Sekali, "The Sister City"

 

                                Chapter 72

 

     Once they had entered through the tangle of strange roots that dripped of slimy moisture, there was a pungent smell challenging their breathing. Uther seemed totally unaffected, and he suddenly brightened up at the prospects of being in a homelike environment.
     As they entered past the wall of roots, they could hear the distinct sound of rushing water somewhere ahead in the deep recesses of this subterranean structure. Aria brought forth an armlength, thin, silver chain, to which was attached a crystal ball, no larger than the size of a baby’s fist.
     “Vessen.” She quietly whispered.
The ball began to illuminate, shedding a pale white light, such as the light a full and waxed moon gives.
     She handed it to Finyat as she drew back her hood for the first time since departing her homeland. The others did the same as she turned to them and drew forth her katana secured at her left hip.
     “My companions, listen to my words. We now descend into a labyrinth of natural tunnels and chambers. I am sworn Blood Kin to you all. The hurts that you sustain, if any, will be mine as long as I am able to bear them. Please be merciful toward me, your servant, for though I am immortal, I am considered a lesser immortal, meaning I can be slain. I do not know sickness, nor do I fear disease . . . but I do know the blade, and am therefore quite vulnerable to its biting edge. I tell you this now so that you may use caution. Battle will be more easily executed upon your enemies, but will take its toll upon me should you come to harm. I would see you to the Sister City.”
     She looked directly into Sekali’s eyes. “I have spoken.”
     In silence they stood there looking at one who had the utmost respect of even the Queen of her people. Aria was the daughter of Ellianess; the princess and heir of her people.
     She knelt before the three, placing her hands in a triangular position flat upon the ground in front of her, she touched her forehead to the ground three times, directing each bow to one of them. She whispered as she did so, and to their astonishment, they each felt the power of battle fill their beings, even as a silver luminescence filled her eyes.
     Sekali thought back to the time when he had positioned his blade to attack her, when they had first met. He knew he would have been hard-pressed against one such as Aria.
     Respectfully, Sekali bowed to her, “We will succeed, and see a better day for all our people.”
Uther bowed suddenly and awkwardly, followed by Finyat, who seemed caught off guard by this sudden bowing.
     Aria stood and drew close to Sekali, her face almost touching his, and turned slowly, peering southward as she whispered to him. “Your people . . . we should talk sometime about your people Sekali. I think there is much even you do not realize about your own. I hope we have that opportunity.”
     She smiled and removed her camouflage. She folded it and put it into a small pack she carried. She then bade them give her all the belongings they would not need as they traveled.
     Confused by her request, Sekali unshouldered his pack and handed it to her. Spreading out the top of her pack, she began to manipulate his belongings into her smaller pack. All three stood speechless as she loaded all their belongings into it. Finyat’s eyes opened wide in wonder as she shouldered what looked to be a very lightly packed backpack. She shouldered it quietly and noticed their expressions. She bit her lip and sighed.
     “Gentlemen, there are greater wonders than this. And if we are lucky, my friends, we might even find these wonders in the depths of this mountain.”
     She pointed the way and looked at Finyat expectantly, “Finyat, will you lead us? I have no memories of these caves. And, Finyat?”
     The Shallant, still staring at her pack, absently drooled out a sentence. “Yes, Princess?”
She grimaced. “One: I am merely Aria . . . for now. Two: Finyat, this is the place I took this pack from.”
     With an almost innocent look, he glanced at her, then at Uther, and grinned. Instantly Finyat took the lead, into a wide and tall corridor of stone, strewn with rocks and debris.

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