Zahra caught sight of Prem and began to move towards him as Cairee spoke with the birds.
Her face brightened as she caught his eye, "Prem! So nice to see you again. The food in here is amazing. You must try some of the sweets, if you like sweets that is."
Her face grew serious for a moment and her tone lowered, "Can I ask you something? Do you know anything about patrons and their role in this competition?"
---
Two porters pass by with trays of some kind of crab pastry. One lowers it enough to offer some to Dounia. The other whispers to the first, "Once your tray is empty join the circle. It's more than halfway to the song of ten. In twenty minutes the party closes and Hallwyn greets the guests."
With a puzzled look on her face, Dounia repeated the porter's words to the others. "What do they mean, the party closes? Does that just mean no new guests will come in? I think we still have an hour to announce ourselves as competitors."
Having rejoined her friends, she added, "That may be true but we should probably announce before Hallwyn addresses the guests. Announcing after he speaks to the crowd may not be remembered or cared about. Unless we do it at the absolute last second but then we run the risk of missing the deadline."
Having to consider all these possibilities was making Zahra feel flustered and she didn't like it. "If all of us agree to have Yoy'ya as our patron then maybe we should find her and ask her opinion. After all, she did mention that other patron was backing those Scroll Sisters or some such and they haven't announced yet...that I remember anyways."
"Can I ask you something? Do you know anything about patrons and their role in this competition?"
Prem smiled as he saw you all again. He seemed a little surprised at the friendly greeting, "Thank you, it's not been long but that's very kind of you to say. As for sweets, I like them but I'm more into savoury foods. I'm eyeing that salmon right now." He rubbed his hands together hungrily. "Hmmm? What? Patrons? I don't know, but it makes sense.
"The atmosphere of the party, the anticipation of the start of the competition is touching everything. It feels like we're sand in an hour glass and we're all being jostled into position. We are collectively deciding what the rules are. The gamblers, the rules lawyers, the rumour mongers are all jockeying for a foothold on some game under the game.
"Let me guess. You heard the term 'Patron' from someone claiming to be one? They may just be giving themselves a title. It sounds very useful though. Would you like me to look into it? It would take at least an hour but I'm sure I could dredge up something. Just in time to declare. You are going to join the competition?"
Zahra listened intently to what Prem was saying. She was somewhat relieved that he was of the same mind as they were, that what Yoy'ya said made sense.
"You are very astute, Prem. We were approached by someone offering to act as our patron and we are trying to make an informed decision." Her smile grew at his offer, "That would be fantastic! Are you sure its no trouble? It would definitely put our minds at ease and also help us in deciding when to declare."
She lowered her voice to a whisper, "We do intend to declare. Although I don't know why I'm whispering because Dounia has made no secret about it."
Prem, still smiling, nodded and headed out of the tent. On the other side of the flap you all could hear him say, "Oh Hell."
Tandyraman's clear voice came next from across the arena.
"Oh, this I have to see!"
Dounia darted out of the tent, hoping to catch a glimpse of the newcomers with the excellent party name. We really should come up with a name for ourselves!
Dounia, and anyone who joined her, could just see from across most of the length of the arena. She could barely see where Tandyraman greeted newcomers at the top of the southern staircase.
In the lake in the middle of the arena floor, however, there was a close-up of four humans locked in a twenty degree bow. Three were men and one woman. Each was dressed in chain or breastplate, with shoulder capes and riding boots. The rest of their clothes looked like they were taking part in some military review. Steel-grey fitted suits with crisp seams. If she had been closer she would have bet their uniforms smelled like a press iron.
Any armour they wore was stained crimson. Their black capes were emblazoned with gold heraldic-shields with the symbol of the black portcullis. In the top right corner of the shield was a red square containing a white horned-helmet.
Prem noticed Dounia had joined him outside, "That's the third son of Yagose Maegan, high-king of the northern continent. He has a reputation as a carouser." He pointed to the western table and the guest of honour. "There, in the middle of the guest's table. That's Alissetta D'Angoument, fourth in line for the throne of Anweald. The two countries are in the depths of a decades long cold war. He won't like that she's the guest of honour over him. She won't like the herald referring to his home as the capitol of all Eotengearde. Our host has one hell of a sense of humour."
Women and men started to come out from doors either side of the two staircases on the middle bowl. They were dressed like porters. They were chanting low and spread out evenly along that ring. Each had a staff that ended in a long two-prong metal fork.
"They seem to be getting ready for something. I'd better get to work if I'm going to have some information in and hour." Prem walk into the stands and began chatting with strangers.
Prem noticed Dounia had joined him outside, "That's the third son of Yagose Maegan, high-king of the northern continent. He has a reputation as a carouser." He pointed to the western table and the guest of honour. "There, in the middle of the guest's table. That's Alissetta D'Angoument, fourth in line for the throne of Anweald. The two countries are in the depths of a decades long cold war. He won't like that she's the guest of honour over him. She won't like the herald referring to his home as the capitol of all Eotengearde. Our host has one hell of a sense of humour."
”He is mighty indeed, then, to barb his words so, or far enough down the roll of winters he no longer cares what enemies he makes,” Tymythy murmured, eyeing the guards with more interest than the guests of honor. There was something familiar about the four locked in rigid bows… something besides their admittedly impressive but overly neat attire… oh. They had passed the four on their way inside. He had not paid much attention to their faces, but their armor and weapons seemed to match.
”Guards from the antechamber, even if they have changed the colours they bear,” he murmured to the others, then frowned. ”Although I thought they were men one and all.”
... There was something familiar about the four locked in rigid bows… something besides their admittedly impressive but overly neat attire… oh. They had passed the four on their way inside. He had not paid much attention to their faces, but their armor and weapons seemed to match.
Prem's reaction to what he saw outside piqued Zahra's interest and she couldn't help but follow him.
She listened to what Prem said. It sounded like some complicated chess game that Zahra couldn't even begin to understand. Then the porters started their chanting and Prem disappeared into the crowd. She felt like her head was on a swivel with trying to watch everything that was going on.
"I'm sure that everything is well in hand. I guess we watch like everyone else and see how it plays out."
Cairee joined the others and noticed the guards in blue. "They seem agitated. Perhaps they are anticipating a problem between the 'Perdition's Cavaliers' and Ms. D'Angoument." Back outside, the cleric couldn't help but cast a quick glance around for her siblings - their presence loomed in the back of her mind. Realizing what she was doing, Cairee tried to change her focus, instead looking for any pops of orange hair in the crowd. Could other members of the Order be present?
After Prem left, Cairee turned back to her friends. "We have a little under an hour before we need to announce. I suggest we mingle a little more, and get our names out there. If we do have Yoy'ya as our patron, it will help her help us if more guests have a favourable impression of us to start. Tymythy and Zahra, how about you take the western side and Dounia and I will take the east. We'll meet back here in 45 minutes." She turned to leave, then turned back. "How should we refer to ourselves?" The idea of taking on a title felt pompous, and she was hesitant to suggest any sort of loyalty to anyone other than Saiph. "How about simply 'The Blackbirds'?" she suggested. Simple, unassuming, and easy to remember.
After Prem left, Cairee turned back to her friends. "We have a little under an hour before we need to announce. I suggest we mingle a little more, and get our names out there. If we do have Yoy'ya as our patron, it will help her help us if more guests have a favourable impression of us to start. Tymythy and Zahra, how about you take the western side and Dounia and I will take the east. We'll meet back here in 45 minutes." She turned to leave, then turned back. "How should we refer to ourselves?"
”So let people know we intend to declare without actually doing so until the last moment?” Tymythy mused, approvingly. ”Yes, this sounds like an excellent idea. The first voice to raise in challenge is the loudest, perhaps, but the last one to join the competition, after having kept everyone waiting to see if there are more champions to cheer for and bet on, might draw even more attention.”
The idea of taking on a title felt pompous, and she was hesitant to suggest any sort of loyalty to anyone other than Saiph. "How about simply 'The Blackbirds'?" she suggested. Simple, unassuming, and easy to remember.
”You honor me too much,” Tymythy murmured, finding himself blushing as Cairee, the starling that had brought him hope after his nightmarish dash through the deserts and paths of mystery now drew attention to the blessing of the three messengers of the great spirit? Still, the name was short and mysterious enough to make one wonder about its origins. He certainly would not object to competing under such a banner.
The four continued discussion on what they would be called. They knew they must be brief and begin to comb the crowd.
The four broke into two groups and began to introduce themselves. A quick survey showed many of the guests were natives of Zhayalahmar. Quite a few, perhaps more than a third, were from other parts. In any other place or any other time you would never had occasion to meet. There were people with dark skin that, from some angles, appeared to be shadow. There were people with touches of infernal characteristics, hints of what one might find in a clergyman's cautionary picture book of devilry. There were gnomes and orcs. There were wandering grey elves, and elusive elves of the woodlands, and even powerful looking high-elves from secluded towers of learning.
There were a few folk in simple dress, folk outfitted for excursions through the rough lands, and many folk dressed for a happening with strange costumes, with strange purposes. There were the stilt wearing gnomes, the high-elves with the strange masks, people with stiff structures that looked like ladders attached to their backs, people in veils, and those in full-facial makeup.
All the while, Cairee clocked her brother and sister walking about the arena and talking to few. They had a very brief stop at Hallwyn's table. Later, they took some interest in the dwarven competitors.
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About ten minutes into their probe of the crowd they were interrupted. Raya Hallwyn was at the edge of the eastern castle out from behind his table so all could see him. His smile was broad and his anticipation showed on his face. His image showed in the lake below as his voice seemed to come from everywhere at once. Now standing next to him, and holding a fist sized velvet box, was Prince Keone Maegan.
”It is so good of you to come to be with me on my birthday! All of you! To give me good passings of my five-hundred and twelfth year is very kind but I also know you’ve heard rumours. Yes, not even I can quell all remembrances of birthdays past and, mm-mmm, who would want to really. Anticipation really is key.”
”Before I prattle on like a giddy child I must tell you - we will be closing the front gates in five minutes. Those who don’t wish to stay must leave now. There will be no coming and going until the party is over.” A quiet pause. ”Hm. No one ever takes advantage of that warning. And let’s hope our uninvited guests make it over the wall before then. How long have they been stuck out there? Ninety minutes???” Hallwyn looked about those near him for their opinion but no one spoke out.
The porters chanting grew louder and they began tapping their stave ends onto the floor. The vibration traveled up the shaft and the prongs at the top began to ring. A few clouds began to form in the sky at incredible speed. The ring started to resonate with the other staves so that it was one sound that grew with successive tapping.
”Some of you have, no doubt, heard that part of my celebration … is a contest. This is true. Many have already declared they will be participating. Beneath the little balconies is a door and each door has a challenge. Finish each challenge and the fastest and best shall receive a prize which this year has been supplied by my friend and guest, Young Keone here..”
The Prince did not seem to shirk at being announced so informally. He stepped forward and opened the box. In the lake all could see it’s contents. A single diamond.
”This diamond has a value of twenty-five thousand gold crowns! The winner may keep it as a trophy … or they may exchange it in trade … or, they may return it to me as a component in a ritual I can perform but once a year, and never on my own behalf. ” He paused to listen to the crowds reaction as silence hit some and gasps fell from others. ”Yes. Once a year I can grant a wish. There will be no devil’s contract! No malicious consequence to the wishing. No Genie’s loophole to fret. Your wish will only have the consequence you request, with the normal caveats of course. No wishing for more wishes, etcetera, etcetera.” The diamond rose out of the box, glided through the air, and finally settled on the small plinth on the middle of the floating island
The clouds started to move faster and faster, racing across the sky as the atmosphere took on hues of orange and purple and red. The sun stayed ever still directly overhead.
”Next, and don’t be alarmed. You are under my protection and I vow you will come under no harm from our change of venue. Many of you have come to us from distant corners of Aerde. Many more are from my very home of Zhayalahmar. But for an event of such significance we must go to a place of equal stature.
The sky exploded with colour then a black ink seeped in from above and lights, stars of all sizes began to appear. At the south end of the arena where the porter and guards had been standing for nearly an hour a single person clambered over the side of the building from outside. Despite the guards looming over them they rushed back to the edge and tried with all of their might to pull another person over.
The porters along the middle bowl were now smashing their staves into the ground at regular intervals giving off loud sharp rings. Their chanting was urgent and strained.
A man next to Dounia doubled over and vomited.
Then, suddenly, the chanting stopped. The ringing subsided. The sky froze, part twilight and part exploding dawn. The sun was gone.
All was quiet except for a wailing at the southern wall. The first climber had made it over. The second made it most nearly but was clamping their left leg. Their left foot had been torn from their body and was nowhere to be seen. The porter and guards grabbed them and hauled them away as the first climber yelled, ”Turoeki! Where’s Turoeki!! You bastards, you could have helped us up at any time!!! Hauled us up and thrown us in prison! You just watched us struggle! Bastards!”
Raya Iew Hallwyn’s smile never left his face.
Cairee linked arms with Dounia and the pair headed out into the crowd. She kept an eye out for others from her order. As far as she could tell, there were none to be seen. She did see her siblings wandering about, sullen as ever. Surely they would recognize her when the announced they were competing and they appeared on the lake again. Though, maybe not, she thought, as she spied Mar gnawing on a skewer of dripping meat and Arnie polishing a gleaming dagger - neither were paying much attention to their surroundings.
She turned her attention back to the task at hand. How best to impress upon the crowd that they were competitors worthy of attention without Zahra's charm or Tymythy's calm strength backing them up? The answer was obvious - let Saiph's grace be her guide. Cairee stood tall, hood down, orange hair shining in the sunlight. She walked slowly and with purpose, her quarterstaff hitting the ground gently but firmly, in time with her step.
Dounia squeezed her arm and pointed at a group of gnomes on stilts. "We HAVE to talk to them! Do you think they'll let me use their stilts?" Before Cairee had a chance to reply Dounia was pulling her over. Here we go. Cairee barely had time to whisper a prayer to Saiph for each of them before Dounia was upon the unsuspecting gnomes.
"Hey! Hi! I'm Dounia and this is Cairee. Who are you? What's with the stilts?"
Cairee tried to balance Dounia's excitement with her own calm presence. "My friend means no offence, she is...excessively curious today." She gave Dounia a little nudge - cool it. "It is an honour to meet you." She offered a polite bow.
"You forgot to tell them. We're The Blackbirds," Dounia proclaimed proudly. "We're competing. If you're not, you should definitely root for us. We're amazing!"
Dounia's enthusiasm, and volume, had caught the attention of several nearby guests. "Uh, Dounia-" Cairee nudged her friend again. "Maybe take it down a bit."
Dounia looked around and her grin widened as she saw she had an audience. "Perfect! Just stand there and look witchy or whatever. I'll get us some attention."
Still talking to the gnomes but really addressing the crowd, Dounia continued. "That's right, The Blackbirds are the team to beat!" She mimed fighting a foe with a spear. "We've got a warrior who bested the biggest, meanest, ugliest fighter alHufra had to offer in single combat!" She stood up tall and threw her head back, tossing a tangle of imaginary curls over her shoulder. "We have a fire-y Princess with a scary secret." Dounia dropped her voice to a low whisper. "She's the only person to go up against The Evil Wizard Of the Dark City - and live to tell the tale."
A small circle had formed around Cairee and Dounia. They were in it now. She took Dounia's advice and tried her best to look 'witchy'. She scanned the crowd, offering a calm, steady gaze to whoever would make eye contact with her. She hoped she looked strong and confident, not confrontational and creepy.
Loving the attention, Dounia kept going. She jabbed a finger at Cairee. "Our Priestess can control the weather. She brought a hurricane down on a band of slavers. No one ever saw them again!" She whipped her head around and jumped a little towards a group of young boys, who gasped and stepped back, then giggled at their own reaction.
"What about you?" A deep voice called out from the crowd. "Yeah, what can you do?" Another added on.
Dounia's grin nearly reached her ears. "Who, me?" she asked coyly. Then with cat-like reflexes she jumped towards a woman holding a crooked staff, and swiped it out of her hands. The woman stumbled back a few steps, but kept her footing.
Dounia took a few running steps, planted the staff firmly on the ground, swung herself around it and used the momentum to throw herself up in the air. The audience gasped as Dounia performed a neat summersault before landing in a crouch, right hand now holding a dagger. The staff was in mid-fall - Dounia bounced up to standing, caught it in her free hand, and handed it back to the woman with a wink. "You'll just have to wait to find out."
Some members of the audience laughed, some clapped. Some chanted "Blackbirds!" a few times. Others looked disproving. It was clear that the show was over, and most turned away.
Cairee turned back to the confused gnomes on stilts. All she could think to do was resume their conversation, as if what had just happened was the more normal thing in the world. "May I ask where you are from, and if you'll be competing?"
Zahra was unsure about whether Blackbirds was memorable enough or special enough to work in their favour. However, she knew enough that if you couldn’t offer a better alternative then there was no point in saying something negative.
She shrugged then nodded at Cairee’s suggestion showing she was in agreement with the group.
Zahra, with Tymythy by her side, moved into the crowd. She looked for those who seemed to either be isolated by the crowd or seemed to be isolating themselves. It was those who she wanted to help feel included in the festivities. After all, Raya had included everyone here for a reason. She used her natural warmth and interest in all peoples and their stories to hopefully garner support.
Whenever she began a conversation with one of the guests, she introduced herself and Tymythy and then inquired as to how they were familiar with their host. She would also ask them what they were most looking forward to. If they held a drink that was supposed to be chilled, she offered to cool it again for them by touching the outside of their glass.
At the end of each conversation, she made sure that they were aware that they were the Blackbirds and to look for them once the competition began.
Zahra quieted along with the crowd, stopping mid-sentence as Raya began to speak. Even though he was speaking to such a large crowd, it felt like he was speaking to her directly. She wondered if others felt the same way.
Her eyes widened when their host announced the prize. She clutched Tymythy’s arm in excitement. Not because of the size of the diamond but because of what it could be used for. If they won, she could wish that Kamzar not be given the buckler. Better yet, that Kamzar and only him, forget about her existence.
She was lost in her own thoughts and the rest of his words didn’t register nor did the change in venue, until she heard the horrific wailing. She felt sympathy for the climber because of what had happened to their friend but surely they would have known there would be consequences to crashing a party like this? Although Zahra was willing to admit that her need for Hallwyn’s favour may skew her view of their host and his choices.
Tymythy stopped along with every other quest to listen to their host’s speech, wondering what the fuss was about a wish as a reward. Certainly, the elder seemed like a powerful man, capable of fulfilling many a request presented to him, but the way the announcement struck the crowd speechless suggested there was, once again, something here that he simply didn’t understand.
But still, the sheer value in gold coins given to the shiny gemstone beggared belief. Twenty fife. Thousand? Could there be that much money in the world, not to mention at the command of a single individual? The thought threatened to give Tymythy a headache out of the sheer incomprehensibility of it all. And if this wish one could have instead would be of equal value… did their host command armies that he would set out to conquer whole continents at the request of the contest’s champion?
That was a frightening thought. That kind of power, in the hands of people like these, who squandered the might of the great spirits for frivolous and unnatural things – like freezing the very cycle of days in its place in Zhayalahmar? Who knew what people like that would decide to ask.
Tymythy had just got another reason to try and win the competition – keeping such a power from being used.
A case in point soon followed, as the words of their host seemed to move heavens themselves. Tymythy cowered in superstitious fear as stars cut glowing trails across the suddenly night-black sky before falling into their place, as if the will of Raya Hallwyn was enough to speed the slow roll of time to suit his purposes, hours passing outside the plaza in the span of a few frenzied heartbeats.
Yes. Much reason to reach for such a power, for the singular purpose of seeing it not used.
His eyes turned at the sudden scream of pain and loss, to witness the fate of two people quickly dragged away by guards. Climbers, their host had said earlier, mentioning them as in passing, if they mattered not. And indeed, it would seem they didn’t, for Tymythy was close enough to see not a single muscle twitch on their host’s face at the accusations.
’This is a man tough as bog-wood,’ Tymythy thought, feeling himself chilled at the elder’s apparent lack of interest in the people who had sought to crash his party.
As Zahra busied herself chatting with the guests Tymythy followed along dutifully, a couple step behind and a step to her left like a proper bodyguard… until some guests started to point it out aloud. Wondering if it would serve Zahra to lead people to believe she was someone in need of protection – either by questioning her own prowess or rising her value to speculative heights – Tymythy took to idly playing with his spear, launching into brief bouts of the more acrobatic of the spear forms he recalled from training with his clan’s masters, jumping and spinning with the usriev, the weapon and its wielder briefly becoming one… until, a few breaths later, he suddenly stilled and returned to his parade rest, as if teasing what the competition ahead might have in store for the audience.
-
"Hey! Hi! I'm Dounia and this is Cairee. Who are you? What's with the stilts?"
"My friend means no offence, she is...excessively curious today." She gave Dounia a little nudge - cool it. "It is an honour to meet you." She offered a polite bow.
A scruffy pail-brown haired gnome searched his mind, "Do you know, I'm not sure why. I always just felt it was because we didn't wear something else ..."
The efficient looking gnome next to him wiped a hand across her hot forehead, "It's to accommodate the long dags on our gowns. The writing on the dags speak to our accomplishments." You could see hers was a bit longer than his. They both seemed on edge with the change of venue. Talking seemed to calm them
"You forgot to tell them. We're The Blackbirds," Dounia proclaimed proudly. "We're competing. If you're not, you should definitely root for us. We're amazing!"
-
"May I ask where you are from, and if you'll be competing?"
The scruffy one answered, "Yes to both of those."
The other waited for a moment for him to finish and realizing he was, "We're from Iernanveld, south of Dolerissium. It's a land called Kuiskaava'nummet, at least amongst our people, but we're a wandering group without city or home. We're looking for the invisible city, Ihanteellinen Maa."
"And, no. We aren't competing. We're at a bit of a loss as to why we were invited. I've never met this Hallwyn but to refuse an invitation can bring bad fortune. I'm not sure we made the right choice." SHe looked about at the wild-orange clouds that hung below the twilight sky.
Zahra had found a short woman of about forty years of age who wore a rather fine decorative wrap and had her black straight hair up in a tight bun. The two had a pleasant introduction (Her name ... E'eh'lya, Her job ... a city engineer for sewer treatment) and Zahra's charm and enjoyment was showing.
Then.
Hallwyn changed venues and it seemed all but a few people knowledgable in the high-arcane were on edge. It was unexpected and several people were nauseous. Some seemed outright frightened. The sorceress tried to recover but the easy-going atmosphere was gone. She went up to one old man and cooled his drink with her magics to try to get people out of their shock but her hand shook. The spell got away from her and the frost cracked the glass exploding the drink.
All this mixed with the anxiety of being in a new place, transported by frighteningly powerful magics, was too much and the people around Zahra began to get aggressive. Some circled around the old man and shouted at her. "What was that ... uncalled for ... showing off, you'd better learn to control yourself first."
Tymythy moved back and found as empty a space as he could. He started to move and pose with his spear. The movements became more and more fluid, pausing from time to time in extreme poses. Zhara had seen him fight, many times. She had never seen him dance. He was good, more than good, he was great! The anger of the crowd didn't subside but Tymythy's distraction broke the rolling buildup of anger. People needed a distraction from Hallwyn's grand gesture and Tymythy more than provided it.
The distraction was working, and better on no-one but Tymythy himself as he allowed himself to become lost in his short and abrupt performances, the constant breaks in the rhythm making the dance all the more challenging to perform. But as it demanded his full attention he could, at least momentarily, put aside his apprehension about the intentions of their host and the frightening potency of mystics he had just displayed.
He swept the heavy-bladed spear diagonally, slashing an imagined opponent, then with a turn of his wrist shifted the spear’s path to a horizontal slash instead, loosening his hold on the spear to allow it to rise higher, higher, until his arm was fully extended up, his fingers coming to rest on the usriev’s shaft’s counterweight, head flung back as his eyes followed the cloth-bound blade. The hunter held the position for three beats of his heart, the spear held like an extension of his body… and then seemed to lose interest in the dance, taking a half step back, loosening his fingers once again to allow the weapon to fall down to crash on the flagstones – until it was caught at the last moment by his foot, the counterweight landing on the boot’s toe cap, its downward momentum slowed down in the span of half an eyeblink until Tymythy again stood in his version of parade rest, as if unaware of the performance he had begun and aborted, just when he had got into the flow of the dance.
Dounia grinned with delight. "Blackbirds! I love it." She flapped her robes behind her and cawed.
...
Dounia edged away from the puking man, not wanting him to sully her robes. She stared at the sky in delight. It's so beautiful! she turned to Cairee and asked, "Where are we?"
She couldn't help flinching for the men who tried to climb the wall. She could easily imagine herself and Cyra climbing, stuck, and terrified.
Dounia noticed some other competitors, including the orcs, watching Tymythy, and grinned. "Behold, the Lord of Blackbirds himself, be sure his wings don't knock you over!"
Dounia edged away from the puking man, not wanting him to sully her robes. She stared at the sky in delight. It's so beautiful! she turned to Cairee and asked, "Where are we?"
Dounia noticed some other competitors, including the orcs, watching Tymythy, and grinned. "Behold, the Lord of Blackbirds himself, be sure his wings don't knock you over!"
The leader and one of the younger orcs, Batbayar and Tyerror, looked at Dounia and grimaced. She could read the look the big one gave to the other. The look said I told you. This one won't be a pushover.
Zahra's excitement quickly turned to despair when the mood of the crowd shifted along with their surroundings. She was failing. Her insides were in turmoil and it was affecting her magic. She apologized profusely after the glass shattered but no one would listen. They were all on edge and she couldn't blame them. She knew of magic and she was still off-kilter. She vaguely remembered Haseena trying to teach her about different planes and how magic could be used to get there. Something about using different frequencies...whatever that meant. Regardless of where they were, Zahra was pretty sure they were on a different plane of existence. They definitely weren't anywhere near Zhayalahmar anymore.
She began to withdraw into herself which was very uncharacteristic for the young woman. She was going to lose Silimiel's scale and she only had herself to blame.
Thank goodness for Tymythy. His calm, masterful movements with his new weapon were calming. She watched in appreciation of how much he had been able to learn in the small amount of time he had spent with the monks. He deserved to be here, she did not.
Even she could see that he was impressing the others. They were watching and taking notice, as they should. Tymythy was formidable and now the others knew it.
After Tymythy finished and rejoined her she gave him a small smile, "You've impressed the orcs and the old scholars. Or at least they've taken notice. It was very impactful."
"Shall we locate Prem and find out what he's learned? I think I need to see a friendly face right about now."
Raya Hallwyn had the whole party's full attention as he described the prize. A diamond worth twenty five thousand crowns! Even Cairee felt her heart flutter at such an amount. In the hands of the Order it would do so much good! Suddenly she had a real reason to take these competitions seriously.
Hallwyn described The Ritual of Wishing - a temptation right out of the nighttime stories she heard as a child. Could such a thing be real? It was an interesting thing to ponder. What would she wish for? What does that mean about her? But to actually give someone an unrestricted wish? It seemed dangerous. What was Hallwyn up to?
The moving clouds caught her attention. Cairee watched the sky as it quickly changed from midday to a combination of rising dawn and inky, starry night. A small gasp escaped her lips. It was truly beautiful.
A scream pierced the mesmerized crowd. Even from so far away Cairee could see something was horribly wrong with one of the climbers' legs. She started to make her way towards them. "I can help!" she called out. But the guests were starting to mill about again, and the climber was carried off before Cairee could get close. She did catch Hallwyn, still smiling, and a chill ran down her spine. Was he enjoying their pain?
"It's so beautiful!" she turned to Cairee and asked, "Where are we?"
"Surely you've heard tales of The Land of Summer Twilight? The magical lands where fairies come from? I always thought it was just a story. But perhaps..." Her gaze returned to the sky. Could it be real?
Their conversation with the gnomes left Cairee with more questions. It was strange that they didn't know why they'd been invited, and that they were so ill at ease. "I wish you luck on your quest. May our paths cross again."
After almost an hour of working the crowd, Cairee took Dounia's arm again. "Let's head back to the tent. We need to meet with Prem and the others soon."
After Tymythy finished and rejoined her she gave him a small smile, "You've impressed the orcs and the old scholars. Or at least they've taken notice. It was very impactful."
”Thank you,” Tymythy said, leaning his usriev against his shoulder as he and Zahra rejoined Dounia and Cairee. ”We were told the teams would not be dueling each other, so showing off a bit shouldn’t give away any advantage, but… scholars? The orcs’ attention I understand – one warrior evaluating the threat presented by another. But why would people wedded to books pay special attention to mt dance? Surely there are artists and warriors in the wider world that put my meager talents to shame? Unless they merely wished for a bit of variety,” he suggested, shrugging his shoulders and returning raised glasses and nods from some of the people who had seen his presentation up close with solemn nods.
"Surely you've heard tales of The Land of Summer Twilight? The magical lands where fairies come from? I always thought it was just a story. But perhaps..." Her gaze returned to the sky. Could it be real?
”Faeries?” Tymythy muttered, fighting the urge to spit over his shoulder to ward away ill luck. ”Nothing good ever comes from the Fae.”
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”Faeries?” Tymythy muttered, fighting the urge to spit over his shoulder to ward away ill luck. ”Nothing good ever comes from the Fae.”
”My father heard this tale from his brother, many a winter ago,” he murmured, forcing the ladies to draw in closer to listen as he spoke with a voice heavy in shared dread. ”He, Gyrard, had been on a long hunt with several men and women of the clan. They had done well, felling even a fourteen-pointed stag among many lesser beasts. But on the way back, they had been waylaid by an Aerthane patrol. Too strong to fight off, more so as the hunters had expended many an arrow and spear during the past days and some bore wounds. So they had to drop their bounty and run. The Aerthane gave chase, and despite my people knowing the land better, the outsiders were fresh while Gyrard and the hunters were exhausted.”
”They noticed thick fox banks forming, unseasonably, but dove deep into the mists in an effort to shake their pursuers. That they saw…”
”Little of Gyrard’s telling of the tale made sense,” Tymythy said, shaking his head. ”The lead runner vanished without a trace. The others, running for they knew not how long, found themselves in a village square. Trees taller than any in the nearby forests, some with brightly-colored leaves only seen by clan shamans as they walk the dreams of the spirits, or those of the clan’s past. Music, strange and intoxicating, filled the air, and… things walked among the trees and houses and market stalls.”
”Elves and gnomes, horned ogres and sickly-skinned dwarves and worse. Gyrard saw something that looked like a man voice sentence for the crime of thinking to commit a crime, and his words alone robbed the offending orge of his hands, so that he could do not the harm he had been contemplating on.”
”The hunters realized they had stumbled onto the land of the fey, a conjunction of the spheres where the dream-world of the Fae’s primordial forests touched the land of men. Knowing they faced a danger much worse than that of the certain death they had ran from they sought to escape, but the music enticed them, chained their wills, compelled them to join the Fae in their dance. Even the Aerthane soldiers who had now emerged from the mists were caught in the same trap – only Gyrand, one of his kin and a single Aerthane soldier managed to resist – and Gyrard himself would have fallen if not for the cries of the sole sane hunter. The rest joined in the dance… and, if the shamans are to be believed, still dance there to this day, unaware that anything besides the music and the dance even exists… until the Fae tire of their toys and they end up beds for the seedlings of their fell forest.”
”The three ran for their very souls, chased by laughter like silvery bells, like rays of moonlight on pure white snow,” he went on, forcing the words of the painful story out as he felt the others needed to be told of the danger. ”Past trees full of fruit, but despite their hunger they recalled now the teachings of the wise – never accept any gifts from the Fae or their kind, for anything given freely only chains you to curses and obligations one can never repay. The Aerthane, not knowing any better, ate freely and later paid for it. They stumbled through the mist-shrouded trees, two of them starving, one filled with strange vitality. At night, small winged horrors came at them with their tiny hammers and pliers of silver, all attacking Gyrard’s sole companion. There was no fighting the fell spirits and he and the Aerthane could only watch as they tore off the hunter’s teeth and nails from every toe and finger, leaving him writhing in agony without release.”
”So Gyrard and the Aerthane ran, ran until they could no more. Eventually, they stumbled out of the mists, into forests of my land. As they both fell on their knees Gyrard watched the Aerthane, the one who had eaten the Fae’s trees’ fruit, age years with every breath of his heart until he fell forward, wizened flesh and strips of dry skin barely clinging to his bones.”
”It took many days for Gyrard to limp back home, exhausted, fevered, raving. Poisoned by loss and his own perceived cowardice for abandoning his kin to their horrible fates. The shoulderwoman who heard the tale, it is told, pronounced the hunters had stumbled into this ‘Summer’s Twilight’ and should not blame himself for overcoming his fate. From that day on, the tale was told to the whole clan on every full moon’s night for a year and a day. With the lessons hard learned and well remembered by the wise:”
”Eat no food except what one had with them. ”
”Accept no gifts. ”
”Be polite, it may save your life. ”
”Avoid the dance.”
"I can help!" she called out. But the guests were starting to mill about again, and the climber was carried off before Cairee could get close. She did catch Hallwyn, still smiling, and a chill ran down her spine. Was he enjoying their pain?
Cairee saw nothing on Hallwyn's face that looked like he enjoyed their pain. His face didn't seem to register their discomfort at all.
... "I wish you luck on your quest. May our paths cross again."
The scruffy haired gnome, "Mmm." which was as little an answer as one could give and still be said to have vocalized.
The fastidious looking one, "Good luck. We will watch for you." Her voice had the uncommitted politeness of someone not given to making friends quickly.
The Blackbirds returned to the food tent and waited for Premuroso. It didn't take long for them to be rewarded for their patience. When he returned he looked pensive and his ears were still. He went directly to Zahra.
"I've looked into 'things' for you. I'm afraid I didn't gleam any clues from Yay'ya's appearance but the rumour is she's a gossip monger from a town up the great river from Zhayalahmar. She owns a barber's shop that takes care of everything from cutting hair to pulling teeth to necessary surgeries. I understand that style of barber's shop is not uncommon in this part of the world. Sorry, I mean 'In the part of the world we were'. By reputation, she's a good business woman who doesn't break her promises.
"I did have occasion to speak with her briefly and she seems earnest. The gamblers are already hard at it and she's been paying attention but hasn't laid a bet yet. I'd bet - she's waiting for The Blackbirds to declare. You seem to have caught her eye. You could make worse choices for someone to ferret out information and watch your back from outside the challenge arena.
"I've also pieced together what the teams might be. You know the ones who've already declared: The Dwarven Warriors of Dun Leummor; The Orcs or "The Bonds of Gruumsh"; and, Perdition’s Cavaliers. Just a little while ago The Adherents of Aureolus, those three scholars and their Don, declared but most people missed it. Watch out for them. They seem like a devious lot.
"You may have noticed their heraldry. They bear the same shield as Prince Keone but with a difference. His coat of arms includes a white horned helmet, allying them with High-King Maegan. The scholars bear the seven gold candles, making them part of the wizard's tower of erudition called Seofon’be’Seofon or The Tower of Seven Times Seven. Though they are vassaled to the High-King they won't be the Prince's Allies.
"I also expect The Sisters of the Silken Scroll to declare soon as well as those foolish twins. Can you imagine? They aren't teaming up with anyone. They're going to go in as a team of two!
"Also, I think the Guards for Princess D'Angoument are scavenging a last minute team, as yet to be named, so that they aren't shown up by Perdition's Cavaliers. If I had to make any prediction it would be not all of them are going to make it out."
With fifteen minutes left before the closing of the lists for competing the herald Tandyraman yelled out.
Directly after a voice could be heard. Cairee's 'kid-brother' was standing at the edge of the lake!
He held up a great club in one hand and waved it and then looked back at the floating island.
Dounia stared at the diamond. For a moment her brain completely shut down, and all she could do was bask in its glory. Of course the image made it much larger than life size, and she could almost count the facets. She would have it set in the largest gold necklace in the city, and hire guards to protect her while she wore it.
The skinny teenager wasn't aware of the dreamy look on her face as she fantasized about her future riches. She completely missed the speech about the ritual of wishing.
***
Dounia felt a shiver go through her as Tymythy told his tale. She hugged herself through the robe, and fingered the outline of the amulet for comfort. "Got it. No food, no gifts, no dancing. Wait, what if Hallwyn is a fey-folk? Would taking his diamond count as a gift? What if it's a curse!!" She looked devastated.
Zahra's jaw dropped as Tymythy told his tale. When the fate of Gyrard's companion and the Aerthane were described, she covered her mouth with her hand as if holding in a gasp and she shook her head. "That's horrible," she whispered.
She looked questioningly at Tymythy, "Does this party count as having no food and no dancing? Or just when we're actually out of the stadium and in the Land of Summer's Twilight?" She looked somewhat distraught, "I promised Prem a dance. It would be rude to refuse him now, right?"
---
Even though the most recent events of the party were sobering, Zahra had a smile for Prem when he rejoined them. She listened attentively to each thing that he shared. "Thank you, Prem! This is more than we could have hoped for." She went to give him a hug in thanks but then paused and asked, "May I give you a hug to show my gratitude?"
She turned to the others as their time was ticking down and two more teams announced. "I don't think we have much time. I say we find Yoy'ya, accept her as patron, and then announce - whether ourselves or get Tandyraman to do it. Any objections or are we all in agreement?"
"Got it. No food, no gifts, no dancing. Wait, what if Hallwyn is a fey-folk? Would taking his diamond count as a gift? What if it's a curse!!" She looked devastated.
She looked questioningly at Tymythy, "Does this party count as having no food and no dancing? Or just when we're actually out of the stadium and in the Land of Summer's Twilight?" She looked somewhat distraught, "I promised Prem a dance. It would be rude to refuse him now, right?"
”IT might be our host is merely borrowing the magic of the Fey without being one himself,” Tymythy murmured, deciding to share some more of his clan’s beliefs. ”Which could still be dangerous to us but… it would explain his lack of reaction to the accusation of the maimed intruder – it is well known that the morality of the Fey is unlike that of no mortal creature. What they take as praise or insult, what they like or dislike… the twisted paths their thoughts follow are enough to the most learned of shamans to madness.”
”If the food and drink was enspelled then we are all lost already,” he shrugged with the fatalistic ‘no sense crying over spilled milk’ attitude. ”It is too late to do anything about it, so why waste time worrying? Either we all die the moment we leave, or we don’t.”
”The Fey are bound by their word, but they can twist its meaning past all reason,” he went on. ”Our host said the gem would be a reward for the victor, not a gift. Gifts of the Fey are worse than poison. But trades, while risky, less so – the way the Fey value things is beyond reason so there are tales about some daring and lucky heroes gaining much more than they lost in such exchanges. There was one tale about a great warrior trading his sense of joy when seeing a rainbow for a warsteed, a great silver elk, that never tired nor betrayed its new master, whose hide could not be pierced but with a weapon of cold-forged iron – the bane of all things Fey.”
”Although one should take care, because what one believes is offered might not be what the Fey actually means. If you must, try to deal with absolutes. The less words exchanged, the less chances for them to twist their meaning to suit their purposes.”
Something Hallwyn said came to mind, ”Next, and don’t be alarmed. You are under my protection and I vow you will come under no harm from our change of venue. Many of you have come to us from distant corners of Aerde. Many more are from my very home of Zhayalahmar. But for an event of such significance we must go to a place of equal stature. Welcome! To the Land of Summer’s Twilight!” and you each remember that the food was in Gossamer House before the shift to the realm of the fey.
"At least he told us we were under his protection. So that's good, right?"
She also gave Prem a hug, and kissed his cheek. "Oh thank you! You've been so kind to us! Yes, let's contract with Miss Yoyo, and get Tandyman to announce us. What do you think your siblings will think when they see you, Cairee?"
Zahra relaxed a bit as they talked through the implications of what Tymythy had shared and what they remembered collectively about what their host had said. "So we just need to be on guard if we leave the stadium or the party. Who knows what we'll have to do for the competition."
Almost immediately, she began to scan the crowd for Yoy'ya's lavender suit. She had said she'd be easy to find and Zahra hoped that was true. They didn't have much time to spare.
The hug and kiss had Prem's wings turning a shade of peach from its' regular pale grey. Zahra felt his wings and they were soft and course at the same time, like the belly of an elephant.
Just then, a sand glass had been brought out and was resting at the south end of the upper bowl. It was six feet tall but had only a little sand which was draining quickly.
Prem, "You'd better get to the herald quickly. It looks like you have less than ten minutes to announce."
It wasn't until the Blackbirds were close to Tandyraman that they noticed Yoy'ya waiting anxiously, "Quickly, get yourselves announced and we can talk after." She hustled them to the herald. Coming from the other direction were six of the Princess' guard. They looked determined and serious.
Dounia held everyone back looking like she was trying to time a bow shot at a swinging target and let the guards go first. The guards rushed to Tandyraman and whispered to him with severe expressions.
He looked back at the group inquisitively and they nodded urgently, Their faces appeared in the lake as they looked out at the arena-goers. The Princess was standing and clapping as were the rest of her retinue. Prince Keone was clapping on the other side of the arena politely.
Dounia sauntered over to Tandyraman as her face walked into view on the lake. The other's joined her as the last grains of sand poured through.
Time was running down, and the timing for the last announcement seemed more questionable as other teams seemed to perhaps had the same idea. So Tymyhty waited for as long as he dared, then walked over to the skald with the voice of thunder who was doing the announcements and whispered but a few words to his pointed ear.
The elf raised one eyebrow at Tymythy as if to ask if that was really it. The hunter nodded.
the herald cried without further elaboration. As if in answer, from some previously unnoticed roost atop one of the ornamental pillars, a single bird’s cry filled the silence left by the herald’s roaring voice.
Doing his best to contain his excitement and doing a fair job at it, Tymyhty’s visage looked down upon audience and fellow contestants with an expression of disinterest, as if to compete here was a matter barely worth mentioning. He did raise his cloth-bound usriev towards the heavens in a sort of salute, however, then managed to just begin to turn away from the eye of the magical projection before it’s point of view shifted away from him.
As Tandyraman announced them at Tymythy's bidding, Zahra felt like they had missed an opportunity. They should have discussed how they would be announced. At least they were last but it still may not have been memorable enough. Hopefully what she thought of as unremarkable would be viewed as mysterious by the spectators.
With the magical eye on the group of them, Zahra smiled an authentic and radiant smile. She raised both her hands and waved, looking around as if waving at each person individually. They needed to feel like the Blackbirds were worth rooting for. She figured that she didn't look like the usual competitor so hopefully the viewers would find that intriguing.
Once their announcement was over, she turned almost immediately to Yoy'ya. "As you have deduced, we would like you to be our patron. So what do we do next?"
"What do you think your siblings will think when they see you, Cairee?"
"I wonder if they'll even recognize me." The last time she saw them was when she walked away from her home with Tal at her side. Younger, in robes of the family colours, her light brown hair in long braids. "If they do see their weak sister, who goes faint at the sight of blood, competing in unknown challenges? I suppose they'll think it's frightfully funny."
'The Hazard-Guard will be competing!"
The poor soldiers looked miserable. Though they tried to put on a brave face, clearly they were scared of what they could soon be facing. Where they being forced to declare? How cowardly, to send others to compete in your name.
”The Blackbirds!” the herald cried without further elaboration.
You are a representative of Saiph, Cairee reminded herself as their images appeared on the lake. She stood tall, held her staff firmly, and smiled kindly, hoping to give out a strong, confident, approachable air.
Dounia frowned when the Hazard-Guard were announced. Surely that's not permitted? she thought. Then she shrugged, who knew that the rules were in this place.
Then Tandyman game them their two-word introduction, and her frown deepened. That's it?! Then she saw Tymythy's image flash in the lake, and she composed herself. One by one the others appeared - Zahra friendly and waving, Cairee cool and serene. Dounia suddenly grinned, and leapt forward onto her hands. She balanced there for a moment, then sprang forward back onto her feet. Her sandals barely touched the ground before she jumped again into an aerial backflip, then a second, and a third, with no time for a breath between them.
She managed to catch Tymythy's eye, and she nodded significantly at his shoulder. She hoped that he understood, then saw him brace himself. With a wink to the audience, she ran at him, used his knee as launch point, twisted deftly in the air, and landed lightly on his shoulder. It was a rather more intimate position than she'd anticipated, and she felt her cheeks redden. However, she merely grinned wider and waved to the audience.
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Tandyraman called out the new team name and the crowd went quiet. They seemed to be waiting for more. In the lake the image broke into four and showed close-ups of Tymythy, Zahra, Cairee, and Dounia each.
Tymythy was a statue of determination and radiated the kind of pride that was backed by the strength of his entire family, their wisdom weathered his very skin and buttressed him.
Zahra was stunning and warm. She looked kindly, innocent, but still seemed to belong here in this strangest of places.
Cairee seemed unfazed by the eyes of all staring at her. At that moment she looked like someone who could walk into a plague colony or a dragon's lair without batting an eye.
And Dounia ... without practice or plan, Dounia produced a set of moves that blended like a dust devil twirling over the desert floor, wild, swift, and strong. All was punctuated with her amazing shoulder mount. As she did so the images in the lake blended to one group image.
It wasn't said, but it was understood. The Blackbirds would compete. Tandyraman made no wishes for luck. Still the crowd was silent. Then. A clap came out. It was from the high table. Hallwyn was clapping. Quickly another began not far from the upper bowl as Prem tried to capitalize on the Marid's gesture. Then Princess Alissetta followed which encouraged all of her followers. Others began to join in until a full third of the arena clapped.
It was brief but more than polite and more than any other group had received. Was the applause for The Blackbirds alone or also acknowledging the competition was now closed to new competitors and would soon begin?
Dounia could feel the eyes of the Tiefling at Hallwyn's table. After Dounia's display, Iolantha nodded and then looked over at Hallwyn but the Marid of Daw'alnihar wasn't paying attention. He was busy staring at Zahra.
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Once their announcement was over, she turned almost immediately to Yoy'ya. "As you have deduced, we would like you to be our patron. So what do we do next?"
Yoy'ya, "Good. I was a little worried you weren't going to announce. Listen, the six doors in the lower bowl are all different. Go have a look at them as quickly as you can. No one knows what the selection process is and there are more than six teams now. The dwarves have been assessing them since they arrived. So have those Eileandoras creeps in the black robes.
"Those creeps. I think they're communicating with their, whatchacallit, Don, but I can't tell how.
"Anyway, each of the doors is different and may have a clue as to what's behind them. Also, gather your things. What did you bring?"
Tandyraman,
Yoy'ya, "Damn! Better move fast."
This is a long archway, perhaps ten feet deep, with portcullis after portcullis maybe a foot apart. The bars are studded and offset with the next so that they create a forest of bars that can't be seen past.
On the front set of bars is a small metal shield with a hexagon engraved upon it.
This is a five foot wide by eight foot tall highly polished mirror with an brass bound frame. On the left hand side is a polished brass handle and the right was hinged by two brass hinges.
This was a four foot by eight foot brass door with a series of ten images across the front. Seven were engraved and three were embossed. Heavy rivets bordered the door. There were two massive hinges and no handle.
Two heavy wooden doors meet at a middle stone pillar. Across the front of each is a metal bar that slides back and forth. The bar sides from one side to another only allowing one door to open at a time. The doors seem to push inwards.
On the stone pillar between the two doors is a carving of an owl.
This is a door of oak boards. Across the boards are iron bands and the door has a twisted iron handle. On the centre of the door is an iron plate with the engraving of a lion standing on a crumbling pillar.
This was a grey stone door in a grey stone arch. The door has a key hole plate or escutcheon at its' centre. It looks to push inward.
Zahra watched Dounia's display with amazement. She had no idea how she wasn't flashing everyone with her underwear as she flipped wearing her robes. When she ended up perched on Tymythy's shoulder, Zahra gave a delighted grin and then joined with the crowd in clapping her hands. She motioned at Dounia with her hands as she clapped along.
When the applause died away, she gave a small curtsy to the crowd and then their images faded from above the lake.
She turned to the others with excitement in her voice, practically squealing, "They clapped for us! And it was started by His Radiance! It's a good sign that we have his notice. Now we just have to win."
As Yoy'ya began to tell them about the doors, Zahra nodded, "So would you suggest that we choose a door even if we don't know what the selection process is?"
Tandyraman yelled his time warning and the sorceress' eyes widened, "We'd better hurry."
Zahra turned to go to check out the doors with the others and then paused as something occurred to her, "How do we communicate with you through the competition? Are we allowed to speak with you after each door?"