Lightning flashed across the rapidly darkening sky. The heavy clouds displaying shadows of the great galloping unicorn, each strike of its hooves booming like a battle drum.
Risha soldiered on into the rising storm, leading Anas down cramped alleyways and steep moss bitten stairs. Her black makeup was running down in streams, framing her cheeks and chin. Her shoes had been lost to some gutter, it was easier to just run barefoot on the wet stonework. While running Risha had brought together her dress and wrapped it tightly over her shoulders, her veil providing some protection to see ahead.
“Lady Risha sure is knowledgeable of the paths of a city she has never before visited.” Anas panted out while keeping his eyes to the ground, one hand holding down his hood and the other securely held on to his guide.
“I know a gallant gal in love, and she has shown me the way she takes ta meet her mistress.”
“Then there’s no doubt it’s the quickest route!”
The two shared a smile. It was true Risha had never left her home island, which only meant she had been that much more excited to explore Rhumm with her friends, that and her memory had always been one of her greatest assets and would use it fully to get the summoner where he needed.The path was so clear in Risha’s mind she could have walked it blind.
Hurriedly the pair ascended and emerged out on the merchant plaza. The space had been prepared for the festival with flower arrangements and leaves criss-crossed on strings hanging over the plaza like a green roof. The decorations were now torn and littered the street by the violence of the storm. Vendors talked among themselves in uneasy tones. Some were in the process of packing up to seek shelter.
Risha led Anas behind the stalls following along the walls. In the distance one by one the bells of the city began crying out in emergency. The wind whistled almost deafeningly in her ears. Risha could feel Anas’s hand growing cold and trembling in her grip.
“We’ll weather this storm.” She thought to herself before immediately turning her attention to the sound of creaking wood. The frame of the stall they were passing behind tilted and threatened to collapse on them and the vendor who were busy packing away their wares.
With one hand Risha held the weight of the stall. The vendor looked up in shock as Risha pushed the frame so it harmlessly collapsed to the side.
“You saved me! How can I repay you!” The vendor shouted his gratitude to which Risha replied that they should sing their praises to Rhuman to fight the storm. The vendor immediately began chanting a hymn, for who could refuse a towering goddess in warpaint.
Anas’almar looked in awe at his companion.
"You speak Rhimise?"
"A bit. Every eloquere studies languages."
Risha felt warm with embarrassment. But she had said to herself that now was not the time to think but to act, so she resumed her mission to escort the summoner.
They made it out of the plaza and turned to the last flight of stairs that would lead them into the upper district where the placa garden ships were anchored. Only issue was that the stairs had been turned into a slide of ice with the corrupted black ooze gleaming underneath. Either they would have to climb the wall or find another way.
“Excuse me!” A shrill voice of a child called out to Risha from on top of the wall. A small grill covered from head to toe in white feathers with a single black horn looked down. The girl spread her wings and glided down next to Risha.
“Have you seen my brother? He is tall, dark skin and with black wings on his head.” The little girl shouted before locking eyes with Anas.
“Brother!”
“Meryneith? Why are you here?”
“I was looking for you- “
Risha stepped in between the two.
“We can talk later when we can hear each other! We have ta get to the palace!”
The little seraphim girl beamed with starlight in her eyes at her brother who returned with a reassuring smile.
“I’ll clear the path!”
The girl turned to the icy stairs, held out her arms and faced the sky.
“With this power I have been entrusted
To lead the people under your sky
I invoke thine blessing; Tiamat!”
The heart piercing evocation rang clear over the storm. The girl made a sweeping motion with her arms and wings, the ice evaporated and the ooze crumpled to dust. The path was cleared and the revelation that Risha was standing next to an imperial princess hit her like a tidal wave.
Anas’almar bent down, and without further prompting Meryneith jumped up on his back.
“Lead the way.” The summoner prompted and without fhuture delay the group made it to the upper district and with a short run were standing right under the massive red ships bursting with greenery.
To get inside there were towers in place with bridges drawn out to the palace gardens. They went up the tower where two guards stood before the opening to the bridge.They were dressed in red robes and turbans, each welding a spear and with a tree rifle on their backs. They crossed their spears and looked suspect at the group.
“This is a restricted area. Turn back now. We have no place for jesters and beggars.”
Risha was barefoot, drenched and with makeup making her look like a crying ghost. Anas did not look that much better with his battered hood up.
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“Lord Anas’almar? Please excuse our behaviour, we did not know!”
The guard's embarrassment when Anas removed his hood and unwrapped his head was palatable. They both fumbled over their words and rained down apologies. Once one of them noticed the princess’s horn sticking out they went down on one knee asking for forgiveness.
“At ease, soldiers." Meryneith giggled, sliding down Anas's back and shaking water off her myriad of feathers.
Embarrassed, the guards stepped out of the way and even offered to escort the trio to which Anas declined.
"Let’s get a move on. If the skies are on our side we should not run into anyone while I fetch my things.”
Anas moved with newfound confidence. Now longer was he running through the chaotic street with no sense of direction. Risha walked next to the summoner, the princess on his other side. She only hoped Obi was doing alright and that the voices of the people would reach Rhuman. Perhaps the sailor had already left and joined with his crew and were planning how to sail out through the thunderstorm?
The trio boarded the massive vessel. The garden surely would have been a stunning sight but the two could only focus on not slipping and getting inside. Servants looked them over with big curious eyes as they made their way through the panelled wooden hallways lit up with light blossoms. A few turns later and the hallways opened to the noblemen’s quarters.
It was ghostly quiet. The intricate red carpets strewn across the floor warmed and dried Risha’s feet. Not a soul was in sight. The ship was so steady and quiet that the sounds of the storm outside felt serene and far away.
Passing around a corner Anas opened the door to his room. It was a quaint and cramped space, nothing like Risha would have imagined for the lord. Red and yellow boxes took up most of the floorspace. Calligraphy and maps hung in an orderly fashion on the walls. Delicately Anas slid open one of the walls and retrieved his summoner staff.
“It’s beautiful.” Risha looked over the staff, glimmering with foam and bubbles. She felt lighter and refreshed just looking at the heavenly artifact.
Anas threw his wet cloak and scarf onto the floor.
“Could you two stand guard for a minute, Meryneith, lady Risha? I need to get dressed and in the right state of mind for the summon.”
“You got it!”
“Of course.”
Anas closed the door and the two girls found themselves alone in the common area. Risha took this moment to take off her veil and wipe off the ruined make-up that had been an itching nuisance since she left the coffee pavilion. Then, remembering who she was with, turned to the fluffy feathered girl.
“I guess we haven’t properly introduced ourselves. I’m Risha, pleasure to meet ya.”
Risha extended a hand which the young girl eagerly shook.
“Nice to meet you Risha. I’m Meryneith.”
The princess looked over Risha with an inquisitive look.
“You are… “
“Yes?”
“You are big.”
Big? Risha did not know how to answer this comment, but it was said with such genuinity that she could do nothing but take it as a compliment.
“Do you ever get stuck or knock things over with your horns?”
“Yeah- yes. I does happen. I have ta walk sideways into narrow doors and be extra careful when picking things up from under tables or near hanging lanterns.”
“I’m like that too! Well, not like that, that. But I always have to practise keeping my wings in check. Things just appear out of the blue to be knocked over.”
“Did you know me and your brother met by me bumping ova’ a cup of coffee?”
“How on Zephyr would you knock over a coffee cup with your horns?”
Lightning lit up the empty halls. Risha could hear marching footsteps. The shadow of a tall man of sharp edges and regal posture came closer with each strike of lightning. Risha stepped out to face the figure head on, while the chatty princess went silent and hid behind her.
“Who might you be?”
The deep commanding voice has Risha’s legs become noodles and her tongue heavy lead. In front of her stood a tower of a man. Yellow tiger eyes on a scar striped face sized her up from head to toe. On his arm glimmered a metal arm guard, signaling his position as ruling judge. Behind the elderly man stood four armed guards at the ready and a whole entourage of nobles followed from further down the halls. Apparently everyone had heard about the arrival of the princess and summoner.
“Greetings uncle Ahmed. Her name is Risha. She escorted me and Meryneith through the storm. I owe her a great debt."
Anas stepped out of his room,dressed in a fine teal garment with gold trimming. Jewelry in gold and wood hung around his arms and neck. A golden knife embellished with rubies were strapped to his sash and in his hand held a matching embellished bottle.
"Very well. I thank you, Risha, for your services to the empire. But Anas'almar, what were you doing out in the city and putting her majesty in danger?"
"Anas had nothing- "
"It is alright Meryneith, I will take responsibility. I know what I did was wrong, but we currently have a situation and I would ask to attone by handling this storm."
"I will not be an unreasonable man. Besides, giving you this mission might be the only way to mitigate my disappointment. You shall investigate and handle this situation with Ixion."
"I am glad we can come to an understanding."
"Uncle Ahmed, Anas should not go alone. I already have tested that my evocation works against the icy ooze."
"Is this true, Anas?"
"Yes."
"You know the consequences if you let harm befall an imperial princess."
"I know well I will lose my blessings and rights as a summoner. But the princess is needed and I will protect her with all I got. I will also request that my friend comes with me to continue to act as my guardian and guide, if she wishes. I may have already asked too much of you, Risha."
Risha looked at Anas. His face was determined calmness and she knew he would not hold anything against her if she decided to not follow him to the skies. But that was just the thing, she wanted the skies, she wanted the danger and the drama, she wanted material for her own ballad. Risha straightened her back and matched Anas’s expression.
“I will come with you.”
"Good. Does lady Risha know how to use a rifle?"
"I do, learned sir." Risha stammered out. It had been years since she was out hunting with her grandfather but she had faith in her abilities.
"Good. Then the plan is that Anas will summon Tiamat, engage with the avatar of Ixion and either drive away or destroy the avatar with her majesty's blessing and firepower. I shall send my best guard to accompany you on this mission."
"That will not be necessary. I just require an extra rifle. There's a helmsman leading the voices of Rhuman waiting for us. We will need the Tropicaz aeon to assist us if we are to succeed."
"Very well. Have your rifles and let's be on our way."
Ahmed snapped his fingers and immediately the two closest guards handed over their rifles to Risha. The sea of people parted before the summoner and the trio began their procession.
They passed halls of light blossoms, distant bells calling out to them for help. One by one servants and nobles trickled into their procession. They all knew what was about to happen. What they said, if they said anything, completely washed passed Risha.
Once outside the wind once again gripped their clothes, tearing and thrashing with all it’s might. Up on the deck were just yesterday there had been merriment and dancing Anas made his stage. Risha stood right by a little flight of stairs with arms crossed and a smile on her face, the princess situated right in front of her. None of the curious onlookers would dare try and walk past her.
The audience went quiet. Anas lifted his staff with one hand and the bejewelled bottle with his other. Lightning flashed violently around the ship.
“Majesty of wings, engine of the empire.
With this power I have been entrusted, I call.
Descend, Tiamat!”
The water evaporated. A bone chilling roar sounded across the sky. The rain ceased. From the grey clouds a majestic dragon descended. Shimmering in seven colours, flying with seven pairs of different kinds of wings. Several bolts of lightning aimed for the dragon but turned to harmless fireworks upon impact, for no elements could harm an avatar of the elemental monarch.
Rishas hairs stood out on her body. Anas fell to his knees and knelt before Tiamat as the dragon landed on the deck. Seven gemstone eyes watching him. After a quick inspection Tiamat gave a quick nod to let him stand.
“Your majesty, may I and my companions mount your back?” Anas called out, his head still down to show respect.
The dragon huffed, scratching its golden claws against the wooden floor and then offered another nod. Anas turned and stretched out his hand to Risha. She was dumbstruck. Risha had been determined to help get the summoner to the ship but it had not sunk in that she would be riding Tiamat.
“My eyesight is poor, even more so in this storm,I will be depending on you two, princess, lady Risha.”
The dragon turned it’s eyes and was looking at Risha and flapped it’s many wings impatiently.
Anas had stretched out his hand to her so many times through that morning and she was not about to leave him now. Timidly she walked up to Anas, taking his hand and bowed to the dragon. Tiamat lowered their head and the two climbed up. Anas in front gripping to the underside of the first pair of wings when Risha realised a little problem.
“Anas, could I borrow your knife?”
A spark of understanding made Anas’s wings stand up and he quickly removed the golden dagger from his sash. Risha threw off the outer layer of her dress and ripped the simple white gown that was left so she could move her legs. A gasp was heard from the audience while Anas smirked and threw off his own robes in solidarity, leaving only his drenched puffy pants and clattering jewelry.
“They’ll only get wet and in the way anyways!”
Risha laughed, feeling just a little embarrassed before climbing up and seating herself behind the summoner. The princess skidded across the deck and with ease flew up and situated herself infront of Anas.
They all held on tight as the dragon flapped its wings, lifting off the ground and rapidly ascended into the sky. Risha’s heart raced, her stomach felt light and bubbly, the speed and the wind unlike anything else. And the day had only just begun!