair, looking at it like there was something wrong with it.
"What do you mean not exactly human?" Levi asked, suddenly uneasy. He had an image of going to her home to find an ogre at the door.
"So, you know how there’s more than just monsters that came over from the old world?”
“Yeah, Hal, that other hunter we met, he said something about that.” Levi said, still guarded.
“Well, my dad, he's one of the other races that didn’t end up on earth. He’s guthri."
"Guthri." He tried the name out on his tongue, it felt odd.
“Lots of people just call us hobgoblins.”
That didn’t help Levi’s uneasiness, ‘goblin’ brought up some scary images. "But, you've only said good things about him, so I'm sure he's a great person, right?" He hoped he sounded more convincing then he felt, instead of just terrified.
"Oh, he's the best, he just looks a little... different."
She looked at him expectantly, as if worried he’d run. He thought he might. Instead he took a deep breath. "He's from New York, right? He can't be any stranger than some of those people in Times Square."
She laughed, and the tension between them evaporated. "No your right. You know, that's one of the reasons he likes it here. It's easy to be accepted when there's a guy in his underpants playing the guitar."
"Among other things."
"Yeah, among other things. But he's not the only one, you know. There are communities near all the port cities, and tons in and around the city. Not just guthri, but others too. Some of us have been here since the eighteen hundreds or even earlier. My family came over from Eastern Europe around World War One and settled here in a community of our kind. So, you see, we’re really we're no different from anyone else, just regular New Yorkers."
That surprised him, he’d never really considered other peoples, not to mention whole communities. "So, besides guthri, what other kinds of, uh, people? are there?”
“Oh, there are all sorts. Besides humans and guthri, there are darra, vlufnar, dullahan, sprites, and like a half dozen more. Everyone’s ancestors crossed over to this world at one point or another, mostly ‘cause of war or persecution. For us it was way back in the 1400’s.”
“So, when you said your dad knows a lot about old traditions, you didn't mean human traditions did you?"
"Nope, he knows the real old stuff, the stuff humans forgot a long time ago. That's why I think he can really help. Oh look, our bus is here."
The ride wasn't long. They got off near the water, by a long row of shops. Levi wondered what sort of place a community of... nonhumans? he didn't know what to call them, would live. This area didn’t look any different than anywhere along the rest of the river. Taking his hand, she pulled him into a narrow alley beside a bar. It smelled like damp garbage.
"Here we are," she said, leading him to a plain metal door near the back of the alley.
"You live behind a bar?" He winced as he said it. It just came out wrong, like he was judging her.
"No silly, we live under it."
Pulling out her key, she undid the lock and bolt, swinging it open to reveal a dim hallway. Instinctively he pulled back from the darkness.
“Come on, there aren’t any ogre’s here, I promise.” She said, grabbing his hand and pulling him inside. She didn’t let go as she led him along and he realized this was the first time he’d really held her hand and, as they went down the dark hall, he couldn’t help but think how small and delicate it felt, and surprisingly warm. She seemed so fragile.
She led him along the hall, down a long flight of steps, along another corridor and then another flight of steps. Down they went, till they must have been below the sewers, definitely below the waterline. At last they came to another metal door. Liz swung it open.
"Welcome to Taambervol."
He stopped, blinking as his eyes adjusted. Before him was an enormous cavern. Stone streets lined with bright street lamps ran past stone and brick homes. Warm yellow light streamed from large windows, and sunlight beamed down from shafts throughout the ceiling.
At one end, fountains burst from the rock, feeding into a cistern. A rivulet escaped from the cistern, running down a waterway in the middle of the street to supply a central pool. The waterway and pool were lined with polished marble, intricately carved. It then flowed away through a grate on the far wall.
There were twenty or more homes with assorted other buildings in this underground village but perhaps most surprising was the greenery. Thick green grass lined the street, while tiered and hanging gardens took up every bit of space not claimed by the buildings. Even the roofs were covered in greenery. A fresh, warm breeze issued from above. He unzipped his coat, suddenly feeling too warm.
Liz was biting her lip, staring at him as he took it all in. "Do you like it?"
"It's incredible,” he exclaimed. “I didn't know there was anything like this in New York, or anywhere for that matter." He stared, open mouthed, at this strange haven.
She practically glowed. "It was Dad's idea to use the mirrors to get the sunlight down here; now we can grow all sorts of stuff all year round. Of course not everything grows here. We don't ever buy seeds that need direct sunlight. I tried once as a kid. I found the prettiest looking flowers and begged my mom to get them. She finally let me get some seeds but they really didn't do well. Things are usually meant to grow where they belong, no matter how you try to change them. I guess it's done that way so there’s room for everything. I like thinking about it that way anyway."
"That makes sense. What kind of flowers were they?"
"They were sunflowers and I'd never seen anything like them before. Now come on, I've got to show you my house."
At the end of the street, next to the cistern, they stopped at a red brick home with a second, smaller building off to the side.
“This is my place and that's the smithy over there. We guthri are known for being great craftsmen. Dad's one of the best blacksmiths anywhere. He makes things and sells them online. People pay a lot for good work you know.
I wanted him to teach me, but he said I was his little lily and I'd wilt in the heat.” She made a face. “He said I should go to school instead. But he was right, I'm having a lot of fun and I got to meet you and everyone else, so it was worth it.
She squeezed his hand, smiling up at him. He squeezed it back, thinking how pretty she looked standing there beside him. Her hair caught a beam of light filtered down from above, shining like fire. They stood there for a moment with her smiling up at him. He really wanted to kiss her. But hesitated.
Then it was too late; the door burst open and screams of "Lizzy, your home," and "Is this him?" broke the silence. He felt a stab of frustration. And then the wave of humanity was upon them. Not really a wave actually. There were only four of them, but they seemed like so much more as they jumped and ran, pushing and tumbling over each other in their rush to greet them. They were loud.
“Levi,” Liz yelled over the din, “These are my family. There’s Elena, she’s the youngest, then here’s my brother Bram, that’s Hanna, and there’s Lila we’re only two years apart, but she’s already almost as tall as me. The two youngest took Levi's hands, pulling him to the house.
"Hey, you must be Levi, do you like my sister?"
"Did you bring us anything?"
"Wanna see me do a backflip?"
He looked at Liz, "help," he mouthed. She laughed as he was pulled to the house, waving as he went. Tugging, pulling, poking him and teasing, they led him into the front room. Somehow Bram had managed to climb up on his back, while Elena's hand kept wandering into his coat pocket.
"Children."
The kids froze immediately.
Standing at the door to the kitchen was Liz’s mom. Looking every bit like her oldest daughter, she couldn’t have been anyone else. She stood there drying her hands on an apron, her flaming hair pulled up in a messy bun. Just like Liz, he thought. But she had an air of command that was bigger than her slight frame. There was no mistaking who was in charge here.
In a moment the kids were lined in a row, looking up at their mother like coppery haired angels.
"We were just saying hi to Liz's friend," said Hanna. A slightly smaller version of Liz, she looked about twelve or thirteen.
"I know what you were doing, but I'd like to meet him before he runs away. Hello there," she said, "I'm Melanie, and you must be Levi. Lizzy has told us all about you."
Levi took her outstretched hand, "I've heard a lot about all of you too and thank you for letting me come for dinner. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Well, Lizzy, looks like you found one with manners," she said to Liz, who had just come through the door with Lila. The two girls were both talking quietly, heads close together.
"Hi Mom, did you miss me?" Liz asked, skipping across the room to give her mom a hug.
"Of course I missed you, I always miss you. Now help me put dinner on, we can talk when we eat. Bram, it's your turn to set the table, I don't see any cups in there. Hurry it up. Elena dear, take your hand out of Levi's pocket, nothing in there belongs to you."
Still giving commands, she disappeared back into the kitchen.
"Here," said Liz. "Put your coat down and come meet my dad. She took his hand, leading him down the hall to the left of the kitchen. Going down the hall made Levi feel like he were walking into a fairytale home, the kind where pixies might crawl out of the cupboards, or the ironwork animals might come to life if you weren’t careful. The walls were lined with carved pine, with shelves and cupboards along both sides, accented here and there with intricate metalwork in the shapes of fantastic animals; made in the forge outside he guessed. Their step was muffled by thick rugs lining the floors, while the place was lit by the same warm light that illuminated much of the rest of Taambervol.
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The room she led him to was at the far end of the hall, and was lined with bookshelves up to the ceiling. The room, Levi noted, smelled pleasantly of old leather and wood smoke and the light from the flickering flames in the hearth danced across the walls.
"Hi Dad, I’m back. This is Levi, the boy I told you about."
At the back of the room a gnarled man looked up from the low desk where he had been reading form a leather bound slab of a book. The man carefully placed the book on the desk then, despite his gnarled appearance, sprung from his chair with surprising energy. In a moment he was across the room to where they stood, his ruddy, lined face staring up at Levi. Surprised, Levi took a step back and bumped into the wall behind. The man didn’t seem to notice Levi’s surprise, and offered Levi a callus hand, which he took, expecting a handshake.
"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Ravea. Welcome to my home." He pulled Levi into a hug that left him gasping. He felt his spine pop.
"I-it's a pleasure to meet you too. Thank you for letting me visit."
He eyed Levi up and down for a moment. "First time you've seen a hobgoblin eh?"
Levi nodded, "Yes sir, at least as far as I know, apart from Liz that is. But I'm learning I can't always trust what I see."
"Well spoken boy. That’s one of the first rules of the world, above ground or beneath; though I hear you had to learn that one the hard way. Lizzy's told me about some of your adventures. Ogres are a nasty lot and you’re luckier than most who’ve met one.
But anyhow, I don't think Lizzy much counts as a Guthri. Sure she’s got the talent, but she gets her looks from her mother. Good thing too." His leathery skin wrinkling as he laughed at his own joke. It was a loud, warm laugh, straight from his belly which made Levi smile, despite his nervousness. Still, he wasn’t ready to relax yet. Liz had talked about her dad's laughter, but she'd also mentioned his quick anger.
"Anyhow,” Ravea continued, “you didn't come just to meet a full-blooded guthri. Lizzy says you wish to know more of the Junnun eh? Well, we'll help you where we can. But first come, night has fallen, it's time for supper." He then led the way back down the hall to the dining room.
"Junnun?" Levi asked Liz quietly.
"That's the Guthri name for the hunters."
"Oh, ok, I'll remember that.”
The dining room was well lit, with an ornate iron chandelier spreading wide over a large table laid with... taco stuff? Ravea seemed to catch the look of surprise on Levi’s face. "What? Just because we live underground doesn't mean we don't eat like regular folk. It's taco salad night. Now you sit there across from Liz and we can get started."
They sat but, before eating, the family stopped, turning to Liz's father expectantly. He closed his eyes, raising his hands with palms upward. As he did so he began to sing in his deep, rough voice, soft at first, then rising till it echoed through the halls of the house, seeming to resonate in the very stone.
“Ai dva Nashi, bri ta lavash nae. Ah hali lahai ta ke. Ah hali lahai ta. Nae dva Nashi drae ina hallania, nae ai vetra hali, nae kahadra ta lachn.”
The family remained quiet as the song ended, all lowering their heads. “Karai na vat, karai ta Nashi,” they repeated.
Then the table erupted with dishes clattering and Liz's brother and sisters talking over each other. Liz looked up at him, smiling.
"We give thanks to Nashi for all that we have." Said Ravea, seeing Levi’s questioning look. "It is Nashi who created all, who protects us, who will one day welcome us home. Do you also give thanks?"
"We do, or at least my family always does, though we don't pray to Nashi."
"Hah, of course you do, who else is there to pray to?"
"Sorry,” he said apologetically, worried he’d offended him somehow. “But up till now I've never even heard of Nashi."
"El is the name spoken in the common tongue. Here he's known by God, Allah, and a thousand other names. Yet Nashi is the name we Guthri have for the creator who gave us the gifts of fire and the forge.”
“Oh, okay. I didn’t know they were all the same person, er, I mean God.” His face grew warm as he stumbled through his words. He was sure he sounded like an idiot and this was not the way he wanted his first time meeting Liz’s parents to go.
But, enough of this, you're here as a guest in our home, enjoy the food, enjoy the company. Be at ease.”
“Yes sir.” He looked to Liz for guidance, and she gave him a supportive smile and a thumbs up.
###
They didn’t stop eating until the table was looking pretty bare. He was amazed at how much these red headed pixies could put away. Liz wasn’t big, and none of her siblings could have been over eighty pounds soaking wet, but even the littlest out-ate him. Finally Ravea pushed his plate back with a sigh, and this seemed to be a signal, because the older kids all got up and started cleaning up. He started to get up to help, but Liz pushed him back down. “You’re a guest. You sit back down. Besides, you had some questions you wanted to ask Daddy, right?” She looked between him and her father, expectantly.
“Er right, Mr. Abrahm-”
“Ravea. Call me Ravea.”
“Sorry, Ravea, I wanted to know more about the hunters and the adjutors and how it all works. She said you might know something that would help.”
“Well, you know Melanie is the hunter in the family right?” He asked, patting his wife’s hand.”
“I guess I know a thing or two about it.” She said, smiling back at her husband.
“Yes si-Ravea. And I was going to ask your wife, but Liz said I should talk to you about the history and traditions. I’m sorry but I don’t have a lot to go off of. I’m pretty new at the whole thing really.”
“Is that what she said?” He asked, a bemused smile on his face as he stroked his beard.
“Looks like you’re still her favorite Dear.” Melanie said, punching him in the shoulder. “Still, you’re probably the better one for lecturing, why don’t you take this one. You know how history bores me. I’ll manage cleanup.” She squeezed his arm as she rose. “Levi, don’t let him bore you. He could go on for hours.”
“So,” Ravea said, turning back to Levi. “What exactly do you want to know?”
Levi started with his adventures so far, expressing his worries and confusion regarding the adjutor, as well as his ignorance of the hunters in general. “And that’s about it I guess. I don’t know if there’s anything you can say to help me.” He said as he ended, half hopeful, half worried he might have said the wrong thing or too much.
Ravea didn’t speak at first, just continued to stroke his beard. Levi wasn’t sure if he was going to say something, or if he was waiting for Levi. Finally Ravea stirred. “You’ve started a journey in a strange new world. I imagine it is as terrifying to you as yours was to my ancestors when they first crossed over. I imagine the feeling was the same for your people, back when they crossed the Atlantic to come to this land. I can’t help you with your fear but I can help you to better understand the world you’re now thrust into. Let me tell you a story.
Long ago the world was one. The Great God Naashi took the forces of chaos and tamed them, forcing them into order. He gave the chaos physical form so that they could be bound in the depth of the earth, never to be released while the world stands. These are known as the Seven Bound Beasts. In this world he placed beings of great power, the Djanae; beings born of his will and the eternal forces. These were to be the guardians and caretakers of the world and its inhabitants. He placed creatures of every kind, both magical and those which you know. Finally he placed his children there, to grow upon the land.
One of the Djanae, named Marath, a powerful being with great influence, delved deep and found one of the bound beasts. He was enticed by its power, drawn to it, and by its influence was corrupted. That same Marath lured others with this new power: Djanea, beast, and even some of the children of Naashi. To protect his children, Naashi blessed our each tribe of our fathers with one of the twelve powers of the eternal forces, and so they became twelve races. Those who followed Marath did not receive Naashi’s blessing and became wild peoples, necromancers, witches, sorcerers, and all sort of loathsome creatures. The beasts became the monsters that you hunters now fight.
The Djanae who followed Marath became his generals, and in the great war they led his followers. Marath was cast down, and was banished. Many eons later, his whisperings once again were heard, enticing even the queen Pandora. She was proud and her people strong and she was caught by Marath’s snare. She and her people rejected Naashi, performing the terrible ritual which severed them from their creator. And then came the rift.”
He stopped then, a brooding look in his eyes.
“And then?” Levi prompted.
“The severing was more complete than Pandora could have imagined. At the moment she uttered that fateful curse, a seventh of the world was torn from Ethros, the old world, severed from Ethros by a near impassible rift. And, upon that chunk of rock, were Pandora and her people -your ancestors- as well as the animals and plants and all things that make up your current world. Besides being cut off physically, your ancestors were cut off from Naashi in a more complete manner. The gift of his power was torn from them, leaving them weak and helpless. This is how this earth was created.
The rift, as you know, was not perfect, and there are paths which one may take to leave the old world and enter this.”
Levi felt like lights were coming on as Ravea shared the story. It was incredible, but made things make more sense. “I learned about some of what you said already, but only about there being another world, and the rift. I had no idea that we came from there. What about the hunters though? What’s their part? I know they hunt the monsters that come across, but I feel like there’s more to it than I’m being told.”
“Well, to truly tell that story would take many, many days, and would be to tell the stories of many thousands of years. Yet you already know more of their stories than you think. I am sure you know a great deal of many of the great hunters of the past.They teach of them in public school.”
Levi was confused, was Ravea misinformed? “I’m sorry but they don’t teach us anything like that. I’ve never heard of hunters before this year.”
“Don’t they?” Ravea’s eyes twinkled. “What about Heracles? Perseus? Alexander? Ghengis Khan? Nimrod? Joan D’Arc How about more recent ones like Washington? Franklin? Lincoln and Grant? To name but a few.”
“But, but, they couldn’t be, I mean, all of them were-”
“Hunters, each and every one. There are hunters in every nation of the world, and in every time in history. Some are heroes, others are villains, but each one of them rose up to fight the threat that faced their home. That it what hunters are. I hear you met one on your trip over the holidays?”
“Uh, yeah, he saved us.”
“What was he like?”
“Um, besides hunting monsters, I guess he was a lot like my grandpa.”
“There you are. That fool Connolly is a stodgy old academic, he thinks everything needs be veiled in mystery and tradition.”
“Dear, I really don’t like you speaking of Alastair that way.” Melanie said, returning to the room. “Ravea’s right though. I became a hunter to protect my friends and family and that’s the same reason I quit. Being a hunter is simple. They’re not heroes, they’re just men and women who protect the people they love. It’s like being a cop, or a firefighter, just you know, with magic and stuff. It doesn’t mean your life has to end. Who knows, you might even find someone to share the adventure with.” She hugged her husband from behind, kissing his bearded cheek.
Ravea laughed. “Romance may not be his greatest worry right now, but then again, maybe it is.” Levi felt his cheeks heating. “So did that help any?” asked Ravea. “I confess there’s too much to speak of, and most of it likely doesn’t help with your specific concern.”
“I think it does, mostly. I also wanted to know more about the adjutor. What is it and can I trust it? It seems like it knows what I want or need and sometimes it helps, but I don’t know enough about it to be sure I can rely on it. I need to know how it works or I’m worried I could expect the wrong thing and get myself hurt or killed.”
“Melanie?” Ravea said. “This sounds like your territory.”
“Well, that’s a tough question,” she said. “I don’t want to sound evasive but I think that is one thing you need to figure out on your own. The problem is, each one is very different and the connection you build will be completely unique. It’s like asking me how to make friends with a whale because I have a horse as a pet, though they certainly are not pets.”
Levi felt his heart sink a little. That was one of his main questions for coming here. The main one really.
Melanie seemed to notice his disappointment. “Just remember that your adjutor will look out for you. The more you trust it, the more it can help you. It might be that it’s trying to talk to you and you just don’t listen. Try paying attention to what it tells you, that might be a good place to start.”
“Okay, at least that gives me something.” And it did. It wasn’t what he’d hoped for, but none of this ever was.
A moment later, Liz came in. “Levi, you done yet? I want to show you around.” She grabbed his arm impatiently, trying to drag him from the chair. He looked at her parents and Ravea gave him a wink. “You might as well go. Just try to stay out of trouble.”
She gave him a tour of the place, then they played with the kids, till finally they were all sent off to bed. He was having so much fun that he wanted to stay. He looked at the time though, and hesitated. It was getting late and he had to catch the bus or he'd have to walk and well… the world didn’t feel as safe as it used to. So he excused himself; not wanting to make the long walk home in the dark.
Liz walked him up, despite protests from her dad. “The boy can find his way back just fine. You’ll likely just keep him talking till he misses his ride.”
“Oh Dad, you know I’m not like that. Relax.” She grabbed his arm, ignoring his protest. Levi didn’t mind, he was glad he had some more time alone with her. It had been fun, but there hadn’t been a moment without a few screaming kids somewhere nearby.
"Thanks for everything," he said as they walked down the street. "That was fun. You've got a great family."
She smiled. "Yep, they're the best. I'm glad you liked them. I've been wanting to introduce you for a while but, well... it's not the sort of thing most people take too well."
"You mean finding out your dad's a guthri?"
"And me," she looked at him very seriously. "You know I'm only half human myself."
"Really? what else are you?"
She looked at him, confused. Then her face became a scowl when she saw him smiling, "you're teasing me aren't you?"
"Maybe just a little. Of course I know you're not just human, as far as I'm concerned that makes you even more special. There really isn't anyone else like you."
...At least that's what he wanted to say. It stuck in his throat though and instead he just said. "Yeah, of course. You said he was your dad and I put it together."
She laughed at his dumb joke but he felt, for the second time that day, like smacking his head into a wall. What was he scared of? She was great, she seemed to like him, they'd had a great time tonight. He'd even hit it off with her parents, well sort of. Why did he keep chickening out?
They walked up the stairs, laughing about Elena's antics, but too soon they were standing in the door leading to the alley.
They said goodbye, but he hesitated. He should kiss her here. He knew he should but his hands were sweating and he suddenly felt really sick. "Uh, do you maybe, uh want to go out sometime on, you know, like a date or something?"
She laughed, a delicate sound in his ears. "This wasn't enough of a date for you?"
"Uh, well, no it's not that, but uh I like you and, uh. Look I'm sorry I'm getting all nervous, but you know, maybe I could take you out somewhere, just the two of us? You know, when my ritual thing is over."
She smiled, a twinkle in her clear blue eyes. "I'd like that."
"Really? that's great."
Wow, I sound pathetic, he thought. At least she said yes.
"So, uh, I'll call you and we can set something up ok?"
"Ok."
"Alright, I'll see you then." He gave her an awkward hug before retreating down the alley to the road. He certainly hadn’t won any awards for romance tonight, but at least he had a date where he asked her out. That was something, right?