The Seaside City of Naayir-Nahtahma | Svernia: IV
Moritz picks at his teeth with his fingernail. Their filling luncheon now over, he couldn't imagine anything else they might do aside from aimless meandering.
They were expected to remain at the palace for a few more days until Orion's convalescence, though he'd much rather spend his hours exploring the seaside city.
Aalim proved himself a good addition to their troupe, getting along well with Quentin and Noaki.
Moritz sneaks a glance for any witnesses. When the coast is clear, he flicks a piece of lettuce leaf into a nearby shrub. "I don't suppose you'll be joining us for dinner?" He asks their escort.
"I suppose." Aalim leads them through a tunnel illuminated by fluorescent ore. "We're almost there."
Moritz and the others had convinced Aalim to show them the shortcut into the city that didn’t involve traversing the caverns. A trek of six and a half hours. If an alternative route existed, Moritz wasn't going to pass up the opportunity.
Aalim leads the group into a capacious cavern with ancient stone work. Beside a raging river, a narrow channel had been carved into the stone floor, leading into a tunnel illuminated by more ore. In this channel was a lengthy oarless canoe..
Quentin's eyes open wide with excitement. "I know fun when I see it, let's give it a go!"
"You recognize it?" Noaki inspects the narrow vessel.
Quentin laughs, "no. But it's not hard to imagine how it works."
"I have a fairly good idea," Moritz inputs. "Though, it doesn't look all that safe."
"That's one of the reasons people prefer to walk." Aalim points out the channel, "once inside the vessel, you operate a lever that will flood this channel with water." He indicates to the space beneath the canoe's bottom, "once enough water fills the channel, it makes contact with the hull and carries you off to the city."
"I understand that part," Noaki points at the canoe, "but what happens to the boat?"
"Upon arrival on sight, there is an alternative channel at a higher elevation, you place the vessel there and it ferries you back to the palace." Aalim points to a parallel channel behind the boat. "Once you arrive, you deboard, collect your belongings, activate another lever, and it will float right back here."
Moritz marvels at the operation, although one question still hadn't been answered. "How fast does it go?"
Aalim's eyes sparkle, "enough to make your heart rush and your gut drop."
An eager Quentin jumps in, "can I give it a go?"
Aalim laughs, "not today I'm afraid. You're all having dinner with the royal family tonight. I'd be in some serious trouble if you were late."
"Maybe next time," Quentin jumps out.
An idea enters Moritz's mind, "Hey Aalim?"
Aalim indicates his attention with a nod.
"Are you familiar with the city?" Moritz gestures to Quentin and Noaki, "we could use a guide. There's an awful lot of streets, and we'd easily get lost."
"I'll submit a request to my superiors," Aalim responds, concealing his obvious pleasure at the suggestion.
"Should we head back now?" Noaki inspects the cavernous ceiling. "I know we've still got a ways till dinner, but it did take us a bit of time to get here."
Aalim's eyes widen. "You're right, come on," he leads the group up the path they just trekked not a few minutes prior.
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Though not far off from the palace, the route back to their quarters in the upper plaza was a long one. Aalim split from their group with final instructions to proceed down the corridor while he changes into his residential garments.
"Nice guy isn't he?" Moritz asks no one in particular.
"He seems to know quite a bit," Quentin comments.
"He makes for good company," Noaki adds.
They exit onto the plaza. Beside the guard railing, Gavin and the Captain are engaged in some serious conversation. Moritz wonders what that might've been about, but decides to keep his curiosity to himself.
The three split off to their own chambers. Comparatively with the others, Moritz's is furnished much differently. His residency contains all the usual furnishings and decor but with an interior design reminiscent of the Silver Fox with a touch of luxury, though nothing too extravagant.
He enters the washroom and makes faces with himself in the mirror before making considerations as to what would be appropriate apparel for this evening. The chancellor didn't appear all that concerned with his choices so far. Then again, the chancellor was a striking eccentric individual. He couldn't say the same for the rest of the royal family.
He'd left the bulk of his wardrobe back on the ship, so his options were limited to a few selections. His sky blue linen shirt and soil colored trousers were perfect for general activities, but perhaps not for making appearances to nobility.
He scours his belongings for some time before changing into a high collared navy shirt made of linen, and white linen trousers embroidered in patterns of silver thread. His footwear remains the same leather sandals. When he’s finished he inspects himself in the mirror. Not the best selection, but he didn't have many options.
After an enjoyable ice-cold shower, he towels himself down and changes into his new outfit. He spritzs a bit of the cologne set out for him and begins wafting a faint aroma of firewood.
In the plaza Quentin is waiting near the railing, picking his nose. He had changed into a sleek white peacoat over black high collared shirt with matching trousers and combed out his hair with a wavy flair that suited his character.
"Whoa, look at you!" Moritz compliments.
"What? Oh this?" He flips the hem of his coat, "It was a gift from the Captain and Rita when I joined the crew. It’s a bit restraining so I don't wear it much."
Tackling his fear, Moritz leans against the guard railing. "How long have you been in the crew?"
Quentin leans back beside him with a look of temptation. "Around five years," he peers down. "As soon as my voice started changing, I tagged along with Veynir. He was against it in the beginning, but quickly warmed up to the idea."
"It sounds like you've had a lot of adventures," Moritz remarks, "I'd like to hear about them sometime."
"Deal." Quentin points at the brilliant light in the midst of the domed frescoe, "what do you suppose that is?"
"I don't know, a shard of some kind perhaps?" Moritz tries to inspect the light but is blinded from gawking directly. "You'll have to ask Aalim later. If anyone knows, it'll be him."
"Definitely."
Like this, they continue back and forth for some time, until Noaki finally emerges from his dwelling, his bearskin coat caped over a dark, high collared linen shirt paired with dark cotton brown trousers. He replaced his mukluks with dark, high leather boots. He smiles, "sorry I took so long, I couldn't decide between this or the white clothes they had out.”
"We've still got plenty of time," Moritz gauges the dimming sunlight. “I don’t suppose we could get an early start? I haven’t got much else to do.”
Noaki walks between Moritz and Quentin, the latter finding himself falling behind every now and again with some distraction. “You think we’ll meet him again?”
“Who? Aalim?” Moritz shrugs, "maybe if we pretended to be in on some secret business, we'll catch him eavesdropping."
"There's something about him that I can't quite put my finger on."
Moritz slows his pace, "what do you mean?"
"In the beginning I took note of it in his voice, something he tried to conceal behind his mask." Noaki looks to be in some internal analysis.
"You mean his face?"
Noaki laughs, "aside from that. It's more of a quality," he matches his pace with Moritz. "At first I thought I had him when I assumed he wasn't a guard, turns out that assumption was wrong."
Moritz tries to recall their first encounter. He'd gotten pretty heated, but in a way that expressed some convivial attribute he couldn't yet define. "I never picked up on it," Moritz admits. "Like Quentin said earlier, he does know quite a bit, especially for a guard."
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Noaki nodded. "That might be it." He looked around, "where's Quentin anyway?"
"Probably already waiting in the dining room," Moritz searches the area. They were in a finely decorated corridor, with geometricized tapestries. Quentin couldn't possibly have lost sight of them, on top of that, nothing in the corridor appeared distractedly interesting. "Quentin!"
Noaki raises an eyebrow, "was that necessary?"
"Got any better ideas?" Moritz rebukes.
"Yes I do," Noaki closes his eyes.
Moritz had forgotten about Noaki's abilities. Sometimes he imagined what it would be like to see like Noaki. Since Falore, his training had been put on hold. He couldn't do much without Orion's guidance, his abilities were too unpredictable without the guidance of proper discipline.
"I found him, he's headed this way with Veynir and Reyna," Noaki opens his eyes.
They resume their walk. "I forget how useful that is," Moritz comments. "So what did the Chancellor tell you from your diagnosis?"
Noaki hadn't spoken about his time with the chancellor. "It didn't seem all that different from what Master Eiko told me, though it seems Master Eiko sees a great deal more than the chancellor."
Moritz recalls those kind jade eyes, an insightful gaze imbued with compassion and understanding. He never spoke much with Master Eiko, she seemed more concerned with his mental state, which she admitted she could do very little. "Perhaps they specialize in different fields of medicine?"
"The chancellor seems to rely a great deal on elixirs, master Eiko uses her sight on top of lifestyle changes, with a bit of medicine, if necessary." Noaki smiles apologetically, "I suppose the two can't be compared directly."
Upon entry into the dining hall, they were surprised to encounter two identical figures seated at the center of the table. Moritz notes the twins are in their late adolescence.
The pair had narrow jade eyes with soot colored hair and goatees to match. They wore a familiar white robed uniform. The only distinguishing facet between the two was that one sported a trimmed mustache.
Moritz and Noaki exchange glances and resume their seats as the other evening. The four sit in silence, uncomfortably aware of one another. A few minutes later, Quentin, followed by Reyna and Veynir, entered.
Veynir, clad in a sleek navy trench coat with white slacks and dark loafers, had combed his hair to the side. Reyna, adorned in an aquamarine short dress and milky heels, had fashioned her hair into a half-crown braid accentuated with a white flower. The trio returned to their spots from before, Quentin beside Noaki and Veynir beside Reyna.
A few minutes after light chatter amongst themselves a man with broad shoulders and regal bearing, entered. He wore a silkened dark-red and milky-white uniform with a white cape over one shoulder with silver and gold embroidery. Similar to the twins, his eyes were reminiscent of jade stones with dark hair.
The next to enter were two lovely ladies in lopsided ankle length white dresses with silver sparkles. They sat beside the one in uniform, and immediately began murmuring.
Gavin entered next. To their genuine astonishment, in a silver and white liveried uniform. Caped over one shoulder was his white bearskin overcoat. He sat beside Moritz.
Captain Egor entered in a black woollen trench coat with white buttons and seams. Escorted in his arm, Rita wore a plain white dress with her hair tucked beneath a white hat with a veil.
The chancellor entered in a lengthy pearl colored cloak with no embroidery, seams, patterns, or designs. Moritz marvels at the man as he takes his seat. The chancellor's sleeves were non-existence, he caught Moritz's eye and smiles.
One by one, the hall begins to fill with more attendees. The last of whom was Moir. Who dressed himself in billowy silver and navy garments, his wispy beard floating upwards every now and then. He nods toward the hall rather than anyone in particular, and takes his seat between Rita and Reyna.
The chatter of the room reaches a pitch where everyone can comfortably speak openly. Moritz and Noaki were discussing the details of fusions and abilities when a late arrival entered.
Moritz nudges Noaki, who sees and nudges Quentin.
Aalim, in a cloudy silver and white silk kurta, seats himself in the remaining seat between Quentin and an older gentleman with round spectacles.
"Aalim," the chancellor chides, "you're very late. I was afraid we would have to begin without you."
Noaki, Quentin, and Moritz share a look of realization. Noaki's assertions hadn't been wrong all along, he picked up on something Moritz never might have suspected. Aalim was part of the royal family.
"My apologies uncle," Aalim bows his head curtly.
The chancellor claps, attracting the hall's attention. "Welcome honorable guests and family," he opens. "I am pleased to see everyone here. These are busying times, so I extend my appreciation for your attendance." The chancellor signals to a staff member and the room fills with waiters and serving women, placing down dinnerware and filling their chalices with milky-pearl wine.
Moritz notices Veynir eyeing the drink warily. Noaki appears disinterested in the whole affair and focuses his attention on the people sitting around the table. While food is being set out, the conversations grow livelier.
Once more the chancellor claps everyone's attention and he recites the hymn, in that beautiful voice reverberating throughout the hall. The aysheks dim to a moonlit luminosity, and they are once more illumined by the light of the blue flames and evening sun.
"Aalim, I didn't know you were royalty," Quentin assembles his selections onto a plate, "why didn't you tell us?"
"I did not see why it mattered," Aalim responds flatly.
"Royalty or not," Noaki chews on a tough root, "you're still the same to us."
"That's right," Moritz adds, "an eavesdropper. A royal one at that."
"Did you get around to submitting that request?" Quentin dips a loaf of beytil in melted ghee, "it'd be a shame if you didn't accompany us."
"What request?" One of the twins, the one with a mustache, shifts his attention toward their conversation.
"It does not concern you," Aalim answers.
"I should've known you would find a way out of duty," the second twin sips from his chalice.
"We really would appreciate a guide throughout the city," Noaki defends Aalim.
"If I were you, okari, I'd lower my voice," the second twin responds flatly.
"The royal family is not allowed outside the city," the first twin explains. "Of course everyone finds their way into the city, we'd all have lost our minds by now if we didn't leave."
Moritz lathers yogurt onto a tart, "so you all break the rules anyway, everyone knows it, but no one tries to change them?"
"It is a customary rule set in place for the public," the second twin sifts through a series of leafy selections, "to show the public that tradition is still alive."
"I don't know," Moritz takes a sip of elixir, "the people seem to enjoy having royalties in their streets."
"Our uncle is a different matter altogether," the first twin plops a berry into his mouth. "Uncle is beloved by all. The rest of us," he drinks from his chalice.
"Would hardly be distinguishable in what the public attires themselves in," the second twin finishes.
"We're not too Disappointed brother," the first twin smiles. "Tomorrow's taikhetudin roster is looking to be quite the spectacle."
Quentin almost leaps from his seat, "there's a competition tomorrow?!"
"Yes, I don't suspect you'll all be attending?" The first twin downs the contents of his drink and gestures to the wait staff to refill.
"I can't speak for Noaki and Moritz, but I'll be there for certain." Quentin adds a mix of seeds and nuts into an orange soup, topped off with an herb of some sort.
Moritz recounts the argument between Quentin and Aalim during Noaki's diagnosis. "I think I'll attend myself, Noaki?"
Noaki comes to attention, as if he'd been preoccupied with something. "Yeah, it sounds exciting."
"So what say you Aalim?" Quentin asks the adolescent.
"I never submitted the request," he spoons a grainy paste over a beytil, "but that's never stopped me before."
"Most members of the family will attend in disguise." The first twin subtly hints at the chancellor, "our beloved uncle on the other hand."
"Is expected to attend," the second twin finishes, biting down on a savory piece of fruit.
"Why the chancellor?" Noaki submerges an assortment of seeds into a green soup.
"It's not apparent?" The second twin answers.
"Uncle is beloved by all for his medicinal expertise, a true genius in the vitae." The first twin downs the contents of his chalice and signals a servant to refill.
"A fragment of his popularity with the denizens of the city is his contribution to healing the taikhetudin duelists." The second twin dabs at his mouth with a napkin.
"Even that is just research for our uncle," the first twin downs the entire contents of the chalice.
"To the duelists, our uncle is their physician," the second twin exchanges a nod with his identical.
"To him, the duelists are insightful patients that allow him to concoct new medicine." They both rise in unison, bow to their uncle, conceal their faces and excuse themselves for the rest of dinner.
"That's what I couldn't put my finger on," Noaki laughs.
"Put your finger on what?" Moritz finishes a very bitter tasting root.
"Didn't you recognize them when they covered their faces?" Noaki sips his wine.
Moritz recounts their uniform and Aalim being restrained by two guards. "Those were the two guards from the library."
"I suspected something might've been off about them," Noaki slurps his soup.
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The rest of the evening went without event, Moritz and Noaki equally had a bit more of that lunar concoction than they intended, and stumbled to their chambers with Quentin's guidance.
Moritz plops onto his bed, feeling out of sorts. If his mother had made it across the sea, was she still here? He sighs, rolls over and lands on the floor with a loud thud.
The Holy Lands, Celestials, levitating sea serpents, gems. This all felt like a fairy tale he might enjoy reading, but not actually want to live. Yet here he was.
With eyes closed, he faces the ceiling and dreams the sounds of winter.