The henchmen turned us around to retrace our steps up a corridor and take a new path, which descended into a shadowy depth. The way seemed uneventful and uninteresting, until we passed through a set of cloth doors and wandered out to a generous ledge.
“Holy Minos!” I gasped with wide-eye wonder at the vast landscape before me and below. So this is what the rock’s chi could bring into existence.
The ledge overlooked a labyrinth of shimmering paths, moss covered rock and crystal caverns that weaved squarish patterns toward a zigzagging bridge. This bridge connected paths to a port and an island of columned buildings, grand monuments and glistening paths. In the far background, I spied the top of a gemstone ring sparkling with light from the glorious sky above.
“Is that tourmaline? I’ve never seen anything like it, and so vast. It’s like the crystal has a life and energy of its own to be the sky,” Kalia whispered with wonder.
Indeed, the tourmaline sky cast a bright light and vibrant color to resemble the shade and texture of various cumulus. Judging by the rich orange, yellow and dark blue tones, we had arrived at the Central Hold during evening time. A golden glow was cast around the area to add to this effect.
Sounds of running water drew my attention to the gemstone ring. I spied the vague edge of a waterfall tumbling into sparkling jade waters. Beyond the waterfall was an impression of a black castle set against a cliff-face, and a set of caverns and buildings situated on the cliff above.
“Truly amazing.” Khes nodded.
A loud clap brought our attention back to the henchmen. We followed them down marble steps and along a red jasper path. Naturally, we gave plenty of room for other henchmen and people to pass us unhindered. We didn’t dare whisper in the presence of so many others wandering about.
We veered off the path and entered a cavern with a cloth door bearing The Zone’s red and black emblem. The henchmen grouped us in the center of the entrance foyer, making sure we weren’t in the way of others coming and going from the black sackcloth doors around the walls.
Shadows covered our faces. I felt an energy seep out of the walls. Dark specs like small debris and ash flowed about the floor edges and began forming words for me to see.
“Change is now.” I saw the specs say before it dissembled and came to rest. I noticed I had been the only one to see it.
The five henchmen enclosed us. One signed an order for the boys to be separate from the girls. My heart raced when they began to forcefully push us apart.
“Get off me!” I yelped at the strong man-handling from one henchman.
I was tossed to one side when I had tried to grab on to Troy’s arm.
“No use, Neven. This is where we part. Take care of yourself,” Troy whispered his sad goodbye and followed Zak and Khes through a sackcloth door.
I wobbled to my feet and nodded at Kalia as she hugged my left arm. We were pushed toward a door. Troy was right. There was no point in fighting a useless battle. So I supported Kalia as we followed two henchmen into a small anti-chamber. Before us was the start of a stairway. We were given a nudge toward the right sackcloth door at one side of the landing.
“Oh,” Kalia whispered as she pushed the door to one side and stepped inside.
I followed her into a small fissure. We both shared pensive glances when we saw two folded green cloth bundles on a small shelf.
“A change room?” I scratched my head.
“Seems to be.” Kalia sighed as she grabbed a bundle and unfolded it to reveal a jade green tunic, pants, flax sandals and sackcloth towel.
I unraveled my bundle and saw the same items.
“Do we change into them now?” I frowned.
“Let’s see what’s next. We’ve been given towels, so maybe we have to bathe first.” Kalia deduced from the items in her hands.
I nodded, as her conclusion sounded logical.
“By the way, Kalia, where are yah from exactly?” I asked, since it was the perfect opportunity.
She huffed. I glimpsed sadness from her blue eyes.
“Okay. At least, do yah have another part to yah name.”
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She peered at me with suspicion for sometime before saying, “Dwemer de Aueralius.”
Her voice held a sober and firm tone, almost like she was testing for my reaction.
“No clue what that family name even means. Is Aueralius important?” My expression was genuine.
She blinked with surprise. “Important?! Only throughout all of Armia.”
With a groan, she explained that the Aueralius family were renowned as scholars and administrators for civil and domestic law within the province. They ensured the citizens abided by the High Emperor’s rule. The Dwemer part of her name belonged to her mother, who was a Tayuandre from a wealthy and respected family of a merchant house. As such, children from influential families on both sides would carry their parents’ name in this manner.
“Wow, yah know this much of yah families. I guess it explains why yah knew about civilian acts.” I frowned. “What’s this tayu?”
She further explained that women within the court were distinguished in status by their titles, which determined how much importance they were to the imperial family. There were three title classes for court women. All court females were referred to as Kamurandre unless on a higher title. Most were heirs who underwent extensive training in etiquette, arts, diplomacy, world affairs and history from the time they were five.
“This was my title.” She sighed and reluctantly continued.
The other two titles referred to women who were granted the duties and respects equivalent to officer titles. Oirandre held influence over the affairs of her family’s business in favor of the empire. Whereas a Tayuandre co-managed her family’s estate and was granted a seat in the Imperial Consortium. This was the highest awarded title.
“Woah, so yah mother was a bigshot?”
Kalia’s eyes became teary. I gulped, feeling bad I had her talk about something painful.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay Neven. This life is all distant to me now. But you were right when you said knowing too much could get me killed or in trouble. So please don’t spread this fact.” She wiped away her tears.
“Like I could or would. We’re not allowed to speak in the presence of those who matter, remember? I’m sure this includes gossip.”
Kalia looked relieved and lapsed into a warm smile.
“Well, yah know my issue. So, I guess I’m Neven. And by the feel of this body, I’m maybe 14, 15 or even 16 summer’s years old.”
“Feel?! Of your body?!” Kalia sounded horrified by the thought of how I had reached this conclusion.
“Sheeze. I can’t tell if yah little miss innocent or has a promiscuous hidden nature,” I wryly responded, raising one eyebrow.
She looked about to faint at the thought of someone seeing her as anything but wholesome.
“Fine. Well, I’m definitely 16 years old,” she eventually said.
“We can be twins!” I joked and heartily slapped her back to make her yelp.
“I’m glad we’re not.” She grumbled.
Our conversation was interrupted with an insistent thump on the wall. Our cue to leave. We stepped out, carrying our cloth bundles. Then followed the henchmen down the stairs.
Moisture and a heady scent of musk wafted past our noses as we stepped onto the top landing of a vast cavern. Rows of benches occupied the top half of the cavern’s space, and coiled their way down towards a rock pool where milky water steamed, sparkled and reflected light from the moonstone stalagmites that stood as a ring at the pool’s center. A wall of deep, rich turquoise acted as a backdrop.
We carefully picked our way down between benches and stopped at the pool’s edge.
A henchman gave us a hand signal to disrobe and enter the water. They left the area, but I could hear them shuffling behind a side wall.
We placed our fresh clothes and towel on a nearby bench, slipped out of our old dresses and shoes. Then dived in head first. The water was delicious and soothing. I felt new energy flow through me with each stroke.
“Woah! Hey.” I gasped as I saw my body glowing with a reddish hue from the chi that was empowering my aura.
“Look!” Kalia drew my attention to the pretty arrangement of pink and yellowish lichen floating around the warm, dark waters.
Steam and bubbles hissed near my face. Heat flushed my cheeks, rose-red. I noticed Kalia’s supple pale skin was more obvious than ever. Worrying thoughts circled my mind.
“Hey Kalia, I’ll watch yah back if yah watch mine from now on,” I whispered between bubbles.
She gave no visual response, but her fingers brushed mine under the water to say, “Okay”.
We swam away from each other. I doggy-paddled to a shimmering edge and squinted madly as steal glinted into my eyes. I stared up and saw a henchman looking down on me with my towel spread wide. I gulped, counted to three and heaved my body out of the water and swiftly wrapped the towel around me. I saw Kalia shivering at my side, with her modesty protected by her towel. We were dripping water like drowned rats.
The henchmen signed some spellwords that caused warm air to swirl about our bodies like a tornado. Within minutes, we had been air-dried.
They turned their backs as they allowed us to dress in our new clothes. I found my long sleeved half body tunic and pants a welcome relief to my skin. The material was light yet sturdy of refined sackcloth, which wasn’t itchy to my skin.
“I guess this is one of the perks of being a slave to Anwar.” I thought as I slipped into the matching flax sandals, which were a nice fit.
Kalia seemed impressed and grateful for the clothes, which more than kept her modest. She even had a matching strip of cloth to tie up her long blond hair in a tidy ponytail. As slaves to Anwar, it seemed we were expected to reflect Our Lady’s image. Kalia definitely did. A couple of bull helmet heads nodded with something of an approval to her look.
The nods stopped when they saw me. I felt I looked decent enough. At least my clothes fit well and hadn’t given away my curves.
“Don’t I get a nod of approval?” I bravely whispered and gasped when a sword was aimed at my throat.
“Yah can just shake yah head.” I gulped as I stared at the sword’s tip.
Kalia sighed and pulled me into a bow of apology with her. The sword was sheathed. We were prompted forward.
They led us out of the cavern and down a dank corridor. It ended in a spacious, circular, room. It was bare of furniture save for a large desk and an enormous intricately carved chair behind it. Red and black banners fluttered around the walls.
We stood before the desk. I flinched when a familiar voice said, “Henchmen leave the room.”