Sahil ibun Sa’d remained true to his words even if Aurora still couldn’t believe her eyes when the tailor handed her the entire set of silken attire. The lower layers, the blouse and the skirt, were of a white gossamer silk which felt incredible to the touch – and the fact that the hem had been done with golden thread that shone through in a thin, interwoven band left her almost speechless.
But while that was already impressive, the cloak-like wrap of thirteen colored veils fixated onto a bejeweled brooch made her fall in love with the whole composition at first sight. The tailor had used four colors, three of which appeared four times: white, red and gold. The unique color was on the largest and outermost layer and it had been held in a deep, emerald green which perfectly matched with Arakiel’s white-reddish brocade coat.
Lady Mellia’s clothing had been kept in a soft creamy color, a lighter rose and above, a light pink while her cloak was thoroughly white.
It her surprise, she praised the man’s impressive skills in the smokeless tongue, drawing quite a bit of attention from Arakiel, Lady Mellia and even the tailor himself, who actually blushed while his chest swelled with pride.
But he had earned it.
Not intending to waste time, she tried to drag Arakiel back home, but he had to pay the second part of the clothes first, noting that the other, second order could wait a little longer as they’d most likely stay in town for a brief while.
When he was finally done, Aurora marched back across the city as quickly as she could without straight-up running.
She barely paid attention to her surroundings on the way back, but the citizens of al-Aliriq had begun to light up the braziers and torches while now and then, the soft sound of music could be heard and overall, the scent of cooked and roasted food began to fill the streets while above, the dusk showed itself at its best, the sun bathing the sky into a spectacle on its own.
And yet, the spectacle in Aurora’s hands took up much more of her attention.
Back home, she immediately ran upstairs to her and Arakiel’s room, where she discarded her current outfit without second thought.
By the time her champion entered, she had just finished adjusting the brooch and not only did the entire set feel incredible to wear, it was also so light that she barely felt it at all.
When she swirled around to meet him, her dress fluttered lightly along with her, most notably her layered cloak and just like Mellia had done back then, she took his breath away with her new appearance. Again.
And although the prospect of leaving him there dumbfounded was enticing, she sashayed across the room and suggested that he dress lest they arrive too late.
On her way down, she witnessed Ezekiel and Selene enter from the front and although she didn’t know what they had done, she could tell that both had gotten a makeover alongside some new clothes.
Ezekiel looked like a Kalanite gentlemen, with his dark-red colored buttoned doublet, his pearl-white shirt whose collar peeked through and the set of neat strict trousers, never mind the dark leather boots and the belt with the single loop that held a longsword whose ricasso showed a fine blue etching.
He wore a white cape with an attached hood to round out his outfit, having left his breastplate and the other armor someplace else.
The argent at his side wore a fairly revealing cream-colored blouse with side-straps that left her shoulders thoroughly exposed while a dark-leather bodice stabilized not only the clothing, it also accentuated her curvature, most notably because the other seraphim wore a loosely tied braid that led right in between her cleavage. Her thrice-layered long skirt was positively modest by comparison, especially since the bodice left no skin exposed around the waist or the hips.
Aurora didn’t really care about the silver-haired girl given her arrogant nature, but she had to admit that she looked very presentable right now, especially considering the rather ornate necklace of silver that served as a major eyecatcher right below her throat. In addition, she wore a single silver bracelet on her left arm which also had a fairly long, laced white glove that stretched all the way past her elbow.
“You look rather dashing,” Ezekiel greeted as a compliment the moment beheld Aurora, but she couldn’t take his breath away, even now.
“You appear mighty fine as well, Lord Ezekiel,” Aurora returned only to quickly correct herself. “Pardon, Ezekiel.”
She hadn’t spoken to him for a while now, she just realized.
Selene ast Rhea kept a subdued posture right behind her master, but Aurora did notice her stealing a glance at Aurora and in it, there was only envy with a shred of hate.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, aurea. I am who I am… where’s your master?” Ezekiel asked in a polite manner.
Aurora, having arrived downstairs, motioned upward. “Changing as we speak, as is Lady Mellia. Are we late?”
The man’s amethyst-colored eyes looked her over a little and then he shrugged nonchalantly. “Zari Amar is waiting outside, but I suppose he doesn’t mind waiting a few more minutes. We’ll be the stars of the evening either way.”
“How so?”
“It’s a gathering of influential people, but you needn’t worry about it. Arakiel will hopefully realize whats at stake here and if not… well, I’m also there.” Ezekiel noted in a neutral tone which caused an immediately reaction from upstairs.
“Trust me Ezekiel, you will not be needed. Gatherings have never been your strong suit, have they?” Arakiel jabbed from upstairs, sounding fairly well-spirited.
Aurora turned around and beheld him in all his glory and given that she, too, was briefly left stunned, the tailor had done awesome work, living up to his promise.
The white-red brocade coat fit Arakiel well, thoroughly bringing out his impressive shoulders that Aurora knew she could rely on in a moment of need and even the emerald-green silken shirt that peeked out from underneath the little cutout added to his charm. The coat’s high collar made him appear very formal, but it fit with his perfectly leveled shoulders and, although she hadn’t believed it at first, even the slightly baggy pants only complimented the look, not taking anything away. It might be because of the black-leather boots the must’ve picked up when she hadn’t been looking, but he looked like a proper conqueror in festive attire should.
“As if you’re one to talk,” Ezekiel returned in the meantime and the two began to bicker a little bit until Lady Mellia appeared, hiding her countenance and physique underneath her new slim white cloak.
Once downstairs, Arakiel’s little siter waited until both men looked over towards her at which point she addressed them. “At last, thine attire is suitable for thy station, brother.” She began, sounding genuinely content. “As for thee, Ezekiel. Thou art not of noble birth, yet thou dresses like one – why?”
“I own an imperial princess of Selenya, Lady Mellia il Kalanaar.” Ezekiel barked back, having somehow taken offense. “Did you not call me ‘Lord’ earlier!?”
“A lord would not treat his argent as thou does, Ezekiel.” Lady Mellia stated, causing the blonde man to raise his eyebrow while Arakiel looked over to her with confusion.
“Excuse me?”
Aurora stole a glance at Selene, who briefly looked at the white-cloaked maiden before once again casting her gaze downward, but there was something brewing inside there.
“I am not prithee to what happened, Ezekiel… but thine argent is in pain. No proper noble would let his–”
“SHUT UP!” Selene suddenly cried out, her eyes staring wide-eyed at Lady Mellia. “You know nothing about me or my master – nothing! Don’t you dare to…!”
“Selene!” Ezekiel barked and from one moment to another, the silver-haired woman calmed down while snapping to attention. “That is enough.”
“Yes, Master.” She replied obediently, but Aurora could tell that there were a lot of things she wanted to throw their way. Not at Ezekiel, but at Aurora and Lady Mellia specifically.
“Mellia,” Arakiel began, slightly admonishing his sister. “Don’t meddle into affairs that are none of your concern. Selene is Ezekiel’s argent – it’s none of our business.”
“As thy commands, brother.” Lady Mellia replied in a perfectly leveled voice after which she held out his hand, switching the subject. “Will thou allow me to accompany thee?”
Puzzlement was written all across Arakiel’s face, but he accepted her request nonetheless, saying. “Uh… sure.”
“Got everything sorted out now, good. Zari Amar is waiting,” Ezekiel stated, sounding slightly irritated, although Aurora couldn’t tell whether at Selene, at himself or at Lady Mellia.
The jinnum did indeed wait outside, having chosen to wear baggy white trousers alongside a skintight dark-blue vest that left parts of his bronze-skinned chest exposed. Above it, he wore a coat similar to Arakiel, only that his was mostly red and had silver, brown and earthen-colored embellishments while the collar was lined with several small rubies.
He was accompanied by a young, black-haired woman whose face was covered with a red-golden veil while the rest of her body was wrapped in a graceful and ruby-lined one-piece dress that left parts of her waist and thighs exposed. Her thoroughly red eyes matched Zari Amar’s, but while his gleamed with passion, ambition and something Aurora couldn’t decipher, hers seemed to lack any sort of drive. She merely briefly looked them over lazily before her gaze drifted off.
She held his hand, but if Aurora didn’t know any better, there was neither love or anything in between them, completely unlike herself and Arakiel.
Perhaps she was his sister?
The jinnum greeted them, asked some polite questions about their well-being and then motioned them to follow towards a mansion that lay right at the edge of the oasis, one belonging to the most influential man in al-Aliriq next to the jinnum themselves – someone simply called Masus the Speaker, for he spoke to the jinnum for the citizens of al-Aliriq.
Zari Amar did not introduce the woman who also made no attempts to connect to them besides offering them a brief but curt acknowledging nod.
They didn’t need to walk long to reach the sizable mansion with three annex buildings, each one having a differently shaped tiled dome on top while the main building’s roof was flat and judging by the sounds that came from up there, there were people gathering there.
Two tall men dressed in full mail armor waited near the entrance which was an actual wooden door instead of a curtain, just like the one on their temporary home. These men held spears with brownish tips in their hands and their expressions might as well have been carved from stone, for it didn’t move at all.
Like statues, they briefly came to life when Zari Amar approached. One of them opened the door in an almost choppy motion.
And then the other man shouted, his deep, booming voice startling Aurora for just a split-second. She had squeezed Arakiel’s hand a little tighter, but he let her know that he was there and it was gone as soon as it had appeared.
“The guests of honor have arrived!”
Murmurs responded, wafting down from the rooftop. People had heard – and acknowledged.
A young woman with fairly fair skin, more a girl really, waited right after the entrance corridor. Her eyes showed life and her colorful one piece dress made her appear rather lovely – the black ink around her eyes helped.
Aurora certainly missed her own makeup.
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“Honored Jinnum Zari Amar, honored guests from beyond the Boundary – Masus the Speaker welcomes you to his home. Allow me, his firstborn daughter Munira, to guide you to the feast’s location. Your presence is highly anticipated.”
“A working girl… a notable rarity.” Zari Amar noted with genuine respect, causing the girl to blush a bit.
“My Lordling, I am merely thankful for my father’s service to our people.” She returned quietly, but it was quite obvious that she felt pride and joy at his compliment.
“As you should. Without him, many more would’ve died back then.” Zari Amar commented and then they followed her through a series of luxurious rooms up four different sets of stone stairs until they reached the feasting stage which had been put right on top of the mansion’s roof, its elevated location not only enabling a wonderful view on the adjacent oasis, but also on large parts of al-Aliriq proper.
But Aurora had little time to properly take in the sights. A man with a grey, almost white beard and a slight hunch in his step approached. He wore a relatively simple earthen-colored robe and a flat red cap.
Behind him, there were rows of people having taken place on a sea of pillows and given how low the tables were, it might be only way to properly eat although no food had been served yet. Only a small, brown ceramic cup.
A fairly sizable space of pillows was left open at the helm. It was most likely the place where they’d sit down in just a moment.
“Lordling Zari Amar, Lady Adila, welcome to my humble residence.” Masus the Speaker greeted in a deep, slightly aged voice that still held authority. “And thank you for sending me such valuable information before informing your kin.”
“Of course, Speaker. You have always supported me in my endeavors and I see no reason not to return the favor.” The jinnum responded at which point he older man turned towards Arakiel, Ezekiel, their seraphim and Lady Mellia.
“And of course, allow me to properly welcome you as well, honored envoys of the God-in-Gold.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Speaker Masus. You do the rumors a disservice.” Arakiel responded, holding out his hand.
One of the man’s furrowed brows lifted up just a little. “Oh? What do the rumors say about me I wonder. My hearing has suffered a bit over the years… would you be so kind as to…?”
“They speak of a man too decrepit to act in al-Aliriq’s interest, yet I only see a will not only unbroken by time, but tempered by it.” Aurora’s champion stated flat-out, causing some of the people in the back to perk up a little.
As for Speaker Masus, he began to chuckle a little, saying. “Your observation is noted, envoy.”
Then, the two shook hands and the ceremony went on, with Speaker Masus introducing them to the attended guests after which they were led to the seats of honor next the Speaker. Judging by the murmurs, they made quite a first impression, Aurora and Selene especially.
Zari Amar and Adila were seated on the left side while the ‘God-in-Gold’s envoys’ were seated to the right side of the Speaker.
There were two men in the back, wielding massive fans with which they began to make little gusts of wind.
Pleasant.
Aurora saw many different faces gazed upon them, most upon her – faces of mostly bearded, dark-skinned men although she did notice some women among the guests, their countenance partially or fully veiled. The expressions varied from awed to surprised and even curiosity, perhaps even respect.
Not once did she witness envy, which she found surprising. Perhaps it spoke to these people’s character that they weren’t so easily led astray.
When a bit more time had passed, Speaker Masus picked up the small ceramic cup that held a clear liquid. Every guest had one of these and it appeared to have no scent at all.
So far, none of the others picked theirs up, so Aurora refrained from doing so as well.
“Friends, rivals, colleagues. I welcome you to my humble house,” the older man began in a cordial tone while letting his gaze wander across the assembled guests.
Each of them wore a weapon of some kind and although most were athletic, some even had quite the sizable belly.
His words of greeting caused no immediate response other than the guests giving him their attention.
“I invited you here tonight because of a simple but inevitable truth. Our world is about to change drastically and we who have the power can no longer look away.”
A few murmurs, some of doubt, others of agreement.
Silence.
The Speaker continued. “Today I learned that the newly appointed High King Nerigal of the Northern Realm is amassing an army in order to strike at the Middle Kingdom. He has already issued the challenge, and King Cahir is responding by amassing an army of his own. Both are said to be of a hitherto unseen size. The delicate and feeble balance of our three realms is about to tip.”
More murmurs went through the guests. Surprise was the emotion Aurora noticed the most. Next to her, Arakiel was observing very closely, too.
“The rulers in the Djinnum will wait and abide, as they always do, but whoever wins this confrontation between the High Realm and the Middle Kingdom will become a force that could crush us even down here in the desert.” Speaker Masus went on to state, to warn.
“Speaker, allow me to ask a question,” one of the guests, a tall, athletic man asked respectfully and the Speaker let him. “If what you say is true – and I would never doubt your words… then we must exploit this opening.”
“That is exactly what I propose, Master of the Arena.” Speaker Masus returned in an affirming, content tone. Then, he began to recount what the Middle count had told Zari Amar which caused even more of the assembled people to nod in agreement. There were skeptics, but they chose to remain quiet so far.
When the Speaker’s tale finished, another man, a fat one with a shawl wrapped around his head, spoke up. “We will need to mobilize everyone – we should call for the jinnum to assemble a Smokeless Host!”
“But how?” Another joined in, saying. “As Speaker Masus said – they will abide, they will ponder and assess – their careful nature dooms them to inaction, that’s how the Crimson Week happened in the first place!”
Some argued, demanding the guest to not besmirch the jinnum’s honor but Speaker Masus quickly bade order to return and return it did. Then, he spoke up once more.
“All in due time. For now, I would briefly turn our attention to our honored guests, notably the God-in-Gold’s envoys.” Speaker Masus went on, causing the attention to once again return to the planeswalkers and while Aurora felt a little awkward about the sudden attention, Arakiel, Ezekiel and even Selene remained utterly unfazed while Mellia could hide it.
“Envoys, you are from beyond the Boundary, are you not?” The Speaker asked right away.
“That is correct,” Arakiel returned confidently, adding. “I hail from the Eternal City of Kalanaar, one of the five gateways to attain a spark of divinity.”
Murmurs, silence – a few doubtful gazes, others were wide-eyed.
“And what do you seek here, envoy?” Speaker Masus asked and this time, Aurora actually held her breath alongside most of the guests.
What would her champion say?
“I seek to find people worthy of ruling in my stead, for your plane has drawn the attention of powers you cannot even begin to comprehend.” Arakiel laid out calmly.
“Preposterous!” Someone shouted, even hitting the table. “You dare appear here and make such claims!?”
“Quiet, Master Abduhallah,” Speaker Masus admonished in a harsh tone.
“I will be frank with you, for most of you seem wise enough to understand why I am about to tell you this. I am the son of two demigods sent here to bring your plane into my House’s influence,” Arakiel went on, straight-up telling the people his goal.
Aurora didn’t understand, but she found it fascinating nonetheless.
“If you will, I am a vanguard to scout whether there are people worthy of our attention – and our patronage. If I find some, then I am to assist them in establishing the sole control over their plane. If not, I am to return with an army to scour this place clean.”
“Is that a threat!?” Another guest cried out, sounding outraged.
“Silence, listen!” Speaker Masus admonished once again, shaking his head. “Foolish children, you should know that the Boundary wasn’t a one-way barrier! We were the ones to profit the most – or have you already forgotten!?”
The Boundary – Aurora faintly recalled the term alluding to the grey barrier at the edge of a plane.
“Speaker Masus is wise,” Arakiel stated flatly, continuing. “I see potential in your people, for you desire and from desire stems ambition. Ambition is what the God-in-Gold who we call the god-in-grey demands from those who rule.”
He briefly paused, his eyes flashing. “I ask all of you assembled here – are you fit to rule? Or are you merely servants… slaves?”
One of the guests sprang up, unsheathing a dagger as he charged straight at Arakiel, shouting. “Die you cretin! You’re no…”
The man didn’t manage to finish his sentence before Ezekiel, ablaze in silver fire, had blinked past him, decapitating the man with a single clean slash.
As the fountain of blood followed, Aurora looked away.
“Fool,” Speaker Masus noted with disapproval, saying. “Throw this disgrace’s body to the sands. Envoy, if you please.”
Aurora didn’t understand. What was going on here? Why why they just listening to her champion like this? It seemed… odd. In the novels, such talks usually ended in a bloodbath.
Well, some blood had spilled – but not nearly enough to rival that of her novels.
“The way I see it, you only have two options. Either you accept my assistance and with it, I will lead you and the Smokeless Host to victory against the Middle Kingdom first, and then the High Realm afterwards.”
A brief pause. Arakiel let his gaze wander, and then spoke up once more.
“Those in my favor will become rulers, able to shape the fate of this world. Those with potential might be able to travel with me beyond the Boundary and everyone else will be left with a world order that doesn’t benefit them.”
More murmurs, some uncertain, others with veiled excitement.
Her beloved continued. “I care not about your motivations, whether it be revenge for the Crimson Week, the humiliation of having to subsist on scraps, always fearing that the next day might not have food on your plane. Whether your desire is wealth, power, revenge, women, slaves or something else entirely… I care not. The god-in-grey, the Transcended, only has one motto by which those beyond the Boundary abide. Power, everything succumbs to power. If you are weak, you are destined to serve or die. If you are strong, you are capable of ruling.”
Silence set in and Aurora gazed upon her beloved with newfound awe. The way he carried himself was worthy of a conqueror, but he wouldn’t conquer with strength alone, but with cunning. She could tell that his words had already fallen on fertile grounds. None even considered attacking him anymore – they were all listening, eager to gleam any insight from his words.
Meanwhile, Ezekiel had sat down once more, not sparing the body which was being carried away another glance.
“High King Nerigal has already mustered his troops and his marching southward as we speak. King Cahir is drawing upon any and all forces because he fears the High Realms’ Iron Warriors, but he also realizes that the Holy Chosen of the Transcended might strike in his back, which is why he had devised a second, secret force who is currently in the business of infiltrating your very cities – and not just to gleam information.”
Another pause, this time the silence became almost oppressive.
“They seek to poison your water.” Arakiel stated matter-of-factly. “Tomorrow, one of the slaves working in the fields will attempt to throw a goat-hide skin full of deadly poison into the oasis, one devised by King Cahir’s personal alchemist Eoghan. Similar incidents will happen soon in the other two cities, for the King wants to prevent your people from seizing the opportunity.”
Gasps, bewilderment, disbelief. Many whispered, some in affirmation, others with hate.
“How did you get by this information?” One of the guests asked somewhat skeptically.
Arakiel’s answer stunned everyone present. “I advised him.”
“WHAT!?” One of the men shouted and even jinnum Zari Amar looked at Arakiel with disbelief. Aurora had trouble keeping her face straight, because that could not be true.
“At first, I thought King Cahir a worthy target. He is the ruler of the strongest realm and he is willing to do anything, no matter the cost. This line of thinking pleased me, and while he has the mind set, he lacks the brains to see the big picture.”
“Then why would you tell us this, envoy?” Speaker Masus asked suspiciously.
“Because his people lack ambition. King Cahir lacks ambition. He had the means to conquer this plane thrice over, but he chose to remain idle and do nothing. When I learned of this, I moved on and when I saw the grit with which Zari Amar and his Shamshierum fought the count’s punitive expedition, when I saw him flaying Count Filann, I knew that I found a more worthy people to assist.”
“And if we fail to meet your expectation, divine envoy?” A guest queried.
“Then I will leave and return with an army that will scour this place clean.” Aurora’s champion responded calmly.
“Why would we allow this?” Someone asked rightfully.
Arakiel suddenly burst into golden flames, having taken on her aspect, having laid her soul bare. His green irises gained its golden halo.
Some began to tense up, others reached for their weapons while some remained thoroughly calm.
“Because you cannot kill us, it is that simple. When you made first contact with the Transcended’s Class System, I had already conquered my first plane along others while my parents were demigods in their own right, ruling over myriad worlds.” Arakiel spoke calmly, decisively and most importantly, confidently.
He recalled her aspect and turned to Speaker Masus, saying. “That is all I wished to relay, you may continue.”
“You heard the divine envoy,” Speaker Masus spoke up, his voice a little strained but also decisive. “He has deemed us worthy people – we just need to meet his expectation!”
“What if he makes all of this up!?” A skeptic asked rightfully.
“That is not the question,” another guest added. It was the athletic warrior that had spoken the earliest. “The question is whether we can afford to dismiss him.”
“Let us see if his claim holds merit! I want you to search all the slaves’ belongings for a skin of goathide!” A chubby man ordered, calling over another dark-clad man whom he ordered to execute his task.
“He could’ve planted it.” Yet another skeptic voiced. This one wore a white, flat cap.
At that point, Zari Amar spoke up. “The divine envoys were with me the entire time and I do not doubt their words for a second. In fact, I will vouch for them! But go ahead, search for the proof of King Cahir’s cowardice and when it is confirmed, we can finally plan to bring about his downfall and our ascension!”
“I do not wish to doubt your venerable words, honorable Lordling – it’s just…”
“Your caution is laudable, but misplaced. I have seen the divine envoys fight, have see them kill men with golden fire – I have seen their wroth, but I’ve also seen their mercy. His winged consort has ensured that many of my men survived grievous injured that they wouldn’t have been able to survive otherwise!” Zari Amar’s words were ablaze with conviction. It was almost infectious even to Aurora, who had nothing to do with him at all.
Some eyes fell onto Aurora with notable appreciation. She accepted it with a slight but polite smile after which she huddled just a little more against her beloved champion.
The more these people talked to another, the more they began to believe Arakiel and honestly, even Aurora didn’t know whether he had just tricked them or whether he spoke the truth – but it didn’t really matter to her.
Sometime later, after the feast had been canceled prematurely in order to confirm a great many things, Ezekiel and Arakiel were heading back home, with Mellia, Selene and Aurora following behind.
Aurora barely heard the blonde man’s whisper, but when she did, she couldn’t help but smile as she watched her conqueror’s broad back.
She hurriedly caught up to him, embracing one his arms as she repeated Ezekiel’s words in her mind. They made her proud, for they spoke of a kind of respect that hadn’t existed prior to this evening.
“You’re a scary man, Arakiel.”